I really like the way Baker writes.Of all the articles we have read; his is the most enjoyable to me.He writes in a way that I think anyone could understand.My favorite type of book has always been one that I can picture in my head while I read it.I think this is how Russell Baker writes.The book The Yearling is written like that; you can feel every emotion, and see in your minds eye the beautiful trees in the meadow blossoming.It was one of my favorite reads as a teenager. I also like the way Baker suggest we use our own language in our writing. I think that I do identify with the idea of becoming a writer sometimes; I used to write short stories when I was in college in the 80's. It was usually a romantic story of a lonely girl who meets up with the man of her dreams!ooo,aaaaah. But of course I was looking for my own lost love at the time. After I was married and had little ones, I wrote a few children's stories that my kids enjoyed.I have toyed with the idea of writing.Yes, I have. I don't think it takes a particular breed though; I think you just have to enjoy putting your thoughts down on paper. There is creativity in all of us.
How to Write with Style Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
I think to write with style means to make it interesting to read.If it is in your own language what ever that may be, weather it is a German accent, or a southern drawl,or the dialect of your environment like types of slang. It all adds something to your writing style. I was born in Atlanta Ga. and there are some ways of saying things that people from the north might not understand. Would they know what I was asking if I said" Could you please put my Coke in a poke? It would mean" Could you put whatever type of soda I purchased in a paper sack."When I was growing up no matter what you were drinking from the machine ,you just said I am going to get a coke; and it always got put in a poke.I think that who you are makes it interesting unless you are a total bore; but all of the articles that we have read have an interesting fraction in them.Even the parts we aren't sure of gives us food for thought.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Idenity paper thesis statement
I am writting on the idenity of myself.I was born in Atlanta Ga.I am a wife and a mother of three; but that is not who I am.I am the thoughts,ideas and chioces of Naomi DeWitt.In my paper I will be writting on three different idenities that I portray in my life. All of which are played out within a week.Every week.
Monday, February 18, 2008
peer review
The over all fell I get from your paper is that I would have liked to hear more of what you think.It would be interesting if after a persons quoteyou put your imput on what they are saying.I would also not have as many quotes but more of what you think.The parts that are you talking are much more intresting than the quotes. I really like your first paragragh.I think you should touch on those questions in your paper.On page 3 2nd to last para. I would'nt put many,many.On page 4 the sentence however , I am gladto know that will always be my chioce.I like this sentence.I would combine the last paragragh on page 4 with the paragragh before.A make a new closing. I would give you advise for that but I suck at closings.
Naomi DeWitt
Nicole Hancock
English 101
Song Identity Mini Paper
In doing the research for these songs it is easy to get pulled into the scenes. My emotions helped me to identify some with the lyrics. Though I did not understand all that was said,
I felt that I could understand the main idea of each song.
In the song Lithium by Nirvana, I think it is about him self and an on going struggle with an illness in which he has to take medicine to balance out the things in his head. It is a mixture of reality and what he sometimes thinks is reality. It is his inward struggle.
I can relate to him when it comes to maybe having the need to except who we are and realize that everyone has something wrong with them in some way. We all have to deal with our demons so to speak.
In the next song that I choose, Piano Man by Billy Joel was a song I think most of us are familiar with. He is playing in a bar that he has been in many times, because he seems to know the people. He sees their struggle. His playing and his song seem to be what they need to hear. They are not where they would like to be in life, and he realizes his part in it all is for their comfort. Though I don’t frequent bars often; I do no that many people go to bars because of the people that reach out to you there. They carry on conversations, and talk out the latest problem in their lives, a listening ear. People need affirmation .I relate to this song because for many years I have wanted to get more into the art work that I have always loved since childhood. At forty five I am starting an art degree.
In the song Why Georgia by John Mayer I get the sense that he is leaving something behind; a situation that he has chosen to leave, but had some doubt in his decision and maybe even second guessing his life choices. We have all done this. I have asked myself this many times in my life. Should I have had my kids so close together? Should I have waited to go back to school? Sometimes we just have to go by our gut and hope for the best.
