Title Page

Photo source: Climate change talks: the road to Durban. (n.d.). IEA - Home. Retrieved August 27, 2012, from http://www.iea.org/index_info.asp?id=1757

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Cover Letter

Dear Mentor,

                At the beginning of the term, you have resented us with Desired Learning Results for ENGLCOM Writing Component and I am proud to say that, to some extent, I have attained them. All my essays display my effective communication skills because I was able to successfully get my message across to my reader. My two major essays, “Aye Aye, Captain!” for Extended Definition Essay and “Social Networking: Crippling, Not Cool” for Argumentative Essay, have showcased my critical and creative thinking. Those two essays required me to think not only out of the box, but logically as well in researching for data and information regarding the topics of my essays. Creative and critical thinking were also exercised during the writing process in discerning the best way to express my message. It was also used during the peer-editing in proof-reading for any errors and searching for points of improvement. Reflective life-long learning was also exhibited through the consistent usage of the techniques learned in ENGLCOM WC. These techniques were not only used for the class, but in writing academic papers, reflection papers, reaction papers and the like for other subjects as well.

                As I said before, I have only attained to the Desired Learning results to some extent for they all proved to be difficult to achieve. However, I found critical and creative thinking to be the most elusive skill of all three. I constantly struggled with finding a topic to write about and when I do decide on one, I struggled with which details to develop. I could never agree with myself as to the kind of voice I wanted to convey or the writing style I wanted to use. Even as I write this, an internal argument is going on inside of me. I can only hope that one day, with much practice and perseverance, that I will no longer be so fickle and have my own writing identity.

                With two more years of college stretched out ahead of me and without any plans of switching to another course, I know that there are many more writing classes to study, essays and papers to write, books to read, mistakes to correct and lessons to learn. I foresee countless nights of writing and banging my head for an idea. Perhaps somewhere along the way, with all that repetition and usage of writing skills, I will no longer find it hard to think critically and creatively.

                But out of all the essays I have written this term, I am most proud of my first one: “Nomad”. It is raw, real and relevant to my life. “Nomad” is about constant change and the on-going search for my identity and place in this world. Out of everything I have ever written, it showcased who I was and what I hope to find. It is honest, without being too honest. It was written about me, but it can also be for any travelling soul. Whenever I read it, I feel like I am in front of a mirror, staring at my younger self. I can feel the pain, the frustration, the anxiety and the hope. When I finish, I know that I turned out just fine and that everything will be okay. I hope whoever reads it will believe that too.

                There was a variety of activities in ENGLCOM WC that aided me in achieving my personal goals. The lectures equipped me with the knowledge I needed to write well. The group activities and assignments provided a means to practice new concepts and writing techniques. It gave me the opportunity to use the concepts discussed during the lectures and use the techniques introduced during class. I was also able to develop a formal voice and exercise writing academically.

               

                Personally, I do not believe that blogging made a difference in my reading and writing skills. I wrote as I would for a written or printed output and I read as I would a printed or written text. My writings on my blog are the same as the academic papers I am required to pass for other subjects. Perhaps I would feel differently if we were asked to maintain a real blog instead of one for academic purposes. However, blogging proved to be more convenient for most of the students because it made peer-editing and commenting easier than if it were a written output. It also spared us from the hassle off printing, allowing us to save paper, ink and money.

                Throughout the course of this term, I found out that I am a highly informal writer. I write the same way as I talk. Many times, I have caught myself using informal language and describing scenarios to express emotion (ex. “banging my head for an idea” = frustration, anger). I learned that I am also very fickle. My mind comes up with too many ideas too fast that my memory often cannot catch up with it. In the end, I am left angry and frustrated, with nothing to write. After that, I get a writer’s block. However, thanks to the lessons and techniques presented to us in class, I was able to come out with a handful of good works. Even though I still prefer writing as I usually do, it’s good to know that I am just as capable of writing an academic paper with a formal voice.

                Some of the writing techniques taught this term was Outlining and Free-writing. Personally, I have grown accustomed to Outlining for it allowed me to organize my train of thoughts and ideas. Because of this, I am now able to write efficiently and effectively. Free-writing also aided me in letting out my ideas before they could desert my ever changing mind. Lessons such as parallelism were revisited while others like pre-writing strategies, how to write an introduction, thesis statement and conclusion were expounded.

