Journal Blog #3: In what area will the next most important innovation be in the next 20 years?

Up to now, we have been reading about where ideas come from and how problems inspire innovation. Now, we are going to start looking for our own inspirations for topic ideas that will motivate us to write.

In the last 20 years, I would have to say the innovation of the internet has really been the most important and world-changing technology. It is hard to imagine a world without it now, and what it has done for all areas of life: for business, for society, for politics, for entertainment... the list goes on. There have been other innovations as well, like in  health care and in transportation, but the internet and the wide access it gives has really expanded the opportunities for all of these other fields.

Let's now look forward. What can we expect or predict for the next 20 years? The world is facing global warming, and it seems to be worse than we originally thought. There are constant wars and conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. Ebola is breaking out in West Africa and could spread to other places. Cities around the world are over-crowded, and the gap between rich and poor is widening in every society.

From problems comes innovation. In this journal blog, I want you to think about from what area or field will the next big innovation come? Will it be an innovation in health care? In economics? In technology? Another? Make your own prediction and explain why.

Remember to include your Section # and ID # in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #2: Synthesize and Summarize

We have been analyzing the construction of Gladwell's essay, In the Air. He tells 3 stories in detail about different kinds of people who we would consider geniuses, experts, inventors, and innovators. The phenomenon that he introduces us is that of multiples: the idea that innovation is in some way inevitable. It is a kind of evolution where whoever is in the right place at the right time with the right frame of mind will be the one who takes the next step and invents or discovers the next big thing.

The difficulty in summarizing is that it demands that you knit together a lot of ideas into a neatly packaged paragraph. In Gladwell's essay, we have 3 stories that are all examples of multiples. Your task is to synthesize the main ideas of each story into one summary paragraph about multiples. Develop your sentences carefully and work to explain to a reader what this essay is about in not more than 10 sentences. (Less is better).

Post your summaries on the blog and the best will be reviewed in class. Remember to include your ID# and Section # in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #1: Where do ideas come from?

Unlike other limited resources like trees or oil or minerals, ideas are plentiful and sustainable and seemingly unlimited. To all of our world's problems, we look for inspiration and innovation to save us, whether it is by thinking of a new technology, creating a new strategy, or trying new methods of doing things in our daily lives.

At the same time, we know where the trees are. We know where to get the oil and how to find the minerals...  but ideas...  good ideas... they are a little more mysterious. How do they happen? Sometimes they just pop into our head in the middle of the night. Maybe they emerge from a conversation with a friend or in a class discussion. Sometimes they just happen.

In this journal blog, please share your experience. Where does inspiration come from? How do ideas happen? Remember to include your ID# and Section# in your post. I look forward to reading your thoughts.
Aj. M

Journal Blog #4: What happens next?

We are on our way. You have worked through the narrowing process and you have attempted a draft at an introduction. By now, your thesis statement should be fairly clear, so the reader should know where we are going...  right?

It is actually quite difficult to keep our point. Any of us knows the the feeling after we've been talking for a while to then think aloud...  "what was I saying again?" This is the challenge of academic work. It is to state your point and never lose it. To dig deep into it and keep going without getting distracted by other ideas that may seem related, but nevertheless are not doing anything to further undersand the task at hand.

What happens next? Describe the 3 or 4 supporting ideas for your thesis statement, and explain the order in which you plan to present them. We are nearing the end of the term, so lets get this planning done now while we still have time to be thoughtful.

Include your ID# in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #3: What is your area of interest?

Things move very quickly in these short summer sessions. Developing a topic is the first and most important part of the process. It is not only important to know your topic, but also to know where your topic comes from. What is behind your topic? Of what situation are you writing about? Of what subject does this topic belong?

The first thing you have to figure out is your area of interest. For ERS, this is wide open; however, I recommend that you consider your major as  your area of interest. This can be a good starting point from which we can start to narrow to a particular subject to a particular situation to a particular topic.

In this journal blog, tell me what your area of interest is and explain why? Are there possible ideas in this area that motivate you or catch your curiosity? Let me help you work this out.

Include your ID# in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #2: How can leaders inspire people in both good and bad ways?

We have been reading about some influential figures, namely Aung San Suu Kyi and Dave Brubeck. When we think of inspirational leaders, we usually think about those who have changed our world for the better... Those important figures that make us as individuals want to be better people.

However, leaders also have the influence to mislead and to misinform. We can find ourselves following the wrong leader down the wrong path. If not the wrong path, a strange path that gets us into one kind of trouble or another.

In this journal blog, I would like you to consider this question. Can you think of an example of a leader who has had great influence and many followers, but whose message may not be something we would admire. Why do so many people become inspired by these kinds of leaders?

Please include your ID# in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #1: Academic writing is hard because...

Welcome to this summer edition of ERS. In just 4 weeks, we will spend everyday together fine tuning our
writing skills to prepare you for your majors in MUIC and for your academic life overall. When we think of academic writing, it tends to be a serious subject. It is something that we approach with a high level of formality and focus. This is true and correct.

However, this should not be confused with boredom and void of creativity. The best academic writing is formal and focused and important...  and fun and interesting and inspiring. We often forget these latter parts. The ultimate objective is to inform and persuade our reading with well organized and thoughtful ideas, but hopefully along the way we as writer give them as reader an enjoyable and even memorable experience.

In this first journal blog for the summer term, share what you find the most difficult challenge is for you when you approach writing for an academic purpose.

Make sure that you include your ID# in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #7: What happens next?

We're almost there. You have brainstormed and narrowed. You have developed background and context. You now have a thesis statement... you now have a point of focus. So, what happens next?

The reader should have a clear idea about where you are going by now. Your introduction has directed them in a certain way... now take the reader that way. Don't change direction and confuse the reader. You need to follow up your thesis with logical, interesting, and well-developed ideas. The ideas should be arranged in a thoughtful order. Each idea should be equally developed.

This requires some careful and creative planning, because communicating in writing is different from any other medium. You only have one chance. You can't stop and say "oh... what I mean is..." No. The words on the page is what you mean.

In this journal blog, share what happens next in your essay. Remember to include your ID# and Section # in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #6: Narrow down to your topic.

We have been working to brainstorm topic ideas and to organize those ideas that we could communicate in an essay format. It is so important to not just get an idea, but it is maybe even more important to understand where that idea comes from. We have been narrowing from a theme to a sub-theme to a field to a subject to a situation and to a topic...  I want to see this in this journal blog, and please say a little bit about what you expect this essay to explain.

It is hard to say how important this process is, because before you know it, you will start to write only to realize that you don't know what you're writing about. Take the time and think with care about these steps.

Remember to include your ID# and Section # in your post. Aj. M

Journal Blog #5: What is your area of interest?

It is now time to start thinking of what you're going to do. I have been leading you up to now, exposing you to a variety of texts and ideas about leaders and leadership. We have seen how good and bad essays are organized, and you have given it a try already in your in-class essay.

Any essay has to start with an idea. The only rule for the last assignment is that whatever topic you do has to, in some way, relate to our theme of leadership. Start thinking about where you're going to go. Take the next step and consider your sub-theme. In this journal blog, tell me what your sub-theme is and why you want to go that way. Is it related to your major? Is it a general interest you already have? Do you have a personal connection or experience to this idea? Let me know what you're thinking, so I can help you to continue narrowing down to a particular idea.

Remember to include your Section # and ID# in your post. Aj. M