Thursday, October 29, 2009

"Multitasking" Is Our Job- Argument 1

A piece, Texting, Surfing, Studying?, written by Perri Klass M.D. talks about teenagers and if they can really "multitask" or if teenagers are just better at oscillating. Also, she talks about parents wanting to help their kids have good study habits.

"The truth is that you really don't multitask, you just think you do; the brain can't process two high-level cognitive things. What you are actually doing is oscillating between the two" (Dr. Christakis). Some kids "multitask" because it does help them think, and by multitasking, in this situation of course, means texting, instant messaging, etc. Teenagers are so use to having everything around them that it's to the point where it helps them concentrate, apparently. Some students are very good at oscillating. However, I am not. It's hard for me to concentrate unless I am by myself without any distractions. Yes, I can get my homework done when I am texting, but I can see where Klass is coming from when she asks herself if teenagers, and whoever else, are really learning something, or just learning on the surface of the point. Parents of teenagers do try to help them with their study habits, but I think it's just different from their parents' study methods. I believe that it's just all opinions on what helps you and fits an individual's personality on how a person concentrates when they study. Also, it can be the very fact of what a person has become accustomed to in his/her life.

This leads to when Klass says "you have to learn how you work and under what circumstances". However, Klass says that "no one can study effectively while watching, listening, surfing, and messaging". I don't fully agree with this. Yes, if we surf the web it can be a distraction, but listening to music can help some people concentrate, even if it is really loud. Cut teenagers and kids some slack- if they do their work, that is. Teenagers, especially, get tired of doing work 24/7 and would like to communicate with their friends every once in a while. Klass' son said that he would instant message while doing some work, but it was just looking up every once in a while. I agree that is alright to do, just don't go overboard. Klass' son also gave advice to his mom about his younger brother saying "not to worry until there is something to actually worry about". Dr. Cooper said that "if they're doing well, permitting them to have some choice permits them to find their own style".

Nobody really knows, honestly, if teens can "multitask", but that doesn't mean that they can switch back and forth between studying and texting. It's all just a matter of how a person studies and what they can do to be successful with studying and making good grades. Let people choose for themselves. Hopefully, they are grown up and smart enough to do what's right.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sentence 12

His sentence:
But others are of an infiltering spidery type that creep and burrow along the minute crevasses of the brain, slowly but inevitably destroying function, and almost impossible to remove.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses commas and a fan boy to describe what is going on.

My sentence:
But students are of the disrespectful type that talk in the middle of a lesson, softly but destroying trains of thought for others, and in the rudest way possible.

Sentence 11

His sentence:
In blunt fact the operation itself, though prolonged, may not be violently dangerous, and though the technical preparation may be difficult, the actual surgery is of the most primitive type--simple extrication of an alien mass.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses commas and a dash to carry out the sentence and explain what it is talking about.

My sentence:
In the winter itself, though prolonged, may be cold, and though the money on heating will go up, the scenery is of the most beautiful ever--blankets of snow all the time.

Sentence 10

His sentence:
Almost all the great contemporary neurosurgeons--like Putnam himself and Wilder Penfield--are Cushing men, Cushing trained.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses dashes to compare what has been said and what is being said.

My sentence:
Almost all the great athletes--like Shaq himself and Micheal Jordan--are fighting men, fighting trained.

Sentence 9

His sentence:
The brain controls pain in other parts of the body, but there are no sensory nerves in brain tissue itself; you could cut a person's brain apart bit by bit, and there would be no pain.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

This compound-complex sentence uses semi-colons and fan boys that help explain how part of the brain works and/or some of what the brain does.

My sentence:
The mom controls fights in the family, but there is no dad to help with the situations; she could snap her fingers once, and the children would settle down.

Sentence 8

His sentence:
It was a long ride in the cold, sullen, slippery rain.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Even though this sentence is very simple, it is very descriptive and somewhat deep in its listing of what the rain was like. It sets the mood.

My sentence:
It was a scary thought in a dark, cold, eerie room.

Sentence 7

His sentence:
Dr. Johnson, suspecting nothing so grave as this, had sent Johnny into Greenfield that morning--luckily with a nurse--for his metabloism test.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

This sentence uses two appositive phrases. One set apart by commas and the other set apart by dashes.

My sentence:
The mother, hoping that everything was alright, had rushed to the hospital that evening--luckily wtih a friend--for her son.

Sentence 6

His sentence:
I talked to Traeger, I called Deerfield back, I got in touch with Frances who was out in Madison, I reached Putnam, I consulted Traeger once more, and by half-past four I was at 168th Street, waiting in Putnam's office.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

In this sentence, Gunther uses a series of parallel phrases telling what all he did--leading up to where he was.

My sentence:
I went to work, I got food, I got to the school, I organized everything I needed, I talked with my friends, and by twelve o'clock I was ready for the band competition, waiting in the band room.

Sentence 5

His sentence:
He was always obedient--if only because he wanted so desperately to get well.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

The sentence is set apart by a dash--describing why he was obedient.

My sentence:
Bob was always sweet--if only because he wished so badly to have a girlfriend.

Sentence 4

His sentence:
Johnny's generosity--he would give anything away--his affectionateness and amiability, concealed a considerable sturdiness of character.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther uses an appositive phrase set apart by dashes, giving more incite about Johnny and his character. Then, the sentence continues on describing more about him by listing--showing more of what his character was like.

My sentence:
Karen's love--she would care for anybody--her affection and grace, held a sturdiness of character.

Sentence 3

His sentence:
His intelligence was, above all, detached and reasonable--and what is a mind for, except to reason with?
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

He describes "his intelligence" by using an appositive and descriptive words. Then, he uses a dash to, once again, go into deeper thought, leaving the sentence as a rhetorical question.

My sentence:
Her clothes were, above all, cute and fashionable--and what are clothes for, except to characterize with?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sentence 2

His sentence:
From Frances he got a tremendous lot--his gift for fantasy, the realism and long view of his intelligence, his delicacy of perception, his creative curiosity.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Using a prepostional phrase, Gunther explains the main topic of his sentence. Then, he goes into deeper thought telling why it was a tremendous lot by using a dash that follows parallel phrases.

My sentence:
From restrauants he got amazing service--his food for taste, the greatness and politeness of his waitress, his moment of relaxing, his satisfied body.

Sentence 1

His sentence:
As the prize in one of the quizzes he won, he chose an advanced college text on the atom--something far beyond his powers at the time.
from Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Gunther is using continual prepositional phrases leading up to the main point he is trying to make. Then, he uses a dash to go into deeper meaning and thought about the subject.

My sentence:
As the group of students in one of the classes had done, they chose a challenging topic of history--something more advanced than their brains could understand at that age.