I've been mulling over my writing process for about a week now. It's an interesting thing, really. I thought everyone wrote their papers the same way. I thought everyone's writing process way the same as mine. Imagine my surprise when a friend of mine from Chicago approached me with questions about how I complete my papers!
My friend wanted to know how I came up with my ideas. The answer to that is an honest one: I really don't know. They just come to me. I pick a topic - I look for something that I can connect with. If the topic is chosen for me I try to find a way to connect with it. I might Google a news article or two, to see what kind of ideas are out there. Usually the rest of the paper comes together quickly.
After looking into my chosen topic, I immediately begin to think about a thesis sentence. I find that a good thesis sentence practically writes the paper for you. If I can create three topics to mention in a thesis sentence, I've got three paragraphs/topics to write about for my paper. If I cannot find three - I look to see if there's anything I've overlooked.
For example, with the research topic paper: I wanted to write about the joys of renting a home. I find it to be fantastic! If I could come up with three things that I could research information on, then I had my topic for my paper. A little time with Google and I had my thesis!
Once the thesis sentence is complete, I find forming the paragraphs and doing the research is really enjoyable. I look for interesting facts, and entertaining ways to make my point. All in all, I've really come to enjoy my writing process this semester!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Life in the World of Fallacies
I really enjoyed learning about logical fallacies. It took me some time to start thinking of the examples for the week, but once I did, suddenly there were quite a few of them!
I think one of the best logical fallacies that I've seen used (and that's worked) has been the "eat anything you want and still lose weight" fallacy. Everyone has things about their body that they'd prefer to change. We are all a little insecure. This diet plan seizes that insecurity and uses it to it's advantage.
We're insecure, and we don't like to give up the foods we enjoy. This fallacy leads us to believe that we can keep everything the way it is and magically the pounds will just drop away. If that were the case, why are we facing a critical obesity epidemic in our country?
Clearly, we cannot keep eating cheeseburgers and french fries and hoping for the best. Even going for a walk afterward won't help the cause. It's my own, personal goal, to start living a healthier lifestyle. I don't want to be a part of the obesity problem, and I'm going to do everything I can to ensure my health in the later years of my life!
I think one of the best logical fallacies that I've seen used (and that's worked) has been the "eat anything you want and still lose weight" fallacy. Everyone has things about their body that they'd prefer to change. We are all a little insecure. This diet plan seizes that insecurity and uses it to it's advantage.
We're insecure, and we don't like to give up the foods we enjoy. This fallacy leads us to believe that we can keep everything the way it is and magically the pounds will just drop away. If that were the case, why are we facing a critical obesity epidemic in our country?
Clearly, we cannot keep eating cheeseburgers and french fries and hoping for the best. Even going for a walk afterward won't help the cause. It's my own, personal goal, to start living a healthier lifestyle. I don't want to be a part of the obesity problem, and I'm going to do everything I can to ensure my health in the later years of my life!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Overwhelmed.
I know that there is usually a 'theme' or a 'topic' for the blogs that we are supposed to write. I didn't want to have one today. I just need to vent about some things, and I thought this might be an okay place to do so.
I am officially overwhelmed. This semester has proven to be much more challenging than the semesters before it. I am striving to balance school and work. I give credit to my fellow students who are able to balance school, work, and family. If I had children or other responsibilities to tend to, I don't know that anything would get achieved.
It seems I rarely have the time I want to have to devote to my studies. I constantly feel like I'm playing 'catch up' in my courses, even though I'm handing in the work on time. My GPA isn't where I wanted it to be - not that it's terrible, but I've done better.
This week my goal is to truly focus on my studies when I'm not at work. I will devote every moment of my time at home to my work until it has all been achieved.
I was a lot more spoiled than I thought last semester when I wasn't working. School seemed 'easy' and without much challenge, but I was spending upwards of 7 hours a day on homework. Now, when time is limited, I find myself constantly under a ridiculous amount of stress. Hopefully this week things will change. I will not procrastinate, I will put off my chores and whatnot, I will do the best I can with the time allotted.
