Blog Entry 7 Reflection and Evaluation

        For my English 099 class, I have done six blog entries, some class activities and one practice catw test. Everything is new for me in this class because all my homework is done on computer, which I have never done in other classes before. Now,  my college requires students to create e-portfolios, blogs and Facebook's to do their assignments. This class has helped me a lot to improve both my English skills and computer skills since I am not good at using computers. In my writing, the most challenging part is coming up with good ideas and finishing my articles in a certain amount of time. There are also some errors in my grammar and spelling. How to organize and make good connections from paragraph to paragraph is also a hard part for me. In the class, I have learned how to analyze the article by using annotations and written summaries using our own words. Today, I am learning the thesis-based writing and I feel that it is useful in my writing. "The Allegory or the Cave" is not easy for me and I need to read it a couple of times to understand it.
         I took a practice CATW test this Tuesday and I don't think my writing was too good, because I believe my idea is too general. My test was about "Internet dating: New format, Same result." I wrote about how internet dating is not the normal  social way to meet with people. People used to hide the truth and post their perfect image on the web. I doubt that people will really care about others since they are strangers to them. When they think they are talking to the people, they are actually talking to the machine. Machines have no feelings. When the real meeting comes, and you find out the truth and it might not match what you expected, you will feel disappointed. There are some bad things such as some murder that has happened before through internet dating. Therefore, in my opinion, I think we need to be careful when we date someone through the internet.
         I know I still need more practice to past the test.
              

Blog Entry 6 Review Socrates' and Plato's Allegory

           In "The Allegory of the Cave," Plato shows us how a group of people see their shadow as the reality world. When a person gets out of the cave and discovers the exactly real world, he tries to tell his fellows the truth, but they don't understand him. When he gets back from the real world to inside the cave, they do not believe him also. If people block themsleve in certin area, their minds and visions will becom shallow. I agree with Socrates' and Plato's philosophy and how they view this intellectual world by using this parable.
          This allegory reminds me the similar situation that happen in China when I was a kid. In school I were told that my country was the best because we lived in the socialist country. Capitalist country like America is the worst and people there were very poor. That was Mao's era and people were brain wash. Even though China was poor in that period, we still believe what Mao said and proud of our country. We were all tricked by Mao's lies. Chinese people became ignorant and backward because Mao closed the door and blocked any news from outside of the country. We couldn't see outside the world and we lived in our own world with nothing to compare and without knowing the world was changing. After Mao died, Deng Xiao Ping opened the door and people suddenly woke up. When Chinese people realized what was going on in this world, it was too late, China was far away behind other developed country. When I immigrated to America I knew the truth that I was taught wrong when I was a kid. This is a good example to tell us how sad if people are prohibited from knowledge of the world.
          Although I lived in a restricted era when I was little, there is something that I could do. I remember I liked to watch the sky when there were many stars lighting up in the sky. My mother always came to me and we counted those stars together. She told me that each star represents different things and people, and the sparkling one was me. I always thought that those sparking stars were so little, but they were still too far to reach. I was so curious about stars and things around me. As I grew up, I learned more and I understood more. Stars are not little. They are planets, including our earth. In the article, people were chained and they couldn't move, but their mind could not be chained. I believe, as human beings, we have the ability to open up our minds and fix our vision to reach the intellectual world.

Blog Entry 5 Summary of "The allegory of the Cave"

            In "The Allegory of the Cave," Plato used his philosophy to tell a parable. There are human beings living in a cave since they were children. They are chained, so they can't move and can only face the wall in front of them. Behind the wall, people and animals walk through. Thus, in their lives, all they see are shadows of puppets reflected on the wall between a fire above and behind them in the cave. "To them, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images." Perhaps one day a prisoner is released, he get out of the cave and is able to see the real world. When he tries to tell his fellows about what he has discover behind the wall, his fellows don't recognize and understand him, all they can see is his shadow on the wall. Now he sees himself, the sun and the nature world. He gains knowledge in the visible world. He is glad for the change of himself and feels sorry of his fellow-prisoners. But if suddenly he goes back to the prison again , his eyes will fill of darkness, his fellow will not believe what he says. He can't even think of getting out of the cave again because he will be kill if he wants to try.
            In this parable, "the prison house is the world of sight, the light of the fire is the sun." Socrates concludes that we have to judge our vision to reach the soul into the intellectual world to discover the universe. There is always right or wrong, God knows. As human beings, we have to always look for the nature, beauty of the reality world with our effort.