I think that sometimes a good song can help us through a tough spot in life. It can
inspire us. It can help us to empathize with others. And most of all I think it can give us
joy.
Nicole Hancock
English 101
Song Identity Mini Paper
In doing the research for these songs it is easy to get pulled into the scenes. My emotions helped me to identify some with the lyrics. Though I did not understand all that was said,
I felt that I could understand the main idea of each song.
In the song Lithium by Nirvana, I think it is about him self and an on going struggle with an illness in which he has to take medicine to balance out the things in his head. It is a mixture of reality and what he sometimes thinks is reality. It is his inward struggle.
I can relate to him when it comes to maybe having the need to except who we are and realize that everyone has something wrong with them in some way. We all have to deal with our demons so to speak.
In the next song that I choose, Piano Man by Billy Joel was a song I think most of us are familiar with. He is playing in a bar that he has been in many times, because he seems to know the people. He sees their struggle. His playing and his song seem to be what they need to hear. They are not where they would like to be in life, and he realizes his part in it all is for their comfort. Though I don’t frequent bars often; I do no that many people go to bars because of the people that reach out to you there. They carry on conversations, and talk out the latest problem in their lives, a listening ear. People need affirmation .I relate to this song because for many years I have wanted to get more into the art work that I have always loved since childhood. At forty five I am starting an art degree.
In the song Why Georgia by John Mayer I get the sense that he is leaving something behind; a situation that he has chosen to leave, but had some doubt in his decision and maybe even second guessing his life choices. We have all done this. I have asked myself this many times in my life. Should I have had my kids so close together? Should I have waited to go back to school? Sometimes we just have to go by our gut and hope for the best.
I think that sometimes a good song can help us through a tough spot in life. It can
inspire us. It can help us to empathize with others. And most of all I think it can give us
joy.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Music is for everyone (final draft)
Naomi DeWitt
Nicole Hancock
ENGL 101.10
08 Feb. 2008
Music is for Everyone
Music is a part of all our lives. We are surrounded by music from the time of our births until we pass in death. Can we avoid it? Is there a way that we could choose not to listen? Not to tap our toes to a passing tune? Is music just something that humankind invented? If so, why and how far back in time did it start?
Even the ocean’s tide seems to have a rhythm. It is said to be controlled by the pull of the moon. Maybe there is an invisible force that causes us to yearn for that rhythm or beat in the music of our choice. We have a steady beat going on inside of our chests causing a kind of “cha-cha-cha” as it pushes the blood through all of our veins and organs.
So, where does music come from? Investigating this question for a new radio program, Ivan Hewitt found evidence that singing and dancing are a key part of being human.[1] In his searching he heard of Maria Maline who is the leader of a team of archeologists working in a cave in Swabian Jura of south-western Germany, In the bottom layers were remains left by Neanderthals. They had made ornaments and instruments. Such as a delicately worked flute, made from a swan's bone. When played, it makes a clear sound, which sounds absolutely "musical", as if it had been made yesterday.[2] Others who have spent years with a tribe in the Congo basin say that their music and song came from listening to the sounds of the jungle around them, and sang a musical forest into being.[3]
When I was carrying my children in-utero, I would play different types of music near my ever-growing tummy with the idea that maybe my children would love the study of music or play beautifully at a symphony someday. Or maybe they would like some of my music. Well, that did not work. My children could not have been any more different in their musical tastes. They certainly do not like my music. They all have their own individual style of music that may never be played on a stage with a piano in front of them. It is uniquely their own.
It is sometimes suggested that the music we like to listen to comes from our parents, our surroundings or the culture we are familiar with. To a point I think it is somewhat true. So what happened to my daughters? Not only do they not like my style of music, they do not like their sisters’ music either.
