Reading Critically/Staying on top of your Readings
Understanding how to read critically is important in our everyday lives, especially with all the distractions and (mis)information around us. With all the responsibilities we are expected to manage, it is difficult for players and students to keep track of all reading that is done in games and college.
Here's a tip:
It is always better to skim the readings than not reading them at all. You may have pop quizzes (not in this class), surprise presentations, and other assignments associated with the readings.
For your Reading Journals, mark passages as you read and make sure you pull at least four solid quotes from the text to help you remember what was discussed, then write between one and two paragraphs of summary in your own words using the terminology used in the reading. For more information on annotating and your Reading Journals, read pages 100-109 in Writing in Action.
Understanding how to read critically is important in our everyday lives, especially with all the distractions and (mis)information around us. With all the responsibilities we are expected to manage, it is difficult for players and students to keep track of all reading that is done in games and college.
Here's a tip:
It is always better to skim the readings than not reading them at all. You may have pop quizzes (not in this class), surprise presentations, and other assignments associated with the readings.
For your Reading Journals, mark passages as you read and make sure you pull at least four solid quotes from the text to help you remember what was discussed, then write between one and two paragraphs of summary in your own words using the terminology used in the reading. For more information on annotating and your Reading Journals, read pages 100-109 in Writing in Action.
Success isn't always Easy or Pretty
When you start out on a journey, you will always meet roadblocks and adversity, whether it be an enemy or an obstacle. Games teach us that nothing is easy. It is the sweet reward at the end we are struggling to get. We will fail time and again. After we fail, we readjust our thinking, look at the problem from another angle, in order for us succeed against adversity. Gaming teaches us to be persistent and creates a drive in us to do everything in our power to succeed.
How does this apply to class?
Nobody is born a gifted student. We need to work hard at it. Writing takes time. The more time you spend writing and reading critically, it will become easier and quicker. Use the resources available to you. Meet your professors during their office hours, Go to the University Writing Center for extra eyes on a paper. Write out drafts instead of just outlines. All these steps will greatly help your performance as a college student and educated individual.
Remember, when we succeed, others will be jealous and it can create a tension in our friendships. Don't be ashamed of your accomplishments, but also be humble in your success. We will always encounter enemies, but it is how we deal with them that shapes that characters we are trying to create.
When you start out on a journey, you will always meet roadblocks and adversity, whether it be an enemy or an obstacle. Games teach us that nothing is easy. It is the sweet reward at the end we are struggling to get. We will fail time and again. After we fail, we readjust our thinking, look at the problem from another angle, in order for us succeed against adversity. Gaming teaches us to be persistent and creates a drive in us to do everything in our power to succeed.
How does this apply to class?
Nobody is born a gifted student. We need to work hard at it. Writing takes time. The more time you spend writing and reading critically, it will become easier and quicker. Use the resources available to you. Meet your professors during their office hours, Go to the University Writing Center for extra eyes on a paper. Write out drafts instead of just outlines. All these steps will greatly help your performance as a college student and educated individual.
Remember, when we succeed, others will be jealous and it can create a tension in our friendships. Don't be ashamed of your accomplishments, but also be humble in your success. We will always encounter enemies, but it is how we deal with them that shapes that characters we are trying to create.
Writing is a Performance, and It can be Hard
Feedback can be one of the most difficult things a person can deal with. We dread seeing our score at the end of a poorly executed level just like we do after receiving grades back from instructors. Peer review and speeches with instant feedback can be a nightmare to some, but we need to work through this.
Here's a tip:
Don't take everything as a personal stab. These aren't corrections as much as they are suggestions for improvement. When we receive feedback, the person is making suggestions for us to consider, not demanding for us to change them. We have agency over our writing, so we have a choice. Some suggestions are better than others, but all should be considered. The more you practice, the better you will get. If you have feedback, take it as a gift more than a punishment.
Feedback can be one of the most difficult things a person can deal with. We dread seeing our score at the end of a poorly executed level just like we do after receiving grades back from instructors. Peer review and speeches with instant feedback can be a nightmare to some, but we need to work through this.
Here's a tip:
Don't take everything as a personal stab. These aren't corrections as much as they are suggestions for improvement. When we receive feedback, the person is making suggestions for us to consider, not demanding for us to change them. We have agency over our writing, so we have a choice. Some suggestions are better than others, but all should be considered. The more you practice, the better you will get. If you have feedback, take it as a gift more than a punishment.
Gamers come in all Shapes and Sizes!
There are many stereotypes about gamers and gaming culture, but like all stereotypes, they are usually more wrong than right. Gamers come from all different walks of life, have different professions (some even get paid for their gaming), and range from really young to really old. Gamers are so diverse, because the games that we play are diverse. Games range from checking into FourSquare to massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG's). One game may require you to collect three multiples of a symbol where another requires you to solve intricate puzzles. You may have to stop a player from crossing a line or stop the Lord of Death from wiping out humanity. Games are all around us. Gamers are among us. You may be a gamer and not even know it.
For videos showing the diversity of gaming, click on the links below (All short videos):
Gamer Girl Manifesto - Gamer Girls talk about the desire to play, not to entertain "men."
I am a Gamer - iijeriichoii reads his composition essay on what being a gamer means to him.
I'm a Gamer - gaming personalities and professional gamers show how all come in different shapes, sizes, and genders.
I am a GAMER - A video talking about labels gamers receive and why he chose to be a gamer.
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Trailer) - Trailer shows different types of people playing COD.
What is a Game? - Talks about how this questions doesn't matter.
What is a Game? Why does it Matter? - A detailed, technical explanation of what a game is.
There are many stereotypes about gamers and gaming culture, but like all stereotypes, they are usually more wrong than right. Gamers come from all different walks of life, have different professions (some even get paid for their gaming), and range from really young to really old. Gamers are so diverse, because the games that we play are diverse. Games range from checking into FourSquare to massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG's). One game may require you to collect three multiples of a symbol where another requires you to solve intricate puzzles. You may have to stop a player from crossing a line or stop the Lord of Death from wiping out humanity. Games are all around us. Gamers are among us. You may be a gamer and not even know it.
For videos showing the diversity of gaming, click on the links below (All short videos):
Gamer Girl Manifesto - Gamer Girls talk about the desire to play, not to entertain "men."
I am a Gamer - iijeriichoii reads his composition essay on what being a gamer means to him.
I'm a Gamer - gaming personalities and professional gamers show how all come in different shapes, sizes, and genders.
I am a GAMER - A video talking about labels gamers receive and why he chose to be a gamer.
Call of Duty: Black Ops (Trailer) - Trailer shows different types of people playing COD.
What is a Game? - Talks about how this questions doesn't matter.
What is a Game? Why does it Matter? - A detailed, technical explanation of what a game is.