WRT 205 Unit 1 Portfolio - Mia Norris

 Unit 3 Reflection I knew going into Unit 3 that I had to challenge myself more than I did in Unit 2. My thesis wasn't explicit enough, I wasn't thoroughly analyzing my quotes, and I wasn't properly utilizing the tone and personality that a blog format permits, according to the frank and impartial criticism I got. I approached this unit's visualized argument with all of that in mind, and I made an effort to use each assignment as a real step toward a better end product rather than just a box to be checked. It seemed appropriate to write a visual essay on this subject. I created a more conventional research-style post in Unit 2, and although it conveyed my thoughts, it kept me distant from the reader. Although the writing was educational, it didn't captivate readers as a blog post ought to do. This time, I wanted to write directly to those who are most impacted by AI dependence: young adults and students who use it on a daily basis without thinking twice. I was able ...

 Unit 3 Portfolio  You're Not Using AI. AI Is Using You. This week, you most likely opened ChatGPT at least once. Perhaps to help you begin an essay, decide what to make for supper, or simply to provide an answer to a query you could have looked up on Google. Yes, it felt effective. Even normal. That's precisely the issue. The majority of people think they are just using AI as a handy tool, but the data points to something much more disturbing: we are progressively delegating our creativity, thinking, and decision-making to systems we don't fully understand, and if we don't set clear boundaries, we run the risk of losing the very cognitive abilities that define humanity. This is not a warning about science fiction. The majority of us are unaware that it is already occurring.  The Slow Handover (Fusion Chat, 2023)  When was the last time you sat with a challenging issue and didn't grab for your phone right away? We used no AI to write a first draft. or make a choice,...

  I read fifty pages of Art Spiegelman's Maus for this project. Using animals to symbolize various groups—Jews as mice and Nazis as cats, this graphic novel depicts Spiegelman's father's experiences during the Holocaust. This creative decision conveys a highly serious, emotional message while giving the story a distinctive visual style. The graphic novel's use of technology is one aspect that caught my attention. Unlike a traditional novel, it creates meaning through the combination of text and pictures. Without the need for lengthy descriptions, the images illustrate tone, emotion, and power dynamics. For instance, the story feels more direct and stronger due to the use of straightforward black-and-white pictures, which heightens the emotional effect. The construction of the book also makes use of other technology, including publishing tools, printing methods, and illustration techniques. Despite its seeming simplicity, its production and distribution require a great ...

I became aware of Reddit's potential as a platform for group problem-solving and narrative after listening to the Endless Thread episode. The subreddit r/relationships, which the episode mentioned while talking about how people ask strangers for guidance, was one thing I looked into. As I scrolled through posts, I saw how people freely discuss personal experiences and get insightful, in-depth answers, often from other people who have gone through similar things.  The original Reddit topic related to the episode's plot was another relic. Compared to how it was presented on the podcast, viewing the post in its original format made the story seem more unvarnished. It demonstrated how Reddit maintains genuine voices despite their messiness or incompleteness. Additionally, I looked into a relevant external piece that examined Reddit's impact on digital culture and was linked in the episode. This source highlighted how some viewpoints are elevated by Reddit's upvote system, i...