Academic Transformation exercise 7.6

Scale 1

E: I prefer action and variety.

E: I prefer talking to people when doing mental work.

I: I prefer to understand something before trying it.

I: I prefer to understand the idea of a task and to work alone or with just a few people.

E: I want to know what other people except of me.

E's: 3 I's: 2

Scale 2

S: I usually pay most attention to experience and what something is.

S: I prefer to use my senses-see, hear, say, touch, smell-to find out what is happening.

S: I dislike new problems unless I've had prior experiences regarding how to solve them.

N: I enjoy learning new skills more than practicing old skills.

S: I am patient with details, but impatient when details become complicated.

S's: 4 N's: 1

Scale 3

T: I prefer to use logic when making decisions.

T: I expect to be treated with justice and fairness.

F: I am usually very aware of other people's feelings.

T: I can get along with little or no harmony among people.

F: I often can predict how others will feel.

T's: 3 F's: 2

Scale 4

P: I prefer to stay flexible and avoid fixed plans.

J: I Prefer to make things come out the they ought to be.

J: I prefer to finish one project before starting another.

J: I usually have my mind made up and may decide things too quickly.

P: I live by making changes to deal with problems as they come along.

J's: 3 P's: 2

Lets Talk About DRUGS!

Many refuse to believe that drugs is a part of our culture today. Drugs has been in the mainstream since the 1960's. Even though drugs are illegal people still find ways to get high. Drugs are very intense and once it gets you hooked it could be nearly impossible to stop using. People will go to extraordinary lengths to get high and it is sad that some have gotten to that point. At this rate drugs is an everlasting circle that will never end. People become addicts to easily and cannot stop.

As a college freshman the availability of drugs has increased. I know many that use drugs and have been offered plenty times before. I quickly learned in high school that marijuana is the most common drug out there. I did not realize how many actually use this drug and the reason for that is because it is socially acceptable. I have friends that occasionally smoke marijuana or cigarettes and no one minds. Basically any drug that is grown from the ground and/or alcohol is seen as normal. Once people begin to get involved with cocaine, heroine, meth, pcp, prescription pills, ecstasy, or any other narcotic then it is tabooed. Not too many people do these type of drugs, and when I find out people do I try to stay away from them. The reason I stay away is so there is no chance to be peer pressured to try any of that stuff. These drugs are also habit forming, very expensive, and has short and long term effects. Drugs could be a dangerous thing that everyone needs to be aware of even if you don't use it.

Music List #4

I have listed 5 songs that deal with sex, drugs, or both. Society today has learned to accept this content in music, but in the past it was tabooed completely from music. There has always been some type of sexuality in music, but nothing like it is shown today.

5. Too Close- Next

4. Doobie Ashtray- Devin the Dude

3. Take You Down- Chris Brown

2. I Wanna Love You- Akon ft. Snoop Dogg

1. Bowl For Two- The Expendables

All the songs I listed are some of my personal favorites. Even though the lyrics are explicit I still like the music because the beat it carries. Music changes with it's culture that is why music is so explicit today. The Colloquialism of today has made our music this way.

Academic Transformation exercise 6.6

Matching Your Cognitive Level to a College Course.

My Difficult Course: English 1A

1. What cognitive level of developmental does your teacher exhibit? Using perry's stages of cognitive development, analyze your teacher's cognitive level of development according to the following criteria: 

a. attitude/behaviors toward students.

For the time I have spent with my teacher he seems to have built a relationship of   absolute authority over us. He has established himself as a an advisor who helps, but hasn't really made a friendship with his students.

b. instructional methods used.

He is a very fast teacher, one needs to pay attention very carefully to catch everything he says. He cover material quickly and hands out a lot of work. He also does a lot of group activities.

c. types of assignments.

He gives us much reading and a good amount of worksheets. We have homework every class and he enjoys assigning essays.

d. types of examinations.

He has only given us one test which was our midterm. It was long, difficult, and required much studying.

e. course policies.

For the most part he is most lenient when it comes to class policies. We don't have to attend, but if we don't it affects us. We can leave the class whenever we want to use the bathroom or leave. We also have to sign into the class whenever taking role.

f. teaching styles.

He appreciates class participation. He asks questions in class and he expects people to respond, we also have many group discussions.

2. What is your cognitive level of development for this class? Analyze your cognitive level according to the following criteria:

a. attitude toward how your teacher interacts with you and the class.

