TU Tuesday Speaker Evaluation

I thought that Paul Grondahl had great poise, and that he looked comfortable speaking to a group. He spoke at a good volume so that everyone could hear him, and he looked directly at the person who asked a question, instead of just looking around the room. He didn't use a lot of filler words like uh or um, and knew how he wanted to say everything. Another way that he showed good poise was connecting with us, the audience. He connected well with the audience by asking questions, and wasn't afraid to answer any questions. Whether he was answering a question about what great writing is, or how he started journalism, he conveyed the same points.

I thought that the speaker showed good clarity in his presentation, because he enunciated all his words clearly, so everyone would know exactly what he was talking about. I thought he used appropriate language for his audience, so that the language was not too simplistic that he sounded uneducated, but he did not use unnecessary big words either, so that no one would misunderstand him.

The speaker used great volume in his presentation. Everyone could hear him, and his words were not mumbled. I sat in the second row from the back, and I could hear him very clearly.

While he was speaking, the information he used was very specific. Not only did he provide a lot of information of how he began his journalism career, but also what everyone's goal should be. He said to find something you are good at, and constantly practice. He used examples like great writers, and even people in other fields, like Bradley Cooper. The information he used made his message and his overall presentation very clear.

The speaker used good organization, but I thought some of the questions may have thrown him off of his main points. He used great organization when talking about writing, and what makes writing good. The time when his organization lacked a little was when he talked about technology like twitter, and news feed sites. Sometimes, he said that they were just simple views on something that happened, and other times he said that it was the best way to get information. He made many valid points, but his views on technology seemed to be a little scattered.

My role in the discussion was asking him if he always knew if he wanted to do the personal stories that he does now. I thought that my contribution was good, but maybe a little late in the discussion. I thought that as a class we carried on the conversation very well. We asked a lot of valid questions on journalism and writing in general, like if entertainment is more important that information in an article, or what makes a good writer.

I think having a speaker like this come to class is a good thing for English 10 students. Not only does it teach us how to carry on a conversation, and what questions are good or simple answers, it also teaches us many ways to be a good speaker. The behaviors of the speaker exhibited what a good speaker should do. In my next presentation, I will try to do more of what made this presentation so good.

Paul Grondahl Questions

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Everyman-voice-Rooney-dies-at-92-2253697.php

Why did Andy Rooney act so differently around his friends than he did with his fans?
 
What made Andy Rooney's broadcasts so special?

The writing in this article shows how dedicated he was to his work

I like how this article shows the two sides of Andy Rooney.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Despite-operation-to-cut-her-in-half-Angel-2227298.php

What was her body infected with that there was no medicine for?

I thought it was very courageous to continue living the way she did, and be very open about it.

Can she still work without a bottom half, or does she have another source of income to pay for her hospital bills?

The article showed not only the affect on her everyday life, but the lives of all the people around her.

http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/The-consummate-curmudgeon-at-his-summer-house-2237375.php#page-1

I was surprised to find that he is actually disappointed that his fame comes from his work on 60 minutes.

If he makes a lot of money, why does he deal with malfunctioning equipment when he could buy more advanced technology?

This article shows a lot how he was not just a writer, but very skilled with wood and tools.

Why are these old things like his car and his computers so important to him that he won't buy new things?

Thankful Four

By Mike Ghizzoni  

Opinion Prompt # 2: Child testimonies in abuse cases are not credible.

There is a big story in the news right now about Penn State, and a reported abuse scandal by one of their coaches. The coach, Jerry Sandusky, has repeatedly said that he is innocent. Some coaches says that they saw him abusing children in the showers, so there are conflicting ideas on whether he committed these acts or not. The child testimonies are going to be the most important part of this trial, because Sandusky is obviously going to say that he is innocent, and the coaches may just be trying to protect their jobs by saying that he did it. The testimonies from the children, will be their unbiased memories of what happened to them. The children, and Sandusky are the only ones that know that really happened. These children are the only ones that can give an unbiased answer to this case, because their jobs or freedom are not threatened by their answers. That is why I disagree with the statement that child testimonies in abuse cases are not credible. 

I Want to Write About # 93 Write about a time you had to wait for something you wanted.