In chapter one of How Music Really Works! written by Wayne Chase. He says:
You owe your ability to appreciate and create music to the genes you inherited from your parents and their ancestors, going back many thousands of generations. But the specifics of your musical tastes and musical creativity come primarily from the cultural preferences of your peer group—not from your parents. This applies to your non-musical cultural preferences as well.[4]
Chase uses the example of a Korean-born boy who immigrated to the United States with his parents at a young age. He spoke fluent Korean like his parents and practiced their Buddhist religion. However, when the boy reached his late teens he started pulling away from his family traditions and began identifying with his peer group. According to Chase:
In short, you inhabit a personal environment of your own, an environment that overlaps with the personal environments of your peer group. It shows. You still have the genetic inheritance of your parents, of course, but the specific cultural information you have acquired has come mainly from your peer group. And that includes not just your language, but also your musical tastes.[5]
Noam Chomsky, an American linguist said “the ability to acquire language is a species specific human activity”.[6] He believes that we are born with a module or system of modules in our brain that give us the ability to store words and to decipher the meaning.[7] This of course would apply to music as well.
Human beings have the innate ability to decide for themselves the kind of music they like. We are not blank slates waiting to be written on by others. We choose for ourselves.
When I was a college student in the eighties my friends and I enjoyed the popular music of the day. However, as I have grown older I have learned to like different types of music. Now I enjoy listening to classical, jazz, gospel and country.
There are many, many more studies and ideas of where music came from and why we like it. That list includes the well educated who spend years on the subject to fifth graders who think they have the corner on the best music choices.
In learning more about music lately, I feel that it has opened up a new world to me. Researching new music has been very enjoyable. I feel like I have added on several new types of music to my play list. Sometimes, I just listen to whatever fits my mood at the time. However, I am glad to know that it will always be my choice.
Anytime that you would like to share your favorite choices I will be open minded and happy to check it out.
[1] Ivan Hewitt. Music Healing the Rift. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/12/08/bmmusic108.xml
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Wayne Chase. How Music Really Works! http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.25
[5] Chase. http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.25
[6] Noam Chomsky. http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.13
[7] Ibid.
Nicole Hancock
ENGL 101.10
08 Feb. 2008
Music is for Everyone
Music is a part of all our lives. We are surrounded by music from the time of our births until we pass in death. Can we avoid it? Is there a way that we could choose not to listen? Not to tap our toes to a passing tune? Is music just something that humankind invented? If so, why and how far back in time did it start?
Even the ocean’s tide seems to have a rhythm. It is said to be controlled by the pull of the moon. Maybe there is an invisible force that causes us to yearn for that rhythm or beat in the music of our choice. We have a steady beat going on inside of our chests causing a kind of “cha-cha-cha” as it pushes the blood through all of our veins and organs.
So, where does music come from? Investigating this question for a new radio program, Ivan Hewitt found evidence that singing and dancing are a key part of being human.[1] In his searching he heard of Maria Maline who is the leader of a team of archeologists working in a cave in Swabian Jura of south-western Germany, In the bottom layers were remains left by Neanderthals. They had made ornaments and instruments. Such as a delicately worked flute, made from a swan's bone. When played, it makes a clear sound, which sounds absolutely "musical", as if it had been made yesterday.[2] Others who have spent years with a tribe in the Congo basin say that their music and song came from listening to the sounds of the jungle around them, and sang a musical forest into being.[3]
When I was carrying my children in-utero, I would play different types of music near my ever-growing tummy with the idea that maybe my children would love the study of music or play beautifully at a symphony someday. Or maybe they would like some of my music. Well, that did not work. My children could not have been any more different in their musical tastes. They certainly do not like my music. They all have their own individual style of music that may never be played on a stage with a piano in front of them. It is uniquely their own.
It is sometimes suggested that the music we like to listen to comes from our parents, our surroundings or the culture we are familiar with. To a point I think it is somewhat true. So what happened to my daughters? Not only do they not like my style of music, they do not like their sisters’ music either.
