Topic? Perspective? Positioning?

The next activity for today is watched some videos. We also watched some educational videos and we have to identify the topic, perspective and the positioning. The first video that we watched we have to identify it in our group and Sir Mark assigned us to write it on a piece of white board paper (I guess) with marker pen. The video is about ‘Pay the bills’ by Larry David. It was an interesting video and make all of us laugh.

After that, we have to write in our blog about another two videos about Larry David too. The second video entitled ‘Trick or treat’. This video is about two teenage girls that came to his house to have some candies because it was a Halloween night. But Larry refuses to give them.
Topic – Larry should give the candy to the girls.
Perspective – He did not give the candy because he thought the girls was overage and do not wear costumes.
Positioning – He should give the candy because it was Halloween night. He should treat the girls.

The third video entitled ‘What is this call regarding’. The video is about a phone conversation between Larry and a woman. Larry makes a phone call and the woman picked up the phone. He wants to talk directly to her boss but she asks him what the call is regarding. Larry refuses to tell her and ask her the same thing about knowing her phone conversation with another people and she said, “None of your business”. Larry said “Exactly” and he hung up the phone.
Topic – Larry should tell the woman what the call is regarding.
Perspective – He doesn’t tell the woman because he thinks it is personal.
Positioning – He should tell her what the call is regarding because that was her job to answer the phone before past it to her boss.

The Rule Of 10

Today we learn about THE RULE OF 10 that is important in Critical Literacy subject. For example, these are the rules regarding superstition:

1) Topic – identify the meaning or general information about superstition

2) Content – write one example of superstition

3) Source – identify from where and who the superstition is found

4) Audience – who is the expected audience to hear the superstition

5) Rhetorical function – what is the function of the superstition

6) Purpose – to who and why the superstition was told

7) Perspective – what is people’s perspective about superstition

8) Positioning – the criticize or argument about superstition

9) Impact – what is the impact to the audience

10) Visual literacy – if there are pictures, describe the pictures

The rules of 10 are used to describe something and today we describe about the superstition that we had learnt in our previous class. Our lecturer, Sir Mark had as us to create a mnemonic to make us easier to remember the rules in order. What I have created are: Tonight can see a real purple prune post in van. Actually, I don’t know how to create a catchy mnemonic so, I just make it with a suitable words.

The Superstitions

The next topic that we learn is about the superstitions that exist among the Malay society especially from the elders and old folks. During the class, we had a debate between a group of the left and right brainer regarding the truthiness of the superstitions even though most of them are nonsense and ridiculous. The day before the debate, Sir Mark had assigned us to find 5 superstitions that we knew.

Some examples of the superstitions are:
i. We must eat the rice until finish or else the rice will cry.
ii. Do not open the umbrella in the house otherwise the snake will come.
iii. If someone hit a person with a ladle, he will turn into a monkey.
iv. A girl cannot sing in the kitchen or else she will marry to an old man.
v. Don’t make noise in the woods or else you will disturb the spirits.

In my own point of view, there is some relevancy about the superstitions. The reason why the elders told the children about these stuffs are they want avoid them from doing something that will disturb others. They also want to teach the young to practice a good manner. The superstitions are one of the ways to advice and remind the kids about the do’s and don’ts.

How superstitions had changed my life? Some of them I'm still practicing it such as eat rice until finish or else the rice will cry. My mother had told me about this since I was a kid. It was one way to avoid waste of food because we must realize there are many other people who don’t have money to buy food and are starving. We have to remember that lots of people don’t get a better life that we got. I accept the superstitions as an advice and bear it in my mind.

The Left And Right Brain

The meaning of critical literacy is the ability to read texts in an active, reflective manner in order to better understand power, inequality, and injustice in human relationships. (refer to the link)

Critical Literacy is one of the subjects that we learn in this semester. The code for this subject is COM 2533 and the lecturer who teaches us is Sir Mark. It is the literature that needs critical thinking.

THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAIN

The first topic that we learn is about the left and the right brainer. During that time we had a test that will tell us whether we are a left or a right brainer. There are 32 questions and we must anwer it with yes or no.

As the result, most of us are a right brainer person including myself. I didn’t expect that I am a right brain person because I thought I am a left brainer. I like to think about something that doesn’t really important. Moreover, I can answer some of the mathematics question easily.

Left and right brain functions

Left Brain:
Analytic thought
Logic
Language
Science & Mathematics

Right Brain:
Holistic thought
Intuition
Creativity
art & Music

Above are stated the functions of our left and right brain. It was shown that a left brainer’s is more towards analytic thought. Refer to our lecturer, Sir Mark, the left brainer’s are known as a ‘jackass’ because this type of person like to questioned every single thing. They tend to ask all things in details and make a fuss to everyone. The left brain person is also recognized as a cynical, skeptical, pessimistic and sarcastic person. On the contrary, a right brainer’s is more towards holistic thought. Their interests are more on art and music. The right brain person is also known as someone who is empathic, needy and clingy.