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What was most significant to you about the Our People's History Project?

The most significant thing about the Our People's History Project for me was the critiquing process. This is the first project I've had critiqued that seriously changed between criticisms. Usually I spend so much time on the first draft that by the time I get to the critiquing process, there's not much my critique partners to give me. But for this project, with the combination of critiques from my partners and from Randy and the usage of writing tips, I was able to seriously improve on my first draft.

What do you feel that you learned from the project?

I learned the most from all of the new writing tips Randy introduced to the class. While some I already knew, like to use a good hook to interest my readers, much of it was new. I had never before thought to arrange my sentences for emphasis or to underline my writing with a central question.

What are you most proud of in the narrative nonfiction story that you wrote?

I am most proud of being able to revise my work after the first draft. Barely changing drafts are a huge flaw in my writing, and I'm glad to be taking the first steps towards changing that.

What surprised you about the project—what happened along the way that you did not expect?

The most surprising thing about this project came from the interview I had with my grandfather. I learned a number of interesting things about football that I'd never know before. I leaned things like how football used to be played only on Sundays, or how the Chargers used to be an LA team, or how the AFL used a different-sized ball than the NFL.

What lessons are you taking as you go forward with your Humanities (and overall) education?

I am taking with me the writing tips I received from Randy, both in class and personally. I am taking with me new ways to correct my work. 

Semester One, Blog EIGHT

Think of the experience that you would like your audience to have as they read your narrative nonfiction piece.

I would like my audience to experience the thoughts of these characters and the impact this historical event has on them. I want them to be questioning whether or not the games will be postponed, and I want this question to carry them through the story.

Think of the emotions that you would like them to experience as a result of interacting with your characters, traveling through your settings, and experience your plots.

I want the audience to be able to understand what a momentous event the death of John F Kennedy was and to experience the country's grieving.

Now, think of your characters. Post images that represent them, and add a simple description of how you are bringing them to life in your writing. what is working? What are you trying?

Milt Woodard:

I try to bring him to life by exploring the conflict he faces when the president is killed.

Ross Woodard:

I bring him to life by highlighting an important moment in his life (when he finds out about the death of JFK)

Think of your settings. Post images that represent them, and add a simple description of how you are bringing them to life in your writing. what is working? What are you trying?

I try to bring to life the setting of the 1960's. I do this by establishing one of the revolutionary moments of the 60's, the death of John F Kennedy.

Think of the conflicts and resolutions in your story. Post images that represent them, and add a simple description of how you are bringing them to life in your writing. what is working? What are you trying?

My conflict is a moral decision too complex and abstract to represent graphically. Instead, here is a gif of a football.

DUDE WHY WONT IT ANIMATE

What do we need to do now to make sure that your final draft (due on Thursday!) is an extremely satisfying read for your audience?

We need to run over the paper one last time to fix any sentences that don't work in the context of the story, and to adjust the pacing of the piece.

Semester 1: Blog VI

Article 1: Painkiller Deathstreak

"On the Xbox 360 controller, which looks like a catamaran, there are seventeen possible points of contact. There’s the left trigger and the right trigger, the left bumper and the right bumper, two mushroom-shaped joysticks, a circular four-way pad, two small white buttons, each with triangles molded into them, and a silver dome in the middle that glows green when you press it. Then, there are the very important colored buttons: the blue X, the green A, the red B, and the yellow Y. (...) In order to run, crouch, aim, fire, pause, leap, speak, stab, grab, kick, dismember, unlock, crawl, climb, parry, roll, or resuscitate a fallen comrade, you must press or nudge or woggle these various buttons, singly or in combination, performing tiny feats of exactitude that are different for each game."

1. I appreciate the neutral approach to the subject matter the writer makes in his article. He attempts to keep as far away as possible from the common biases found in video game journalism. He also strives to explain the subject matter as bluntly as possible, both to inform those unfamiliar with it and to give those who are a unique take on a subject they take for granted at this point.

