As my assignments are completed, the sun's heat warms the ground beneath me; I begin to rise into the summer. Soon I will be released from school's cold grip.
- Doug Carroll
Emmanuel Garcia
Ted Harris
Friday, May 16, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Engl 130 - Reflective Essay
A Beneficial Semester
In writing such essays as “Today’s Digital Divide,” which was a compilation of smaller essays, the skills I learned in this academic writing class really became apparent, and their importance is clear. In all stages of putting the paper together, there were methods that I learned that improved on what the essay would have been had I not taken this class. But my improvements were not only in writing. I also can read essays and books with more depth and clarity, because I know what active reading is, and this helps me identify key words that make a passage unclear to me. My new abilities are all related to the five goals I wrote out when this class began. Those goals were actually a very accurate predictor of what this class was about.
The first goal I had listed was because I like to do writing outside of class, and I always want to improve on my form. The goal was “sometimes I like to write in my spare time, so I hope to gain some better writing structure.” This was not very specific, but still is an important goal for a writer so that his writing doesn’t become stale. There are always ways to reword something, and we did exercises in class that showed that. The activities in which we combined many short sentences into a single long sentence were incredibly useful to me. In my blog I like to write my entire story in one sentence paragraphs if possible, because when I’m thinking of the story, I’m not thinking in sentences, or even words, but in ideas. This quote from my recent blog Lactic Acid demonstrates my prowess.
Since her arm was weaker than his, she let him hold the door open for more than mere minutes, extending his willing chivalry on into the night; and such a special night it was, for there was about to be a ceremony to crown the new president of the group of students (who refused to call themselves a club) that like to create and learn, adding to and expounding upon the cultures that already existed in their domain; and yes, his arm would weaken and ache, but he would not flinch in his duty, even if it was an arbitrary one, for that is the law of propriety.
This isn’t just a skill that can be used for creative writing though. I could use it if I ever needed to delegate work as a manager, because although there are some people who work better when they are micromanaged and all their tasks are bulleted out, others would like to know my overall idea all at once and decide what needs to be done in what order. If I can get all my ideas out in a coherent sentence, then I would feel more confident that we have a mutual understanding on what needs to be done, and as a manager, my time would not need to be spent watching over this person anymore.
Another goal I had from this course was to improve my vocabulary so that I could improve my writing and become more articulate. By reading works from various authors and doing the standard vocabulary exercises, I have found that there are many words I don’t know. There are a few words I have picked up that I feel I could use, and with more practice I will incorporate them into my repertoire and use them effectively. The right word can really change the meaning of a passage, and a thesaurus is not a good substitute for an expansive vocabulary. I’ll continue to help it grow by feeding it various works that might seem beyond my level, and then I’ll have a nice range of words to choose from.
In this class, I wanted to read compositions from varied authors to see their styles, and so that I could become more cultured and sophisticated. We have definitely gone over a variety of works from authors of different viewpoints by reading from 50 Essays. From these articles I have learned that it’s not just one type of author that can write to a broad audience that includes me. Any author can come from a specific circumstance, but the good authors can apply their experience to others, and let them know how applicable it is to them. Just writing isn’t enough, I need to give each paper a specific purpose or the reader won’t feel like they are in the audience, they’ll just feel like an outsider who happened upon my essay. This isn’t what I want, so I’m going to start out with a purpose before I start writing, and then I think the main point will show through when I want it to. This is what the authors in 50 Essay did, and I can get into their stories and learn from their mistakes, or at least see an issue from their point of view.
One of the problems I had before this class was that I didn’t read actively, so I would sometimes become uninterested and I wouldn’t realize it until a few paragraphs later. By then I had wasted time by reading a passage that I had to reread, and once I got into that cycle with an essay it was hard to get out of. The introduction to 50 Essays that went over active reading was helpful, and just that fact that we talked about it in class was important. The different techniques like SOAPStone, plus the SVEs are ways that I can stay tuned in to what is on the page, because I have a goal other than just getting to the end of the reading. The new goal is to be involved in the reading before getting to the end.
