Final Reflection

Our first blog post was to reflect on our writing styles of the past. Then most of my writing experience was stuffy and forced high school papers. I was really glad that I was able to branch out in this class and write about topics I am really passionate about. Writing about professional sports and sports injuries really allowed me to fill my papers with personality. This is the kind of writing I have always enjoyed and continued to enjoy throughout this semester. I thought I grew a lot as a writer by learning more about the fundamentals of writing. Rhetorical appeals and metacommentary were two topics I was not all that familiar with coming into the class that I will incorporate into all of my writing from now on. I enjoyed coming to class this semester because it was not rigid like science lectures. I expected all college classes at such a big university to be giant lectures where the teachers bark at hundreds of students. This class was more like a conversation while learning, of course. The various different mediums we used, movies, articles, ads, etc., kept the class interesting. Overall I thought English101 was a beneficial in building my writing repertoire.

My Life as a Sports Fan

As I have been focusing my trio of papers this semester on sports, I thought I would produce a quick blog post explaining my love for sports. It is essential to my final paper to know how much being a fan of professional sports teams means to my life. My Sundays in the fall are scheduled around when the Redskins will play football. I have been a fan of the Maryland basketball team here since I was a kid and vividly remember watching the team claim the NCAA National Championship in 2002. My family had a party when a baseball team returned to Washington DC several years ago. My final allegiance is to the Washington Capitals who I am currently stressing out over their chase to the Stanley Cup. I watch these teams play every chance I get, read countless articles about them, and talk about them tirelessly. In fact I probably spend too much time concerning sports. My friends sometimes laugh at my obsession; however, they tell me how much they have learned about sports since befriending me in the fall when we moved on campus. I love sharing my sports knowledge with other people and that's why I am so glad I was able to write my papers on something I am so passionate about. Some people may not understand when I yell at the TV in an attempt to play my part in helping the team win or when they see my family's basement decked out in a sports theme. As a sign in my basement says, "Redskins season: it's not a life and death matter it's more important." I cannot explain to non-sports-lovers why I love sports as much as I do but it is such a major part of my life I could not imagine my life any other way.

The Pura Principle

As soon as this fictional story beings I was caught off guard. Not even a few sentences in the author, Junot Diaz, began cursing up a storm while explaining the dire situation this family found themselves in. This abrupt beginning laid the foundation for a disheartening story. The narrator Yunior and his mother tended to his older brother Rafa, who tried to live a rebellious life despite the fact that he was fighting a terminal illness. Rafa continued to party and tried to hold down a job. Rafa took total advantage of his mother even after she had kicked him out because of his eloping with a young, illegal immigrant, Pura. He stole things from their apartment and continually raided his mother's savings box. I couldn't believe that even though Rafa knew he was dying he chose to hurt and push away his mother who was one of the only people who truly cared for him. He constantly tried to fight with his brother Yunior. In the end he knocked Yunior unconscious by throwing a lock at his younger brother; this came after he realized that Pura had taken advantage of him and his family. He was wrong but in the likely last months of his life he was still driving away his family. 


I had a lot of trouble understanding the meaning of this story. I truly admired how much Rafa's mother still cared for him despite him consistently pushing her away. Also, I hated Rafa for treating her like that. I think this story showed that having a serious illness does not always change a person. Usually stories that feature people dying of a serious illness focus on how they have grown and found true meaning of life after the terminal diagnosis. However, in this story Rafa steals from his mother, marries a women who I believe he does not love, and fights with his brother. This was a twist for me; Rafa never changes. I think this story showcased the dark side of dying. 

Waltz with Bashir

In Waltz with Bashir the filmmaker, Ari Folman, uses animation to depict the horrors from the Lebanon War that he struggles to remember. The animation highlights that the film comes from the memories of the soldiers in the Israeli Army but Ari cannot remember this time himself. Ari knows the darkness and seriousness of the film but he does not know the details of the experience. The yellow/brown tones and sketching effect of the animation shows the darkness and leave some details in the background. The most dramatic scene was when the footage transformed from animated to real video. The last animated picture you see features Ari breathing heavily as the women march towards him. Suddenly real footage of the Lebanon War takes over to end the film. The detailed, vivid images are apparent. We are no longer seeing memories from various sources; we are seeing actual events. This scene stood out to me because different animated moments from throughout the film are manifested in real life footage. Bringing in non-animated footage reaffirms the reality of the events depicted throughout the movie.

