1. Playlist: Michael Jackson "Life Under the Microscope"
Revised Submission: Life Under The Microscope
I very much enjoyed the way that Dan present the playlist assignment to us in general. I thought it was quite clever and rather unique of him to present us with the task of filling out a profile of of our own, deciding what changes we would make to the profile to find out more about an individual and then determining how much one's favorite music could be almost a soundtrack to their life and tell a great deal about them. Initiially it seemed as if Dan was beating about for something looking for the right answer I couldn't figure out what he was waiting to hear but now in reflection I can truly appreciate how smoothly and cleverly the assignment was presented.
As far as the assignment itself, at first I thought I enjoyed it a great deal. Not only was I able to incorporate music (which I am a big fan of) into an English assignment, I was also allowed to creatively tell a story about an individual's life, in addition to learning a great deal about hyperlinking and HTML coding. However, in comparison with all of the other assignments we've done it is suprisingly at the bottom. It made a great introductory assignment; however, the coding was very frustrating as it is still giving me problems to date as far as linking to lyrics! Perhaps I'm making the mistake and need to reevaluate what I am doing, although I swear I have done that multiple times!
2. Profile: Perhaps Jacko Has A Right to be Wacko (see attachment!)
Orginal Submission: Perhaps Jacko Has a Right to be Wacko
I actually enjoyed this assignment a great deal. I felt as if the way I presented my essay was unique and allowed me to step outside of the box and do something a bit unorthodox. I was pleased when my peer reviewers and Professor Dan found the method of approach I used to be attention grabbing and unique. I chose to write about Michael Jackson as an extension of my playlist project. The tone of most of this argument is more or less a bit sarcastic which I think helped to provide a bit a humor or amusement to an otherwise disturbing topic. Additionally, I think my objective or "could not care less" stance to the subject aided in my presentation of a winning argument for Micheal, becuase I honestly thought well... "How can I present this guy's story in a way in which the facts are still accurate and reader feels sympathy for Mike?" This was another great assignment.
3. Podcast: Emeka and Mike Podcast
Original Submission: Emeka and Mike Podcast
Direct Podcast Link: Perhaps Rap Isn't to Blame
The podcast was by far my most enjoyable assignment. This is surprising because most people actually told me that they hated it, or to be more accurate that "it was like Hell!" However, I thoroughly enjoyed this assignment, I think it may more or less be because I have had experience with movie making and actually produced a DVD that I sold at my high school that the process did not seem so tedious to me. I felt as if it was all worth it in the end when you get a chance to sit back and listen to the finished product or hear the comment and opinions of other classmates. My partner and I attempted to incorporate a great deal of mixing and repitition in ours in order to reiterate our point. I also did a parody on the track which was pretty silly but nevertheless fun to do. I am also very thankful to Dan for introducing me to this program because I feel as if this program is definitely something I will be using again in the future whether for class or pleasure.
4. Blog Entry 1: "Life at the top of the Hill"
Orginal Blog: Life at the Top of the Hill
This being my very first blog, on the very first day, of my very first English class was naturally about my experience thus far as a Tar Heel. I'll admit I was initially a bit timid about coming here instead of Duke for personal reasons. However, I have definitely enjoyed my experience here thus far. I've made nothing but friends and more friends and I'm starting to learn my way around campus quite effectively. I have begun going to the gym on a regular basis, but that has simply been for random pick up games of basketball, I really need to get in there and back on the track and under the weights. I'm really looking forward to the beginning of the school year and seing the difference between the the Fall and Summer School. Should be fun!
5. Blog Entry 2: "I work better in the mornings"
Orginal Blog: I Work Better in the Mornings
This blog is definitely a fact. For some odd reason I seem to work better in the mornings. I think that during these hours of the day I am more focused and clear minded and able to focus on specific tasks and get them completed. Althogh this does throw off my sleeping pattern and often make me sleepy during the day I am always more productive during this hours of the day. I need to figure out how to work around/with this and use it to my own benefit.
6. Blog Entry 3: "MJ's Voicemail"
Orginal Blog: MJ's Voicemail
This blog was a posting that I chose to do of the voicemail Mike and I created. This is what we imagined a voicmail of Michael Jackson would sound like with a guest appearance from his father Joseph. I felt this was a very silly or playful assignment. However, Mike and I did enjoy ourselves and became familiar with the program and requirements at the same time.