At the beginning of this semester, we had started reading, and I wanted “to be able to understand the reading better.” Better understanding came through the standard vocabulary exercise. By doing the SVEs, I didn’t just learn the words that I looked up, but I learned to be aware of the words that I don’t know. I can read a paragraph and know specifically which words are making it hard to understand, instead of just feeling like overall it was unclear. This is going to help me understand everything I am reading, and save time that I used to reread the passage. Now I can read with a dictionary nearby and get through things quickly.
This class has been beneficial in helping me complete my reading and writing related goals. We talked in class about the different levels of illiteracy, and how its meaning can change according to the situation. At the beginning of this semester, I was not illiterate, but I am certainly more literate now. I have learned abilities that have improved my reading and my writing. I plan to keep these skills of analysis and continue to use them and learn new ones as well to always improve my literacy.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
ENGL 130 - Advocacy Letter
Mr. David Little, Editor
Dear Editor:
Through a recent research project, I became aware of the specific problem that children in
When I interviewed Pat Furr, I could see how much she cares about low-income school districts and families that simply cannot afford to have a computer for every student. This lack of technology creates a gap in the learning capabilities between these students and those who grow up in a more favorable environment. Pat wants everyone to have an even playing field, so she has devoted the past 17 years of her life to this program.
But this problem of CSU Chico no longer donating doesn’t make any sense. Why would they want to have their computers destroyed instead of saving all that energy and giving them straight to a needy school or family? There was no catalyst that caused them to stop; it may just be that they don’t want to put in the effort anymore to take the computers down to the Computers for Classrooms location in south
Pat Furr thinks it’s because people aren’t educated enough about this problem. They don’t know a lack of computers exists. She wants to have the university’s computer techs educated so that the computers no longer go to waste. Education on this subject is really the only way to help the problem go away, so please, help spread the word, and donate your computer instead of throwing it away whenever you purchase a new one.
Thank you,
Friday, March 28, 2008
ENGL 130 - Community Needs Essay
There is currently what is known as a “Digital Divide” between lower class families and upper class families. Households with low income are less likely to own a computer and therefore the students within that household can fall behind in learning computer skills. According to Ronald Roach’s article Digital Divide Rooted in Home Computer Ownership, “many children use technology to complete schoolwork: forty‑four percent use computers.” In situations where a family cannot afford a computer, it is important that the school system can provide these opportunities, to level the playing field. Unfortunately, “California is ranked among the bottom three states as far as ratio of students to computers,” as stated by Pat Furr, the founder of Computers for Classrooms, Inc.
Computers for Classrooms (CFC) is a committee dedicated to refurbishing donated computers fo
r use in schools throughout the state of
The correlation between computer access and student ability is well documented. In Students "Turn-On" to Classroom Computer, authors Paula Cerutti, Lowell K. Brubaker and Elizabeth Littler describe various students who had improvements in their schoolwork capabilities when a computer was brought into their classroom. The article was written back when computers were first being developed, but the concepts in it have not expired. One student named Sam was doing poorly in all subjects, but after a computer was introduced into his classroom he learned to write programs for it, and then became more interested in school because he enjoyed this new subject. He knew that he would need to be good at math and English to continue writing programs in college, and he improved his grades.
Access to Classroom Computers, written by Henry J. Becker, is a more recent article. It is a report on a study done in over 1000 schools by the
I was able to find on the California Materials Exchange website the five main components of CFC:
1. Furnishing multimedia computers free to
2. Working with Private Industry Council (PIC) to train clients in warehouse, inventory, and computer repair skills.
3. Training volunteers to repair computers and learn how to keep their own computer in good condition.
4. Developing community partnerships to provide computers for families who otherwise could not afford them. Program includes mentoring with Big Brothers and Sisters.
5. Reusing and recycling computers so that they do not impact the landfill.
The first and fifth elements were the reasons Pat Furr started CFC back in 1991, because of the huge classroom need and large environmental effect of electronic waste. Now the program also has as a main concern the fourth element, getting computers into the homes of low-income families. This has been shown to be the most crucial step in helping students. CFC’s website says that students “are twice as likely to attend college if they have access to a home computer their senior year in high school.” This is further justification of why their organization is so important.
