Link to Internet Archive Cartoon Collection

For the group working on Globalization and Cartoons, here's the link to the Internet Archive's collection of animation and cartoons:

http://www.archive.org/details/animationandcartoons

Steve

PS  You'll also pull up lots of source material by doing a Google image search of "Globalization Editorial Cartoons."  The moral is that finding sources is often a matter of playing with multiple keywords in multiple indexes and databases.
PPS The group working on Hiroshima and perceptions of the bomb might want to check out the classic cartoon, "A Is for Atom" (1952).  Atomic energy and "the bomb" have often been conflated.  This cartoon's introduction shows how the bomb translates into one of the atom's "manifestations."   Here's the link:

http://www.archive.org/details/a_is_for_atom

They also might want to watch Disney's take, that is, Our Friend the Atom (1957).  Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRzl1wHc43I&feature=related

In my own research in Native American stereotyping, I often use materials meant for young audiences.  The working theory behind this use is that complicated messages are often boiled down and made clearer for younger audiences, and material meant to teach younger audiences is often more centered or hegemonic in terms of controversies within a culture.  Hence, you can get at what a ideology wants people to believe by looking at what it attempts to teach its kids and how these messages are framed. 

Assignment Descriptions for Week Fifteen and Revised Due Dates Posted.

Notes on due dates:

Due 26 April:  Revised draft of 2nd Research Paper AND Group Study Guide for Test Two HIS 112.  Post each to your blog.
Due Monday, 2 May by midnight final draft of Second Research Paper.  Post to your blog and hand in hard copy to Tom at HIS Final.
Due Friday, 6 May by midnight final draft of Reflective Cover Essay of Final Portfolio.  Post as the last entry to your blog.

How to Summon Self-Control in Times of Need [Mind Hacks]

One of the more common fallacies in thinking is an inability to delay gratification. Even when we know the awards are greater if we delay, we will often seek the immediate rather than delayed benefit. This is a root cause of procrastination. There is some interesting research on subject nodded to in the article below.

Steve

How to Summon Self-Control in Times of Need [Mind Hacks]: "

It's easy to believe that self control is an inherent trait because some people just seem to have it when others don't. As author Dan Ariely points out in an article in Scientific American, it may be more likely that some people have inadvertently discovered ways to distract themselves when self-control is needed.

Dan points to a study by Walter Mischel—the wonderful marshmallow test—that tempted children with marshmallows and told them that they'd receive even more marshmallows if they resisted. Here's what he found:

It's clear that all of the children had a difficult time resisting one immediate marshmallow to get more later. However, we also see that the children most successful at delaying rewards spontaneously created strategies to help them resist temptations. Some children sat on their hands, physically restraining themselves, while others tried to redirect their attention by singing, talking or looking away. Moreover, Mischel found that all children were better at delaying rewards when distracting thoughts were suggested to them.

This points to the possibility that self-control may not necessarily be an inherent trait, but rather something you can learn by finding effective distractions for yourself. Looking back on my own behavior, I'd have to agree. I'd also say that the best distractions for self-control are active ones that require you to think, move around, and actually do things. The more your mind and body is tied up in other actions, the less bandwidth you'll have available to wish you could eat that marshmallow—or whatever—right this very second.

The full post is pretty fascinating, so be sure to check it out in its entirety over at Scientific American.

Photo by Kate Ter Haar

How Self Control Works | Scientific America

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You can follow Adam Dachis, the author of this post, on Twitter and Facebook. If you'd like to contact him, Twitter is the most effective means of doing so.

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ENG 112 on 12 and 14 April, Your Work for the Week

Below find your work for the upcoming week.  Read the whole post, as you'll have two rough drafts due at the end of the week.


On Wednesday of last week, I got word that I had been accepted to the VCCS Developmental Institute.  It will meet on Tuesday, 12 April in Roanoke, and it will be just before the New Horizons conference at which I will be presenting on Thursday, 14 April.  Between the two, I will be out of town for the week of 4/11-4/15, and I will not be holding formal classes or office hours for the week.