My attitude with my teacher is always with respect. I always respect my elders and show him my full attention. Although sometimes this task may be difficult I still do it.

b. comfort level with your teacher's instructional methods.

My comfort level always adjusts according to the teachers teaching methods. Personally I don't really mind his teaching style because I have been able to keep up with his assignments.

c. amount of extra readings and assignments you complete

I don't really complete extra assignment I just do what he assigns. It hasn't come to the point where I need extra credit.

d. ability to successfully perform well on assignments

So far I have been getting decent grades in this class. I have turned in a few papers that I received a B on and I recently took a test. Hopefully I received a good grade on that test. I am proud of my hard work so far, but there is always room for improvement.

e. ability to successfully complete ad pass examinations.

The last test we took had an hour time limit to complete 100 questions. Unfortunately the time limit was insufficient and I did not complete it. I completed enough to pass with a good grade hopefully, but I could of done better.

f. comfort level with courses policies

The class policies haven't given me a problem yet. I am satisfied with the amount of freedom we receive in that class. We are responsible for our attendance in that class. We decide whether we pass or fail the class.

3. If there is congruence between you and your teacher, how can this be useful toward your learning the material and completing the course? If there is incongruence, how can this hinder your learning?

I wouldn't really say we have an incongruence, but it isn't exactly a congruence either. The relationship between my professor and I is non existent. He basically assigns the work and I complete it. He grades it and returns it to me without saying a word. So far it has not affected me because I have been getting my work done.

Tips For Success #6

My next tip for Success deals with a nasty habit that we all have done before. On those nights when we don't want to study because we want to go out with friends, so we make the bad decision to CRAM the next day before the test. I cannot stress enough that cramming is the worst thing you could do before a test because it is unsuccessful every time. It is useless to do this because it is very difficult to remember all the information in such a minimal amount of time. 

The best thing to do if you have a test is to SPREAD OUT YOUR STUDYING. When I say this I mean if there is a test coming up you should start studying at least a week in advance. Therefore you could study a little bit every day and by the time the test comes there are no worries because all the information is in your head. This way yo have less stress and have more time to go out and spend with your friends. It's a win win situation.

Fever ch. 4

In chapter 4 of Fever by Tim Riley it mentions the beginning steps of how Mowtown records came to be. It all began when Berry Gordy started Tamla records and used to write songs. Tamla records eventually became Mowtown records and Berry switched over to producing music. His first success group was Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. They were a sensational hit, but Smokey decided to leave singing career for awhile and decided to write some songs of his own. All the songs that he wrote he would sell to groups in Mowtown. This was great for Gordy because all the groups that sang Smokeys songs would become chart topping hits.

What i find interesting is when the book states how Smokey came up with the idea of writing "My Girl". "My Girl" is a famous song performed by the temptations, but apparently before he wrote that song he wrote another song called "My Guy". This song is performed by an all female group called The Marvalletes. That is when it hit Smokey, if he could write that song for girls he could easily make it for guys. He then decided to write "My Girl". Both were sensational hits because of Smokey's Genius writing.

Scholarly Paper Topic

In my Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll class it is required to write a paper on a topic we find interesting. I have decided between two topics so far. I want to write on either Chuck Berry or the drug influence in the 60's. Both topics had an enormous influence on the culture of this time. If I were to write on Chuck Berry I would most likely write a biography on his incredible life. If I decided to write on the drugs I will most likely write on Albert Hofmann the creator of LSD. The drug he created and the influence he had in the 60's was immensely important to our history. He discovered a new hallucinogen that has been turbulently scarred for being a horrible drug. The effects it had with people and music in that time period was very interesting.

Workshop #1

I recently attended a workshop because it is required for my sex,drugs, and rock n roll class. So i decided to take the Testing Teddy workshop where they explain. To my disbelief the workshop actually ended up being very helpful. It dealt on how to take tests and involved an interactive game that involved teams. Therefore you immediately became close with others in the class who were in you team. I enjoyed this because it gave off a good vibe and got us comfortable. The questions and answers involved on what to do when taking a test. 

For example a good idea to do when you have test anxiety is to do deep breathing. Multiple choice and true and false have similar tips for success that can be very useful. I learned that when it comes to true and false problems you must always read the directions and if ever stumped always mark true. (Fun Fact: It is harder to make a false answer than a true problem). A simple tip for multiple choice problems is to always remember to rule out the obvious options. Than in that case it will be much easier to answer the problem.