In chapter one of How Music Really Works! written by Wayne Chase. He says:
You owe your ability to appreciate and create music to the genes you inherited from your parents and their ancestors, going back many thousands of generations. But the specifics of your musical tastes and musical creativity come primarily from the cultural preferences of your peer group—not from your parents. This applies to your non-musical cultural preferences as well.[4]
Chase uses the example of a Korean-born boy who immigrated to the United States with his parents at a young age. He spoke fluent Korean like his parents and practiced their Buddhist religion. However, when the boy reached his late teens he started pulling away from his family traditions and began identifying with his peer group. According to Chase:
In short, you inhabit a personal environment of your own, an environment that overlaps with the personal environments of your peer group. It shows. You still have the genetic inheritance of your parents, of course, but the specific cultural information you have acquired has come mainly from your peer group. And that includes not just your language, but also your musical tastes.[5]
Noam Chomsky, an American linguist said “the ability to acquire language is a species specific human activity”.[6] He believes that we are born with a module or system of modules in our brain that give us the ability to store words and to decipher the meaning.[7] This of course would apply to music as well.
Human beings have the innate ability to decide for themselves the kind of music they like. We are not blank slates waiting to be written on by others. We choose for ourselves.
When I was a college student in the eighties my friends and I enjoyed the popular music of the day. However, as I have grown older I have learned to like different types of music. Now I enjoy listening to classical, jazz, gospel and country.
There are many, many more studies and ideas of where music came from and why we like it. That list includes the well educated who spend years on the subject to fifth graders who think they have the corner on the best music choices.
In learning more about music lately, I feel that it has opened up a new world to me. Researching new music has been very enjoyable. I feel like I have added on several new types of music to my play list. Sometimes, I just listen to whatever fits my mood at the time. However, I am glad to know that it will always be my choice.
Anytime that you would like to share your favorite choices I will be open minded and happy to check it out.
[1] Ivan Hewitt. Music Healing the Rift. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/12/08/bmmusic108.xml
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Wayne Chase. How Music Really Works! http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.25
[5] Chase. http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.25
[6] Noam Chomsky. http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.13
[7] Ibid.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Naomi DeWitt
Nicole Hancock
ENGL 101.10
08 Feb. 2008
Music is for Everyone
Music is a part of all our lives. We are surrounded by music from the time of our births until we pass in death. Can we avoid it? Is there a way that we could choose not to listen? Not to tap our toes to a passing tune? Is music just something that humankind invented? If so, why and how far back in time did it start?
Even the ocean’s tide seems to have a rhythm. It is said to be controlled by the pull of the moon. Maybe there is an invisible force that causes us to yearn for that rhythm or beat in the music of our choice. We have a steady beat going on inside of our chests causing a kind of “cha-cha-cha” as it pushes the blood through all of our veins and organs.
So, where does music come from? Investigating this question for a new radio program, Ivan Hewitt found evidence that singing and dancing are a key part of being human.[1] In his searching he heard of Maria Maline who is the leader of a team of archeologists working in a cave in Swabian Jura of south-western Germany, In the bottom layers were remains left by Neanderthals. They had made ornaments and instruments. Such as a delicately worked flute, made from a swan's bone. When played, it makes a clear sound, which sounds absolutely "musical", as if it had been made yesterday.[2] Others who have spent years with a tribe in the Congo basin say that their music and song came from listening to the sounds of the jungle around them, and sang a musical forest into being.[3]
When I was carrying my children in-utero, I would play different types of music near my ever-growing tummy with the idea that maybe my children would love the study of music or play beautifully at a symphony someday. Or maybe they would like some of my music. Well, that did not work. My children could not have been any more different in their musical tastes. They certainly do not like my music. They all have their own individual style of music that may never be played on a stage with a piano in front of them. It is uniquely their own.
It is sometimes suggested that the music we like to listen to comes from our parents, our surroundings or the culture we are familiar with. To a point I think it is somewhat true. So what happened to my daughters? Not only do they not like my style of music, they do not like their sisters’ music either.
Noam Chomsky, an American linguist said “the ability to acquire language is a species specific human activity”.[4] He believes that we are born with a module or system of modules in our brain that give us the ability to store words and to decipher the meaning.[5] This of course would apply to music as well.
Human beings have the innate ability to decide for themselves the kind of music they like. We are not blank slates waiting to be written on by others. We choose for ourselves.
There are many, many more studies and ideas of where music came from and why we like it. That list includes the well educated who spend years on the subject to fifth graders who think they have the corner on the best music choices.