Blog Entry 4 The "Hype"

            In "Hype," Lasn shows us how ads are surrounding people's lives whether they like it or not. Every day when you wake up, you can see and hear them whether you are at home or in the public. You can't escape from Ads because you have no where to hide. Ads are following you everywhere and get into you mind without you noticing. I agree with the author when she states that "advertisements are the most prevalent and toxic of the mental pollutants" and "no one is exempt and no one will be spared."
             Ads are one of the most popular roles played in our society. The reason that ads steadily increase and spread is because this is a business strategy that attract people. When people used to see and hear them everyday, more and more they will get into their minds without noticing. There are many kinds of brand name products in the market and people want to own them because of the ads attraction. When I first came to America in 90', ads were pretty new to me and there were not as many as today. Since ads go into my life and influencer me a lot, sometimes I can't get rid of them. I have many unnecessary products at home because of the pursuit of the ads. I can't believe I have so many things filled in my apartment compared to when I first arrived to America with two suitcases. Many of my friends also said that their apartments have become smaller and smaller because of the stuff. We used to buy things without thinking because we just want to update ourselves by the style of the ads. As a result, we can see how ads are so "prevalent" and can influence our mind just like "toxic of the mental pollutants" in our lives.
             Since ads today have become the tool of the companies' competition, we can't avoid seeing ads no matter where we stand. According to the article, it is "estimated 12 billion display ads, 3million radio commercials, and more than 200,000 TV commercials" are shown every day in North America. I believe that the number is much higher today because of the networking. Everywhere you go, even in the wheat fields or in you kids' classroom, the ads are always right in front of your eyes. We can always see how companies give away so many small free package with ads, even small pencils for kids that has ads too. This is a good reason to show us that "no one is exempt" from ads. At the end, the author says sarcastically that in the silent moments, she hears "that kid singing the Oscar Meyer wiener song" ad, instead of "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony."
             It is for sure there are too many ads for us. Since we can't get rid of ads, we should make decision on our own instead of what the ads want us to be.
             

Blog Entry 3 Summary of "Hype"

           In "Hype", Lasn shows us how huge amount of the ads have shown and still increased without stopping in our society. Everyday when you wake up you can see and hear ads whether you are at home or in the public. You can't escape from ads whether you like it or not because you have nowhere to hide. Ads follow you around and influences your mind like "toxic of the mental pollutants."

Blog 2 "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

1. This activity makes me understand the article more easily before writing the essay, especially when we read the article twice.
2. I get the main idea of the article and the suggestion from the author which can be the other idea.
3. Annotating can be the first step which directs you to write a good essay.
4. I think annotating one main idea and one or two other ideas  will be better.

Blog Entry 1 "Hype"

            In "Hype," Lasn shows us how ads are surrounding people's lives whether they like it or not. Every day when you wake up, you can see and hear them whether you are at home or in the public. You can't escape from Ads because you have no where to hide. Ads are following you everywhere and get into you mind without you noticing. I agree with the author when she states that "advertisements are the most prevalent and toxic of the mental pollutants" and "no one is exempt and no one will be spared."
             Ads are one of the most popular roles played in our society. The reason that ads steadily increase and spread is because this is a business strategy that attract people. When people used to see and hear them everyday, more and more they will get into their minds without noticing. There are many kinds of brand name products in the market and people want to own them because of the ads attraction. When I first came to America in 90', ads were pretty new to me and there were not as many as today. Since ads go into my life and influencer me a lot, sometimes I can't get rid of them. I have many unnecessary products at home because of the pursuit of the ads. I can't believe I have so many things filled in my apartment compared to when I first arrived to America with two suitcases. Many of my friends also said that their apartments have become smaller and smaller because of the stuff. We used to buy things without thinking because we just want to update ourselves by the style of the ads. As a result, we can see how ads are so "prevalent" and can influence our mind just like "toxic of the mental pollutants" in our lives.
             Since ads today have become the tool of the companies' competition, we can't avoid seeing ads no matter where we stand. According to the article, it is "estimated 12 billion display ads, 3million radio commercials, and more than 200,000 TV commercials" are shown every day in North America. I believe that the number is much higher today because of the networking. Everywhere you go, even in the wheat fields or in you kids' classroom, the ads are always right in front of your eyes. We can always see how companies give away so many small free package with ads, even small pencils for kids that has ads too. This is a good reason to show us that "no one is exempt" from ads. At the end, the author says sarcastically that in the silent moments, she hears "that kid singing the Oscar Meyer wiener song" ad, instead of "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony."
             It is for sure there are too many ads for us. Since we can't get rid of ads, we should make decision on our own instead of what the ads want us to be.
              

What I expect to get out of this class?

For me, learning English is a challenge. I hope I can learn more English, especially by writing as much as I can. Also, I expect to pass the CATW test.