The CUSD Business Services website has a page dedicated to the Computers for Classrooms and Families Program, which is a partnership between CFC and the
In an interview with Pat Furr, I learned that Latinos have the least amount of computers in their homes compared to any other ethnic group. She also mentioned that Asians have the most, and Caucasians are close behind. The CFC website has a PowerPoint presentation on it with this graph comparing the percentage of the 
This graph does not include Asians, but it does show that since 1984, Whites, Blacks, and Latinos have had increased prevalence of computers, but with Whites staying far ahead of the other two.
Since Latinos have constantly been lagging behind the curve, and especially since many immigrants have a language barrier, it is important to make an extra effort to get these people computers. An online Chico News & Review article entitled “Bridging the divide [sic]” goes over information regarding CFC’s participation in a “Migrant Education program for 
that the users have the option of which language to use every time they turn their computer on. CFC is also encouraging these low-income families to learn how to better use their computers, by offering $10 rebates for each time they attend a computer class. This picture shows one such family on the day they came to pick up their first-ever computer from CFC.
After doing so much good around
Works Cited
Becker, Henry J. “Access to Classroom Computers.” Communications of the ACM. Jun 2000. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. CSU
“Bridging the divide.”
Cerutti, Paula,
“Computers for Classrooms and Families Program.” CUSD Business Services.
“Computers for Classrooms Program.” CalMAX
Furr, Pat. “
Furr, Pat. “ISRI 4-18-7.ppt.” CFC Manual.
Furr, Pat. Personal interview.
Roach, Ronald. “Report: Digital Divide Rooted in Home Computer Ownership.” Black Issues in Higher Education. 2003. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. CSU
“What is the Computers for Classrooms Program?” Computers for Classrooms, Inc. December 2006.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
ENGL 130 Community Needs Collage
For this one I had to put together a collage portraying a specific need in our community. This shows that there aren't enought computers in our classrooms, and for low-income families. It also shows Computers for Classrooms, the main non-profit that is solving the issue in this area.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
ENGL 130 Hometown Essay Complete
As you drive up Highway 99 headed for
When compared with most cities, Red Bluff is small. This is shown in its population as well as its structure. There are no tall buildings or malls or universities, because none are required.
Despite these sad substitute diversions, there are still at least two reasons per year for a male 
events always fall on the same weekend. The events are the Chemistry Affair and the Winter Formal dance. I have participated in each of these, both as a fun loving student, and as a volunteer in the setup process. I have found that they are worth the hassle of the tux, even if it’s only to see how good you look. Although these are the only black-tie affairs of the year, they are certainly not the only events available that need volunteers. In high school, the CSF club of which I was a member arranges to set up many of the events. This helps students learn what it’s like to volunteer, and is a good way to get to know your classmates and your community.
Growing up in Red Bluff, I was involved in volunteer even before high school. My parents would participate in events like the pancake breakfast, or the Dairyville Orchard Festival, and as soon as I was old enough I also participated. By doing this, I became well known in my community, especially among the older people. This actually became almost scary as I grew older, because people would see me around and ask me how school was going, without me having any idea w
ho they were. But it also offered me opportunities, such as when the annual Dairyville Community Club scholarship came up and I was awarded the highest amount. Since I had worked with all the people who decided on the scholarships, they knew I was deserving. This is the type of opportunity that presents itself more easily in small towns like Red Bluff.
Because Red Bluff is little, a higher percentage of the people who live there have volunteered. It’s really easy to volunteer in high school, as there are a few clubs dedicated to helping others work. The CSF club doesn’t just set up for events, but also has an ongoing tutoring program which I was a part of. I was able to help other students mostly in math, and so their grades went up, the school benefited, and I was able to help a friend and learn techniques that help for teaching. After that experience, I tutored other people from home and also used the techniques in a customer service job. The skills I got from volunteering as a tutor will continue to help me in college too, as study skills.