She also covered how to prepare for a test properly, what to do if nervous, and how to write and essay. (Quick Tip: Use flash cards when studying). She told us that a great way to prepare for tests or finals is to always schedule your studying time ahead. Make sure you have enough time to study. If you ever get nervous before a test is not to talk to others because that only makes it worse. When talking to others you can nervous because you may begin thinking that you aren't prepared enough. You should always arrive to the test on time and relax before you begin and you are guaranteed an improvement. SHe finally ended up covering essays as well. She mentioned that outlining an essay and giving a neat appearance is always good. Outlining helps you remember your main points for your essay and you will be able to put more information in your paper that way.

With these tips that I got that day I will no longer be scared to take a test. I will go more prepared from now on and be able to relax more. Stress is a major complication in a college student. It is important for a student to be able to get his work done and be able to relax at the same time. With these tips I will finally be able to schedule my time better and get better grades on tests.

Scholarly Journal

http://bakr.alexanderstreet.com/View/334296/Highlight/rock#rock1

I was assign to read and summarize a journal entry about a moment in the history of music in the 1950's. I found an article on Chuck berry, a famous Rock N Roll artist in the 50's, and his history with the music. Chuck Berry was known for many chart topping songs and being very influential in this culture revolution.

The article states of when Chuck Berry began his career in 1952 when he began playing for local clubs with a trio, finally in 1955 he got the courage to go audition for a record company. The company was called Chess Records and they decided to sign and release Berry's first single called "Maybellene". Berry continued to make many more singles that topped the charts, but his career began to take a down fall in 1958. In the midst of all this Berry was also arrested in 1959 for transporting a minor over state lines for immoral purposes.

During Berry's time in prison many british bands decided to cover some of his songs. These also topped the charts in the 60's which meant even though Berry wasn't working his music lived on. Berry was finally released from prison in 1963 so he decided to take advantage of all the royalties he made from all the covers. He attempted to release a few more signals in the 60's but nothing compared to what he did in the 50's.

Tips For Success #5

Many think silence is the best form of relaxation. In silence there is nothing to disturb you, and one could maintain much more focus. That is why I choose silence as my tip for success. Living the college myself, silence doesn't exactly come around too often. So whenever i need silence to do homework I will always go to a study lounge or the library to go do my work. The reason it is best to do your work in silence is because this reduces the distractions. If you were to attempt to do your work in a very populated area you will be tempted to talk, listen to music, watch a movie, or even go out with them. So if you need to get work done, do yourself a favor and leave the room. Now some people hate to work in silence, so I suggest that you leave the room but take your ipod with you. This way you could work with the enjoyment of listening to music while you do it.

My Four Year Plan

I have certain plans for myself in the future. There is a certain picture that I have in my head of how I would like my life to turn out. It is sometimes difficult to do this because one also has to consider the realistic aspect. You cannot dream to big because we all have to come to the reality that life may not turn out the way we wanted. Therefore, it is much easier to plan a couple of years ahead instead of planning your life when your 30. So I have decided to plan as best as I can the next four years of my life.

I am a new student at San Jose State University so I plan to spend at least the next four years of my life in school. I plan on staying in school until I graduate with a degree in whatever major I choose. Wether it's civil engineering or a career in film. Now I am technically a civil engineer major at the moment, but I am still unsure if that is the career I want to pursue. I am interested in business as well as film. To do that I need to make sure to at more than 12 credits per semester to graduate within 4 years.

Since I plan on being in school I could tell you that plan on doing well. My goal is to receive a good GPA during my time here so I could have a chance to go to graduate school for my masters, if i ever need one. I plan on keeping my options open to anything that could better my future or career. For example this upcoming summer I would love to intern at a civil engineering company to see what it would be like if i ever decided to choose that as my career. I don't know where my life is going to take me, but I just hope everything will eventually fall into place. 

Music Memories #2

I have recently shared with all of you my musical history. So because of this I have decided to research a family members musical history and see what truths I could uncover. I decided to choose my father since he has always seemed to like the music world more than my mother. He was also the one who introduced me to oldies since that was all he listened to when I was younger. My father raised me on this genre of music and that is why i still listen to it today.