                In revising my major essays, I always turned to classmates for a second opinion. I have the tendency of overlooking my errors and mistakes for I knew the flow of the essay like the back of my hand. I already knew what it was going to say even before I read that part. Because I had already understood what I was reading, it was easy for me to skip my mistakes. However, with a fresh pair of eyes, my classmates easily spotted the errors I had committed and readily edited them. I also turned to my professor for an experienced view for it is her area of expertise and her experienced eyes were able to see the mistakes that my classmates might have overlooked or considered correct.

                As the term ends, I can proudly say that I am walking away with a head full of knowledge and a pocket filled with new ideas and techniques jut itching to be used again. There were many difficulties that I would rather not encounter again, but gold can only be purified through fire. I still have much to learn and the road to travel stretched far and unending before me, but I know that I am leaving better than I have come.

Always,

RoadtoApollo

Table of Contents

Essays  (Entry)	Date Submitted	Score/Perfect Score
Cover Letter	August 26, 2012
Argumentative Essay ("Social Networking: Crippling, Not Cool") (Title)	August 26, 2012
Extended Definition ("Aye Aye, Captain!") (Title)	August 26, 2012
"My Goals In ENGLCOM" (Title)	August 26, 2012
4.    Diagnostic Essay ("Nomad") (Title)	June 19, 2012

Social Networking: Crippling, Not Cool (Final)

Topic : Negative Effects of Social Networking

Thesis Statement: “Social Networking is harmful to society due to its negative mental and psychological effects.”

I.                    Introduction

A.      Background of Social Networking

B.      Operational Definition of Social Networking

C.      Thesis Statement

II.                  Body

A.      First Point

1.       Counter Argument: it encourages online communication

2.       Argument : it cripples real-life communication

B.      Second Point

1.       Counter Argument : it develops social skills

2.       Argument : it develops narcissistic, anti-social and aggressive behavior

C.      Third Point

1.       Counter Argument : it is a tool for learning

2.       Argument : it hinders learning

III.                Conclusion

A.      Summary of arguments

B.      Challenge for the audience

The phenomena of social networking started in 1971, when the first email was sent. In 1994, Geocities, one of the world’s first social networking website, was launched with the idea of allowing users to construct their own websites. 1997 saw the beginning of AOL Messenger which popularized instant messaging. Also in 1997, Andrew Weinreich started SixDegrees which was “the first online business that attempted to identify and map a set of real relationships between real people using their real names” (Kirkpatrick, 2010). Friendster was then launched in 2002, starting the era of real-world friends connecting online. It was followed by Myspace in 2003, Facebook in 2004 and Twitter in 2006. The rise of social networking paved the way to the generation of a variety of social networking sites. There are many types of social networking sites that cater to the different needs of different people. However, the most rampant kind of social networking sites are recreational sites that allow people to communicate and connect with those who are already part of their real-life social circle. In some cases, it allows them to connect with strangers who share common interests, beliefs and views. Social networking has become so deeply integrated in people’s lives, especially the youth’s that it is now considered a necessity. People have become so dependent on social networking. But through the years, social networking has led to several negative consequences that made many question its safety. Due to its negative social, psychological and mental effects, social networking is harmful to society.

Many would say that one of social networking’s greatest advantages is that it is a tool for communication. Because of email, instant messaging, posts on profiles and the like, people are able to connect and communicate over large distances in a snap of a finger. But is all this cyber-communication enhancing or eroding our real-life communication skills? Since online communication does not allow active communication, it wears down face-to-face communication skills. People now prefer to virtually connect with others instead of seeing them in person, leading to the deterioration of their ability to hold conversations, exercise wit, and sympathize. Gone are the joy of making someone laugh or smile or pain of hurting a friend. Irreplaceable things such as emotions, honesty, body language, facial expressions and wit are taken away. People are no longer emotionally connected. Long hours online also eat away at near-distance relationships. Users allot so much time for social networking sites instead of cultivating real-life relationships. Conversations and banter are now rare and a thing of the past because either people have no time for it or have lost the capabilities to do so. People do not sit down and talk about their day, vent out their feelings or catch up with loved ones. Instead, they post it, comment it, Instagram it and tweet it. By being so wrapped up in their own cyber box, people alienate each other in the real world.

