Writers Block...

[TheMightyFavog]

ugh.... I've got my first paragraph done, I think I've described my thesis well enough, but now how to begin....

Ugh.

[noiretextatique]

1. here's an exercise i use on occasion

write general theme (a word or two) and draw a circle around it. write down whatever comes to mind from the first idea...then draw a line connecting it to the original circle, and draw a circle around it. continue like this...connecting words with lines and circles until you have no other ideas.
then start writing.

[TheMightyFavog]

2. Here's what I have so far....

Reading Wars: Unveiling the True Nemesis to Literacy in America
By James M. Wendler


Throughout the course of this class we have heard from authors, commentators and philosophers who make the claim that technology is, put simply, bad for humanity. Neil Postman describes technology as “a one eyed king ruling unopposed amidst idiot cheering.” (Postman, xiii) Barry sanders claims that technology, especially media technologies of TV, Radio interfere with a child’s ability to develop a sense of orality (Sanders, 42) which in turn leads to interference with a child’s development of literacy, hindering. (Sanders, xii) With this data one could look at the data presented by Morris Berman in his book The Twilight of the American Culture, which states that The United states is falling behind other nations in literacy (Berman, 36) and come away with the conclusion that it is technology that is responsible for this problem and if one were to take Berman even farther, to the very downfall of American Civilization itself. (Berman, 19) However, this paper is intended to argue that technology is not to blame for falling literacy rate in this country. This paper will argue that literacy rates are being affected by a method of reading instruction known as whole language, which has replaced traditional phonics-based reading education in many schools. (Brown, 1)

The two philosophies engaged in battle with each other are those of phonics and those of a system known as whole language.


Did I tell you have to pad this out to three single-spaced pages?

[Burma Jones]

4. Well, you could always take a look at Europe

Scandinavia in particular. Lotsa Tech and smart as whips. So, you could cite them. Frankly, I think Class Differences (and our nasty attitudes towards them) are to blame for our nation's dismal record.

Scandinavia also puts the whole Dumb Blonde thing to rest.

PS, I'm getting my PhD this month, and I'm blonde.

[TheMightyFavog]

5. No.

I am fucking DONE with research.

I just want to get this paper written, and this whole sordid mess over with.

[Burma Jones]

6. Sorry........

Knee Jerk reaction. If my wife broke her leg, I would probably tell her to read up on crutches.

[TheMightyFavog]

3. Ahhh, good old paranthetical citation.

Good enough to add some words to any paper, especailly if you run into an author named Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfernschplendenschlittercrasscrenbonfrieddiggerdingledangle
dongledunglebursteinvonknackerthrasherapplebangerhorowitz
ticolensicgranderknottyspelltinklegrandlichgrumblemeyer
spelterwasserkurstlichhimbleeisenbahnwagengutenabendbitteein
nurnburgerbratwustlegernspurtenmitzweimacheluberhundsfut
gumberabershonedankerkalbsfleischmittleraucher von Hautkopft of Ulm?


How would that look?


(Ausfernschplendenschlittercrasscrenbonfrieddiggerdingleangle
dongledunglebursteinvonknackerthrasherapplebangerhorowitz
ticolensicgranderknottyspelltinklegrandlichgrumblemeyer
spelterwasserkurstlichhimbleeisenbahnwagengutenabendbitteein
nurnburgerbratwustlegernspurtenmitzweimacheluberhundsfut
gumberabershonedankerkalbsfleischmittleraucher von Hautkopft of Ulm, 159)