So I called my father and I asked him a few questions about what kind of music he listened to. His answers did not surprise me. He mentioned all the songs and artists that I would listen to when I was young. His list had everyone from: The Beach boys, Elvis Presley, The Begees, The Beatles, and Freddy Fender. There were many more that he mentioned, but those were his favorite ones. He told me that he still listens to this music whenever he gets a chance. He also is a big fan of spanish music. I couldn't really tell you the artists or song titles because I don't know a thing about that. It seems he liked the American music more than the Spanish.

That was a surprising fact that I discovered, but it wasn't the most surprising thing I found out. I also found out that when he was young his favorite hobby was to go to disco clubs. He told me he used to dress and act like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever because he was his role model. That was definitely the funniest thing I found out about him. It's strange how you think you know your own father, but in reality you really don't.

Quote from All Shook Up

"Elvis in the army, Buddy Holly dead, Little Richard in the ministry, Jerry Lee Lewis in disgrace, and Chuck Berry in jail"

-All Shook Up by Glenn C. Altschuler

I found this quote on the 6th chapter of All Shook Up and it caught my attention. This particular chapter is title as "The day the music died" and caught my attention. The reason this caught my attention is because I don't agree with the quote at all. Despite all the tragedy this quote entitles it is still a false statement. Rock n' roll did not die that day, because the music continues to life on today. The music that was made during these two decades was remarkable and cannot be compared to any other time in our music history. The music in this time period made such an impact to society and happened during such hard times in the United States. Now to say that Rock n' Roll died that day is ridiculous. That music is everlasting, I say this because it is still popular among many people today.

I am still a fan of 50's and 60's Rock n' Roll because I was raised on listening to this type of music. I will continue to listen because to me this music will never die. As the years pass music will keep influencing people in different ways. The sound might change throughout the years, but the impact it makes will never change.

Academic Transformation exercise 5.4

Are You Committed?

1. Your thoughts and feelings about the institution you attend:

a. Are you proud to be a student there?

I am actually very proud to be able to attend San Jose State University because I am the first person in my family to attend college.

b. Is it important that your degree come from the institution?

Yes, one of my goals in life is to graduate from college with a degree. Whether it's from San Jose or from a more prestigious school I plan on graduating.

c. Do you feel a sense of belonging; in other words, is this institution a good fit for you?

I do feel a sense of belonging at school in general. I want to be able to grow up and graduate

with a good career in mind. Many people graduate high school without the "want" to go to

college. I feel like the only path for my life right now is college.

d. Have you relinquished your bonds to your former school and transferred your

loyalties to this one?

Yes, I feel like this school is my new home. I feel like I have graduated from high school and

and that is in the past now. I now attend San Jose State and I am proud to tell people that.

e. Are you comfortable in your dealings with the faculty, the staff, and other students?

So far the faculty and staff have been very comfortable to deal with. I have no grudges with

any one thus far. I will try my hardest to maintain this relationship with them so I could ease

through school much easier.

2. Your goals for attending college:

a. What is your main goal for attending college?

My main goal I have set for myself is to graduate with a good degree. I want to be able to

have a comfortable future for myself, and the only way to do that is to do well in school.

b. Have you made a clear choice of a major or selected a program of study?

I have chosen to study Civil Engineering as a Major, but it is not clear yet. I am deciding

wether to change my major to Business because I want to make sure to choose a major that

I like and will give me the most money.

c. Is it important for you to have a college degree or to get certified in a particular

program?

As of now it is the most important thing in my life. I try not to let to many things distract me

from my studies.

d. Will attending college result in a better job or change in career?

Attending college will definitely better my chances of getting a good career. To be able to

work as a professional you must attend college to learn how to do our job. If you don't go to

college you are most likely to get a regular blue collar job.

e. Have you investigated graduate/professional programs?

I have found out that Civil Engineering is a very promising career.

f. Have you completed any internships or volunteered or worked part-time in a field

related to your academic goal?

Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to intern at any type of Civil Engineering firm.

I am planning on doing that this upcoming summer.

g. What are your academic ambitions, including GPA and honor societies?

My ambition is to at least receive a 3.0 GPA in my stay at San Jose State. Hopefully I will be

able to attend some type of honor program.

3. Support from family members:

a. Does your family support your desire to attend college?

The I only support system I received was that of my family. They were s proud of me when

I decided to attend college. They are still pushing me to this day to make something out of

myself. They cannot wait for that day to come, the day when I walk on stage with that diploma

in my hand.

b. If you live at home, do they make it possible for you to study?