In relation to communication, it can also be claimed that social networking provides introverted people an outlet to develop social skills. Since personal information, ranging from place of occupation to favorite music, is made accessible online, commonalities are established and connections are made, even between strangers. Interactions made through social networking may be stronger than those through face-to-face methods because it is easier to talk about deeper and more personal topics. However, people have grown addicted to social networking, spending too much time than is healthy, which has led to the emergence of several negative psychological effects. According to Dr. Larry D. Rosen in his 2011 talk entitled “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids”, over dosage of technology and media can increase children’s, preteens’ and teenagers’ risks of developing depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders. Part of this can be accounted to the presence of cyber-bullying, a rampant problem on social networks. Victims of cyber-bullying respond similarly to victims of traditional bullying in terms of feeling sad, anxious and having low self-esteem (Cowiec & Berdondini, 2002; Ybarra &Mitchell, 2007) as well as anger, embarrassment and fear. If these emotions are not handled properly, it could result to misbehavior, violence (Aseltine &Gordon, 2000) poor performance in school or work, self-inflicted harm and even suicide. Depression also stems from the fact that people’s happiness can be underestimated or overestimated online. Everyone hides their negative emotions online, which leads unhappy people to believe that they are the only ones suffering. Another negative psychological effect of social networking is narcissism. In 2009, Dr. Jean Twenge, collaborated with Youth Polls in conducting a national survey concerning social networking. It was found that 2/3 of the sample of the study agreed to the statement that the present generation is more narcissistic and over-confident compared to previous generations. Narcissistic people tend to have more friends in these social networking sites and post more attractive pictures of themselves (Twenge, 2009). Their popularity fuels their vanity.

Meanwhile, it can also be argued that social networking sites can be used as a tool for learning. Students have come to rely on social networking sites, especially Facebook, Twitter and Instant Messaging, as a means to update one another on school work, consult classmates about lessons and collaborate on projects. Social networking sites such as groups, blogs and email are also used by teachers to connect with students and inform them of projects, assignments and the like. However, these social networking sites also pose as distractions and temptations for procrastination for students. Students who log on to a social networking site at least once every 15 minutes are more likely to achieve lower grades (Rosen, 2011). Due to the obsession with social networking, students work under constant distraction, causing their lack of interest and concentration on school works. Therefore, they achieve mediocre results.

This generation has grown accustomed to overusing and abusing it that disadvantages have stemmed from it. People have traded in face-to-face interaction for a virtual one, impairing real-life communication. Social networking sites also cultivate narcissism, anti-social behavior, aggression and other psychological disorders. It has also become a problem for students, parents and teachers for it poses as a distraction from learning. But like most other things, social networking can be good if it is used in moderation. Parents should communicate with their children, gain their trust with these matters and teach them the appropriate way of using this technology (Rosen, 2011). The youth should develop the discipline to control their activities online. Setting a time limit and only logging on after all the school works are done can minimize time spent online and improve study habits. Getting a hobby, joining a club or team or participating in extra-curricular activities can curb the obsession with the virtual social life and boost the real-life one. Social networking is gripping the world, showing promise that it is not going anywhere anytime soon. It can be tool for communication and learning. But it can also be a weapon for interpersonal harm and self-destruction. The choice is in our hands.

Sources:

Boyd, D. M., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), article 11. Retrieved August 26, 2012 from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol13/issue1/boyd.ellison.html

Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids. American Psychological Association (APA). Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2011/08/social-kids.aspx

Beyond Facebook: A look at social network history - Yahoo! News. (n.d.). Yahoo! News - Latest News & Headlines. Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://news.yahoo.com/beyond-facebook-look-social-network-history-211927663--finance.html

The History of Social Networking - Visual Academy. (n.d.). Online Schools : Your Top Source for the Best Online Colleges Info. Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://www.onlineschools.org/visual-academy/history-of-social-networking/

Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (n.d.). Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying - Justin W. Patchin, Sameer Hinduja - Google Books. Google Books. Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=SU5RTJcOk68C&pg=PA63&lpg=PA6

Kitwood, D. (n.d.). Are social networks making students more narcissistic? - USATODAY.com. News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-08-24-narcissism-young_N.htm

