Monday, October 17, 2011

Guinevere's Blog #15

   I chose my topic to be about the controversial issue of hydraulic fracturing in Ohio.  The first blog is "Thanks Athens for telling Forest Service no fracking way" by Don E. Wirtshafter; J.D., a local attorney and environmental activist.  In his post, he exposes the sneaky attempt of the Wayne National Forest officials to avoid making any type of public announcement about the recent bid they opened up to the gas-oil industry for the right to drill 3000 acres of the Wayne forest.  He explains this land is directly above the Athens drinking watershed, and he also explains the dangers of extreme pollution to the land and water brought on by fracking. This article appeals to me as it tells of the particular land that I live very near to, and he offers info. of an upcoming protest, as well as the link for a way to send in written protest to our politicians.
(http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35009-thanks-athens-for-telling-forest-service-no-fracking-way)
   The next blog I chose is "Fracking in Ohio" by Jonnatha Mayberry.  This article is about the senate's approval of Bill 133, allowing for oil and gas drilling to occur in the state's forests, parks and other state lands.  I liked how the author explains both sides of the argument regarding this issue, saying those for drilling claim that it will get Ohio out of its 8 billion dollar deficit, creating jobs, and that the parks will get 30% of the drilling profit. Mayberry also goes into why fracking is such an environmental concern, contaminating ground water to the point where people can light their tap water into plumes of fire.  He offers his opinion that if this drilling is going to happen, the oil companies should be responsible for any spills, and all clean-up.
(http://marksolock.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/fracking-in-ohio)
     "Toxic fracking chemicals intentionally spewed onto private property in Ohio" by Amy Mall is a Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog.  Ms.Mall interviews a Monroe County, Ohio landowner who is not opposed to oil and gas extraction.  However, he is against the irresponsible actions taken by the oil company that took place on his land. He claims, with photo proof, that the chemical laden fracturing fluid was spewed all over his land, and eventually ran into the creeks with go to the Ohio and Mississippi River, estimated at 350,000 to 500,000 gallons.  He learned that the chemicals involved were extremely dangerous and cancer-causing. Mr.Boyd feel that his land is a total loss, no longer usable for any reason.  This article was persuasive in telling of a particular example from an outraged landowner who even describes himself as "not a green tree hugger" (Boyd). 
(http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/fracking_fluid_blown_out_onto_private_property_in_ohio)
    The last blog I use is "Pennsylvania fracking water being disposed in Ohio" by Timothy Puko.  This article differs from the other blogs I read in that it discusses another aspect of the new nation-wide drilling process that is affecting Ohio.  It begins with "Pennsylvania's waste is becoming Ohio's million-dollar treasure" (Puko http://blog.ptmsa.com). Mr.Puko explains that the extensive drilling happening in Pensylvania's  portion of the Marcellus Shale.  The state has been relying completely on Ohio to take the toxic waste fluid from drilling, amounting to 14.8 million gallons just in the last half yr. of 2010.   Ohio charges top dollar for "storing" this waste, thus making a huge profit while ruining the land.  The author of this blog did not portray bias, but simply provided the factual information regarding this ugly business.
(http://blog.ptmsa.com/2011/07/05/pennsylvania-fracking-water-being-disposed-in-ohio)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Guinevere's Blog #14

     From Everything's a Text, in describing blogs and their meaning, Meg Hourihan says, "They can be characterized by their conversational tone and unlike a more formal essay or speech, a blog post is often an opening to a discussion, rather than a full-fledged argument already arrived at" (Hourihan 295).    This class has been my first introduction to blogs, and I like the idea of an entire genre devoted to open-ended conversations that are meant to explore the unknown.  I am wondering if this idea is supposed to be followed in our upcoming  blog essay, although it sounds like a more formative argument might be in order for writing about our topic. To me,however, any essay assignment on any topic that is to be completed within a few fly-by weeks is going to be inherently open for more formed thought rather than "full-fledged" in argument.
     In writing about the way of organizing blogs, Hourihan explains, "What we write about does not define us as bloggers;  it's how we write about it (frequently , ad nauseam, peppered with links)" (Huourihan 297). This makes me wonder how easily identifiable a blogger's personality might be by way of analyzing their blogging style. Or can blogs be used as just another form of fiction, allowing the author of the blog to mask their true identity by assuming a style completely irrelevant to their own self?   I think I will prefer those bloggers who have a cause and a message to put out for the benefit of others, going beyond conversation and hopefully not to the point of 'ad naueam'.   If we take the time to spread word to the world, doesn't it really make sense to do it in a selfless style?