One of the students I tutored in math in high school was my friend Tori. She was also a member in the marching band with me. Through these channels, she has seen me participate in community service and has noticed things about me that relate to Red Bluff. When I asked her to talk about Red Bluff and how she thought it affected me and my life, one of the items she mentioned was “It takes a bunch of individuals working together to create a sense of community (Hickok, Tori).” For instance, on Memorial Day, we could volunteer through the band to go to the cemetery to put up poles and raise full size American flags all over the place. This creates a very regal and patriotic look throughout the grounds of the cemetery, and I’m sure the people visiting that day feel proud of their relatives who were veterans of our wars. I know I do, when I see my cousin’s grave. He was a Marine and a veteran of Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990’s. It makes us as volunteers more down to earth, to do something that brings honor to so great an act. Tori says that one of the qualities that I have gained from my experiences in Red Bluff is becoming more down to earth.
As I interviewed her, we drove on through fields of trees and flowers and Tori pointed out one orchard to me, mentioning how plentiful the yellow flowers were. I said, “Yeah, look at all those mustard flowers in that prune orchard.” She was surprised that I knew the name of both the plant and the tree, and that I also knew what kinds of birds flew by, and whether that strange sound we heard was a raccoon or not. I learned most of these things from growing up on a farm. I learned the different types of trees from my dad, a farmer, and the flowers and birds from my mom, a nature lover. The raccoon was just a good guess. But if I had grown up anywhere else, it is not likely that I would have been on a farm, and I wouldn’t have such an interest in nature. I wouldn’t be able to point out things that a layperson wouldn’t see. Growing up in the city wouldn’t have offered opportunities every day to see new plants and birds without having to go out of my way to find them.
But just growing up on a farm isn’t enough to make me to want to tell Tori all the things I see. I want her to know what I know, because I like the knowledge to spread. The tutoring program that we had in school was something that let me be more social with people I didn’t know, and I was able to teach strangers. This experience complements knowledge, because what good is knowledge if you don’t share it? New discoveries aren’t important if only one person knows about them. Sharing knowledge through an avenue such as voluntary tutoring is an important community service that lets people learn from their peers. It creates a less intimidating environment than going to ask the teacher for individual help, and it is the kind of help I would want to seek if I were in that situation.
Sharing is really in the essence of community service. You have to take time out of your busy – or not so busy – schedule to just go out and help someone you don’t know. Share your time, and your energy, so that they don’t have to use so much of theirs. If you know you’ll be free for a weekend, but don’t have any plans, volunteering in your community is definitely a great thing to do. After doing it once, I realized that it wasn’t a burden to help others. It isn’t like a job that you have to go to, because your service can always be something different. You can work with children or senior citizens. You can paint a playground or clean off graffiti. You can plant a tree in a forest or pull weeds from the city’s flower garden. Volunteer work is as various as the people who volunteer, and in Red Bluff, it’s another one of the things that holds everyone together. The quote that I mentioned in my introduction can be applied to any location, and it doesn’t have to be a certain size to create a community. But the quote I gave is not the full citation. Tori’s full idea says, “It takes a bunch of individuals working together to create a sense of community, and Doug is one of those individuals.” This is only true in Red Bluff, and the opposite is true as well. I might have helped Red Bluff’s community, but Red Bluff has helped me become a part of its community too, and soon I hope to feel the same way about
Works Cited
- Dairyville Community Club, Inc. Logo. 1997. Dairyville Community Club, Inc.
- Hickok, Tori. Personal Interview.
- Places of Interest. City of Red Bluff Website.
- “Red Bluff, CA (Overview).” STI: ERsys.
- “Where is Red Bluff?”
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
ENGL 130 Personality Collage
For this assignment we needed to put together a collage of pictures that represent our personality. Can you guess what each picture means to me?
Sunday, February 17, 2008
ENGL 130, Hometown Mini-Essay C
It has been said that “It takes a bunch of individuals working together to create a sense of community.” My friend Tori told me this as I asked her to talk about Red Bluff and how she thought it affected me and my life. Tori has special knowledge in this area because she was one of the students I tutored in math in high school, and was also a member in the marching band with me. Through these channels, she has seen me participate in community service and has noticed things about me that relate to Red Bluff.