A week from now-ish I'll have a new laptop. Hopefully I'll be able to spend less time on the phone with technical support representatives, less time looking for files, and more time just focusing on what needs to be done. You'd be surprised how much a screwy computer really zaps time away from your studies! Especially when all your courses are online, and you're 200 miles away from campus!
I am officially overwhelmed. This semester has proven to be much more challenging than the semesters before it. I am striving to balance school and work. I give credit to my fellow students who are able to balance school, work, and family. If I had children or other responsibilities to tend to, I don't know that anything would get achieved.
It seems I rarely have the time I want to have to devote to my studies. I constantly feel like I'm playing 'catch up' in my courses, even though I'm handing in the work on time. My GPA isn't where I wanted it to be - not that it's terrible, but I've done better.
This week my goal is to truly focus on my studies when I'm not at work. I will devote every moment of my time at home to my work until it has all been achieved.
I was a lot more spoiled than I thought last semester when I wasn't working. School seemed 'easy' and without much challenge, but I was spending upwards of 7 hours a day on homework. Now, when time is limited, I find myself constantly under a ridiculous amount of stress. Hopefully this week things will change. I will not procrastinate, I will put off my chores and whatnot, I will do the best I can with the time allotted.
A week from now-ish I'll have a new laptop. Hopefully I'll be able to spend less time on the phone with technical support representatives, less time looking for files, and more time just focusing on what needs to be done. You'd be surprised how much a screwy computer really zaps time away from your studies! Especially when all your courses are online, and you're 200 miles away from campus!
Friday, March 23, 2012
A Few Thoughts...
My boyfriend and I moved two hundred miles away from our lives last fall. We moved for a better employment opportunity for him, and for a chance to achieve his dreams. We moved to better our futures.
It hasn't been easy. We moved away from all of our friends, and his family. We are both people that prefer the hustle and bustle of city life, and we now live in a small community of about 3,000 people.
On the other hand, it has shown us what we truly value in our lives. We always make time to visit family, and very specific friends. We have learned how important it is to show people that you care for them. That is why, at times like this one, it can be so very difficult for us emotionally.
His best friend works for his father at a small shop. We made arrangements two weeks ago for this friend to come up and stay with us over this weekend. Every thing was in place, and we worked incredibly hard to get our home, and our lives ready for him. We were to travel the two hundred miles on Thursday, and once was off work on Friday, we were going to pick him up and drive home.
Halfway through our journey, we decided to call him and make sure that everything was still in place and to see if he had finalized the timeline we set up for Friday afternoon. Instead, he informed us that he wouldn't be able to make it this weekend. Wow.
We are both reeling. This "friend" has an excuse time after time for why he can't make it out with us. We thought for sure we had done everything necessary for there to be no problems in this trip. My boyfriend is crushed, and is now questioning how meaningful their relationship ever was to the other person.
I am at a loss. I have no idea what to say to him, or how to comfort him when he is hurting. I wish I had all the answers, because witnessing this is difficult enough. I feel totally helpless. Any advice?
It hasn't been easy. We moved away from all of our friends, and his family. We are both people that prefer the hustle and bustle of city life, and we now live in a small community of about 3,000 people.
On the other hand, it has shown us what we truly value in our lives. We always make time to visit family, and very specific friends. We have learned how important it is to show people that you care for them. That is why, at times like this one, it can be so very difficult for us emotionally.
His best friend works for his father at a small shop. We made arrangements two weeks ago for this friend to come up and stay with us over this weekend. Every thing was in place, and we worked incredibly hard to get our home, and our lives ready for him. We were to travel the two hundred miles on Thursday, and once was off work on Friday, we were going to pick him up and drive home.
Halfway through our journey, we decided to call him and make sure that everything was still in place and to see if he had finalized the timeline we set up for Friday afternoon. Instead, he informed us that he wouldn't be able to make it this weekend. Wow.
We are both reeling. This "friend" has an excuse time after time for why he can't make it out with us. We thought for sure we had done everything necessary for there to be no problems in this trip. My boyfriend is crushed, and is now questioning how meaningful their relationship ever was to the other person.
I am at a loss. I have no idea what to say to him, or how to comfort him when he is hurting. I wish I had all the answers, because witnessing this is difficult enough. I feel totally helpless. Any advice?
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Dys"fun"ctional...