When I was young, I got very excited for Christmas, like many other kids. The hardest part about the time leading up to Christmas was that I had to wait to get my gifts. The weeks leading up to Christmas were full of anticipation for all the fun things I could do on Christmas day. Not only the gifts, but also the family time on Christmas. Sometimes, the anticipation made the gifts even more fun. The waiting was hard, but it made it the gifts more special. If I had gotten these things sooner, than they probably wouldn't have been as important to me. This is a lesson that I have learned from this experience, sometimes waiting for things makes them more special. Something that you can have whenever you want is probably not worth your time, and you have to wait for good things.

Magnetic Poetry: "Yesterday's Stars"

N= New Zealand

I have never been to New Zealand before, but I have heard a lot of nice things about it. If I had the opportunity to go there, I would definitely go.

http://www.newzealand.com/us/#/plan/activities-and-tours+sightseeing-tours/

If I could go to New Zealand I would...

1. See the Aranui Cave." Aranui Cave has the most concentrated display of limestone formations in Waitomo. Your journey begins with a walk through beautiful native bush, before stepping through the other-worldly cave entrance.It is remarkable for its sheer number of stalactites, stalagmites and other limestone formations. The cave was formed on an earthquake fault, meaning the rain water that creates the limestone crystals enters more readily. As a result, almost every corner of the roof and walls are adorned with fragile, sparkling forms in pale brown, pink and white."

2. Swim with dolphins in the bay. " Our purpose built dolphin vessel gets you closer – with a low viewing deck, water jet engines, underwater microphone and experienced crew with an intimate knowledge of dolphin behavior. And with a maximum number of 35 passengers onboard it means that this is a very upclose and personal experience."

3. Cycle through Otago Central. " ...view the stunning Otago Central landscape, across wonderful farmland, through spectacular gorges, over wooden trestle bridges and viaducts, tunnels cut through schist bluffs and so much more, while enjoying mainly flat and gental gradients.Experience the heart of this special trail on bike or foot!"

4. Go kayaking on a Waimarino Kayak Tour. " Waimarino Kayak Tours offers the best kayaking trips in Tauranga & Rotorua including magical glow-worm cave experiences, transport and catering. Paddle down the Wairoa River waters through abundant bird life, explore the vast Tauranga Harbour and learn of the area's Maori legends.Waimarino Adventure Park has New Zealand's only kayak slide, The Blob, kayaks, rock climbing, diving boards, Italian Pedallos and plenty more."

5. Go to an art gallery in Nelson. " With up to 400 artists in the region there is no shortage of art disciplines to critique as you explore the diverse array of galleries.Art Exposed provides personal access and introductions to the very best in each art category."

6. Go paragliding in Nelson. " 
The Paraglider is the simplest, most lightweight form of aircraft known to man, so this makes taking you to soar with the birds quick and easy.Cumulus Paragliding Limited is operated by fully qualified NZHGPA instructor and tandem pilots. We offer tandem flights and all training required for paragliding certificates.Tandem Flights: After a short briefing, clip in and safety checks, your pilot will kite the paraglider above your heads, then, with a few steps, you and your pilot will be gently lifted from the launch to begin your free flight experience."

7. Go golfing in Queenstown. " Peak Golf Queenstown is a specialist golf services company completely focused on ensuring you have the best golf experience in Queenstown.We arrange everything from transport to tee-times to tuition and we do it all in style.Your choice of spectacular golf course. Transfers to and from courses. Tee-time bookings. Executive club and shoe hire. Club cleaning. Caddying & golf tuition."

I would be very excited if I ever had the opportunity to experience all of these things in New Zealand. There are so many exciting things to do, I doubt I would ever want to leave.

A problem shared is a problem halved

When people have problems, they often go to their friends for help. When people have to make an important decision, they ask their family, and the people they know will help them the most. Right now, my brother is deciding between colleges right now, and it is a very important decision. Instead of taking this problem on by himself, which would be very overwhelming, he is looking to other people for help, which is a smart thing to do. He is not letting other people make the decision for him, obviously, but he is letting other people share with him, so that the problem is not entirely his, and he can relax a little more. This is a very important thing to do, not only as a person with a problem, but being able to help someone else with a problem also.

Dulcis Brevis Poem

Tiger

Quietly
Stalking
Prey

Struggling 
to 
Survive

Dominating
the 
Wilderness

Fierce 
and 
Ferocious.