My colons are hurting!

I feel I have used colons often recently, and would like to know I am using them correctly. I learned from "Wikipdedia" and found four major uses for colons. Besides digestion, colons can be used for the following sentences:

• syntactical-deductive: introduces the logical consequence, or effect, of a fact stated before

There was only one possible explanation: the train had never arrived.

• syntactical-descriptive: introduces a description—in particular, makes explicit the elements of a set

I have three sisters: Catherine, Sarah and Mary.

• appositive: introduces a sentence with the role of apposition with respect to the previous one

Parker could not fist properly: he was drunk.

• segmental: introduces a direct speech, in combination with quotation marks and dashes. The segmental function was once a common means of indicating an unmarked quotation on the same line. The following example is from Fowler's grammar book, The King’s English:

Benjamin Franklin proclaimed the virtue of frugality: a penny saved is a penny earned.

So..... Check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_(punctuation)#Punctuation

Colons Are GooD~

The 1950's - Before My Dad Was Thought Of

Research is a powerful tool for critical thinking. Stephanie Coontz uses a lot of research to support her claims founded in "What We Really Miss About the 1950's".
Research, is essential. In order to create an accurate hypothesis, I must first have knowledge based on a subject. Coontz in her writing, used a lot of statistics, in order to create an image of true characteristics for each decade discussed. Also, through her research, I was able to understand points that otherwise have no application to my interests.
I feel that Coontz purpose is to help inform others about the 1950's and re-evaluate their reasoning for selecting the 1950's as the most ideal time to raise a family. She focuses much of her research towards what families were like. She expounds upon that also with research about why families were that way. Because she presented the fact, about mothers staying home full time to raise kids, along with the World War II background summary, I am able to better understand, why her first fact may be true. She always has her facts together supporting one another, which allows assumptions or perspectives validity. Throughout the story, Coontz brings facts to attention, in a non-argumentative way. Instead of proving specific points, she presents research she found and allows others to be critical thinkers themselves.
I cannot bring up a specific cultural belief, but I recognize that in Coontz's paper, she brings out both good and bad in all her subjects. An example; is when she talks about non-marital pregnancies, in relation to children born to married couples. The negative research, points at non-married pregnancies, while the more positive research is seen as more births to married couples.
What I find to be most interesting about both of these pieces is, their indirect relationship. Both of these story's can be seen as a way to initialize critical thinking. Soto, uses examples to allow readers to begin a critical thinking process. As I read Soto's story, I recognized how the culture of the American family, may differ from reality. Because of the examples of the young boy, I began my own critical thinking process about the reality of the little boy's experience.
With Coontz, I learned the same method, start a thought, and allow others to follow through with critical thinking. Just as Soto used examples to develop the readers thoughts, Coontz used much research to spark the readers thoughts. The effect, is enough support for the reader, to become more accepting of new perspectives.

George Soto

The Story, "Looking for Work" is about a nine year old Mexican boy who is searching for work. He has various obstacles that come with life as a young boy. From reading, "Looking for Work" by Gary Soto, I learned important techniques to include in my writing.
Soto, uses his detailed, yet familiar, description, to allow the reader to visualize, and understand his character. In one example, is Soto's use of personalized terms, such as "Kool-Aid" and the T.V. show "Father Knows Best,". This allows others to make a relationship with Soto's character, should they be familiar with these pop-culture items. However, this form of writing, may also deter other readers who are not so familiar, with these pop-culture descriptions. This method, may become very helpful, but if used excessively, there may be a lack of perspective allotted to other readers. A good mixture of pop-culture terms, and standard vocabulary terms, is necessary.
Through the writing of Soto, I feel he wishes to teach about how parents and children are affected by the falsified visions, shown through media. We see in the story how minor, conflicts are developed because of pop-culture. For example the young boy's need for formal dinners.
At the same time Soto also did not dwell for extended periods of time on the subject of these falsified visions. Because of this I feel there can be much more Soto intends to teach the reader, (which I didn't receive in my read).
I have learned not to over emphasize points that I wish to portray. Soto may have emphasized more about the young boy's confusion about family, instead he used, simple, clear examples.
I agree with Soto in that television is not always an accurate depiction of true culture. Culture is alive! It is what we are a part of. It is what we are. Soto did not make any bold statements challenging the culture of American families, but instead shared examples, teaching me how the portrayal of American families, is not always accurate.