Thinking about dysfunctional vs. functional families this week really made me think about The Glass Castle.
I've read the book, and to be honest, I was shocked at how the author's parents allowed their children to be raised. Growing up, my family and I didn't always have the best of everything. We weren't poor, by any means, but things weren't necessarily easy either.
Thinking about dysfunction makes me think about the fact that I have two sisters. We are all 4-5 years apart in age, and couldn't be more different from each other as far as our personalities are concerned. We fought. We fought a lot growing up. Not physically, but mostly verbally and emotionally. Things were quite tense at times, and my mother never really knew what to do with us when the fighting would start.
After things would calm down, we would all joke that we put the "fun" in "dysfunctional". My sisters and I also termed our relationships with each other as "bipolar sisterly love". Meaning one minute we're fine, then things are volatile, and eventually things are fine again. We have our highs, and our lows - but no matter what, we love each other.
I think that was the one thing that struck me the most about the book. How much the author and her siblings never ceased to love their parents regardless of how they were treated. I hope to one day have an unconditional love like that with children of my own - but I know for a fact that we won't be living like the Wall's family did in that book!
I've read the book, and to be honest, I was shocked at how the author's parents allowed their children to be raised. Growing up, my family and I didn't always have the best of everything. We weren't poor, by any means, but things weren't necessarily easy either.
Thinking about dysfunction makes me think about the fact that I have two sisters. We are all 4-5 years apart in age, and couldn't be more different from each other as far as our personalities are concerned. We fought. We fought a lot growing up. Not physically, but mostly verbally and emotionally. Things were quite tense at times, and my mother never really knew what to do with us when the fighting would start.
After things would calm down, we would all joke that we put the "fun" in "dysfunctional". My sisters and I also termed our relationships with each other as "bipolar sisterly love". Meaning one minute we're fine, then things are volatile, and eventually things are fine again. We have our highs, and our lows - but no matter what, we love each other.
I think that was the one thing that struck me the most about the book. How much the author and her siblings never ceased to love their parents regardless of how they were treated. I hope to one day have an unconditional love like that with children of my own - but I know for a fact that we won't be living like the Wall's family did in that book!
Friday, February 24, 2012
My New Job
I started a new job several weeks ago. I got hired on as a replacement for an employee who decided to retire. My new title is 'office manager' but I feel an awful lot like a receptionist while I'm there. Between answering the phones and faxes, scheduling appointments, greeting patients, and doing whatever the doctor or nurse ask of me I'm never bored.
I really love my new job. I work in a very small OB/GYN office. There is only one doctor, one nurse, and one lab person. A total of 4 employees, and the office runs smoother than most clinics I've been to.
I schedule appointments, take messages, answer questions, manage the monies, write the emails, greet patients, process charts, file everything, and decide where we're eating for lunch. I handle all of the billing and coding for our office as well. I also do the prior certification and authorizations needed before patients head in for surgery.
Everyone that I work with is over the age of 60. I am not against age, that's not what I'm writing about. Their age is relevant because of how they operate. There isn't much technology where I work. Sure, we have the internet, and we even have an IBM to track of addresses and patients insurance information! It looks like this:
We keep our records on paper. Our primary mode of communication is via the mail. The doctor I work for is 76 years young.
So young, that every day for lunch he rushes home to play with his dog before returning for the afternoon appointments!
Even though it isn't all shiny and new where I work, we practice incredibly good medicine. My doctor has retired from the obstetrics portion of his practice, and now specializes in surgical problems. We have patients travel several hours in the car to be seen by my doctor. He is known state-wide for his excellent practice.
You see, he listens to his patients. He is patient with his patients. He understands what they're going through, and has the experience to know what to expect next. Can you say the same about the doctor you see?
I work for a very talented physician, and I am truly blessed to have the position.
I really love my new job. I work in a very small OB/GYN office. There is only one doctor, one nurse, and one lab person. A total of 4 employees, and the office runs smoother than most clinics I've been to.
I schedule appointments, take messages, answer questions, manage the monies, write the emails, greet patients, process charts, file everything, and decide where we're eating for lunch. I handle all of the billing and coding for our office as well. I also do the prior certification and authorizations needed before patients head in for surgery.
