The good and bad of technology use

Technology is a great source for enhancing the learning community. Computers and cell phones are just a couple of examples that have helped to enhance the learning community. With computers people are able to access the web, which is another type of great technology. The web provides an almost endless supply of information. The great thing about the web is that it is always being updated, and new information is posted on it every day. Computers and the web also allow people all over the world to connect with each other. This provides people with the means to communicate with each other about research projects. In this way people are able to gain valuable information from their peers. Cell phones allow for people to communicate anytime and from almost anywhere. With cell phones people can also access the web.
Technology can threaten a community by taking the personal feel out of things. Instead of going to the store and talking to someone about the problems you are having with their product you send them and email. Technology can also be very distracting. Most people sit in class rooms on their computer and get on face book or play games. When people are doing this they are not paying attention to what the teacher is saying.
Belief in technology helps me to see the upside of technology and the downside of technology. With technology we all want to believe that it is helping us to work more efficiently, and get more work done. However the downside is that sometimes technology distracts us from getting work done, and distracts us from what is happening at the present. Doubt in technology presents the same factors. I doubt that all technology will improve mankind. On the other hand I also doubt that all technology will hurt mankind. Belief is not always positive. People can have positive beliefs and negative beliefs. Just like I belief that technology has its positive sides and its negative sides. Doubt is also not always negative. Some people doubt that technology has a bad side to it. They see only the good side of technology.

"You are responsible for other voices as well as your own"

This is a quote from the the pages 439-449 that I read. I agree with it because when you are doing research and working with your fieldsite you need to realize that what you say is accurate since you are talking about other peoples opinions. For example, when I interviewed people from S.E if I put quotes in my paper from what they said, they needed to be 100% accurate or else that is faulty interviewing and research skills. I as a researcher am not the only person that matter when it comes to discussing my topic. I have to take into consideration everyone else that I am observing and studying. It is my observations that make up this paper and if I didn't have a fieldsite to study this whole semester of english would have been pointless.  I am allowed to state my own personal opinions, but for my paper to be a well crafted and written field study i should be able to interpret what people are doing and thinking in reference to my topic, that is a good skill as a writer. 

Using Your Inner voice

I have to respectfully disagree with some of the other voice posts.  In line with most other opinions, the average person may shy away from educated writing.  Most of the time, I speak in a very casual, basic language.  However, when I write, I find my inner beauty of language.  True I may use bigger words and more educated language when I write, but I believe that writing should be natural and flowing.  If your flow is natural, then big words and all, let it out.  If your inner writing voice tells you to write a certain way, go with it.  The more you hold back from your natural inner talent, the more damage you do to your true talent in the long run.  

The Writer's Toolbox

As I reflect on the reading, many things come into focus in my mind about the skills and values any one writer possesses and offers as they begin to write.  Another way to think about it is the question, what are you made of?  As a writer, your only true tool is yourself.  Therefore, your toolbox is what skills you have to use as you write.  In order to increase your writing skills, you must expand and grow your personal toolbox.  This analogy is very basic and extremely effective. We are workers of our own language.  We are compelled to use our personal tools to create the best works we can.  

Voice

It is important for your essay to sound like you. Many people try to use big words to make themselves sound more intelligent. Sometimes using a thesaurus is helpful, but most of the time it does not turn out well. Some people will use the word even when they do not know how to use it. A big "intelligent" word when used out of context can ruin a perfectly good sentence. Even some authors keep sentences simple.

Organization

Organization as discussed in the chapter is key to being able to write at your best. I for one am very disorganized. Fortunately on the computer I can save things to folders to keep all of my files together when I write. When talking about tools for writing as tools in a toolbox it kind of made me think about how I use physical tools. I am not a handyman by any standards to beyond basic hammer and nail type projects I am out of my league. I can make some educated guesses and maybe use a few more advanced tools correctly but the end result would still be sloppy. Just as a to become effecient with physical tools you need to observe their use and follow directions. Similarly with writing I can write in my own voice fairly well but when doing scientific or research based writing I struggle. So I need to take advantage of reading other people's work and help build my skills using different writing tools.

Toolbox

In Stephen King's entry, Toolbox, it really open my eyes to all the "tools" one really need to be a good writer. He also explains why it is important why even if you are strong in a certain field such as vocabulary it does not mean you can slack in other aspects of writing such as grammar or organization. While the things at the top of your toolbox may be the strong points in your paper, your paper could be ruined without the things at the bottom of your toolbox. Kings makes it clear to the reason why it is important for one to have multiple layers in their writing "tool box." One needs to expand their toolbox as much a possible to improve their writing skills.