Journal entry for week of 05/04/2009

This is my last journal entry for this class. I can't believe the semester is over, I am glad though. I can't wait to get through the final exam. I don't like taking tests. I do have to take English 82A and 82B, and the lesson I have learned is to manage my time better for homework. Now that I know how much work to expect I think I'll do just fine.

CRCB, Ch. 11- Reading, Understanding, & Creating Visual Aids mind map

CRCB, Ch. 11- Reading, Understanding, & Creating Visual Aids

Authors use visual aids in college textbooks to help readers understand information better. Visual aids provide quick accessible information that shows how ideas connect and relate to each other. Visual aids bring life to writings. Visual aids are used by authors for their readers as learning aids to illustrate and explain their main idea. There is a diverse variety of visual aids authors can use. Charts and tables condense large amounts of information into format that makes it easy to see how different items of information relate to each other. These aids work well for information on history, economics, and biology. Diagrams illustrate the connections between related pieces of information using simple to complex drawings. Illustrations are drawings that allow authors to show sections or parts of something, such as a machine or plant. Graphs are used to make large amounts of information easily accessible so that readers could see similarities between the items being discussed or recognize trends over time. Bar graphs illustrate information by using parallel rectangular bars of varying length to contrast information. Line graphs, pie graphs, pictographs, photographs, time lines, outlines, and mind maps are also examples of visual aids. Creating visual aids can be an effective study tool. The process of creating them increases understanding and also serves as a study session. The type of aid you decide to create will depend on the material you are trying to learn, understand and remember. I do have experience in creating visual aids. Through grade school and highs school I had created several. The one visual aid I did not have experience with was a mind map. That has changed though; I make them on a weekly basis. They honestly do help me study. I like visual aids because they stir things up. Reading continuously can get boring. Mind maps are great because they are summaries in the form of illustrations.

TFY, Ch. 12 Deductive Reasonin: How do I Reason from Premise summary

In this chapter the author introduces the topic of deductive reasoning. The word deduct means to lead away. In deductive reasoning people infer, or lead away from a general principle in order to apply that principle to a specific instant. According to the author, deduction is taught through the study of formal logic, or the science of good reasoning. Deductive statements are obvious most of the time; they can begin with a generalization that has been derived from inductive reasoning. However, deduction also works with generalizations not necessarily derived from inductive reasoning. Deduction can start with any statement that makes a claim. The claim could be worked logically whether it is true or not. Sorting out evidence and finding the truth is not a main concern in deduction, its main concern is studying implications. To understand logic one must first be familiar with logic’s technical vocabulary. The following vocabulary is needed to identify components of deductive arguments and to convey its rules for correct usage. One: argument, a conclusion supported by reasons. Two: Claim, a true or false assertion about something. Three: conclusion, the last step in the reasoning process. It is a judgment based on evidence and reasoning, an inference derived from the premise of an argument. Four: hidden premise or conclusion, a premise or conclusion that is not stated but implied in an argument. Five: hypothesis, a theory, explanation, or tentative conclusion derived through inductive reasoning based on a limited view of facts or events. Six: inductive reasoning, the process of noting particular facts and noting conclusions about them. Seven: logic, the science of reasoning. Eight: premises, statements, evidence, or assumptions offered to support a position. Nine: propositions, claims, statements, or assertions used in an argument. Ten: reasoning, the act or process of arriving at conclusions, judgments, or inferences from facts or premises. Eleven: sound, a sound argument is one in which all the premises are true and the reasoning valid. Twelve: syllogism, the formalized structure of a deductive argument usually written in which the conclusion is supported by two premises. Thirteen: true, corresponding to reality. Fourteen: valid, a valid argument is one in which the reasoning follows correctly from the premises to the conclusion. An argument can be valid with or without the premise or conclusion being true. Whether it is apparent to people or not, inductive and deductive reasoning interweave through our minds constantly. Taking conscious notice of how thinking moves between inductive and deductive modes has advantages such as, we can purposely direct our thinking to the mode that is more appropriate. In turn our awareness allows us to use different standards of the two modes to evaluate what we do. In the end we have a greater probability of arriving at better decisions in life. At the end of the chapter I realized the author was right when she had mentioned understanding the vocabulary would be difficult at first. The technical vocabulary of logic is something I need to study for a longer period of time in order to fully understand.

Journal entry for week of 04/21/2009

I had a nice weekend up until I injured myself on Sunday while gardening. It has been incredibly hot the last couple of days. I started out with the TFY book and the chapter wasn't difficult but for some reason it jumbled my brain. All I could manage to do was write out the summary on paper and post the mind map. I will type up the summary in the morning. As far as the CRCB work is concerned I will do that another day. Maybe it's the heat getting to me, I'm so done for right now.

TFY-Ch.12 Deductive Reasoning mind map

Journal for week of 04/14/2009

The chapters for this week weren't to exciting. THe information in the chapters was information I have already learned in the past. I had a nice relaxing weekend, my boyfriend bought me a very nice purse, we watched a movie and went to a carnival.