Everyone that I work with is over the age of 60. I am not against age, that's not what I'm writing about. Their age is relevant because of how they operate. There isn't much technology where I work. Sure, we have the internet, and we even have an IBM to track of addresses and patients insurance information! It looks like this:
So young, that every day for lunch he rushes home to play with his dog before returning for the afternoon appointments!
Even though it isn't all shiny and new where I work, we practice incredibly good medicine. My doctor has retired from the obstetrics portion of his practice, and now specializes in surgical problems. We have patients travel several hours in the car to be seen by my doctor. He is known state-wide for his excellent practice.
You see, he listens to his patients. He is patient with his patients. He understands what they're going through, and has the experience to know what to expect next. Can you say the same about the doctor you see?
I work for a very talented physician, and I am truly blessed to have the position.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Facebook is a bright shiny new toy. Everyone wants one, or wants to play with one. I was lured in, like so many other people I know. Wasting hour upon hour perusing the endless pages of those I know, I knew, or only maybe-sort of-I think I recognize their face-know.
When I first joined, I 'friended' most everyone I knew. People I graduated from high school with, people that moved away in elementary school, people that I worked with at one place or another. Over time, I noticed something strange happening. I would see these people in public and they wouldn't acknowledge me. There was this blatant refusal of even the slightest kindness or a wave 'hello'. I made a decision then to 'unfriend' all the people that couldn't be bothered to be my friend in public.
What's more public than Facebook? Everyone can see everything - even with endless security settings!
Facebook has stolen countless hours from my life. The messaging, the games, the endless photos of my friends' children to look at. To be honest, I hate it. I hate the lost time, the useless emails, the nonsense and drama it can bring about.
I detest you, Facebook. Some how when I look and see what everyone else is doing I feel left behind, or left out. It's a terrible feeling. I sign out, look around, and remind myself that my life is good right now. I am blessed! I've worked really hard to get where I am, and I refuse to feel insignificant or put down because of something I saw on the internet.
I still have a Facebook page, though. No matter how much I hate it, I'm still there. I have more than 40 first cousins. We are spread out across the entire United States, and Facebook really is the best way for me to keep in touch with them. Facebook served as a great tool after my grandmother passed away - we could all check on each other, and send photos of Gramma back and forth without a glitch!
Once or twice a week I think about deleting my account. I don't really use it, I rarely post anything for myself. Then a cousin graduates, or gets engaged, or finds a new job. Without my social network, my life would be much more solitary than it is now. Without my social network, I'd lose the close connections I've built with some of my family members. In the end, I'll probably keep my account for quite some time. It's too useful to be worthless for me!
When I first joined, I 'friended' most everyone I knew. People I graduated from high school with, people that moved away in elementary school, people that I worked with at one place or another. Over time, I noticed something strange happening. I would see these people in public and they wouldn't acknowledge me. There was this blatant refusal of even the slightest kindness or a wave 'hello'. I made a decision then to 'unfriend' all the people that couldn't be bothered to be my friend in public.
What's more public than Facebook? Everyone can see everything - even with endless security settings!
Facebook has stolen countless hours from my life. The messaging, the games, the endless photos of my friends' children to look at. To be honest, I hate it. I hate the lost time, the useless emails, the nonsense and drama it can bring about.
I detest you, Facebook. Some how when I look and see what everyone else is doing I feel left behind, or left out. It's a terrible feeling. I sign out, look around, and remind myself that my life is good right now. I am blessed! I've worked really hard to get where I am, and I refuse to feel insignificant or put down because of something I saw on the internet.
I still have a Facebook page, though. No matter how much I hate it, I'm still there. I have more than 40 first cousins. We are spread out across the entire United States, and Facebook really is the best way for me to keep in touch with them. Facebook served as a great tool after my grandmother passed away - we could all check on each other, and send photos of Gramma back and forth without a glitch!
Once or twice a week I think about deleting my account. I don't really use it, I rarely post anything for myself. Then a cousin graduates, or gets engaged, or finds a new job. Without my social network, my life would be much more solitary than it is now. Without my social network, I'd lose the close connections I've built with some of my family members. In the end, I'll probably keep my account for quite some time. It's too useful to be worthless for me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)