February 20th, 2008 by Jaybrams
So, as you may remember, I decided to try out Speech online rather than on-campus. We’re about halfway through, and there is no doubt I would consider this a mistake. In my closing comments I will definitely let our school know why this class should not be offered online…
1 - you have to find your own audiences, which may work for some people, but is a difficulty that a student shouldn’t have to worry about…
2 - Speaking to video camera is totally different than speaking to a group of people. I watched my recent informative speech and it is nothing like what how I am when I speak in church or whatever. I guess that’s my fault, but in class or in church, if i slip up, i just fix it and move on… doesn’t bother me a bit. While filming, I try to fight through it, but the temptation to start over is too strong… oh well, i didn’t look as natural as I would normally.
3 - One of the main things they are trying to teach us is how to speak extemporaneously. In other words, reacting and moving with audience… knowing your material enough to have the freedom to recognize when your audience needs you to clarify or wants you to expand… how can i do this with a video camera and no audience?
So, anyway, the most recent speech I did was an informative discussing Josh and Lindsey Parks and their preparation for becoming localized missionaries in Ukraine. Feel free to read it… it’s only 1500 words … this transcript was the original and much more casual than how I’d write this same information in an essay… i had to cut a lot on the fly because of time restraints, but wanted to post the “full” version…
parks-mission-speech.pdf
i’d probably post the speech after the class is up (can’t until then), but i don’t think its a good representation of me… i dunno, i guess i’m just more comfortable talking to real people rather than a silver piece of equipment mounted on a stolen tripod.
Popularity: 13% [?]
November 29th, 2007 by Jaybrams
English Comp II is officially over as my final paper’s grade was just posted. The class was highlighted by two papers really. The final paper was about contemporary poets using technology to bring more exposure to the art. I’m not even that serious of a poet anymore, but it was still a fun paper to write… cause i’m a dork i guess.
The other paper that I enjoyed much more than I expected was our analysis of the Greek drama “Oedipus the King.” I am not a fan of reading plays, especially ancient ones. Seriously, why must we read the ancient’s in old english… it was written in Greek in the first place, can’t we just translate it to modern english instead of using the old english translations?? Anyway, I digress… so the discussion came up about Greek culture and if the early church had a tough task ahead of them when evangelizing such a polytheistic people. The overwhelming response was ”yes” but I disagreed… mostly because I like disagreeing.
So birthed from that I used “Oedipus the King” to show that the Greeks were actually ripe for conversion, or at the very least had a foundation of spirituality that Paul could pull from while learning to be all things to all people in order to share Christ. Granted the Oedipus series was written 400 years before Paul, but history and the account of the Greeks in Acts shows that not too much had changed as far as their religious views were concerned. Fast forward 2000 some odd years later and Greece is around 98% Christian… perhaps Paul laid a nice foundation…
perhaps one day I’ll post the essay. It was limited to 1200 words so I actually only got through about 1/3 of the play before wrapping it up hastily…
Tonight is How To Study the Bible. 3 Thursday nights left in this one (Dec. 13th). By far this has been my favorite class this semester. It helps that it’s biblical in nature and not just a core/generic class, but beyond this reason I’m thoroughly enjoying it because it is changing how I read and study the word more than I thought it would. I was familiar with most of the concepts and methods before the class started, but I had difficulty putting it into practice. This particular text book is greatness if you want to refresh, rethink, or re-envision the method you use for studying God’s word.
p.s. - winter break will bring new songs (which will just bore you and prove further that my wife is my biggest fan only because she loves me).
p.p.s - Rick was so kind to get me Divine Nobodies. He answered the call to action. And he is so pimpin’. None of you other people are… jerks.
Popularity: 15% [?]
October 11th, 2007 by Jaybrams
Originally submitted September 9, 2007 for ENGL 1310 @ Dallas Christian College. Emphasis added for website, copyright follows guidelines at bottom of the right sidebar.
There exists an odd phenomenon between American Football (hereafter referred to as “football”) fans and World Football (henceforth “soccer”) fans: Both feel their style of football is more the “real” sport, and both fail to realize that the sports share common roots. The inventor of American football, Walter Camp, was strongly influenced by William Ebb Ellis who commonly is credited with creating Rugby, a sport birthed directly from soccer (Bellis). Which fans, then, have a stronger argument for their beloved sport?
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Popularity: 13% [?]
October 11th, 2007 by Jaybrams
For the record, two of my classes are complete. I will not reveal my grades but my GPA rhymes with “floor-point-oh.” But I haven’t had any “Bible” based classes yet, so we will see how this goes.
VERY IMPORTANT: If any of you care about me (and I hope you do) you need to listen carefully. I cannot pass any of my classes without books! What a novel thing! So, hook a brother up and click the button below. If I don’t have an pending school books, don’t let that rob you of your blessing! Simply buy something off one of my other lists or give me a gift card… see that’s how it works. Trust me.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. There is no shame in my game.
P.S. - I’m not sure I believe half of the stuff in my next essay (to be posted today), but it landed me a nice grade. I think I believe it in theory but not in practice.
Popularity: 6% [?]
October 4th, 2007 by Jaybrams
Originally submitted September 2, 2007 for ENGL 1310 @ Dallas Christian College. Emphasis added for website, copyright follows guidelines at bottom of the right sidebar.
“I liked the fact that I wasn’t born in the States… that I was different. It was almost as if I was a bit of a celebrity when we came back home. Everyone wanted to talk to the white kid from Africa.” Growing up as an MK – Missionary Kid – in Nigeria has given Jonathan Seabourn a unique perspective on American culture, especially as it relates to the sub-culture of Christianity and the Church. Even as a married 26-year-old he is still learning to adapt to the American way of church life. …
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Popularity: 14% [?]
September 27th, 2007 by Jaybrams
Originally submitted August 27, 2007 for ENGL 1310 @ Dallas Christian College. Emphasis added for website, copyright follows guidelines at bottom of the right sidebar.
There is a T-shirt hanging in my closet that has never been worn and was bought only for the content it boldly proclaims: “Those who think they know everything annoy those of us that do.” I had heard my father utter these words for years on end, generally during one of our heated sports debates. We had a bit of an unspoken rule related to sports growing up that still rings true today: If you don’t know what you are talking about, leave your mouth shut at the door and learn. It really is not as crass as it sounds; it was our way of prodding, jabbing and laughing with – and sometimes at – each other. Unfortunately, the sports bond common among many father-son relationships rarely carried over into other areas of discussion.
This is not to say the relationship lacked love; by all means, my father did all he could to provide and display affection for his children. (more…)
Popularity: 30% [?]
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