Texting is Killing Language

John McWhorter

Notes
People think
texting is harmful
to literacy
Speech came
before writing
Speech is less
reflective than
writing
Texting is fingered
speech (writing the
way we talk)
Texting is not a
decline in literacy
Texting convention
LOL is a marker of
empathy
Pragmatic particle
Evidence of
expansion of
linguistic abilities

My Response
Adults feel texting is
harmful because we are
always on our phones and
that technology is
expanding too greatly, but I
feel we must keep up with
the technological
advancements because it is
how the entire world is
evolving. Texting is
beneficial and time saving
in our fast paced world. I
feel texting doesnt harm
our spelling capabilities but
actually shows us the
worlds we cannot spell
without spell check or a
dictionary. I like that Ted
Talk point about the terms
LOL and slang.

Peer Response
I agree with you in the in
the sense that texting isnt
causing problems with our
spelling and auto correct
has taught me to spell a lot
of words. I also think that
we need to keep up with
technology, but I think we
should still be able to
verbally talk to people. A
lot of kids cant actually talk
to each other in person
even if they text all the time
and I think that is a
problem.
-Ashley Cawa

Questions/Thoughts
How can we improve
miscommunications
in texting?
How can we better
the opinion of those
who hate texting?

What I Didnt Write about When I Wrote about Quitting Facebook- Ernard p.161

Notes
Didnt write a
status stating he
was quitting
Facebook
Makes a point to
show just how
distant friends we
have on Facebook
People took
disappearance on
Facebook
personally
Difficulty to have
face to face
relationships if he
disliked what they
posted online
Depressing posts
on statuses and
feeling ignorant to
incurrent events
Acceptance of
tragedy
Facebook being a
job
Quit feeling a sense
of freedom
Simple and easy for
people to reactivate
account

My Response
I have noticed many of my
friends on Facebook and
social media make a big
point in saying they are
deleting their accounts,
however, give it a few days
or weeks and you notice
them posting away as if
they never left. I feel today,
social media causes an
addiction for connections
regardless of what that
friend means to you. We
become addicted to being
nosey and that becomes
habit, which makes it so
hard to leave. I liked how
the article makes a jab
about how many people we
arent even truly friends
with in real life and how the
author makes a point to
share the depressive, tragic
incidents that are shared on
a daily basis on social
media.

Peer Response
I enjoyed your response and
also thought the same way
about the short lived exiles
from social media. If a
person does actually end up
quitting one social media
page then they almost
always end up on a slightly
different one. Does
Facebook of social media
really make you addicted to
being nosey or does it just
make someone feel like that
can connect and interact
with people in a much
calmer more controlled
manner? I feel like people
who are addicted to social
media are often wanting to
be nosey but also just found
a way to feel like they can
connect or even create
relationships easier.
-Ryan McFarland

Questions/Thoughts
Jobs or $$ Related
Waitressing
Babysitting
Saving skills at a
young age
Influential Books?
In Just One Day
Bible
AR elementary
school reading
Graduation project
on Paralysis
Issues of Identity
Race, sexuality,
ethnicity, gender

My Peer Response
I agree that Facebook can
be both positive or negative
dependent on how the user
utilizes its components. I
feel so many people get
caught up in social media
these days earning almost
an addiction or even
nervous, compulsive habit
to check what is going on in
others lives and posting
negative moments as you
said, on everyones new
feed. The only positive I feel
for Facebook is having the
ability to communicate
information to a large
number of people or groups
easily.

Mother Natures Son- Robert Moor

Notes
Fashion industry
ridding of
archetypes of
masculinity
Clothes not
matching suitably
for working
In order to
become more
sustainable
technology must
become ever
lighter, quieter, less
hungry.
82% going green is
more feminine than
masculine
Men wanting to be
superior to women
Men fear masculine
degeneration

My Response
Does exposure of
wilderness turn
boys into men?
Why do women
seem pro-green
and men seem antigreen?

I dont agree with the fact

that some men have egos
that are too good to do or
portray anything known to
be feminine like being
ecofriendly. If those men
got over their masculine
ego, we could actually
increase the amount of
recycled items and further
protect some of our
resources.

Peer Response
I do not personally believe
that being ecofriendly has
to do with masculinity. I
believe that there are just as
many women that are not
ecofriendly as men. Yes
being ecofriendly is
feminine but that does not
mean all women are
ecofriendly. If men made
compromises, it would help
though.
-Josh

Questions/Thoughts
Why is recycling
considered
feminine?
Who terms what is
masculine or
feminine?
What makes us
think something is
masculine or
feminine?
This essay is
structured through
his interpreted
events he has came
across in his life
while thinking
about the
complexities of
masculinity. Began
looking and
reflecting upon
others and evolved
to a reflection of
himself and his
opinion or outlook
on masculinity.
Fashion to jobs to
boy scouts and
nature.

The Illogical World of U.S Immigration- Katelyn Langdale

Notes
Immigration
questions asked
wealthy, close
relatives? Highly
trained pro?
Rude man from
Global Visas
Perplexing
immigration causes
debate
Link immigration
to population
control and
unemployment
Impacts of
immigration in
reality is slight
Writer doesnt view
USA as a
welcoming country
Strict policies on all
immigrants yet
randomly allow
50,000 to enter
unchecked just for
USA to have
diversity

My Response
I personally feel that it is
dangerous to allow
immigrants that have not
been evaluated deeply
should be allowed in the
USA through lottery
systems. I feel those who
are very prepared to enter
and have been checked
should be the ones that
deserve the right to enter to
protect our citizens safety
on a first come, first serve
basis.

