Bad Apples

Have you ever been in a group with a bad apple? How might you deal with a bad apple? Is there another kind of bad apple that the podcast did not mention?

I have been in a group with a bad apple several times and in most cases, its always the slacker. It seems that I or other group members get stuck with all the work and this one person always rips the benefits of our labor. I am normally a person who likes to take charge but have been learning that I can't always do that because I can get bossy and become a bad apple myself, the jerk. It seems when I work in a group where there is a bad apple, I will tell them how they are acting and they need to stop, or I will ignore it and do my share of the work if not more.

Group experience from the past

Last semester in my English 150 class, the last assignment was a group project to write an article on a current issue individually and come together to compose a news paper. For me, it was a terrible experience because there was a lot of language barriers and people turned in their articles to me in their native language rather than English. It was frustrating. When it came time to compile the newspaper, they all had an opinion but didn't want to do any work, leaving me to put the whole thing together. Our class presentation was very similar. They all wanted things to be their way but did nothing to make it happen. In the end, I took charge and put together the whole project and presentation and let them whine about it afterward because they didn't help when it was time to. The grade turned out great for me but their's reflected their effort for sure.

Annie Dillard writing

There are so many parts of life that the average person overlooks. No matter if you are a bustling, city dweller or a perfect, suburban housewife or a homely, country farmer there are things within your everyday life you are overlooking.

I grew up on a farm where crops and livestock are our livelihood and without them we would be lost. We do everything necessary to insure that they are cared for and nothing will get in the way of making a profit. Animals are given immunizations so that they will not catch disease. Their grains and forage is locked away in sheds that rodents and other pests will not be able to lay their excrement on. Water supply tanks are cleaned regularly to stop the build up of fly larvae and algae. The horses are sprayed down so that flies, bots, and ticks will not bother them. The crops in the field are hosed with chemicals to prevent pests from devouring them and using their leaves as homes from their young. Irrigation provides a constant source of water guaranteeing drought will not affect the harvest's outcome. Everything is planned and monitored so that nothing will int interrupt they way we believe life should be.

But in the means of insuring our way of life, who is it affecting. We see bugs and other pests and evil creatures that are harming our lives, but what is behind their pest behavior? The answer is survival. They are just like us, trying to survive, to make things better for their young and make certain that they will live a full life; just like us. Is that really so wrong? Plants are food for bugs just as much as they are for us. They also serve as a home. We cannot live without a home so how can we expect these critters to? We are all fighting for the same basic necessities but why do we prevent others from them?

personal response to Wendell Berry

I think that the poem is very powerful and gets the message across. I liked the direct tone and the hint that there might be failure and that's okay. It tells the reader that you should do what you need to make your life more fulfilling. I felt a connection to the essay as well because of the visuals that he used. It worked very well.

Things that I already do to premote change

I buy a lot of products from local producers from farmers markets and when I go home I buy meat from the local meat market. The meat market does not purchase from farmers that confine animals to feedlots so the meat is pretty close to organic but not certified. I am also a member of the FFA, am an Alumni member of 4-H, involved the National Farmers Organization, Iowa Pork Producers, and many other farming organizations. On campus I have been involved with the Block and Bridle club and the Agriculture Education Club. I have a passion for bringing power back the everyday, small farmer.
The tobacco industry was once much like the food industry. It had power in the economy, the politics, and the courtroom but with enough people fighting against this unbalance of power, the tobacco industry fell and lost the power it once held. This is possible to do in the food industry as well. Every time you are in the grocery store, you make the choice of what you are going to buy. You can choose the local producers. Cost may be higher, but with a growing number of people supporting local farmers and more healthy food, prices can go down.

"Having Faith" by Sandra Steingraber

What is her purpose/audience in writing this? How does she get her message across? Would you consider this writing-as-activism? Why or why not?

I felt that the essay was about the food chain and how it always ends with people at the top of it. She gets the message across with using different examples and logic. You know that it is logical because her background and education is present in the essay. I would consider is writing as activism because she is thought provoking to get you to listen to what she is bringing to the table.

Personal Reaction to Sociology and Social Change

I thought that the article was very simple in the topics it discussed but was still thought provoking. I found it easy to read and interesting. It got the wheels turning in my brain a little more than they were on social issues and got me more heated on ones that I am already passionate about.

Mission Statement

I am passionate about bringing power back the small farmers and educating those who are unaware of the issues that face the world of agriculture. So many people do not know where their food comes from and what is in it and I would like to change that. With major corporations control politic and the food industry, the battle will be a long and hard one but it is possible with enough people willing to follow along. One person can change the world if they just give it a shot; so why not start here and bring power back to the everyday farmer?

"Silent Spring" Rhetorical Analysis Question

Substance--What kinds of evidence does the author use? How does the selection of supporting evidence help fulfill the purpose of the text? How does the writer use supporting evidence or examples to appeal to the audience? Are these appeals logical and rational? Emotional? A combination of the two?

Throughout this selection, there was several parts of that are extensive in supporting evidence to get the point across that DDT is a terrible thing. I think that although this article isn't 100% justifiable today there are situations that are still similar to it. There are third world farmers still using this and were never properly informed of its harmfulness or the proper way to handle chemicals like this in the first place. I feel that the author draws you in the with the picture she paints in the beginning by explaining how beautiful everything is and then she lays down the facts. Her story is very logical and accurately portrays what happened during the time period.

A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

I believe this piece of writing is very interesting but was a little confused but do not believe that it was the writers fault, but how the makers of "American Earth" decided to break up his writing. The organization started out great and was easy to read but when they stopped talking about the alligators and moved onto more about the Creator I got a little confused. I had to slow down and reread because it seemed like there was no transition between the two ideas. Again, I don't think that was due to John Muir though, but the people who compiled "American Earth".

Industrial Tourism and the National Parks--Reading Like a Writer

The major theme that runs throughout the piece is the debate on how much tourism should be allowed in National Parks. I feel that that Edward Abbey is very contradicting in his piece with calling people lazy and trying to control who may see the parks. He makes himself out as if people like him are the only people that are allowed to see the parks because others are just out to destroy it. I feel that the National Parks are there for everyone to enjoy and what give him any right over me to come see them and their beauty. I understand the point of preserving these rare places but they should not be off limits to the people of America.

Find specific examples of abstract (ideas and concepts) and concrete (specific details, sensory implications) language. What are the effects?

I feel as if the poetry that is dotted through the piece is an example of abstract ideas. One example is from page 575...

Voice above,
Voice of thunder,
Speak from the
dark of clouds;
Voice below,
Grasshopper voice,
Speak from the
green of plants;
So may the earth
be beautiful.

I think that this is abstract ideas because it is suggesting that the sky and creatures are talking to you. That these are the things that make the world beautiful.

I think that the first paragraph on the other hand is more on the concrete side of thinking because it is very descriptive.

The sun is a dull white disk, low in the south...

...Silently the man fits an arrow to a bow, draws aim, and shoots...

I believe that these are examples of concrete language because they are telling you exactly how something is. There is no need to "read between the lines" to figure out what is meant to be said.