As I interviewed her, we drove through fields of trees and flowers and Tori pointed out one orchard to me, mentioning how plentiful the yellow flowers were. I said, “Yeah, look at all those mustard flowers in that prune orchard.” She was surprised that I knew the name of both the plant and the tree, and that I also knew what kinds of birds flew by, and whether that strange sound we heard was a raccoon or not. I learned most of these things from growing up on a farm. I learned the different types of trees from my dad, a farmer, and the flowers and birds from my mom, a nature lover. The raccoon was just a good guess. But if I had grown up anywhere else, it is not likely that I would have been on a farm, and I wouldn’t have such an interest in nature. I wouldn’t be able to point out things that a lay person wouldn’t see. Growing up in the city wouldn’t have offered opportunities every day to see new plants and birds without having to go out of my way to find them.
But just growing up on a farm isn’t enough to make me to want to tell Tori all the things I see. I want her to know what I know, because I like the knowledge to spread. The tutoring program that we had in school was something that let me be more social with people I didn’t know, and I was able to teach strangers. This experience complements knowledge, because what good is knowledge if you don’t share it? New discoveries aren’t important if only one person knows about them. Spreading knowledge through an avenue such as voluntary tutoring is an important community service that lets people learn from their peers. It creates a less intimidating environment than going to ask the teacher for individual help, and it is the kind of help I would want to seek if I were in that situation.
There were also opportunities for community service through our high school band. For instance, on Memorial Day, we could volunteer to go to the cemetery to put up poles and raise full size American flags all over the place. This creates a very regal and patriotic look throughout the grounds of the cemetery, and I’m sure the people visiting that day feel proud of their relatives who were veterans of our wars. I know I do, when I see my cousin’s grave. It makes us as volunteers more down to earth, as well, to do something that represents something so great. Tori says this is one of my qualities that I have gained from my experiences in Red Bluff.
The quote that I mentioned in my introduction can be applied to any location, and it doesn’t have to be a certain size to create a community. But the quote I gave is not the full citation. Tori’s full idea says, “It takes a bunch of individuals working together to create a sense of community, and Doug is one of those individuals.” This is only true in Red Bluff, and the opposite is true as well. I might have helped Red Bluff’s community, but Red Bluff has helped me become a part of its community too, and soon I hope to feel the same way about
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
ENGL 130, Hometown Mini-Essay B
For a male
Growing up in Red Bluff, I was involved in volunteer work all my life. My parents would participate in events like the pancake breakfast, or the Dairyville Orchard Festival, and as soon as I was old enough I also participated. By doing this, I became well known in my community, especially among the older people. This actually became almost scary as I grew older, because people would see me around and ask me how school was going, without me having any idea who they were. But it also offered me opportunities, such as when the annual Dairyville scholarship came up and I was awarded the highest amount. Since I had worked with all the people who decided on the scholarships, they knew I was deserving. This is the type of opportunity that presents itself more easily in small towns like Red Bluff.
Because Red Bluff is small, a higher percentage of the people who live there have volunteered. It’s really easy to volunteer in high school, as there are a few clubs dedicated to volunteer work. The CSF club doesn’t just set up for events, but also has an ongoing tutoring program which I was a part of. I was able to help other students mostly in math, and so their grades went up, the school benefited, and I was able to help a friend and learn techniques that help for teaching. After that experience, I tutored other people at home and also used the techniques in a customer service job. The skills I got from volunteering as a tutor will continue to help me in college too, as study skills.
When I was a senior in high school, we were required to do three days of community service, called Senior Make-A-Difference days. We got these days off from school to go to some area in the community, and every senior had to do it. A group of my old classmates went to our elementary school to fix up the playground and do whatever else they wanted us to do. We arranged classrooms, painted play equipment, pulled weeds, and did other general volunteer-type stuff. It was really a gratifying experience, because we knew the people who this work benefited. My sister still went to the school at that time, so I knew she would be playing in a fresher environment. My mom and old teachers worked there, so I knew that I was helping them out, giving something back for all the years that they had spent forming me into an educated member of society. Although most of the teachers probably didn’t know who had done it, or they thought it was their own staff, we still felt great about it. And for the few of us that volunteered at that school, it’s something that we’ll always be able to share.