Annotated Bibliography

Mariscalco, Michael W., and Paul Saluan. "Upper Extremity Injuries in the Adolescent Athlete." Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy Review 19.1 (2011): 17-26. SPORTDiscus. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

This article talks about adolescent athlete’s injuries stemming from overuse of the extremities utilized in their specific sport. This article specifically describes upper extremities injuries extensively. It includes descriptions, graphics, and images. This author is affiliated with a pediatric orthopedic surgery and sports medicine firm. This gives the author ethos on the topic discussed in the article. It was published in the Sports Medicine & Arthroscopy Review 2011.

Bowman, Lee. "Health | Medical: As Kids Get Bigger, Youth Sports Injuries Mount | Seattle Times Newspaper." The Seattle Times | Seattle Times Newspaper. 4 Nov. 2010. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2013335217_webkids05.html>.

Injuries are increasing in today’s society because kids are physically bigger according to this article. The author cites strength and conditioning training as possible causes. My paper topic will be supported by this article because it explains the decrease in participation because of the increase in competition.

Rechel, Julie A., Ellen E. Yard, and R. Dawn Comstock. "An Epidemiologic Comparison of High School Sports Injuries Sustained in Practice and Competition." Journal of Athletic Training 43.2 (2008): 197-204. SPORTDiscus. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

This article compares practice and competition injury rates and patterns in boys and girls high school sports during the 2005-2006 school year. This study shows that there is a cross-sport difference and a difference between practice and competition. It gives specific numbers for rates of injury. This official study provides statistics to back-up my research.

Christine Le Scanff, et al. "Predictors of Perceived Susceptibility to Sport-Related Injury among Competitive Runners: The Role of Previous Experience, Neuroticism, and Passion for Running." Applied Psychology: An International Review 58.4 (2009): 672-687. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

According to this article found in the book Applied Psychology: An International Review the amount of precaution taken by athletes depends on their previous experiences with injury. It discusses the determinants of perceived susceptibility to sport-related injury. It cites previous injury or extreme passion were two traits that indicated prevention measures likely be taken. Several distinct factors contribute to one’s supposed injury rate. The article describes effective methods to counteract low perceived susceptibility.

Farrey, Tom. "Competitive Youth Sports in Society: What President Obama Needs to Know to Get -- and Keep -- Kids Moving." Current Sports Medicine Reports 9.6 (2010): 359-363. SPORTDiscus. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

To account for a political prospective this article takes into account President Obama’s “Child Obesity Task Force”. While this article focuses on the reduction of the obesity epidemic facing the nation’s children what makes the article relevant to my research is its connection to youth sports. It “confronts today's culture of organized youth sports”. The problem with organized youth sports is it governs most of the recreational resources available. The culture of youth sports contributes to the competitive nature of sports.  

John Q Response

This scene really stood out in my mind, maybe just because it was the last thing I saw but still it stuck out. At the very end of the movie after the final court scene is over John is loaded into the back of a police car to be taken to serve his sentence. As the car is pulling away John’s son runs out of his mother’s arms and through the crowd calling towards his dad. He says, “Dad, Dad, thank you.” Then his son shows off his muscles like he ad earlier. This scene is very significant obviously because it ends the movie. Also, the scene shows that even though what John did was obviously wrong he accomplished is goal. His son was given a transplant and a new life. He will serve jail time but John will see his son grow older. His son’s final flexing poses symbolize the new strength he has found because of his dad’s actions.

Research Journal

Wiese-Bjornstal, D. M. "Psychology and socioculture affect injury risk, response, and recovery in high-intensity athletes: a consensus statement." Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 20.(2010): 103-111. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.

