Irrespective
Source: Scholarly journal, Effects of housing system (outdoor vs. cages) and age laying hens on egg characteristics by H. Van Den Brand, H.K. Parmentier and B. Kemp.
How it was used: Irrespective of age eggs from outdoor layers were relatively broader than eggs from caged layers.
Definition: Not taking something into account; regardless of
Sentence: After the suspect was convicted he was sentenced to pay restitution irrespective of his income level.
Adjective
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
NPR Radio Interview Analysis
I listened to Terry Gross interview novelist, Curtis Sittenfeld, on Fresh Air, from October 13, 2008. Gross interviewed Sittenfeld, about her new best seller, “American Wife.” This book is about a woman who marries a man who later becomes president, and is based off of the life of Laura Bush. Gross was very knowledgeable about Sittenfeld’s novel. From the interview, the listener can conclude that Gross did in fact read the book and is well informed on the material. Gross also spoke about Sittenfeld’s previous novel, “Prep.” Mentioning specific details and incidents that took place in the book, Gross asked questions pertaining to the information.
Gross referred to the book a lot asking questions that caused Sittenfeld to explain certain excerpts. These questions revealed how Sittenfeld felt about them and as to why she included the material or if she felt after the book was published, there were any repercussions from what she included in her novel. Gross asked all open-ended questions that left room for Sittenfeld to answer. Sittenfeld was very talkative and thoroughly answered all the questions she was presented with in detail. Some questions Gross asked caused Sittenfeld to look through other peoples’ point of view. For example, would the reader make assumptions and believe the fictitious novel to be true about Bush’s life, and whether or not the line between reality and fiction was blurry in this novel.
Gross asked questions based off ones she asked previously therefore demonstrating good follow up and getting answers to new information that provided new insight. Her first questions were not as hard to answer, until they got further into the interview. Gross did a good job of establishing trust and a calm environment to ask heavier questions. She wanted Sittenfeld’s opinion on the book and why she included certain information. Gross also pried to see if Sittenfeld included information based off of her own life. There was no apparent previous relationship before the interview between Gross and Sittenfeld. They were professional through the interview’s entirety.
From this interview I learned the importance of asking direct, specific questions. If the question is vague, the answer will not be what I was looking for. For future interviews I will make sure to ask open-ended, specific questions.
Gross referred to the book a lot asking questions that caused Sittenfeld to explain certain excerpts. These questions revealed how Sittenfeld felt about them and as to why she included the material or if she felt after the book was published, there were any repercussions from what she included in her novel. Gross asked all open-ended questions that left room for Sittenfeld to answer. Sittenfeld was very talkative and thoroughly answered all the questions she was presented with in detail. Some questions Gross asked caused Sittenfeld to look through other peoples’ point of view. For example, would the reader make assumptions and believe the fictitious novel to be true about Bush’s life, and whether or not the line between reality and fiction was blurry in this novel.
Gross asked questions based off ones she asked previously therefore demonstrating good follow up and getting answers to new information that provided new insight. Her first questions were not as hard to answer, until they got further into the interview. Gross did a good job of establishing trust and a calm environment to ask heavier questions. She wanted Sittenfeld’s opinion on the book and why she included certain information. Gross also pried to see if Sittenfeld included information based off of her own life. There was no apparent previous relationship before the interview between Gross and Sittenfeld. They were professional through the interview’s entirety.
From this interview I learned the importance of asking direct, specific questions. If the question is vague, the answer will not be what I was looking for. For future interviews I will make sure to ask open-ended, specific questions.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Word of the Week #7
Egregious
Source: Advancing the Story by Debora Halpern Wenger and Deborah Potter
How it was used: However, one word will always protect you from this egregious of journalism’s sin: attribution.
Definition: 1. Distinguished 2. conspicuously bad
-Adjective
Sentence: The sentencing the judge gave the suspect was not proportional to the egregious acts he committed.
Source: Advancing the Story by Debora Halpern Wenger and Deborah Potter
How it was used: However, one word will always protect you from this egregious of journalism’s sin: attribution.
Definition: 1. Distinguished 2. conspicuously bad
-Adjective
Sentence: The sentencing the judge gave the suspect was not proportional to the egregious acts he committed.
Word of the Week #6
Brusque
Source: Advancing the Story by Debora Halpern Wenger and Deborah Potter
How it was used: It is time that we put behind us the days of circling the wagons against claims of error; time to cease those brusque I-haven’t-got-time telephone cutoffs or we-stand-by-our story letters of response.
Definition: 1. Markedly short and abrupt 2. Blunt in manner of speech often to the point of ungracious harshness
-Adjective
Sentence: When I asked for a clarification on my instructions, my manager gave me a brusque reply.
Source: Advancing the Story by Debora Halpern Wenger and Deborah Potter
How it was used: It is time that we put behind us the days of circling the wagons against claims of error; time to cease those brusque I-haven’t-got-time telephone cutoffs or we-stand-by-our story letters of response.
Definition: 1. Markedly short and abrupt 2. Blunt in manner of speech often to the point of ungracious harshness
-Adjective
Sentence: When I asked for a clarification on my instructions, my manager gave me a brusque reply.
Mystery Character
The 44-year-old always keeps her brown, straight hair neatly pulled back away from her face with only her bangs sweeping across her forehead. She decorates her face with glasses and wears earrings. Approximately 5'5," she presents herself in professional attire and she is always caught wearing high heels. She wears a huge smile from ear to ear showcasing her pearly whites that contrast against her lips that are plastered with lipstick. When she speaks, her twangy accent is prominent yet has an authoritative, informative voice. She is commonly known for her overly friendly manner and constantly winking. She is eager, confident and is notorious for being evasive at times.
Who is she?
Who is she?
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Word of the Week #5
Disparate
Source: Mapping the Deep by Robert Kunzig
How it was used: By 1960, when Hess wrote his seminal paper (later published as “History of Ocean Basins”) there were a number of disparate observations that needed putting together.
Definition: 1. To separate 2. Containing or made up fundamentally different and often incongruous elements 3. Markedly distinct in quality or character
-Adjective
Sentence: Anne cooked a tasty meal using a mixture of disparate ingredients.
Source: Mapping the Deep by Robert Kunzig
How it was used: By 1960, when Hess wrote his seminal paper (later published as “History of Ocean Basins”) there were a number of disparate observations that needed putting together.
Definition: 1. To separate 2. Containing or made up fundamentally different and often incongruous elements 3. Markedly distinct in quality or character
-Adjective
Sentence: Anne cooked a tasty meal using a mixture of disparate ingredients.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