7. Blog Entry 4: "Dan's Assignments"
Orginal Blog: Dan's Assignments
This blog was simply a personal reflection of mine on the wonderful assignments or teacher that I honestly think Dan is. Professor Dan is unlike any other teacher I have had to date, especially in English. I'm ecstatic over the fact that I have had the opportunity to learn a great deal from him in not only paper composition, but also web compostion, audio compostion, and now visual composition. This are skills that I see myself benefitting from very much in the future. Futhermore I have had the opportunity to exlope the website a bit and look at the "I am Dan" link at the top and I am very impressed with everything I have learned about my teacher. I think its great that hes taken it upon himself to produce a textbook regarding his different methods of compostion aside from paper. I am expect great things as a result of this project and am very impressed!
8. Personal Picture Collage: Destined for Greatness
Orginal Submission: Original Greatness Blog
Revised Submission: Greatness Collage Blog
Revised Image: Greatness Collage
This being my first experience with photo editing in general was a very "different" experience. Although I was not the best with program, I slowy progressed and became better. With this image I simply wanted to portray the confidence I have in the magnitude of my capabilities and stress the fact that the possibilities are truly limitless for those who dare. In hindsight, it almost comes off kind of "gothicky."
9. International Issue Collage: Educational Cultural Difference
Original Submission: Educational Cultural Difference
Original Image: Cultural Difference Original Image
Final Image: Cultural Difference Finall Image
As I became more familiar with the program and finally understood and manuevered with the concept of the mask, making better images became much more fun and easy. I was very proud of this image particularly because it actually ended up just the way I planned. I feel I effectively conveyed my message of stressing the difference between Western values and youth versus those of the Easterern countries.
10. Scholarly Video Collage: Materialism in the US
Original Submission: Materialism In the US Blog
Direct Video Link: Materialism Video Collage
This video collage experience was definitely interesting. I feel as if I learned a great deal and I am very fortunate for being exposed to the Camtasia software, I feel as if it will definitely come in hand in the future. However; as i mentioned in my blog I think I expereinced writer's block during this project, which is ironic because technically although we were composing, we weren't writing. From the few videos I've looked at I feel as if I was not the only person who was allowed to hve fun with the assignment, althought it was very tedious it was very interesting as well.
11. Blog Entry 5: Summer School
Orginal Blog: Summer School
This blog was a general review of my entire summer school experience. Now that the session is winding down I truly feel as if all of the work was worth while and that I benefitted from it. I'm simply holding on and hoping that I made the desired grades in my classes.
12. Blog Entry 6: Materialism In the US
Original Blog: Materialism In the US Blog
This was my movie post on the materialistic ideals within the United States. I highlighted some of the most well known consumer favorites and celebrity idols. The goal was to help the audience realize that we are all materialists of some sort and to attemp to overcome the attraction to material goods.
13. Blog Entry 7: Video Reflection
Original Blog: Video Reflection
In this blog I simply focused on the video project we just completed. I spoke on my hardships finding a topic and getting started. However, this is a project I would highly recommend to an upcoming class, my only advice is that perhaps it should be started earlier in the year as a basic project with pictures and music. Then as the year progresses the students can update the audio tracks via the audacity program as you introduce it and the PhotoPlus program as you introduce that as well. What do you think?
14. Blog Entry 8: My Final Blog!
Original Blog: My Final Blog!
This blog was fittingly an Ode to Dan, I figured it was the least I could in appreciation of the great class the he provided for us (the students). In the blog I'm simply commenting on how fulfilling and beneficial I felt the class was, Especially on Dan's ability to teach to without overteaching or boring the class.
15. General Reflection
As I have stated time and time again. I thoroughly enjoy this class, and for this reason I enjoy the assignments, put full effort into them and am actually proud of hte work that I have put out as a result. As we continue to work with the programs that we've been exposed to and continue to learn new things I only expect that my ability to creatively convey message through alternate forms of compostion will increase. I wonder if there are actually people in the classroom who aren't pleases with the way things have progressed. If there were one thing that I would change it would simply be the grading method; however, I do understand Dan's reasoning and how some may benefit from it. I am very determined and plan on obtaining an "A" in this course and I am more than willing to do whatever it takes to obtain the grade. Fortunately in a classroom like this and a Professor like Dan, I have learned a great amount as I strived towards academic exellence! The experience has definitely been worth while.
****Note: Michael Jackson Profile Revision Essays are below. Final draft is the most recent, thank you for the help in the revising process.