This article is very scientific and full of research/facts. It focuses on high impact sports and their likelihood to cause injuries. Also, it looks at the effects of psychology and socioculture surrounding athletes can affect their risk of injury and ability to rehab. The author talks about how studying the psychological mindset of an athlete can relate to their performance and injury recovery.

Verhagen, Evert A. L. M., Maartje M. van Stralen, and Willem van Mechelen. "Behaviour, the Key Factor for Sports Injury Prevention." Sports Medicine 40.11 (2010): 899-906. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Mar. 2011.

Article focuses on 'real life injury-prevention'. One unique point is the connection between individual athlete injury prevention and entire society's activity goals. Author also includes different actions that may increase or decrease injury risk. Injury risk factors and injury mechanisms are key terms throughout the article. He also relates talk about research from other injury prevention fields to sports injuries.

Philadelphia

The scene in Philadelphia that stands out for me is in the library when Miller first accepts Bekket's case. Bekket is sitting at a table minding his own business when the librarian offers him a private room. Bekket declines but the librarian insists. The librarian was not trying to make Bekket more comfortable by offering him a private room; he was trying to comfort himself by getting Bekket away from everyone else. Miller witnesses this moment and comes over to defend Bekket. This is the moment where Miller accepts Bekket's case. He sees the social stigma  Bekket faces associated with his disease. I think this scene plays on the rhetorical analysis, pathos. Pathos is used to help Miller and the audience connect to Bekket. This scene demonstrates the problems someone with AIDS has to face. This shows that Bekket's claim is plausible.

Blog #4 Experience and Other Evidence Final Topic Choices

The grassy field at the park near my house was the scene of my first experience with organized sports. I had anxiously awaited my first game after spending years watching my older sister from the sidelines. Since that day when 4 year-old Kelly stepped off the field sports have been a huge part of my life. I played soccer, lacrosse and basketball in elementary and middle school. Then specialized in basketball during my high school days. All of my four sisters and I were active athletes. Every weekend we hopped from basketball gym to soccer field. If we were not playing sports, we were passionately watching our favorite teams play.

Sports and I always had a great relationship until I was introduced to an aspect of sports I was unfamiliar with, injuries. I had seen football players get carted of the field after a crunching hit or witnessed my favorite athlete sitting out with a sling on his arm; however, I never knew how painful sports injuries could really be. The wrong turn in a seventh grade lacrosse game meant lots of ice packs and Advil until I was taken to the doctor. Then came a quick surgery, a week spent on crutches, and a month with no sports.  A few years later my shoulder a practice collision during basketball practice left my left arm hanging out of its socket. This injury brought another surgery, a month in a sling, and a year without sports. MRIs, arthroscopic surgeries, slings, and crutches introduced me to the field of sports medicine.

• How are sports and injuries connected?
• What is sports medicine and how has it evolved?
• What effect can injury have on an athlete?

Blog #3: The Experience and Other Evidence Memo

1. When I was in first grade I hopped on my older sister's bike that was just a little too big. While rounding the corner on my street the bike and my left leg became completely intertwined. The bike ended up with a few scratches of the paint; my leg on the other hand was completely broken. I broke two bones in my leg and was in a wheelchair for months. A few years later after receiving my first digital camera for Christmas as I ran to show my mom my new gift I fell again. This time I ended up with a tie-dye cast encasing my fractured left wrist. Also, my basketball career brought on several broken fingers. People would always tell me to drink more milk and perhaps my bones wouldn't break so easily. My parents bought me calcium supplements to try and make up for the lack of calcium in my diet.
• Why was I always injured? Was lack of calcium the real reason for my injuries? Was taking supplements the best way to try and improve my calcium level?
2. I have always played sports growing up. The older I got the more intense the competition became. In seventh grade on a competitive lacrosse team I tour my knee ligament, an injury that later required surgery. As I have detailed I seem to be an injury-prone person and there was none more painful than my last. As a 16 year old on my high school basketball team a practice collision left my left arm hanging out of its socket. I was in pain for weeks. When I finally had surgery the doctors discovered I had a torn rotator cuff and a shredded tendon.
• What is the relationship between injury and sports? What is the history of sports medicine?
3. As I young child I ate very poorly. I loved fast food and soda more than any other food. Anything green or leafy could not make its way into my diet. I always was never an obese child but I was not skinny either. My middle school growth spurt helped me change not only my body but my diet. Suddenly I did not want as much soda or fattening food. Now I never drink soda and am always conscious of what I eat. I am not a perfect eater by any means but better than I was. In fact my love of nutrition and exercise has shaped into what I want my career to be.
• What makes a person’s taste change? How does your diet shape who you are?

