Are you hand-minded? or abstract-minded?

Mike Rose clearly shows in these three chapters the differences between vocational education and and an academic education. He uses his research to show the history of vocation schools, and why they even started in the first place. He gives us positives and negatives about vocational educational, but his main theme shows us how society and educators perceive those who receive a vocational education. There is a large separation between vocational students and academic students, he says, "the separation was also justified by theories of intelligence that defined entire social groups as "hand-minded" and others as "abstract-minded." (176) The  "hand-minded" students were the ones who went to vocational schools and got jobs doing manual labor. But the attached stereotype that those students lack intelligence is one that Rose is proving is just not correct.

I think that this book is so impressing because of the amount of research Rose has done to prove his point. Every chapter is filled with explanatory information for the reader to grapple with, and he adds real life experiences from people in the work force to add to the facts he has just mentioned, and both real life experience and informative facts tie in nicely to show the reader, where the issue is and how this stereotype can not possibly be true.

At times I think the information and research seems like an over-load for the reader, but the added stories and interviews he adds brings the reader back into reading a story and not a text book. Writing non-fiction is hard because you need the right balance of story elements and research to leave the reader satisfied.

A Brief History of Narrative in Newspaper- Jack Hart

Jack Hart shows us that narrative style writing has been used as far back as the sixteenth century! I think that is so cool. He then gives us many more examples of narrative style news writing from the past, and he then shows us when narrative style news writing was not seen as proper news writing. Luckily a few non-fiction writers kept narrative style writing alive for future generations to admire.
I think John Hart does a good job showing us that narrative style writing was used in the past and is something that for centuries has been enjoyable reading. I , too, enjoy reading narrative style news articles because it reads more like an actual story than just simply facts strung together.
 In Jack Hart's next article, Nurturing Narrative in the Newsroom he writes about the importance of writing a 'story.' He says, "We call everything a story, whether or not it contains any true story elements" (233) I think this is a really a good point and one that is not really ever discussed. Many of the news 'stories' that we hear about do not really have some of the key elements a story must contain like an interesting plot, or a main character.
He then gives his readers key steps to do make sure your article is accurate. I guess his tip about cooperation with other departments. I like the idea of getting feedback from photographers, copy editors, and page designers. They will all bring different views to your piece of writing and will ultimately make the article look and sound perfect. I think it is important to get different kinds of people to read your writing because you will get such a vast amount of opinions and can get a more well rounded piece of writing.

"The Mind at Work"

Educator Mike Roses book, "The Mind at Work: Valuing the Intelligence of the American Worker" gives society an in depth view of service jobs such as waitressing, hairdressing, and plumbing. He uses his own mother to start off the book, who worked as a waitress for many years to support her family. Which gives the reader primary insight into the mind of a waitress. His mother comments about the art of balancing dishes on her forearm, remembering orders by specific features of an individual, clothing or gender, and getting close enough with the cooks so that it is easy to tell when they are having a good day or bad day.

Rose gives his readers the psychological, sociologic, and physical aspects to these service jobs that society turns a blind eye to. To excel in any of these services jobs, you must acquire strong people skills, mastery knowledge of your service and surroundings, and do everything in a quick but effective way. These service jobs do not have to be termed as hard if one does not think those aspects are difficult to master, but these jobs should not be written off as jobs for the unintelligent, for those who have nothing else to offer, Rose clearly shows that these service job require more than just following orders, or learning a trade.

These jobs are complex and do indeed require intelligence.

 

My Profile Choice: Hoyt Hottel III

I am planning on writing my profile on former professional snowboarder, now small business owner Hoyt Hottel III. I have been babysitting Mr. Hottel's three year old son Hoyt Hottel IV,  for about four months now. His past experiences as a professional snowboarder, his  passion for surfing, and his current business gave me the idea that he would be someone with an interesting story to tell. I get to see him every week in his home, so I already have an idea of how he is at home, but I would like to visit his shop, Extremely Board, where he sells surf, snow, and skateboards, and accessories, he also gives surfing, paddle boarding, and wake boarding lessons. His deep love for the water, is quickly acknowledged when entering his home, a log cabin placed right on the edge of Watuppa Pond, in Westport, MA. Endless amounts of surfboards, paddles, boat accessories, and paintings of boats decorate the walls of his home, which comes with a stunning view of the water.
I have only learned about his snowboarding fame in passing from his wife, so I am curious to talk to Mr. Hottel himself about his former career.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041010/NEWS/310109960
https://www.facebook.com/#!/xtremelyboardco