I always used to have the best study conditions when I lived at home. I had my own room and

if I ever needed a quiet time to study I would close my door and would not be disturbed.

c. Do they help you financially?

My parents continue to help me out financially. I am planning on getting another job so

I could help them out with a few bills. Before school started I had a job and paid for my own

phone bill, clothes, and gas. I had to quit my job to come to school, but I am currently looking

for a job so I could take some pressure off my parents.

Academic Transformation exercise 5.1

1. I tend to keep to promises I make to myself: 4 Almost always/sometimes

2. I tend to keep promises I make to others: 4 Almost always/sometimes

3. I do not need others to make me honor my commitments: 5 Almost always

4. I like setting realistic academic goals for the semester: 5 Almost always

5. I look at the difficult college courses as a challenge and growth opportunity: 3 Sometimes

6. I feel a strong sense of commitment to my college 

institution: 2 Sometimes/Almost never

7. I attend all my classes regularly: 4 Almost always/Sometimes

8. I meet with my instructors on a regular basis outside of class: 1 Almost never

9. I study regularly and enough to be successful in college: 2 Sometimes/Almost never

10. I seek out others who can help me to be successful 

in college: 4 Almost always/Sometimes

11. I am appropriately involved in collegiate extracurricular activities: 1 Almost never

12. I like being a college student: 5 Almost always

Academic Transformation exercise 4.5

Course #1: English 1A

How difficult is the material?

I find this material to be at a moderate difficulty level. The only thing I find difficult is the

amount of work that is required.

How well is the material presented?

For the most part the material is presented clearly. He just moves at a fast pace and that could sometimes make the course to be unclear.

How intuitive or formal is the material for me?

If I focus and try my hardest I could easily pass the course. It is definitely one of the courses that requires special attention. 

Based on my ratings, I predict I will need to use the following learning strategies:

Study more and maybe get together with responsible people when it comes to group activities.

I will also make sure to complete all the homework and try not to miss a class.

Course #2: Engineering 08

How difficult is the material?

The material requires a lot of note taking and it requires us to attend many presentations.

How well is the material presented?

I believe this material is presented very well because the professor presents with power point every class.

How intuitive or formal is the material for me?

The material is simple therefore i believe it will begin to get easier. If it does not get easier then it will remain at the same pace which is easy enough to begin with.

Based on my ratings, I predict I will need to use the following learning strategies?

I think I'm handling this class well so far. I will continue to go to class and taking notes. I have taken quizzes and passed them and there has been not too much homework yet.

Academic Transformation exercise 4.2

Using Declarative, Procedural, and Metacognitive Knowledge

Match the type of knowledge to the correct activity. Completing this activity will facilitate your understanding of the three types of knowledge.

A. Declarative Knowledge

B. Procedural Knowledge

C. Metacognitive Knowledge

1. Metacognitive Knowledge: Practicing a problem using the Pythagorean Theorem.

2. Procedural Knowledge: Explaining the law of supply and demand

3. Metacognitive Knowledge: Memorizing musical symbols

4. Metacognitive Knowledge: Selecting a note-taking format for sociology class

5. Declarative Knowledge: Comparing behavioral psychology with cognitive psychology

6. Procedural Knowledge: Giving a persuasive speech

7. Declarative Knowledge: Creating sample test questions to study for a biology exam

8. Procedural Knowledge: Memorizing the state capitals of the United States

My Book Recomendation

I am here to recommend a really good book that I had the pleasure of reading last year. The Book was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. This book deals with a young boy who struggles every day by living his life constrained by Autism. Although, this disease causes hardships and problems in his life it does not stop him from wanting to solve the mystery of dead dog in his neighbors yard. He finds it one evening and is fascinated with it. The book deals with him solving the mystery and also solving a little mystery about himself. It is also written as if the young boy is narrating the story. So the reading is really easy and simple to understand. It is a really fascinating book and I recommend it to everyone.

Music List #3

I have been searching for new songs to top my list of favorites, and I think I have found them. Be aware that this list could easily change at any time. This is just a temporary list.

5. Let it Rock- Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne

4. Chopped and Screwed- T-Pain ft. Ludacris

3. She Wants Me- Living Legends

2. Love Lockdown- Kanye West 

1. Doobie Ashtray- Devin the Dude