2.  The author's bias towards a lack of bias subtly influences the reader's own personal biases. The readers find themselves leaning towards the neutral side of the issue, and they're able to view these things with a new perspective.

3. I might use this approach by approaching a common issue from an uncommon viewpoint, forcing readers to challenge their own views.

Article 2: Death of An Innocent

"'It was hard to be absolutely sure,' Samel says. 'I stood on a stump, reached through a back window, and gave the bag a shake. There was definitely something in it, but whatever it was didn't weigh much. It wasn't until I walked around to the other side and saw a head sticking out that I knew for certain what it was.' Chris McCandless had been dead for some two and a half weeks. "

1. I appreciate the early hook the author uses to draw his readers in. This portion of the article is near the beginning, much earlier than if the story had been told entirely chronologically. But since he places this exciting and intriguing portion near the beginning, it serves as an effective draw.

2. By including an enticing hook early in the article, the author draws in his readers, enticing them to continue reading.

3. I will definitely include a hook early in my story to keep readers drawn in.

Article 3: Consider the Lobster

"Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure? A related set of concerns: Is the previous question irksomely PC or sentimental? What does “all right” even mean in this context? Is it all just a matter of individual choice?"

1. I appreciate the author's intent on covering a controversial subject, in this case the live boiling of Lobsters.

2. This action forces the readers to consider what may be an uncomfortable issue for them, especially if they have eaten Lobster in the past.

3. I may use controversial subjects to confront my reader with thoughts they are uncomfortable with.

I didn't get any ideas from other students. I could make up something, but really I didn't. I did, however, take a cue for my article's formatting from this Rolling Stones article. My biggest challenge right now is coming up with a decent story arc for the villain in this movie I'm writing. I'm just not sure how to portray him slowly gaining power over the protagonist. So far I've had very little trouble putting my interview together into a compelling narrative. While working on the interview, I was surprised by some of the interesting facts I learned about football in the early days. I am very proud of this drawing I made of The Master from Manos: The Hands of Fate. I think it's very aesthetically pleasing.

Semester One: Blog IV: A New Hope

I am reading 50 Shades of Grey Into The Wild for my nonfiction narrative assignment.

What stands out the most about this book is the protagonist's personal philosophy of self-sustainability and independence.

My primary goal when reading this book is to try to attain a deeper understanding of the protagonist and his system of beliefs.

Blog 3: IN THREEEEE DEEEEEEEEEE

My first writing goal this semester is to write an entire movie script. Didn't see that coming, did you? It's the heartfelt tale of an evil overlord who ends up fighting against his own empire when he falls in love with a member of the resistance. I am currently in the planning stages for the script, though my plan is to finish the first draft by the end of this year.

My second writing goal is to focus more on the drafting process. In 11th grade, I discovered how much the drafting process can help my work, but was only able to utilize it near the end of the school year. This semester, I intend to start drafting right off the bat, starting with the interview questions.

I am very inspired by the works of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchet. They seem to be the only authors capable of producing quality humorous fiction in their respective genres (science fiction and fantasy). Also of note is Bill Watterson, who was able to create some of the wittiest and most biting social satire of his time in, of all things, a comic strip.

Blog #2—Excellent Interviews

Interview 1: Steve Jobs In 1994

* The best technique the interviewer uses is not relegating himself to preprepared questions. When Jobs says something interesting, he often asks him to explain or elaborate on it, even though he would have know way of preparing a question based on what he said.

* The best section of the interview is a long soliloquy Jobs makes at the end about moving past Apple and looking towards the future. It is also the final part of the interview. COINCIDENCE????

* I would like to ask the interviewer how much research he did prior to the interview into topics such and the state of the computer industry and Jobs' current scenario at NeXT.

Interview 2: Barack Obama in 2012

* An interesting technique the interviewer uses is to show us some humanizing moments in his meeting with Obama before the interview, to help us become acquainted and comfortable with the President.

* I would ask the interviewer why he thought Obama was being evasive about certain topics, and what the best response is to evasive interviewees.