The presentation at New Horizons has long been booked, but the Developmental Institute is a new developmental.  Over the next two years, the VCCS system will be making substantial changes to how our developmental programs are implemented.  We will be streamlining the number of developmental credits students take before beginning for credit certificate or degree work, and we will be making substantial changes in the curriculum.  As the Writing Program Administrator, I applied for a week long Chancellor's Developmental Institute to familiarize both me and the English program at Reynolds with the changes.  The committee met last Tuesday to decide who would attend, and I was accepted.  Unfortunately, attendance at the pre-conference developmental institute on 12 April was a mandatory part of this acceptance.  My absence from classes for the week will mean we've got to make some changes to how you will work over the week.


Writing and Work for the Week, ENG 112:

1.  Update your mid-term portfolio reflective cover essay to include sections covering the course learning outcomes in which you’ve improved over the past few weeks.  The updated rough draft is due this week.


2.  On Tuesday, 12 April and Thursday, 12 April, you should spend the English class hour in the library.  If you haven’t finished the worksheets and assessments for the library modules, then do so during this time.  If you haven’t completed your annotated bibliographic entries for your primary and secondary sources and published these to your blog, then do so during these two hours.  If you have completed both the library modules and your blog annotated bibliographic entries, then work on an early rough draft of your second paper for HIS/ENG.  


3.  On 19 April, an early rough draft of your second research paper will be due.  Post it to your blog.  Because of my attendance at the VCCS Development Institute on 12 April, I have decided to wave  the requirement that each group develop a common thesis statement.  While you remain limited to the primary and secondary sources which your group has annotated and the same research question, you can develop your own, individual thesis and base the early draft of your research paper on this individual thesis

10 Ways to Combat Writer’s Block

10 Ways to Combat Writer’s Block: "

All day long, nearly every day of the year, I write. I write and write so much that it’s almost become second nature, but sometimes I’m at a loss for words. I sit around trying to think of what to write, trying to find some inspiration, and sometimes even if I do find something that inspires me, I don’t know what to say. The words just won’t come out. As someone who writes for a living, you can bet that in the battle of beating writer’s block, I’ve tried it all. Here are some of my methods for getting around writer’s block, but feel free to share your ideas in the comments section as well.

1. Take a Break and Go Back to it Later

If you’ve been staring at a blank screen for hours, sometimes all it takes to get the words flowing again is to step back for a bit and take a break. Go run that errand that needs to get done, make yourself a cup of coffee, watch a television show, go for a run — do anything that takes your mind off writing for a short while. Sometimes it can be hard to write if there’s something else you need or want to do. In other instances, taking a break will take off some of the pressure and you’ll feel more inspired to write when you get back to it.

I like to allow myself the indulgence of stopping writing to watch an episode of a favorite TV show I may have DVRed, or if I am really struggling, a fun, light-hearted movie on Netflix or something to relax and refresh my mind.

2. Try Writing in a New Place

A simple change of scenery can work wonders. If you normally write sitting at the desk in your home office, why not try setting up your laptop on the picnic table in your backyard (if the weather is nice)? You could also try your local library, a coffee shop, a college campus, or anywhere else that is not where you usually write. This might not work for everyone, but it’s worth a try.

3. Write About Something Else

So you’ve got to write a 1000 word piece on green businesses or you’re trying to pen a new chapter for your novel, and for whatever reason it’s just not inspiring you. One tactic to try is to write about something else. Sometimes just writing about anything that inspires you will help you when it comes times to write about what you need to write about. I employ this tactic from time to time, when I have to write a political piece and it’s just not coming to me, so I’ll do a blog post on my news site about random celebrity gossip or whatever comes easily to me at that moment. It’s not what you are writing that matters, just that you are writing.

4. Figure Out When You Write Best

We all function on different biorhythms, and while some of you out there might find that you tend to write best at the crack of dawn, other people, like my husband, find that they get into a good writing groove at more “off” times, like in the middle of the night. Pay attention to yourself and find out when you write best, and when you find it more of a struggle. Then, avoid the times, such as just before lunch when your blood sugar is low, and you’ll have more good writing experiences overall.