My cama's

I felt that I could use a reminder of when it is and is not appropriate to add commas. The rules for inserting commas can be organized into eleven rules.

Rule 1. "Separate elements into series". this may include an action that took place, Example: "He fired three more rounds, dropped his magazine, inserted a new magazine, and released the slide...." (slide, referring to the portion of the pistol which cycles rounds through the chamber.)
Rule 2. 'Use a comma... to connect, two, independent clauses.' Example: "The magazine was loaded, but the gun was not."
Rule 3. 'Use a comma to set off introductory elements....' Example: "Preparing to go shooting, I reviewed my rifles owner manual."
Rule 4. 'Use a comma to set off parenthetical elements....' parenthetical elements references elements not requisite for the meaning of it's sentence. Example: "His Heckler & Koch, USP .45, shot very well!"
Rule 5. 'Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives.' Example: "He owns a black, synthetic, metal, rifle."
Rule 6. 'Use a comma to set off quoted elements', or designate a quote. Example: "Look at me, I'm a winner!", The Aquabats said, "Don't you agree? I'm a winner!"
Rule 7. 'Use commas to set off phrases that express contrast' Example: "I'm a winner, not a loser."
Rule 8. 'Use a comma to avoid confusion.' Example: (from the web sight, because I could not think of one :( "For most the year is already finished" vs. "For most, the year is already" finished.
Rule 9. 'Never use only one comma between a subject and its verb.' Example: "My super powerful 870 express is my favorite gun to shoot." There is no need to insert a comma between express and is.
Rule 10. 'Typographical Reasons' Use commas to format. Example: "St. George, UT" or "December 1st, 1987"
Rule 11. 'Use commas with caution' Do not overuse comma's. Rather stick to the rules that apply.
I have learned many rules about using commas. I learned that every time I pause, for instance, I do not need to insert a comma. I hope these notes help you develop better writing skills. Also check the web sight I 'quoted' throughout this post, for additional help.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm



"I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out."

— Oscar Wilde

My Comics!

Citations 4 The Lack Thereof

I have a lot of questions, about citing other works. Now I have learned there are even more answers.
From the web sight, of Duke University Libraries I have found a full list of different styles for citing works, from various resources (Books, Magazines, Journals...Etc). I chose to exemplify a web page citation. The following is an excerpt from instructions on how to blog.

How To Blog: A Beginner's Blog Publishing Guide

How to blog is something that a lot of us old hands take for granted, but for the beginner it can seem like a daunting tangle of questions and issues to be resolved. In this guide, I have gathered all of the essential resources you'll need to get started. Here's how:

My Works Cited is in the Chicago format as follows:

Michael Pick
How To Blog: A Beginner's Blog Publishing Guide - Robin Good's Latest News:
3 spaces [Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:03:20 PM; cited January 14 2009 3 spaces Available from
3 spaces http://www.masternewmedia.org/independent_publishing/blogging-how-to-blog/guide-to-publishing-first-blog-20071104.htm.htm

(Sorry, I am having trouble formatting, see Duke University Libraries for a good example)

Things that are important to remember are:

• The Author (if listed)
• The Title
• The Name of the Producer or Company (of the web page)
• The Last Modified Date w/ The Citation Date
  
• The web page address (full address)
  

I now, have an excellent resource for instructions to cite works I use in my research. (Duke University Libraries!)

My Opinion's Count?

The term citizen is used to describe an inhabitant of a location, (or more often,) a nation. An American citizen, therefore can be someone from the American continent, or the country America (The United States of America). I never heard of someone describe them self as a citizen, without having any application to government. I, therefore, have no cause to assume otherwise, unless further communication expounds another perspective.
Applying this text will complicate, the validity of my opinions. This text will complicate my opinions, because critical thinking is careful analysis, and judgment. In order to apply careful analysis and judgment, I will have to obtain multiple perspectives through study. I will have to study more carefully and that complicates things. Also according to the text it may be necessary to question, the perspective I have already obtained.
As I become a critical thinker, I will learn to obtain different perspectives, and create conclusions based upon multiple variables.