Still around?

Dear Kool Kidz,

I am sitting in my current English class. Unfortunately, this class is nothing like our class with Inloes. His was much, much better, of course. I was wondering how everyone else is doing this year. I miss you all!

s-kat

The Last Post...Or Is It?

Hey guys!

First of all, I would like to say congratulations to everyone for getting everything together for our awesome project! I thought it went really great, and the class also seemed to enjoy it. BKLounge's video skills were pretty sweet, and I'm sure that everyone liked the "bedroom cam." Thanks s-kat for putting the paper together, at kinda the last minute. All in all, we got it done, so that's a pretty good accomplishment, I must say.

Next, I would like to say that I am a very nostalgic and sentimental person. So, this last post makes me want to cry. I think that this does not have to be our last blog. If anyone is up to it, I think it would be cool if we could keep our blog going and just talk about our life and stuff. It won't have to be 6 per week or anything, it could be kind of like a checking in thing with everyone. Then, at the end of the school year we could show mr. inloes. :)

For The Red Stapler

Our research has proven that although doodling may appear distracting, the act is not as unprofessional as it may seem. In an article about Karl Gude, a professor at Michigan State University and news graphics provider for magazines such as Newsweek, Associated Press, United Press International, and the New York Daily News. In this article, “Decades of Doodles” Gude releases 27 years worth of his business meeting doodles along with some insight, “Clearly, I have attention issues, but I really did focus better when I was doodling.” Gude never really considered himself as an artist until he started with the doodling process, “I’ve never studied art or design and learned how to draw by doodling and sketching from life.” Yet, he is now teaching a cross-discipline class combining journalism with studio art. Gude culminates the benefits of doodling in one sentence, “Drawing distracts the part of my mind that wants to wander.”
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A few things:
1. Sorry it's a little late!
2. Is anyone else sad that there will not be anymore blogging?

Irksome

A little followed grammatical rule is that one is never to end a sentence with a preposition. It is acceptable, however, to end a sentence with a word that is commonly used as a preposition, but not in that specific sentence. This rule is broken often in speech, which is why it is commonly broken is writing. Most people write as they would speak. (This topic is further discussed in the post “Students lack a decent vocabulary”) Writing is not speaking. Some styles purposely use incorrect grammar, but for all intensive purposes, this is wrong. Students need to read novels that are grammatically correct so that they may pick up on how the rules are applied. Few, if any, students enjoy doing grammar worksheets and activities. Because of the lack of enthusiasm, few students actually learn the rules. Schools must find new ways to present this information. Without grammar, writing would make little sense. With incorrect grammar, writing rarely makes sense at all.
The preposition rule is my greatest pet peeve of the moment and is continuously found. For example, “For me, Holden Caulfield, the isolated adolescent and protagonist of the novel, was someone to relate with.” (Sorry to pick on BK Lounge, but it was the one that caused me to write this.) The sentence should say, “For me, Holden Caulfield, the isolated adolescent and protagonist of the novel, was someone with which I could relate.” A minor change, but vast improvement.

Focus by Doodling

Numerous people doodle. Children in school, teachers in meetings, parents at work. Doodling is used to keep focused.
When a teacher sits in front of a classroom to discuss a topic, it tends to turn into a lecture. Students begin to fall asleep, text on cell phones, daydream about the weekend, and doodle. Idealistically the student is actively listening to every word the teacher is saying. This rarely happens. Children today are increasingly being diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. They simply cannot focus their attention for that long. Doodling provides a way to focus without distracting the mind. “Doodling is accomplished during mindless sketching or aimless drawing while the doodler's attention is focused elsewhere.”
Do you believe this to be true?

Yes we did

I know many people are probably going to blog on this, and I know I'm not the first but I am proud. I'm proud to belong to a country that has not only found hope, but brought it to the surface. I'm ecstatic to be apart of history, to know that I can live to say something significant (positive and significant) has happened. A few years ago my brother and I discussed that we had no Moon landing, we didn't defeat Hitler,or over come segregation and now we have it. We have the moon, we've landed into a new era. One that will hopefully bring us back to the American dream. this is not only a great day for all African-American (which it is), but for all those that have fought, and are tired of the struggle. This day is for those that believe, not only in change but in greatness. I've always heard how great America was, but I never experienced the love for this country as I have as of now, and this love will carry on for years to come. Because now I know that we, as a nation, are capable of anything. Obama is our President of the united States of America. WE wanted change we got change and we will continue to see change come. Yes we can, Yes we did, but moreover Yes We Will.

Violence or Play?

In response to Mr. Inloes post, I don't think all violent video games and movies contribute to violent behavior. It depends on the age and maturity of the person who is watching the movie or playing the video game. When I watch violent movies, I know that half of the scenes are fake so I don't take it literally. I know that the key point of promoting violent media is for entertainment not to go out and copy the movie or media game. I believe that some people get caught up in the violence and can't tell what is real and what isn't. Those selected few people are affected and decide to act in the same violent behavior. Young children shouldn't be exposed to movies such as Saw or Halloween because there is too many negative messages that could be confusing to someone at such a young age. Children haven't learned true morals and aren't mature enough to watch something so gruesome and negative. All people act different at the sight of violence so it is hard to just blame the violent media. What do other people think about violent media today? Does it only affect young children, teenagers, or adults?