class exercise

Due to using too many direct quotations in note taking, about 10% of students writing final research papers use unnecessary direct quotations. However, students can decrease this by not using "exact transcribing" when reviewing source material (author, pg number, date).

Summary of Intro/Chapter 1

Hush puppies were not a brand of shoes that were popular among "fashionitas" or the people within the fashion society. This remained the same until a few kids from the East Village and Soho decided to wear the shoes, and they decided this because no one else wanted to wear them. However, these few help the company tip, and Hush puppies became wanted and wore by everyone.

The intro also talks about crime decline in NYC, and how people in NYC get infected by the anti-crime virus. However, I thought this argument, he tried to make was more complex then he allowed readers to believe. It was however, interesting to read the how the crime in NYC just came to halt.

"big changes occur from small events" -Gladwell, this quote from the 1st chapter allows readers in my opinion to see the bigger picture of the authors point in terms of the intro and chapter 1. Throughout the intro and chapter 1 Gladwell continues to examine how events tip, or how an event/epidemic, can go from just a select few to millions people.

Diversity and Social change: Research projects

I believe that social change can not occur without diversity. I think as people begin to change or places become more diverse the need for social changes becomes a required tool for the functioning a well balanced society. I do however find it hard to believe that social change would occur if a place does not require it. For example IUP does not have a multicultural center despite the growing need for one. The university claims that the African American cultural center is "like or similar" to students having a multicultural center (which is not true)! Students who are enrolled at the University continue to press the issue due to the increasing amount of diverse students.

Diversity among people is extremely important to me. I believe that my ability to function well in this society is due to my increasing ability to surround myself with people from other cultures, races, and sexual orientation. I have understood, through first hand experiences, that people who remain in homo-genius groups are less likely to participate and/or allow for social change to occur. Professionally and academically diversity among people has and will continue to impact my life because it allows for me to view concepts and/or theories in a different way and from different point of views.

I think the statement: promote diversity through social action in our lives, can be interpreted in many ways however for me I think it has to do with increasing the awareness or the need for social change through social action. For example by getting involved or by helping improve a social problem i.e. gay marriage, race relations, etc. we, or people in society can help improve the plight of many people who are suffering from these social issues and thereby improving diversity. I think societies are in continuous states of change, hence diversity, and the need for social action.

In terms of diversity, the issues that remain a factor within my life experience are: race, gender, and class. I find these three issues constantly playing a role in my life whether I chose for them to or not. Even if I am not obviously made aware of these three things on a daily basis I am made aware of these social identity through interaction among other people intentionally and unintentionally.

There are so many topics that I am interested in researching. I am finding it quite difficult to narrow down which topic I will research: Women and sexuality, religion and the growing modernization of America, the death penalty and its contribution to America society, brain damage and it's impact on the identity of the self. I believe all of these ideas for a research topic relate to my discipline within psychology.

In class activity:Working with your reading

I'm familiar with reading magazines, email, and social networking sites. These types of reading are more informal, and the tend to us language of "everyday people,'" and the concepts are easily understood however this book so far has been far from what I'm use to writing. The author talks or writes about issues that I don't believe he is truly familiar with. I find myself writing numerous side notes because I disagree with most of what he writes about. I do not believe this is a good indication of how I will enjoy the rest of the novel. In comparison to what I usually read i do not believe that I would pick up this novel to read.

In-Class Brainstorming

I'm passionate about abortion laws, adoption, gay marriage, race relations, and there are many other social issues that I'm interested in however, this is from the top of my head. I believe all of these social issues related to psychology, and sociology because they deal with "why" people do certain things and how the relate. For example, people who have abortions can be attributed to the economic status of our country. Another example would be gay marriage and how religion impacts people's perception of what the laws should be for marriage.

Activity Five/Brainstorm for writing

The family in USA today

• Religion-Does this impact the family unit?
• Income-Is the man of the house still the "breadwinner?"
• Chores-Are mothers/wives still expected to cook, clean,etc.?
• Parenting-Stay at home dads vs. stay at home moms
• Elderly- Why are so many American elderly in nursing homes?
• Marriage-Is it necessary for a "ideal American" family?
• Two mommy's/daddy's-The rise of homosexual couples having/adopting children
• Geography- suburbs vs. city-where is the ideal place for a family to live?
• Culture-Food, clothing, language, what aspects of other cultures should remain within American families?
• Education-Are schools responsible to teach children everything, e.g. reading, writing, etc.?
• Manners-Are parents responsible for teaching children: please, and thank you?
• Nutrtion-Are families teaching destructive eating habits?

Activity One/Linguistic History

Writing tasks in school differed over the years. During my early childhood education I remember writing pen pal letters, and fiction stories. As the years went on writing assignments began to change and I remember writing persuasive letters, book reviews, summaries, and journals. Other writing assignments I recall are: poems, short plays, reports (science and English), critiques, essays, advertisements, story boards,and business proposals. I also wrote for pleasure, keeping a diary and writing short stories. I did not find writing a difficult task.

During my adolescence I persuaded my interest in creative writing and applied to C.A.P.A. (Creative and Performing Arts High School), a school dedicated to the arts. When I wasn't accepted I lost interest in writing. My interest in reading has declined as well. However, I have always tried to read at least one novel/book in a six month period, and when I do chose to read I enjoy reading books that I can learn from e.g. self help books, and social problems. I also enjoy reading magazines like: "Lucky," "Cosmo," "Vogue," "Ebony," "Essence," and other fashion magazines.

In retrospect I have not wrote for pleasure in years, in terms of poetry, short stories, etc. Due to school, writing feels more like a chore. I do write emails, and I am constantly on social networks, as well as sending texts. I believe this is the only form of writing that I do outside of an academic setting. I never think about increasing the amount of time that I spend on writing, however, I'm always telling myself that I need to read more. I wonder why I never consider that I need to write more.