Honestly, ENG 101 is one of the most interesting classes I have taken in my life. I have not only learnt how to write essay in MLA format but I have had so much of fun peer reviewing, revising low graded essays, and sharing my thoghts with class through blog posting. Blog assignments are really interesting.
After being in the class for couple of months, I feel literate in using blackboard, communicate with my friends in blog, writing essays in MLA format etc.
Previously when I was in my country and even when I was in college from Alabama, I didn't use internet as much as I do right now. But I still find myself confused when its the matter of finding articles and books online. Thats the are I would like to learn more so that I can have good knowledge from different sources and get good grades in all the courses.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Technological Revolution and Digital Divide
Larry Irving, assistant secretary for Communication and Information Administrator for National Telecommunications and Administration (NTIA),in her article "Technological Revolution has created a Digital Divide" asserts that the information revolution has led to a digital divide between those who have access to computers and the internet and those who do not. It is obvious that the overall number of Americans with computers and internet access has increased but the gap between people who have access to these technologies and those who do not is also increasing successively.
Income, race/origin as significant determinant of access to computer and internet.Data collected from various sources shows that an income over $75000 are more than 5 times as likely to have a computer at home and more than 7 times as likely to have home internet access as those with an income less than $10000.Urban Asian pacific islanders have computer penetration rates (55.6%) and internet access rates (36.5%) followed by white households (46.6% and 29.8% respectively). Black and Hispanic households have far lower PC penetration levels at (23.2% and 25.5%) and internet access levels (11.2% and 12.6%). Education and household type are other influencing factors in access to technology. Those with high school degree or higher education are more than 8 times more likely to have computer at home (68.7 versus 7.9%) and nearly 16 times as likely to have home internet access (48.9% versus 3.1%). Similarly, female headed households are less likely to have access to computer and internet as of dual-parent households (Irving, 2004).
The divide between those with technological haves and have nots is a negative aspect of technological revolution. Race/origin and income are the significant determinants of this gap.
Income, race/origin as significant determinant of access to computer and internet.Data collected from various sources shows that an income over $75000 are more than 5 times as likely to have a computer at home and more than 7 times as likely to have home internet access as those with an income less than $10000.Urban Asian pacific islanders have computer penetration rates (55.6%) and internet access rates (36.5%) followed by white households (46.6% and 29.8% respectively). Black and Hispanic households have far lower PC penetration levels at (23.2% and 25.5%) and internet access levels (11.2% and 12.6%). Education and household type are other influencing factors in access to technology. Those with high school degree or higher education are more than 8 times more likely to have computer at home (68.7 versus 7.9%) and nearly 16 times as likely to have home internet access (48.9% versus 3.1%). Similarly, female headed households are less likely to have access to computer and internet as of dual-parent households (Irving, 2004).
The divide between those with technological haves and have nots is a negative aspect of technological revolution. Race/origin and income are the significant determinants of this gap.
Books I am going to read
Books are actually sleeping tablets for me. Most of the time I read first 2 or 3 pages, get bored and dozz off.But if it catches my mind,I read it all.This semester for Eng 101, I'm going to read the following books:
- Harwisher, Gail and Cynthia Selfe. Literate Lives in the Information Age. New York: Lawrence Elbraum, 2004.
- Kress, Gunther. Literacy in the New Media Age. New York: Routledge, 2003.
- Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.
If I had to recommend books to read fur fun, I would recommend the following:
- Bram Stoker's Dracula: Sucking Through the Century
- Nickel and Dimed by Barbera Barbara Ehrenreich
- You Can Win - Shiv Khera
- Freedom from the Known By Jiddu Krishnamurti
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Literacy can vary upon culture and place
I studied the English language from my childhood in my country and I thought it would be easier for me to communicate anywhere where English is spoken. But I was surprised when I heard the English spoken here in United States. I had lots of problems regarding accent and the stress while speaking because the English which I learnt in my country was British . And some words are even spelled in different way. I was called an English literate person in my country and I might be called so in United Kingdom as well but I can not consider myself as English literate because of the difference between the way of speaking and writing here in United States.
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