It has now been a year since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic happened and everyone’s life changed. A lot of people lost jobs, loved ones, jobs and only god knows what else. The Covid-19 Pandemic has dramatically changed my life in positive and negative ways over the past year. Thankfully, through all the struggles I was still able to take care of all my responsibilities, graduate high school and complete my first year of college. Because of the pandemic, I was forced to stay home, attend school online and since everything closed down I wasn’t able to go out and just take my regular little breaks from stressful things.

Me being stuck at home all day caused me to worry. I am a very bad overthinker and tend to get into my own head a lot. I was constantly worried about what was happening in the world and where meals were coming from, how I was getting my sister to school, how was my brother getting lunch money, taking off work to get things done. Anything there was to worry about, I did. It caused me to  be really stressed out. I started slacking and losing a lot of motivation which made it harder for me to handle my responsibilities. I couldn’t really reach out to any one or do any of the things that were stress relievers for me. I was just stuck home, stuck in the same routine, stuck in my head. This eventually got in the way of school, highschool AND college.

Going to school from home made me feel isolated from my friends. On top of issues the pandemic caused, I have other health issues so I had to be on lockdown way more than the people around me. And all though I missed my friends and going out, I was glad I didn’t have to worry about all the little petty highschool issues. Who liked who, who wanted to hang out with who, all the stupid issues. I hated my highschool but love my friends if that makes sense. Besides my 3 main friends, I’m not a very social person. I try to come in contact with the least amount of people I can. But even for someone who doesn’t really talk much, I was way too alone. It’s one thing to just not see people but when you can’t really call or contact them as much because their parents sent them out of state it becomes too much. I felt very alone. To avoid this, I tried different hobbies. I got back into reading, writing little wattpad stories, playing my cello & violin etc. Which worked for a while but eventually I started feeling the same way.  Everything slowly began  to appear as a nightmare I was not able to wake up from. My job ended up going on furlough and shutting down and I was back to stressing a new set of issues. What used to be, how can I get my sister from school if I work turned into could we even afford to send her. And she’s too young to stay home alone. I had to worry about how long my final check can last us until I find another job. ( Thank god for PUA). However, once this happened more family started coming around and it was good to have my family beside me. My family helped as much as they can but with the rising prices, declining markets, and cost of living rising it’s almost impossible to be on top of everything. Slowly, I got very depressed but was still pushing through.

I feel like Carr meant that because it’s so easy to just search up a topic and get so much information on it our brains don’t really need to think much. When looking in a book, you have to find the book, the chapter, then your topic, then break down what you wrote, make sure you fully understand and then use your research. With all this modern technology all you have to do is type in your topic, and worry about how you’re gonna word it. Carr definitely has a point. We’ve become so dependent on knowing that the internet will have what we need we don’t ever do any real digging for info. Millions of articles and sites pop up with all the information. When I was younger, I did walk to the library and I used to walk all around the library, find my books and either research there or at home. From me doing both I definitely noticed a difference. I definitely become a little lazier with researching. In earlier years I would research weeks before an assignment because I knew how long it would take. Now, I could put aside 1-3 hours to research and put together the evidence that I need. The internet gives both. It gives us all the knowledge we want right away, but it kind of takes away the learning sense of it. With researching now, I don’t really hold on to the information for as long as I did when I spent days reading and re-reading it. Now research is more for the assignment or whatever you’re researching for rather than actually taking anything away from it.

1. In early schooling I was always told not to use Wikipedia because it isn’t reliable since any one can edit the articles there. A Lot of times, essays wouldn’t even count if we used Wikipedia. After reading the article, I feel like Wikipedia could still be used as a source, as long as you double check what’s on there.  Wikipedia has definitely came a long way from when we were in elementary/middle school.  There’s more articles to site from and more people want to actually teach people stuff.
2. Some ways Purdy explains that Wikipedia can be useful because people can go in and update information which keeps topics up to date. That way, you’re not always getting told the same old information from years ago. Wikipedia articles are constantly being revised and fact checked so now Wikipedia articles are more reliable in a way. Purdy also points out how Wikipedia isn’t just a place for research but for spreading knowledge too. Wikipedia has multiple usages and thats why it’s recognized for being more useful.
3. I wouldn’t really consider Wikipedia a community platform because although anyone can edit and show where they cited evidence you can’t really interact with the authors. For example, our forum for this class would be considered a community platform because we are able to interact with each other, comment, and actually have discussions. Wikipedia could only be considered a community because any one can write and edit things. I didn’t really understand of all the conversations in the article honestly.

