On using Internet...

As I said before, for me internet is kind of an intruder. I do not agree that internet can replace a classroom, professor, classmates, a good lecture, etc. For learning to take place, you need that interaction, debate, feedback; not only from the professor, but from your classmates also. It helps critical thinking, tolarance, and expands your thoughts and ideas about certain things and issues.
Internet cannot give you these things. Yes, you can argue that technology has advanced and there are discussion boards, forums, and what not. It may seem that it's like the real deal, but it's not. Humans respond to physical and visual interaction. We need to see the person, their reaction, tone of his/her voice, the gestures, etc. We are affected by these things, and we need to be affected in order to know how are we going to proceed in the debate or conversation. Another thing is writing. You don't get to know the reaction right away, sometimes you have to wait; and if it's a live thing, everybody's writing at the same time and you lose focus.
Don't get me wrong, internet is a useful tool, but when it comes to research (and that point could be argued too). I just don't see it as a teaching/learning enviroment. I think that a class by internet supports individualism, do not incite critical thinking, and it's a "cold" way to learn.

Using Blog....

It's the first time that I use so actively Internet for a class, let alone publish something in it. I was first introduced to this kinda thing by a biology professor in the university, and I have to admit that the idea of creating a blog crossed my mind, for about 5 seconds. I'm quite resistant to the fact that internet is taking over education. It's a great tool but you can't replace somethings, like the professor or a book. It's just that I like the old fashion way, books and good lectures are my style of teaching/ learning... I know I sound prehistoric, but it's my opinion. However, I have to admit that I see a little bit different the net right now. It has made things certainly a little bit "easier" and bearable this semester. It's a different learning experience, i hope to learn more about it... =D

St. Augustine’s Teachings: “On Christian Doctrine”

In Book IV of the “Christian Doctrine” by St. Augustine, he exposes what the art of rhetoric should be and how should be used. We can find teachings throughout the whole book concerning different aspects that a good discourse must have, such as: structure, the use of words, the audience, etc.
In Chapter 8 we find one of his teachings. St Augustine begins to talk about one element that is essential in rhetoric: citing. He states that words can gain power and credibility when you cite, especially from the scripture. Bare statements cannot convince, unless you seek divine authority to support them. He also says that wisdom is more important than eloquence; that it’s better to hear to get profit out of what you’re hearing than hearing a speech for pleasure.
I agree with St. Augustine because citing is a powerful tool that, if used correctly, can give strength and credibility to one’s speech. It’s impossible to present certain facts, without any textual proof of what you are saying. By citing, I also understood giving examples. You won’t be able to communicate effectively with your audience, if they don’t understand what you are saying. You have to give examples in order to make clear the point that you want to get across.
This is one of many teachings that we can find in Book IV, of “On Christian Doctrine”. He does an excellent job, by applying the latter teaching in the book. The book is based on examples of the teachings that St. Augustine wants to instruct, and he makes those teachings very clear to the reader. I guess that is why the book is so effective, because it’s very clear to the reader what it is that the author wants to say.

"Toll Free"

