Re: Changing Habits, Not Just Diets

What is the purpose of the article and why is it important?

The purpose of the article "Changing Habits, Not Just Diets" by Jane Black is to show us the changes that we can make in what we eat. She gives us examples of specific ways to take better care of ourselves. This article is important because a good point is brought up that we have the resources to make the changes know we have to make, but we have to find a way to motivate ourselves too.

Part of the purpose of this article, is to show us that there are many changes we can make. It has been proven that "if overweight and obese people add 2,000 extra steps to their daily routine or cut out 100 calories a day, they can effectively prevent weight gain". There are also the obvious small changes we can make such as people "baking their pork chops instead of frying them...". The purpose of this article is an important one, it is to not only tell us we need to make changes but to help us do so.

This article is important because it shows us that there is more to just saying you want to make better eating choices than actually doing so. It is said that making changes "can be overwhelming and unrealistic for both low-income and time-stressed, middle-class families". However, "many Americans do have access to, and can afford, better food. They just choose not to eat it. " This article brings these points to the surface, and shows us that what we really need it motivation, and that is an important part of this article.

This article makes me realize that the largest limiting factor in most scenarios is only ourselves. As long as we open ourselves, dedicate ourselves, and motivate ourselves to trying different things we can change positively.

Re: DON'T PLAGIARIZE! IT'S A CRIME!

The student plagiarized the work of somebody else, and that was wrong. They used a source they found, and copied different parts word from word. Even if they had used it as a quote, the person did not cite the website. He/ she could have summarized this passage in their own words, and at the end they cold have acknowledged it, by putting a link to the website. The student also could have taken a couple of lines that supported what they had to say, and quoted them into their own post.

If the person had wanted to use this site, there are different way the could have incorporated it, such as by using quotation marks. Here is an example: The painting Starry Night by Vincent van Gough is drawn from a very unique perspective and yet it "... is a scene we can all relate to..." (A Brief Understanding of the Starry Night Paintings)

 There are many ways to avoid plagiarizing. Instead of copying word from word, summarize it into your own words. You can also use quotations such as the example above. Also, for larger writing pieces you can use a "Works Cited" page, listing multiple sources you used throughout the piece. Lastly, for the first two way to avoid plagiarizing, (summarizing, and quoting), it is still important to cite it or it will still count as plagiarizing because you aren't acknowledging the author.

Learning from Students' Posts

There are many wonderful entries that students have written on their blogs. One that I enjoyed a lot was Joyce's reading response on Gale vs. Peeta in the series The Hunger Games. When I talk to most people about the book they disagree that the romance plays a large role, but I think Joyce did a great job at showing the the book isn't just about the adventure parts, but also about romance. She shows how they play different roles in Katniss' life, which is what helps create her as a character. In Joyce's response, she does a great job at showing how different these two characters are by using text evidence, but she also gives her own opinions and feelings making the entry a fantastic one!

There are many more fascinating blog entries that I have read. Another one is Izzy's reading response on Romeo and Juliet and whether their love is real or not. I liked her post a lot, because I think this is a question most people ask themselves while reading this classic.  When most people ask this they say how Romeo kept talking about her beauty, but Izzy shows how Juliet "declares her love for him" only after their first conversation. In Izzy's response she does a great job at giving specific examples on why she asks herself this question, explaining that it is because when they meet they seem to mainly be physically attracted to each other.

Reading blog entries that other students have written helps me think of ways that I can improve as a blogger. Joyce's blog entry on Gale and Peeta is very different than most entries that I have read about The Hunger Games. Her use of viewing and writing about the book from a different angle, romance vs adventure, makes me want to try something similar. Based on Joyce's entry, I think it is important to focus on not only the main themes, but also the small ones. Izzy's blog entry on Romeo and Juliet and whether their love is real or not, is based off a question Izzy asked herself. When I write posts on my blog I focus on what I do know based on the book, but I think my posts could be more insightful if I wrote more about questions and theories that I have.