Susan Sontag's Illnes as Metaphor/AIDS and its Metaphors Reflection

While reading Susan Sontag's writings I really liked how she wrote about a cancer, a topic she had a strong emotional connection with, from an objective view. Only in her later writing did she introduce the fact that she did have cancer. I originally connected with her objective viewpoint and then really connected with her writing after she had opened up about her struggle. I, also, liked the way she used many other writers inside of her own writing. I feel this really strengthened her writing by proving support and evidence for her viewpoints. Where I faced confusion is the comparison between cancer and tuberculosis. I understand that both are feared and often avoided in conversations. The diseases are scary and most people do not open up to many people when facing such a situation. I think everyone has a different feeling about their comfortableness with these illnesses depending on their experience or connection to that particular illness. For example, in my family 4 people have suffered from cancer in the past few years. I may be more comfortable talking about cancer because people close to me have experienced the disease than someone who has never been exposed to the disease.

Blog #2: On Confessions

Confessions and apologies, while often used together as one idea, actually have two distinct meanings. An apology can accompany a confession but does not always. A confession simply means telling someone else a previous action. There does not need to be any emotion behind the words. A confession is a fact. It does not have to be a negative action, just a past action that had not been previously revealed. On the other hand, an apology comes when a person regrets a past action and tells whoever was hurt by that action they are sorry. An apology has a strong emotional connection. When apologizing a person feels remorse for having harmed someone in someway and they are trying to make up for that wrong. The distinction is important because a person needs to be able to clarify between the two actions. A confession should not be taken as an apology because the person may not be sorry for their actions.

Confessions can be appropriate in writing when the writer wants other to know of their past. A writer may confess for many reasons, including giving insight into their personal life or to prevent others from acting the same way. A confession can help a reader to relate to the writing or be drawn to the writer's honesty. A confession makes the writing very personal. I think writing about your own experiences can both hurt or help your writing based on the situation. Sharing a personal story can bring either support or criticism and the author needs to be prepared for either. I think when used in the right situation a confession or apology within writing can greatly improve a paper. However, if one is used in the wrong place it can be harmful to the writing. It is up to the author to correctly judge each situation.

Blog #1: The Writing Autobiography

Hello fellow Terps! I'm Kelly, a freshman here at the University of Maryland. I have spent my whole life within the Washington D.C. metropolitan area in the suburbs Northern Virginia. I graduated from Paul VI Catholic High School last May, after a full life of private school education I was excited to step into the big, new college world. In my college hunt I was searching for a school with the Dietetics major, close to home, and a fantastic sports program. With my older sister a University of Maryland senior and a fierce love of Maryland basketball I found College Park to be the perfect home for me over the next four years. I am working towards a Dietetics and Family Science double major. I hope to balance my social life and studies to succeed in school but have a good time while I‘m here. My goal is to have a career in sports nutrition.

As for my writing background, the majority of  my writing experience is a result of high school English classes. This heavily critiqued, literature-based writing is not what I enjoy. I do not have an issue with writing, I actually enjoy it, when I am writing about subjects I am passionate about. However, if I am writing about a “boring” subject I have trouble finding the words and think my writing sounds forced. I do not think it is fair to classify anyone as a good or bad writer because everyone’s writing styles and tastes are different. My writing style is to let the words flow freely, reread, and edit until my writing is perfect. I am a perfectionist so this process has to be repeated several times until I am happy.  I hope to gain experience with many different types of writing and creative criticism to grow as a writer.