Peer Response
I agree that individuals
should be evaluated
thoroughly; however I think
we should stop being so
concerned with safety and
allow more immigrants to
enter the country. These
immigrants deserve
freedom just as much as we
do. Immigrants must be
checked for safety
precautions, but we should
allow more immigration.

-Josh G

Structure
Thesis not
necessary
Find a starting
point then
transition towards
where you want
the reader to end
Open with
something that
interests the reader
and grabs attention
then build as the
writing develops
and close in a way
the reader is left
feeling an emotion
that the writer
intended
Structure that isnt
cookie cutter but
entertaining to
read someone
elses opinion or
information
Logical puzzle
transition

Lies Hollywood Told Us- Love and Romance Edition

Fly on the Wall Sees Things it Wishes it Hadnt- Rob Dunn
Notes
How Hollywood
conveys love and
relationships
unrealistically
Expectations of
love are too high
because of movies
Never have to
choose between 2
amazing men
You will not run
into anyone you
met 10 years ago
and fall in love
No last minute
chase scene
Never fall in love
with a hooker
Male best friend
wont suddenly
love you
Fly on the Wall
Houseflies are
everywhere
Disgusting places
houseflies are
found
Where they come
from is unknown
Vomit everywhere
Fecal bacteria
Some resistant

My Response
I feel that the points made
were very strong, yet I am
still a hopeless romantic
that likes to believe those
sweet scenes found in the
movies can still happen. I
also love to believe
everything happens for a
reason and for a certain
time may it be for a blessing
or a lesson. I do feel movies
fabricate many aspects but I
believe in love and I believe
that love is what a person
decides to make it be.

Peer Response
I agree with your response
because everything does
happen for a reason. I dont
understand the meaning of
fly on the wall or how it
relates to the first topic. I
also agree with you that
love is what a person wants
it to be.
-Cam Sweet

Questions/Thoughts
What is love?
What is the
difference between
what is realistic
and unrealistic
love?
Why is love
different for guys
and girls?
Is it worse to be a
pessimist when it
comes to love or a
hopeless romantic
to a girl in a
relationship?
Why do people look
shameful or get bad
reactions when
people are gluten
free?
How does
consumerism affect
the environment?
How are flies and
human
uncleanliness
similar?
What can we do
about garbage and
waste?

My Peer Response
I agree that Hollywood does
seem to above and beyond
when it comes to love.
However, I feel we have to
have something to yearn for
or to be excited about. I do
not find it to be a bad thing
to be a hopeless romantic, I
find it worse to be a
pessimist when it comes to
love. I am a firm believer
that everything happens for
a reason.

Bennett p.226 & Jones p.151

Notes
Lying:
More appealing
technology aids
more virtual
relationships
Chance to cheat on
a partner more
easily without
leaving home
Media makes fun of
virtual
relationships
Bennett:
Talk show
comedies host tv
show without a live
audience
Community
everywhere
Twitter affects on
humor
Comedy based on
punch-line basic
setup
Community from
internet, tv, and
media

My Response
I feel that the internet does
allow more freedom to
cheat on their significant
other. I also feel that talking
to others thru the internet
is both lying and cheating. If
a person feels as thought
they cannot openly share
things with their significant
other that partner may not
be truthful, faithful, or
trustworthy.

Peer Response
I completely agree Haley.
Whether its physical or
electronically, cheating and
lying is still the crime.
Emotionally, that person is
cheating with someone else,
instead of being honest with
their partner. Just
explaining the faults in the
relationship. Trust means
everything.
-Kadesia Durham

Questions/Thoughts
Is virtual
conversations/
relationships
considered
cheating if one has
a real life
relationship?
How do we known
if who we are
talking to a person
online is really who
they claim to be?
Is anything really
private on social
media?
How can we
protect ourselves
from the dangers of
social media and
predators?
What is cheating?
Why is lying?
Is lying ever okay?
How does ones
social media
identity define
someones real life
identity?

New Science Behind Your Spending Addiction

Notes
Today (excitement,
independence)
Tomorrow (money,
shelter)
Easy way out of
everything and
think more about
now than later
Spending is an
addiction
Habit to break
I want it now
impulse
good short term
memory=future
projection and
plans
Oxytocin love
hormone found
Happier people
spend less

My Response
I feel that due to our fast
paced world as a result
from out advanced
technology, our culture
feels that we must have
everything at once and
because it is so easy to
achieve, we feel we need
these things. I do believe
that the article had a point
about happier people
spending less because I
know sadness/anxiety leads
to heavy vent spending.

Peer Response
I feel as if spending leads to
happiness because when
someone goes out to make a
purchase on something they
want is almost like they are
rewarding themselves.
While the happiness may be
short lived it still improves
ones mood. Spending will
cause anxiety however it
depends on the person
doing the spending if they
neglect their financial
situation.

Questions/Thoughts
What is
materialism?
What makes
someone
materialistic?
Should sexual
orientation
influence the
acceptance/ denial
of a student?
How could the
application
committee known
if a person was
lying about their
sexual orientation
for personal gain?
Why is materialism
viewed in a
negative light?
What is the
opposite of
materialism?
What are the
benefits of pleasure
now?

My Peer Response
I like how you mentioned
that there should not be
much controversy due to
the fact the question is
optional and not all
applicants have to answer. I
wonder if those who do not
answer the optional
questions have a smaller
chance of being admitted
than those who choose to
answer this personal
question. I do not feel
people should be rewarded
for having a specific sexual
orientation. I feel people
should receive scholarship
and admittance based on
hard work, talent, and
performance.