The bad idea herein is the assertion that digital communication, especially texting on social media, damages students’ grammar skills. The author claims it is a bad idea because it simply mirrors the history of lamenting about the diminishing language skills of the younger generations. Moreover, the author argues that the assertion is founded on unproven association between digital writing and other forms of writing. In other words, no empirical study has been conducted to establish a causal relationship between digital writing and other forms of writing. Additionally, the author opines that the definition of grammar in the context of digital writing is always untrue.

I chose the piece because of the need to put to rest the debate about the impact of digital writing on students’ writing skills. Social media communication has become the norm, particularly among the younger generations. There are no rules on social media communications. As a result, many young people mutilate grammar in their attempts to simplify communication. Although the author terms the assertion that texting ruins students’ skills a bad idea, it is important to note that over time, the unregulated and grammatically incorrect social media communication can compromise the students’ language proficiencies.

To counter this bad idea, a good idea would be to conduct a robust empirical study to establish the link between digital communication and other forms of writing. Essentially, the debate will be put to rest once there is unimpeachable evidence on the adverse effect of texting on students’ grammar skills.  Proving that social media communication ruins students’ language proficiencies would inform the implementation of measures to regulate social media participation among students. In summary, texting ruins students’ grammar skills.

The story I choose to read is “Texting ruins Student’s Grammar Skills.” In many ways I agree with the writer because student are writing without pausing. The create acronyms for . words instead of writing them out.  As the writer states “Recently, the criticism has been articulated in a different way: Digital Technology is ruining student grammar.” While the are texting or posting they are not using their writing skills or articulating what they are writing. Students are not being careful with their grammar and are making mistakes intentionally. Students are butchering grammar harming the next generation and that is a problem. I remember my mom asking me what LMAFO, or ROTF meant and I laughed at her and she explained that the laugh was actually on me. She explained that it was a little careless to write that on a text because we must write as we speak. As explained in the article the author expresses that in so many ways grammar is slowly being deteriorated.

The author feels this is a bad idea because we are loosing the writing skills and explains how complex writing was  and how texting is putting a toll on the writing skills. I also agree with Williams opinion about writers and their expertise. He recognizes that texting and technology does put a toll on their writing skill, but also recognizes that many who have been ranting they are not experts because many rules of grammar lacks practical force.” This is very true because some famous and so call expert writers  fail to notice their own errors when they write. Who knows if the Sumerians created symbols for a reason, and when texting it is a short cut when I write in acronyms. It is not that it is difficult for me to spell, but it is quicker and faster. The Sumerians wrote with symbols and today we text with emojis. I do see a slight issue because some kids will write acronyms when writing but can you imagine a writing assignment with emojis and acronyms. That would most likely drive me insane. The writer makes a valid argument that critique and complaints about kids writing skills is not from now rather it has been an issue since the beginning of time.

What caught my attention when looking through the topics relates to children and their ongoing technological advancement. I laugh at my parents when they do not understand my messages. They get frustrated and correct me but they do not understand that texting just like writing can be just as time consuming and annoying. I also had my bias about texting and the younger generation but after this article I started to carefully analyze that this is generational and it is the new for of writing to communicate and the old timers must learn the new norm. It was a great read and informative as well.

1.The bad idea mentioned in this text is that there is a genius author and that one should compare their writing to that set example. Basically believing that all good writers were born to be good writers. This occurs because most writing we see is by someone who has already made it in the writing world, so we hold ourselves to that standard. As a writer, it can be hard to even know where to start when you think this is what the audience wants to see, so people get caught up in trying to make a masterpiece that they burn out. In school, this model writing was created by students who were privileged enough to can the extra training to be able to write at a college level in high school.
2. The author says it’s a bad idea because this discourages the person from writing something good and creative. Teachers also don’t make it better because they criticize and talk badly about a student’s paper when comparing it to a published piece. Students also don’t benefit from writing essays they know that only the teacher will read because they will come out to be a text that’s only for a classroom not for the public. The author admits that there are some people who do have the talent to write that comes naturally to them. The author also reveals that writing can be learned with practice, a good audience, and feedback. The author compares learning how to be a good writer with training for a marathon. If you aren’t the best at something, you practice and make it better.
3. What caught my attention in reading this piece was the title “Only Geniuses can be Writers”. This made me think about how I see writing, I feel like for some people writing comes naturally. Others aren’t into writing but are forced by the school system to learn how to write, well at least for a teacher setting. Sometimes this actually helps students discover that they do like writing, well others hate the thought of writing another essay. I think the only way to contradict this bad idea is more practice and a bigger audience.

that the internet was not available for everyone and everywhere. As a result, students went to the library to use an encyclopedia to research any topic. Wikipedia is mimicking an encyclopedia. Therefore, I am convinced that to find some information fast, Wikipedia comes in handy. After reading this article, the author convinced me why teachers refuse to Wikipedia. Purdy brings two significant reasons why teachers don’t like to use Wikipedia. First of all, Wikipedia is available for everyone to edit or write a piece of information Wikipedia without proper education it is apparent that they don’t trust this kind of source. Secondly, the information on Wikipedia is changeable because scholars don’t believe it is reliable. I agree with the author’s point of view in stating that it is important to look for the information from different sources and choose which one is a more trusted site and gives correct information about the topic. on the other hand, Purdy also states a clear explanation of how to use Wikipedia productively and where to pay attention.  I agree with the writer that Wikipedia is great for generating ideas.

