Writing Prompt #2

When I do my homework, I usually have to do it in a like desk style atmosphere kind of thing. This may sound pretty weird but in order to concentrate fully, I have to have a desk/table and a chair. I tend to lose concentration whenever there are loud noises around. I cannot have people talking or making any little sounds at all. When this all happens, I tend to get off track and it is very hard to start up the process again. I have to actually sit in a chair and have a desk/table in front of me because I feel like I'm in school and this assignment is something I have to do...it's almost like a requirements! Most of the time, I do my homework at home, school, or work, I concentrate the best at school and work. I believe this is the case because sometimes at home you have things that can or would get in the way. For example, if I was doing homework and the computer was in front of me (which it is most of the time), I would get off track and want to check my email, myspace, facebook, etc...or I somebody would instant message me and I would end up talking them for a while. One thing I could control myself about is my cellular phone, if someone calls me, I would love to pick up the phone and start a conversation with them. But I am afraid because I know it could or would last for hours. Now, I put my cellular phone on silent and it has help me choose doing my homework first and then talk later kind of thing. I would also go to St. Louis Bread Company or Borders. I find it hard when there are many people around me talking about random things, such as gossiping and things that tend to be disturbing. I definitely get thrown off track but will still continue doing my homework.
I think I came to a conclusion for doing my homework. What happen was I had the TV on and was obviously watching some shows. When it came around to commercials, I would turn down the volume of the TV and start doing some homework. I tell myself that I am not able to turn the volume back up or watch the show until I have complete a certain portion. There would also be times I would literally watch the show and do homework at the same time. Believe it or not I think it actually worked...I felt like I could concentrate very well. I always thought I would not be able to do but I can...I am going to continue doing this for some assignments but not all. I do not want to get into that habit, only because I am afraid I will get carried away and not be able to focus well. I also tried to sit on the floor but that failed. I can feel that I am not supporting any kind of posture and it also hurts my back. I usually do my homework at home when I am home alone. I am on task more whenever it is like this. I tired doing my homework when my family was home and it did not work out so great either. I get carried away wanting to spend time with my family, I am like this because we only get to spend time with them once a week. There were a couple different ways I tired to do my homework and some failed but others worked out great.

Exercise 2.1

• How do you typically go about preparing for a writing assignment? I know this is a bad habit but I usually sit in front of my computer for a good half an hour just thinking about what to write about, or depending on the topic, I may do some research or ask people's opinions.
  

• When and where do your best ideas often come to you? My best ideas often come to me whenever I ask people for help or what they think of the topic. I would jot down random ideas and would put them all together on my own.

• Where do you usually write? Are you usually alone and in a quiet place, or is there music, conversation, or other sound in the background? I usually write in a like desk atmosphere area, I do this because it helps me concentrate a lot better then sitting on the couch or floor. I am usually alone and in a quiet place while writing, I get distracted too easily by little things. There is an exception for music though, the music in the background has to be relaxing and clam, more on the lines of classical music.

• What materials do you use? What do you find most and least helpful about your materials? I usually just use my computer, paper, pencil, resources, MLA, etc... What I find very useful is of course the computer. Sometimes I tend just to type away and it eventually makes sense and all my ideas come to me. ........
  
  
• What audience do most assignments ask you to address? How much thought do you typically give to your audience? Most audience would ask you what the main point is, what is exactly going on, for example: who, what, where, when, and why? I try to give the audience as much relevant information as I can.

• What strategies do you typically use to explore a topic? I collect ideas and put them all down on paper. I try to rearrange things around to make sense.

• How do you usually write a first draft? Do you finish in one sitting, or do you prefer to work in sections? On the first draft, I have to take breaks from time to time. I usually do this when I am stuck and cannot think of anything to write about or how to word what I am thinking about. Sometimes I would take a 15 minute break and go back to the writing. I feel that when I do this, I can focus more instead of cramming everything at a time.

• How do you typically revise, and what do you pay most attention to as you revise? If I was writing the paper with a pencil, I get an ink pen and read through the paper and make my marks where it is needed. If I am typing it on the computer, I would just read it through and correct my mistakes as I go. I pay attention to if the paper actually makes any sense. I make sure there are no run on sentences and misspelled words like if it is suppose to be effect but I typed affect.
  

• If you usually get stuck writing, what do you usually do to get moving again? Honestly? I would just stare into space and think of what to write about and it usually comes back to me. I also would reread my paragraph to see if I am on the right topic.

• What is the most effective about your writing and your writing process? I feel that I am able to write a paper if I have all the information and ideas that is needed. Also, with my writing process, I can keep on writing away.
  

• What about your writing and your writing process worries you? What specific steps can you take to address these worries? What worries me the most is how to actually start writing the paper. I don't know how the introduction would sound like or if it would make any sense at all. My overcoming this, I would just write whatever and have somebody read it and tell me if it makes sense.
  

• What is your favorite part of your writing process and why? My favorite part would be the conclusion paragraph. I think it is easier because you already got the hard part down, not it is just a matter of summing up the paper.
  

Top Ten

Top Ten Artist/Band - Songs

1. Chris Brown - With You
2. Stevie Hoang - Before You Go
3. Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting
4. Natalie ft. Baby Bash - Energy
5. Rosette - Crushed
6. J. Roman ft. Soluna - Where is She
7. Natasha Beningfield - Love Like This
8. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
9. Neyo - We Can Chill
10. T-Pain - Bartender

How is both music magic and math?

I believe that music is both magic and math for many reasons. Music has to be magic, only because it takes a lot of talent to create it. Most people that create music have experienced music lessons of some kind. It could be instrumental or vocal, they are both music and it is both magic. The sounds instruments make can be magical because they produce different kind of pitches. Some pitches can be very high like the piccolo or it could be as low as a bassoon. In the voice, magical sounds could produce as high as a high soprano or as a low bass. Musicians take years creating songs, writing them, and putting it all together to make sense. They have to figure out what makes sense to what and what sounds and instruments can go together. They have to know how beats would sound and if it sounds good or not. The lyrics in music should make sense and should be focus on one topic and not millions. Some people are born with the ability to make music and others are not. Many could take years and some could just take months. Depending on whom you are or what kind of background you are from, or if you were raised with music and ancestors being involved in music could reflect you. Basically, music is magic because it requires so many things anyone could imagine.

Music also requires math because you have to count beats and time your rhythms. There is no way you can write a song without counting or using any type of calculations. You are needed to use keys and related keys to form the math in music. Music also needs math because when records are made and need to be published; artists need to know how many copies of the CD they will be distributing. It would also be a good idea if they can keep track of how many will sell in a month so they will know how many people are actually buying their CD's. Artists and Bands also need music in their math because it would make them money. In other words, they can become millionaires or some maybe to the top already. Some music sheets have numbers and you have to follow them by using math. Also, when playing or singing a musical piece, you need to count whole notes or half beats while singing or playing the song. Math is important in music because artists do not always sing all in one breathe. They take breaks, count, sometimes pause for a few seconds and continue on again. People believe that music is math!