Sharing is really in the essence of community service. You have to take time out of your busy or not so busy schedule to just go out and help someone you don’t know. Share your time, and your energy, so that they don’t have to use so much of theirs. If you know you’ll be free for a weekend, but don’t have any plans, volunteering in your community is definitely a great thing to do. After doing it once, I realized that it wasn’t some burden to help others. It isn’t like a job that you have to go to because it can always be something different. You can work with children or senior citizens. You can paint a playground or clean off graffiti. You can plant a tree in a forest or pull weeds from the city’s flower garden. Volunteer work is as various as the people who volunteer, and in Red Bluff, it’s another one of the things that holds everyone together.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
ENGL 130, Hometown Mini-Essay A
As you drive up Highway 99 headed for Redding, you notice on your navigation system that you should be passing through a town called Red Bluff. If that is true, where are the lights? Where are the cars? The highway has only one lane in each direction as it enters the city. Can this be called a highway? For that matter, can this be called a city? Ah, there are the lights. On the side of the street sits a gas station with several pumps, then another, and another. Still, it’s only a few hours past dark and there are no cars on the road. You plod onward through the thick silence. How far is it to Redding? Another thirty miles. You stop for gas. The station is closed, so you use your credit card and fill up before anyone else has a chance to stop here. Back on the road, you look for signs to Interstate 5 North. As you pass McDonald’s, you see it ahead on the right. You enter the freeway and then see something hugely bright ahead. A Ford dealership signals the end of Red Bluff, its lights envying only Las Vegas in their luminescence. As you pass it, you make your escape. For you, like most people, Red Bluff is just a stop along the way; but for 13,147 people1, this is home.
When compared with most cities, Red Bluff is small. This is shown in its population as well as its structure. There are no tall buildings or malls or universities, because none are required. Shasta College, a local community college, has a branch in Red Bluff for the students who want to stay close to home or want to try out a few things before deciding on a major course of study. High school students either go to Red Bluff, the public school, or Mercy, the private school. These students come from all around, as Red Bluff High School draws students from an area of almost 2,000 square miles2. Students who live in Red Bluff seem to have reached the consensus that there is nothing to do there, and like to spend their time in nearby cities seeking entertainment. They have a valid point. Nearly everything of interest to young people in Red Bluff is on a stretch of Main Street less than a mile long. These main attractions include, and are severely limited to: a bowling alley with miniature golf, a run-down movie theater, a skate park, and Wal-Mart. Yes, in this area of low entertainment, Wal-Mart has been upgraded from a store to a hangout.
In contrast to the number of social hotspots is the vastness of the orchards. If you’re looking for trees, come no further. Red Bluff’s outskirts are lined with dozens of orchards and fields. Some of the main crops are walnuts, almonds, prunes and hay. In the spring, pollen is thick in the air, so if you have allergies be sure to bring some anti-histamines. And be careful where you park, because you might find that when you return to your car it’s completely yellow. But it is a beautiful sight, to see the highway lined by blooming trees and grass that is fresh and light green. And in the midst of the orchards are family businesses, contributing their lives to the service of the community, selling meat or repairing cars. Houses, businesses, orchards, and parks also line the banks of the Sacramento River, which splits Red Bluff in half. In the summer as the temperature reaches easily to 100 or 110 degrees Fahrenheit, people can be seen fishing, swimming, and generally having a good time in the waters which remain about 52 degrees year round.
The lack of outside entertainment is probably a large contributor to the sense of community shared here. Although Red Bluff has been expanding over the last few years, and traffic has been getting slightly worse (especially when school lets out around 3:15 pm), it still has the feel of a small town. People know each other well because they entertain each other in their own homes instead of at the mall. The person bagging your groceries or renting you a movie is probably someone you knew in high school, or someone you still hang out with. Because Red Bluff isn’t packed with big businesses, there is room for everything and a place for everybody, and that place is close to caring neighbors. If each person in the world is separated by only six degrees from every other person, then in Red Bluff the separation is probably only one degree.
1 “Red Bluff, CA (Overview).” STI: ERsys. 29 October, 2002. 7 February, 2008.
2 “Where is Red Bluff?” 27 June, 2006. Red Bluff Union High School District. 7 February, 2008.
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