The Capital riot was a huge event for everyone in the country, but for me, it opened my eyes to the filth in our society. My cousin and I are not on talking terms anymore. He even blocked me on every social media platform. It was in the aftermath of the riots and the man with the fur and horn headdress that I began to understand the sickness in the people. By looking at the conspiracy theories being propagated by the man, I wonder how individuals could bring themselves to believe him and the blatant lies he was spewing. I read the guy hypothesized that Biden would somehow not be sworn in and that something would happen that would have Trump back in the office. All these sentiments were stuff from a dystopian movie. The worst of all was that my cousin believed such information. How could this happen? He was a respectable person studying for his undergraduate. I always looked up to him and thought he was very level-headed. However, in this scenario, he was deeply immersed in conspiracy theories with no bearing at all.

(Qanon at theCapitolInsurrection)

The incident got me thinking about the nature of modern life, especially with regards to the phenomenon of alternative truth.  I am an avid reader of current events and I have read much about the subject. While I know it was all about the fake news that politicians use to sway public opinion, it was now not possible to know the truth from the half-truths and the outright lies. At the same time, I could not understand how my cousin could get sucked into this world where everything was lies but a world he swore was the reality and that I was the one living in denial and that I did not see the truth. However, the insurrection at Capitol Hill provided me with glimpses of how the alternative world is very much real and that its adherents are guided by ideals that are not only astonishing but also drive curiosity for one to look into them.

After the incident with my cousin and the riot at the Capitol, I began looking at the issues of fake news and alternative truth from another perspective. Every time I read the news, there was always a little note about how the news had been fact-checked and that the information I read was correct. Currently, this is almost the norm. Fact-checking has become a huge concept with massive platforms developed for people to change what is being reported. After my awakening, I found that fact-checking is slowly losing relevance. Why would someone need to fact-check something whether they have their truths which they hold dear and nothing can change them from that particular perception? The people at the Capitol insurrection believed Biden stole the election and I hold that no amount of ‘truth’ and fact-checking can sway them from such perception. Fact-checking will soon become obsolete as there is no absolute truth. Truth is now relative and whatever one believes, then it is. These surely are dangerous times.

What caught my attention was that alternative truth was not always a matter of personal opinion and arguments on abstract concepts or a matter of different perspectives. Science was also being disputed. In essence, Science is no longer the middle ground for the left and the right to meet. I have seen interesting commentary, especially on the coronavirus vaccine and how it is effective while some other people say otherwise. The wearing of masks has been lauded and condemned at the same time. Most of the right-wing supporters have sensationally claimed that the masks are a plot to gag them. On the other hand, medical experts say that masks play a huge role in helping to curb the coronavirus spread. Some governors are angling to open up businesses and resume normal conditions even with the cases rising. Others are convinced and swear that this would be disastrous. Amid the noise, it is hard to find what the right thing to do is.

(Fake News on Coronavirus)

I chose the Science News article  “How Coronavirus Stress May Scramble Our Brains”. I chose this article over the others because I felt that I could relate to this article much more. Before the pandemic I already had to deal with a lot of stress. I take care of all my siblings while my parents can’t. I relied on working a lot. Once I lost my job in the beginning of the pandemic, the stress piled on. The stress of not working, the stress of figuring out what to do with my siblings, the stress of what happens if I get the virus. I genuinely feel like having so much stress hit me like that at one time has turned my brain into permanent mush. I really do feel like the stress of everything that happened during this pandemic caused many people’s brains to be a different way. The author used im guessing interviews with psychologists, brain experts etc to show how the stress from the pandemic affected our brains. In the article, there was an image showing how the brain functions when people are stressed and when they aren’t. When we’re stressed, we have a weaker control of our thoughts, emotions and how we act. I would say this article is an informative text and I definitely gravitate towards that because it’s much simpler for me to understand and break down. It’s very difficult for me to write and analyze writings that kind of speak from someone’s experiences because it’s usually easier when you can understand where they’re coming from and a lot of times I can’t pick up on it.