Everything in our country is changing, and lately is not for the better. Our government leaders have recently discovered that Puerto Rico has certain problems concerning money. Apparently the budget of the fiscal year doesn’t balance up, and the only solution they can think of is raising fees for basic services and products (and those that aren’t basic also). For example: water, energy, and gas, to mention a few.
The morning I was looking for a subject for this essay, I came across with a plan to raise tolls all over the country, beginning in September 10, 2005. The increase can be up to 50%, depending the toll station. For instance, Caguas Sur goes up from 70 cents to a dollar, San Juan from a dollar to $1.50, etc. I believe this measure is very inconsiderate to people that go through these stations daily, but especially to students that drive everyday to campuses and people that have to pass through more than one station.
Students that are living in Mayaguez having the worst part. Most of the student population (50 – 60%) in the UPR Mayaguez (RUM) is from the northeast, east and southeast of the country. A trip back home for the weekend last semester was around 40 dollars. Now, with the raises (in both gas and tolls) it may go up to 50-55 dollars. That’s $200 a month. A large amount of these students have to pay apartment, water, energy, phone, food, etc.; expenses that can go up to 600-800 dollars a month. Soon a trip back home will be a luxury that most students won’t be able to afford.
Half of the Cayey population drives everyday to campus from Caguas, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, San Juan, and Guayama. This increase also affects us because from approximately $3.50 per week, it goes to $5.00 a week. That’s only students that come from Caguas, Gurabo, San Lorenzo; people that go only through Caguas Sur’s toll station. For people that come from the metropolitan area, it’ll be more.
I support a claim that most RUM students are making of giving discounts for college students, from 30- 40% percent. Our budget is very limited. There are students that don’t have a steady job or scholarships and still they have to support themselves throughout college. We have to cover most of our expenses which include books, meals, photocopies, gas, etc; and sometimes it gets pretty hard for us. San Juan gave a discount to college students using the “Tren Urbano”, isn’t only fair to give students that travel a relief in tolls?
I know that everybody it’s affected by this raise, not only students. A great deal of the population has no choice but accept this measure. But, once again students get the worst part due to our limited income. Most do get scholarships, but it’s proven that it’s not enough, due to the increase in the tuition fees in the university, not only in the UPR but also in the private universities, and other expenses that we have cover for in the semester. It’s not viable to look for alternate roads to get to college because of the big traffic jams that are formed in these others that would make impossible for us to get in time to class.
I think that this raise has been done without properly thinking what the effects will be in the long run. Studies should be completed and made public so people could know, understand, and make arrangements in advance (the raise was proposed and approved 2 days before it began). A formal proposal should be made to the government concerning this issue and they should take into consideration the claims of the student population. They’re making more expensive than it should be going to college due to these raises that affect more directly than indirectly our pocket.

Essay On Rhetoric

The first time I was introduced to the concept of “rhetoric”, I was in my freshmen year in college, studying Greek and Roman cultures in a humanities class. If I’m not mistaken, I think it was one of three classes that young adults had to take in order to become politicians or do important tasks in the Greek/Roman aristocracy. Early rhetoricians were Plato and Aristotle, who both wrote about what’s rhetoric, which notions are still used today.
I see rhetoric as a powerful tool, an effective way of speaking and writing. The transmitter can persuade, influence, and manipulate the receiver of the message with a good use of rhetoric. Rhetoric can be seen also as a way to achieve certain goals, taking for example politicians in election period. Their speeches, writings, and debates go towards a goal and purpose: to persuade the voter to elect the candidate.
I also consider rhetoric an art. It’s a powerful tool if you know how to employ it. In order to be a good rhetorician (or to develop certain skills in the area) you should have a good knowledge of the language, know how to articulate, choose carefully words and phrases, being concise and to the point. You must know how to be effective and understandable, but persuasive and convincing enough to engage your recipient in what you are saying; almost like “selling a message”. Not many people have the talent and few people try to develop it.
Rhetoric has many uses today and the best examples are politicians. On the news everyday we can hear how they have a way with words, just to get out of any situation possible, saying everything in a pretty way, so that people can “buy” some of the things that they say. An example of a politician who knew how to employ words in a powerful manner was Luis Muñoz Marin, known for the speeches that rallied thousands of people to elect him 3 times governor of Puerto Rico.
In the college world, professors and students make use of rhetoric. Professors have to interest students into what he/she is saying; they have to hold their interest using words and phrases that can capture attention. Professors have to sound persuasive and convincing to get the students notice and interested. We, students, also make use of rhetoric, but we don’t know that it is called like that. We try to choose words, phrases, and clauses to make our essays persuasive, convincing, and interesting without loosing focus of what we are writing and the message that been trying to get across. With our personal statements for grad school happens the same thing.
Other people that have a need for rhetoric are attorneys. Without this recourse, they might even loose a case in court. They need to have certain domain of the language and wits to convince the judge and court of whatever they’re saying. Rhetoric also applies to debate and how to argument or defend oneself or others in any determined situation.
Rhetoric is the art of communication, a practical and useful tool to be employed in certain situations. I think is present in everyday life, because I see it as a way of saying thoughts and things in a fancier or prettier manner than we may usually say. It has its characteristics, like persuasion and influence, but, again, those are present in everyday life; is in how we use it that makes a difference.