5. Get Moving

Research has shown that exercises helps preserve memory because it gets the blood flowing, bringing more oxygen to the brain. I apply the same theory to writing. Get up out of that chair or off of the couch, and get your blood pumping. Go for a run, play a game of tennis, or even do a little Wii Fit. Just make sure you’re moving. Once you’ve cooled down, showered and are comfortable again, try writing. You might be surprised to find that it comes to you a little easier now. Thank the increased flow of oxygen to your brain.

6. Trick Yourself

There are a few different ways to trick yourself into writing. First, you can try telling yourself that you only have to write for five minutes. That can sometimes be just enough to get you going, and you’ll find that you want to continue. But like anything else, it might not always work. Another tactic is to pretending you’re emailing a friend a “guess what” type of message. Don’t worry about the format, you can change that later. Sometimes writing in a more conversational way is easier than a factual method.

7. Limit the Amount of Time You Have to Write

If you tend to procrastinate or slack off, this may work well for you. It might also work for those who work well under pressure. Instead of giving yourself an entire day to write an article or report, restrict yourself to just two or three hours. Sometimes knowing that you have a whole day to complete something will only succeed in giving you an excuse to slack off; you think to yourself “It’s okay if I go shopping because I have the whole day, it won’t take that long, and I can do it later”, or “I’ll just go on Facebook for awhile and maybe something will come to me.” That usually leads to wasted time. Tell yourself, for example, that it has to be completed by 2pm, no ifs ands or buts.

8. Read a Book, Magazine or Newspaper

If you’re reading a newspaper or magazine, sometimes just scanning the headlines or flipping through the images can inspire you. Seeing a headline that says “10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues” might inspire you to write “10 Ways to Beat Stress”, and so on. Reading industry news can also help you think of an idea for your own writing. But reading for fun can help too, if only to distract you and give your brain a workout to get those gears moving.

9. Always Carry a Voice Recorder or Notebook

Write down or record your ideas, anywhere, anytime. This way, when it comes time to sit down and write, if you find yourself struggling to think of something to write about, you can pull out your notes or listen to your voice notes, and see what you thought of at another time. It’s so easy to forget about the things that inspire us as we go about our daily lives, so keeping a log can be a real lifesaver.

10. Use Mind Mapping

Simple mind maps can help you to get all of your ideas down on paper. Write down everything you want to say about a particular topic, or all of your topic ideas. To come up with a unique angle for a story, link together your most unusual ideas. Once you have everything written down, it’s easy to sort things into categories and find something interesting to write about.

Final Thoughts

Often times writer’s block is simply a result of the pressure we put on ourselves to perform. If you’re particularly stressed out or under-the-gun in terms of a looming deadline, writing might be more difficult. And sometimes, no matter what you try, the writing just isn’t happening, and in this case it’s a good idea to step back for awhile and try again later.

"

Reminder: Attending CCCC Conference Wednesday, 6 - Saturday, 10 April

This is a reminder that I will be attending the CCCC to present on Writing Program Management from Wednesday - Saturday, 6-10 April; so, I will not have office hours Wednesday - Friday this coming week.

Steve

Avoid Cognitive Biases To Prevent Yourself From Buying Unnecessary Things [Psychology]

Read and process under the heading of fallacies and their root.

Steve

Avoid Cognitive Biases To Prevent Yourself From Buying Unnecessary Things [Psychology]: "

Marketers and salespeople use different psychology techniques to get you to buy things. So to be an educated consumer you should be aware of these methods in order to fight against them.

Image courtesy TheDigitel.

PsyBlog lays out 10 different biases that we naturally have. Marketers exploit these biases in order to get us to buy things that we might not need, or pay higher than the going market value.

An example is the 'relativity trap:'

We think about prices relatively and businesses know this. That's why recommended retail prices are set high, then discounted. Some expensive options on restaurant menus are there only to make the regular meals look reasonable in comparison.

Check out the rest of the biases on PsyBlog to mentally prepare yourself for these psychological weaknesses and equip yourself to be a savvy buyer of goods and services.

Why We Buy: How to Avoid 10 Costly Cognitive Biases via PsyBlog

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