In learning more about music lately, I feel that it has opened up a new world to me. Researching new music has been very enjoyable. I feel like I have added on several new types of music to my play list. I am not sure why I like the various kinds of music that I listen to. However, I am glad to know that it will always be my choice.
Anytime that you would like to share your favorite choices I will be open minded and happy to check it out.
[1] Ivan Hewitt. Music Healing the Rift. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/12/08/bmmusic108.xml
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Noam Chomsky. http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.13
[5] Ibid.
Nicole Hancock
ENGL 101.10
08 Feb. 2008
Music is for Everyone
Music is a part of all our lives. We are surrounded by music from the time of our births until we pass in death. Can we avoid it? Is there a way that we could choose not to listen? Not to tap our toes to a passing tune? Is music just something that humankind invented? If so, why and how far back in time did it start?
Even the ocean’s tide seems to have a rhythm. It is said to be controlled by the pull of the moon. Maybe there is an invisible force that causes us to yearn for that rhythm or beat in the music of our choice. We have a steady beat going on inside of our chests causing a kind of “cha-cha-cha” as it pushes the blood through all of our veins and organs.
So, where does music come from? Investigating this question for a new radio program, Ivan Hewitt found evidence that singing and dancing are a key part of being human.[1] In his searching he heard of Maria Maline who is the leader of a team of archeologists working in a cave in Swabian Jura of south-western Germany, In the bottom layers were remains left by Neanderthals. They had made ornaments and instruments. Such as a delicately worked flute, made from a swan's bone. When played, it makes a clear sound, which sounds absolutely "musical", as if it had been made yesterday.[2] Others who have spent years with a tribe in the Congo basin say that their music and song came from listening to the sounds of the jungle around them, and sang a musical forest into being.[3]
When I was carrying my children in-utero, I would play different types of music near my ever-growing tummy with the idea that maybe my children would love the study of music or play beautifully at a symphony someday. Or maybe they would like some of my music. Well, that did not work. My children could not have been any more different in their musical tastes. They certainly do not like my music. They all have their own individual style of music that may never be played on a stage with a piano in front of them. It is uniquely their own.
It is sometimes suggested that the music we like to listen to comes from our parents, our surroundings or the culture we are familiar with. To a point I think it is somewhat true. So what happened to my daughters? Not only do they not like my style of music, they do not like their sisters’ music either.
Noam Chomsky, an American linguist said “the ability to acquire language is a species specific human activity”.[4] He believes that we are born with a module or system of modules in our brain that give us the ability to store words and to decipher the meaning.[5] This of course would apply to music as well.
Human beings have the innate ability to decide for themselves the kind of music they like. We are not blank slates waiting to be written on by others. We choose for ourselves.
There are many, many more studies and ideas of where music came from and why we like it. That list includes the well educated who spend years on the subject to fifth graders who think they have the corner on the best music choices.
In learning more about music lately, I feel that it has opened up a new world to me. Researching new music has been very enjoyable. I feel like I have added on several new types of music to my play list. I am not sure why I like the various kinds of music that I listen to. However, I am glad to know that it will always be my choice.
Anytime that you would like to share your favorite choices I will be open minded and happy to check it out.
[1] Ivan Hewitt. Music Healing the Rift. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/12/08/bmmusic108.xml
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Noam Chomsky. http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Pages_Chapter_1/1_3.html#1.3.13
[5] Ibid.
Monday, February 4, 2008
About me
Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying this class.Interacting with the younger group has definitly been a possitive experience for me.I really like the younger perspective.It's a breath of fresh air.And I just wanted to share alittle about myself.I am married to Tom a third generation pastor in his family.He is a chaplain on staff at S.L.U. And is working on his doctrite in clinical counsiling.We also pastor a church in Belleville Ill.We have pastored for 20 years all together.I have three beautiful girls Beth 20,Jennifer 19, and Caitlyn 16. I have been a professional Dog groomer of the smaller breeds for 15 years now.I am an Fine Arts major here at S.W.I.C. I have drawn nature , flowers, and animals since I can remember. I love all the arts! And I hope to teach it someday.
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