Dunn, J. (n.d.). The 10 Best and Worst Ways Social Media Impacts Education | Edudemic. Edudemic | Education Technology, Apps, Product Reviews, and Social Media. Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://edudemic.com/2011/07/social-media-education/

Shaulis, M. (n.d.). Facebook has negative effects on college students - CalTimes. Untitled Document. Retrieved August 26, 2012, from http://sai.calu.edu/caltimes/index.php/2011/11/16/facebook-has-negative-effects-on-college-students/

San Diego Sate University (Interviewer) & Twenge, J. (Interviewee). (2009). Are Social Networking Sites Making Us More Narcissistic?. Retrieved August 26, 2012 from Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71xHUBWLC1k

Aye Aye, Captain! (Final)

Outline of Extended Definition Essay

Topic: What are true leaders?

Thesis statement: “True leaders are made up of responsibility, commitment and selflessness.”

I.                     Introduction

a.        Functions of leaders

b.       Thesis Statement

II.                    Body

a.        Responsibility

b.       Commitment

c.        Selflessness

III.                  Conclusion

a.        Summary of points

b.       Final thoughts on leaders

                Leaders make the world go round. They are at the helm of society’s ship, pointing the crew to the right or wrong direction. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a leader is a person who leads as a guide, conductor, director or officer. They are present in every group or community, whether big or small, with or without a formal title. Monarchs, Presidents, government officials, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, student council, class officers – together, they shape the world as we know it. But true leaders are not born, they are made. True leadership is not innate, it is learned and honed. Anyone can be proclaimed a leader, but few truly are. There is so much more to leaders than simply dictating the rules and directing a group of people. True leaders are made up of responsibility, commitment and selflessness.

                There is a saying that “the number one rule of leadership: everything is your fault”. There are so many expectations and tasks that come with the job description of being a leader. They are responsible for organizing the team, dividing the work and making sure that each member is productive and holds their own weight. Leaders are also responsible for creating a practical and achievable plan of action and seeing that plan through. They are the go-to people for even the smallest details. They are expected to formulate solutions to problems. They are in charge of ensuring that the task is finished on time with the desired results. With all these responsibilities piled up on their shoulders, leaders must be focused and organized. They must have a clear vision with a positive end in mind while being realistic and prepared for the worst case scenarios. The leaders are to be held accountable for the success or failure of the team.  It is a great burden to bear but it can also reap the greatest reward.

                In order to reap the rewards of their hard work, a leader must also remain committed to the team and to the task at hand. They must be strong enough to bear the weight of the group, especially when problems arise. They must remain steadfast and focused on the job at hand, even when things do not go as planned and when plans fall through. Their concentration should be on the task at hand and not allow themselves to be caught up in distractions. True leaders are always loyal to their teams despite conflicts that will arise in the group that is composed of members with contrasting personalities and work ethics. Their dedication to the work must be unwavering, even when things are not going according to plan or when the desired outcome is not attained. When outside forces try to bring them down or when they do not get to reap the rewards of their works, true leaders do not give up. They will continue to push forward and upward, to fight the good fight until the very end.

                But the one characteristic that makes true leaders great leaders is selflessness.  They prioritize the best interest of the group over their own. Mark Twain once said that “really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great”. Sometimes, leaders slow down their pace in order to let others succeed with them. They inspire their members to do better and be better. They believe that they can become leaders too. Hand in hand with dedication, they allot so much time and effort into their work. Often times, they are willing to sacrifice personal priorities for the good of the team and their work. They listen to the opinion and insights of their members and set aside their own feelings and biases. They place credit on the group’s effort when they succeed and accept blame when they fail. At times, they step back in order to let their team mates and members shine in the lime light. The best leaders do not work for personal gains or triumph, but they work alongside others, making them feel like they can be great too.

                There is so much more to being a leader than dictating and directing. True leaders have the responsibility to carry various expectations and duties on their shoulders. They must have unwavering commitment to their team and steadfast dedication to their work. True leaders are selfless and prioritize the team and the work over personal interests, allotting time and effort in the work and inspiring others to live up to their potentials. Leaders are made and nurtured. They are constantly shaping the world, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But the world as we know it would not be the same without them. Because of true leaders, there is progress and order. Because of them, underdogs rise up. Because of them, there is empowerment and encouragement. Because of great leaders, there are good role models to follow, icons to aspire to and idols to look up to. Anyone can be called a leader, but few truly are. Anyone can possess one or two good qualities, but it takes someone special to be the whole package. Truly leaders are rare gems that the world should be grateful to have.