St. Augustine's Rhetoric

The classical era of rhetoric begins in Ancient Greece. Rhetoric is being taught by key rhetoricians such as: Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, among many others. Rules, types, appeals are all being developed during this age. Rhetoric is used in courts to prove one’s innocence, for public speaking, and persuasive speeches given by politicians. In Roman education it was important for a young man to take this class, especially if he was to be associated with politics.
St. Augustine marks the end of the classical era. Aurelius Augustinus was born in Thagaste, North Africa in 354. He was brought up in the Catholic faith, thanks to his mother, St. Monica. He was sent to Carthage to get a “prestigious” education and, by the age of 20, he was working as a rhetoric professor. He was influenced by Cicero, Maniqueism and Neo-Platonism, but he rejected all these philosophical ideas, with his career as a professor altogether, to employ his knowledge to the service of God. He was 32 when he wrote “Confessions”, where he repents of all his sins in his youth and criticizes the use of rhetoric in his age. Later, as Bishop of Hippo, he writes “On Christian Doctrine”, where he defends rhetoric as a tool for Christianization.
St. Augustine was disappointed with the use of rhetoric during his time. Rhetoric was concerned with the speech and text only, following strict procedures to produce discourse, became almost obsessed with rules, focused on the speaker, and was used as a force in politics and law. Although he was trained in this tradition, he saw rhetoric as a holy instrument that if it wasn’t used for God’s purposes, it was blasphemy.
Augustine defined rhetoric as “the art of Christian teaching and persuasion with words”. He knew because of the Catholic tradition, oral speeches are essential in the religion. He gives rhetoric a practical part in this tradition; it helps you to understand the Scriptures better, making you able to preach it. Oral speech is a central tool for Christianization (He thought that you should only preach to the converts, people should have the liberty of converting themselves, not persuaded). He also knew that it could be used for bad, because it could give the servants of Evil a risky lead. “ Since, then, the faculty of eloquence is available for both sides, and is of very great service in the enforcing either wrong or right, why do not good men study to engage it on the side of the truth, when bad men use it to obtain the triumph of wicked and worthless causes, and to further injustice and error?” (On Christian Doctine, Book 4)
He presents three purposes to rhetoric: Discover the truth in the Scriptures, teach the truth to other people, and to defend the truth when in ridicule. He states that rhetoric helps you understand better the Scriptures. If you know how interpret the Scriptures (the “Truth”), you can teach it to others. The third point he defends it by saying: “Now the art of rhetoric being available for the enforcing either of truth or falsehood, who will dare to say that truth in the person of its defenders is to take against falsehood? For example, that those who are trying to persuade men of what is false are to know how to introduce their subject, so as to put the hearer into friendly, or attentive, or teachable frame of mind, while the defenders of the truth shall be ignorant of that art?” (On Christian Doctrine, Book 4). He states that the defenders of the truth should know of the art of rhetoric in order to defend the truth and to make face to falsehood.
Saint Augustine “revolutionized” the way that rhetoric was seen at the time. He tries to deviate the purpose that it was given at the time to put it in a spiritual context. Augustine’s rhetoric is practical when it comes to the analysis of the Scriptures and supplies a base for teaching it, even tough it only refers to the Catholic faith. He brings the essence of classical rhetoric to his era, by presenting that one should persuade with the truth and nothing more, something that, at the time, wasn’t being done.

Wednesday

Right now I'm tired, sick, and I want to sleep.... So I'm not in the creative mood right now..... =(