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Guinevere's Blog #13

     "Let your own argument determine your use of sources" (Ramage, Bean and Johnson 199) stood out to me, since our exploratory essay employed the opposite idea regarding our sources. In that type of work, it is our task to let what we discover in our various sources lead the way to provoking more ideas, more differing opinions. In the essay using Bodie as an example about crime, the author had a specific already decided agenda, and so it was logical to then allow her own direction to guide her in deciding on the sources.
     Patchwriting is explained to be "a form of academic dishonesty because you aren't fully composing your own sentences and thus misrepresent both your own work and that of the source writer" (Ramage, Bean and Johnson 204).  I had never before heard the term "patchwriting" and while I understand the idea of "academic dishonesty", I thought back to my exploratory essay, and remembered how difficult it was to paraphrase some of the information I wanted to use for my writing.  When the information I wanted to transfer was of a data-type or explanation of an experiment, it seemed like there were instances where direct quotes didn't make sense to use, but when paraphrasing, it also seemed extra tricky to state things in my own words without patchwriting. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Guinevere's Blog #11 Rhetoric

        1.   Photograph by Dorothea Lange, pg 101 Pearson Reader-  "Migrant Mother"- destitute pea pickers in Dust Bowl/Depression era, California, a 32 yr. old mother of severn children. I first saw this picture when reading a book about the Dust Bowl era-  this picture is an ex. of powerful rhetoric, and sums up the times.

         2. Poetry of e.e.cummings- a subtle rhetoric of communicating with disconnected words that together create images.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Blog #10

      My original idea for my essay topic led to frustrating research,  too broad for me to assimilate.  So I am choosing a new topic, regarding music therapy practice.   I recently read an article from the 1964, a review of an experimental music making among mental health patients, which has led me to my topic questions.  
    Is group music for patients an established practice in today's music therapy profession?
    If so, what are some of the effects on patients from group music in therapy?

Double Entry Research Log-

SOURCE 1- Oct.1

Pavlicevic, Mercedes.  "Music Therapy Improvisation Groups with Adults: Towards De-Stressing in South
       Africa".  South African Journal of Psychology; June 1999, Vol. 29 Issue 2, p94, 6p. Web. 1 Oct.
       2011.

Journal Article

-Begins with quote "Improvisation in music therapy is                 -possible quote to use
non-verbal communication"

-Paper is on 4 aspects of group music therapy in an
experiment to alleviate stress in South African adults.

-3 paragraphs defining music therapy and explaining                  -might be good way to start essay
that music effects all people.

-Explains the method of improvising on various instruments        -important to talk about emotional
and tells us that creating spontaneous music addresses the           aspect
emotions of the participants.

-Section on South African context, tells about common              -college audience can easily identify with
violence and societal instability which makes for an extremely      stress
stressful environment.
 
-Next section describes the activities of sessions                        -while this is very interesting to me, I
                                                                                                think too much detail on particular
                                                                                                  activities takes away from the overall
                                                                                                  topic of my research questions.
                                                                                                  Need to summarize.

-There is a following discussion on group pulse- the                   -not sure if this is relavent
 basic rhythm made by everyone together.

-Conclusion- members felt emotionally positive from this           -Conclusion really affirms the positivity
music-making. It allows for expressing strong feeling of               of group music therapy
the current tragedies of violence in the country, and provides
great relief of tension and anxiety during this time of South
African instability and transformation.


SUMMARY- good article to use as source. The author uses group music to affect change during a current situation, and stress is a common factor my reading audience shares, so I feel like the positive results not only answer my question, but also bring hope for others to use making music as a stress relief.


NEXT SOURCE- Oct. 1
Longhofer, Jeffrey.  Floersch, Jerry.  "African Drumming and Psychiatric Rehabilitation".  Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal; April 1993, Vol.16 Issue 4, p3, 8p.  Web. Oct.1. 2011.

-Begins with the doubtful executive director of  a Kansas        -good way to point out the skepticism side,
City mental health center,  "African drumming at the mental       maybe I could learn more about the
health center?  How will that serve our clients in the                  possibilities of  negative aspects
community support program?" 

-This program attempts to turn patients in psychiatric
rehabilitation into an African polyrhythmic drum
ensemble.

-Dagbama music is the specific type of African drumming        -probably not relevant to essay
used in program and the authors tell its history and meaning.

-Method is described- weekly sessions for 6 mo. and
performances at mental health centers.  Program includes
drumming, dancing, and singing.  The participants "become       -quote illustrates success of program
hooked not only on the music but also on the group process"(p3).

-Describes patients with severe mental illness- schizophrenia,
manic depression, multiple-personality disorder

-Conclusion- program obtained a fundamental goal of the
International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation,
"An effective...program offers group experiences that are
designed to enhance individuals' skills and to foster a sense
of community and healthy participation in normalizing adult
activities" (p 4). The focus was on integration, skill building,
social interaction, and provided patients with a meaningful
group role, increasing their self-esteem.

SUMMARY-This article showed another example of group ensemble music being used today and having a
positive effect.  It differed from the other source in that this program focused on helping non-functioning adults move toward higher functioning.  The initial skepticism of the director might be an angle I should focus more on in order to provide the other side of looking at my questions.  Is doubt and resistance frequently encountered for music therapists trying to break through the healthcare institutions  with this group music programs?  Is there cause for this doubt?

,