How we get to the SO WHAT?!?!?! of writing.

One of the goals of a liberal education is to teach students how to think beyond the obvious, to learn to synthesize and analyze information. So far in Bridge, we have begun to model this process for you thorough the two part assignments and the Bridge postings that are usually written in two parts--one focusing on local or personal information and the second focusing on political and/or global perspectives.

For today's prompt, I want you to consider what you did this weekend. In about 100-150 words, describe something you did as fully as you pssibly can. Then, in a follow-up paragraph of 150-200 words, analyze your own behaviors using one of or all of the following ideas: worldview, mindset, or American Myth. That is, consider how what you did reveals a particular perspective or belief. Consdier what role this has in terms of political power. Discuss larger issues that may be addresses from behavior that is usually understood as somewhat irrelevant or benign--like going to the movies, or hanging out with friends. In other words, how could you turn your individual personal story into a longer discussion about something relevant to other people? That's the real goal in most writing.

Getting to know you!

Thanks to you all for posting introductions. I appreciate your candid responses and am really interested in the range of passions and accomplishments represented in this class. This is definitely an interesting group of people with a wide-range of tastes and experience. This kind of diversity is what makes a college classroom one of the most exciting places in the world. Of course, that is my opinion. But, since you're here, I would have to assume that this can be, at the very least, a bonus of your college life.

Thanks!

Yesterday's trip to the Cultural Center

Describe yesterday's trip to the cultural center.

1) Reflect upon the exhibit and your connection/reaction to what you saw. Marilyn Monroe was quoted as saying, "I am an artifical product." What does this mean? What does it say about the relationship between stardom and media?

2) Do you feel that there are other celebrities or cultural figures who represent these kinds of political ideas? Who might be a great example of the relationship between image and power in the media? What do you think about how they are using this relationship?

This drives me CRAZYand that is AMAZING!!

I thought we might have a "fun" little place on the blog where folks could vent about anything and everything (given that we're not specifically mean). I can start--

When I am driving, it makes me NUTS when drivers drive slowly in the far left lane!!
When I am on the train, it drives me crazy to have to watch, smell and hear folks eat when it is early in the morning!!!

In contrast, I totally LOVE it when the train is just pulling up when I get on the platform and I neither have to speed up or slow down in order to get on and then get a seat,

This isn't a required posting, but I thought you could all add your own thoughts whenever you feel like it!

Welcome!!!

Hello and welcome (once again!) to the 2008 session of Bridge at Columbia College Chicago. These next four weeks have been designed to be an intense and rewarding experience for you.

As a part of your English Studies course in Bridge, you will be required to post prompts and respond to promts here on our Bridge 2008 Blog.

The purpose of this work is to provide you with more opportunity to write, with more expereince with responding to ideas.

In this, your first Blog posting, I ask that you write an Introduction for yourself. You might begin with some basic demographic information--age, major, where you live, family members, etc.--but work toward a more complicated, complex, and complete presentation of yourself. Don't only tell us what you like to do, but WHY. You might begin by describing how you spend your time, but also let us in on your own personal beliefs about some idea. What makes you who you are? What makes you think the way you do?

Of course, you can't say everything about yourself in this short amount of time, but do what you can to really give us an interesting description of who you are and why you're here in the Bridge program.