Source:

Leader - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Retrieved August 27, 2012, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leader

Critique of Sample Essays

Criteria for a Good Extended Definition Essay:

·         Has the three basic parts of an essay

·         Introduction has an attention-grabber, some background information and thesis statement

·         Body develops the ideas well and uses rhetorical patterns

·         Conclusion does not introduce new information, summarizes the given information and ends with a tone of finality

·         Ideas are organized well

·         Transitional devices are used

·         Sentences were readable: minimal run-on sentences, comma splices, and incomplete phrases

·         Essay is informative, interesting and goes beyond the typical definition

Extended Definition Essay 1 : “Bayanihan: The Immortal Filipino Hero”

               

The essay had all three basic parts. Its introduction provided background information on the term “Bayanihan” and has a thesis statement. The writer was able to smoothly develop the ideas with very few transitional devices. The conclusion ended the essay with an inspiring yet final tone to it. The ideas were well organized and the essay was very easy to read. It was highly informative due to the provided background information yet interesting as well because the writer was able to relate an old concept like “bayanihan” to modern sports. Indeed, the writer went well beyond the dictionary meaning of the word.

Extended Definition Essay 2: “Of Ink And Needle”

                The introduction was definitely attention grabbing and provided background information. The body was able to develop the ideas well although it was short compared to the introduction. The conclusion ended the essay with a tone of finality but was also very short. Both the body and the conclusion felt very rushed. The ideas were organized well and transitional devices were used. Some parts were hard to read due to the several mistakes in punctuation and run-on sentences. All in all, the essay was informative because of its extensive background information, interesting because it discussed tattoos and piercings both in historical and modern perspectives. However, I am unsure whether the writer went beyond the dictionary meaning or not for the essay discussed how the significance of tattoos and piercings have devolved but did not present a new view or a deeper definition of it.

My Goals In ENGLCOM (Final)

The great and fictional Albus Dumbledore said that “words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it”. Since opening my first Harry Potter book in the third grade, I have found a sense of wonder in the power of words. They were the doors to magical worlds and the keys to a hundred different emotions. Hand in hand with my constant urge to talk, I was a chatty little bookworm. Now, all grown up, I have come to realize that I have a passion for communication. ENGLCOM Writing Component is a critical course that I, as a Communication Arts student, am required to take up for the first term of my freshman year. Its objective is to educate its students the skills required to become effective writers. I, however, have always considered speaking and reading as my forte while my writing skills are mediocre at best. Despite this, I am still determined to succeed in this course. This term, I aim to achieve several things in ENGLCOM.

                First, just like every student, my main goal is to pass the course. However, I will not settle for mediocrity. I will strive for excellence even though writing is not one of my strengths. Second, I aim to improve my writing skills. As stated before, my writing skills are simply average. But I will take it upon myself to cooperate with my professor in honing my writing capabilities. Third, I intend to develop a formal voice and know how to write academically. My fourth and final goal is to become a well-rounded and effective communicator. This can be achieved only after I have fulfilled the goals stated previously and have developed my writing, reading and speaking skills.

                These goals, however, will not come true in a snap of a finger. In order to achieve them, I must be a responsible student. For me to learn, I must be present in class, both physically and mentally. In my pursuit of excellence in the ENGLCOM Writing course, I should submit all requirements and study for all the tests and quizzes that will be given to us by our professor. Nonetheless, these skills are not learned for the sole purpose of passing the course. They must be maintained to benefit me in the long-run. I can achieve this by keeping a journal or an online blog. I also ought to use my acquired writing skills in making academic papers for my other courses as well.

                I have many goals for this term’s ENGLCOM Writing course. But I believe that they are all achievable if I do my best to be a responsible student and practice the skills that I will learn. Further improvement and learning can also be attained by evaluating one’s writing skills, referring to credible academic papers to know how a good academic paper is to be written and attending writing seminars and workshops that are offered within and outside school. All of these are sure to require hard work and diligence. But I am certain that I will reap the rewards of my efforts when I achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a well-rounded and effective communicator.