Joey LeDrew. Copied and Pasted Blog posts, and the dates they were posted.

UWRT 1103 Blogs First Post: January 14, 2015

For my first post, Id like to kinda explain a little of what Ill post, be it for class or for personal reasons.
Also, Ill explain the name! Since that is certainly a confusing, and slightly random thing.
So to start, the name. I asked my roommate James, what should I name my blog? and his response, was
simply Scooby Scoop. So, to quote editor of the Durarara! novels I kinda like ambiguous names. So I
just kinda went with it. My roommate also likes to call me by my last name, LeDrew, and said LeDrewbi-doo-bi-doo to me one day, so that is where the tagline thing comes from Simple and silly, but I
actually kinda like it! Plus, I grew up with Scooby Doo, so that is another reason.
Second, regarding my posts, most posts will be from assignments, but I would also like to include
excerpts from my other blog. Most of the excerpts will be from my How to Survive College sections.
However, rather than simply copying and pasting them, I will only put a small portion of the post, and
add my own original content to it as well, so to avoid plagiarism and also to avoid just regurgitating the
same information from one blog to another.
-Joseph LeDrew

Letter to Malcolm Wordle: January 14, 2015

Reaction to Shitty First Drafts : January 15, 2015

The article itself talked about how most good writers, before actually writing their good piece of work be
it a book or food review, first start with a terrible first draft. The draft as the authors friend puts it is the
down draft where you are just supposed to jot anything and everything down.
So I guess, Id like to input my thoughts about that. To me, it seems like it is more of an only applies to
certain people type thing. Not that I am a professional writer or anything, but I focus a lot on making my
first draft good. However, what they call the down draft is something that I do in my head, and on
scratch sheets of paper or whatever I can write on before even writing a first draft. So instead of it being
organized as a first draft, it is more like a brainstorm of ideas and whatnot. But that is just me. Quite
frankly I believe that the first draft should still be semi-decent. Or at least readable.
BUT! In regards to other authors, I think that a shitty first draft certainly holds true, and pertains to
them very well. Just as the author of this short reading Anne Lamott said it allows her to have better drafts
after the first, the same is applicable of other authors. Since this wasnt the first time I had heard that, I
kinda already knew the points she was going to make. So I guess what I am trying to say is, do whatever
works for you. Not everyone needs a shitty first draft, and not everyone needs to make their first draft
perfect either. It is all really up to personal preference.

Reaction to Why I Hate School But Love Education : January 27, 2015
Firstly, from a pure artistic standpoint, I thought it was a well poem. I also liked his passion about the
subject. A lot of the things he said were fairly credible, in that most of the billionaires did not finish
college. Though finish is the key word, in that many got their start while they were still in college. So
while yes what he said was true, it also has a side of it that makes the truth less of a heavy statement than
how he made it seem. Secondly, a lot of it was just the right place at the right time kinda thing. But
honestly that applies to everything.
In his defense, however, I feel that you CAN be an educated individual without receiving a formal
education. As he said, Malcolm X is a great example of this. As I said in class, Matt Damon in Good Will
Hunting is one awesome fictional example. A more personal one, is my mom, who actually scored 1 point
higher on an IQ test than my dad. The thing is, my mom didnt finish college, and the few classes she
took were ones she hated at a small community college in Ohio. My dad however, has two degrees
economics and financing I think. While an IQ test is certainly not the best judge of knowledge, it is
something that is a recorded score. My opinion, is honestly both sides are right. College IS necessary for
some, since while you may know the knowledge you claim to have, it is often required for you to have a
piece of paper that says so. But I think for majors like Art, you can simply just be good at it, and not need
any formal education. But that is just my two cents and dollars on that. Im not right, but Id like to think I
am not wrong.

From Degrading to De-grading Thoughts: January 29, 2015

I have very mixed views about this article, just to start with. I think that this article is really only
applicable for a number of classes and subjects, or even assignments. For example, I think it is a great
thing that should apply to Art classes, Gym classes, some English class assignments, and others that could
fall under similar categories. However, Mathematics is not one that should be thought of the same way.
Grades ARE important and vital in a math class because in math there is a right and wrong answer. So
basically, if you get it right, you get an A and if not you receive a lower grade. So I disagree with the
author saying that grades arent really necessary for things like that. But for the more creative aspects and
assignments as I mentioned above, I firmly believe in a completion grade, that you get if you did the work
and it looks like you put a sufficient amount of effort into it. Much as these blog posts are, haha. Im not
graded on the awesomeness of my posts, though if I was it would be an A for sure. But rather, I am
graded on the fact that I read these articles, and give my honest opinion on them.
I also think that there are few replacements for grades. I mean, if I were to really spend hours
contemplating this, I could give you some decent ideas, but at 11:47 at night doing this since I am an
irresponsible college student I wont waste our time. I think that grades are an easily measured
comprehension of a subject matter. So in that sense they are vital. Also, without grades, colleges would
never look at me. I did no extracurricular activities in high school since I was an absolutely boring person.
So it was based on standardized tests that I dislike so much, and my excellent performance on them that I
even got into this school. So, grades are an essential but not perfect way to test and sadly label students.
There will always exception students. Ones who are hidden geniuses, but do poorly on tests, and people
like me, who are average at best, but know how to guess better than a contestant on The Price is Right.
I also think the idea of getting rid of grades is kinda silly, at least all together. It is one of those things that
is hard to be done, and no immediate solution is available. The author proposes a slow solution, not unlike
that as the proposition to gradually eliminate pollution. But in the end, I think it would be a silly thing to
implement in a right/wrong class like math. People may try to argue that a child who proposes 2+2=5 is a
genius for thinking outside the box, but I have to be cynical and say they are having difficulty with basic
counting. So not to get too redundant, but in conclusion I generally agree with this article, but also
disagree. It is too biased, and gives examples, but I think it doesnt give as much proof as it should. Its
neat quotes are nice, but I feel that they lack the proof I am looking for

Why Im Asking You Not to Use Laptops Thoughts: February 10, 2015
I really liked this article, in that it was from a teacher who has an understanding view of laptops, in that
they will let a student who actually MUST use a laptop use one. I personally think laptops in the
classroom will be nothing but a distraction, simply because I know itd distract me, and I have seen how
other people misuse their own computers. Countless times I have seen people in large lecture halls
reading manga on their laptop, or watching Family Guy. And often times I would find myself doing the
same thing, but on their computer! So they would unintentionally be distracting me.
Now with that being said, I dont think laptops should be banned from classrooms all together. I think in a
lecture style class, where its pretty much only note-taking, that is fine. Also, if it is a class that deals with
technology, i.e. a computer class or a 3D Design class, than I think that is more than fine. But for a
writing class like ours is, or a math class, where pencil to paper notes are clearly far more superior, then
laptops have no place there. There are also classes that they simply just dont belong, since I know they
will be misused, and I have examples of that. My Japanese class has a person who uses a laptop, which I

think is funny. This person most likely does not know who to get the keyboard to type in Japanese, and 1
of the 4 main skills in learning a language is writing. So by default they lose that skill. (The other 3 are
speaking, reading, and listening). So the laptop seems to be a heavy burden and hindrance their education
as a whole. Most likely why they continue to do poorly, in my opinion. I am also slightly biased, since I
dont personally have a laptop, meaning that I dont have one to bring to class. So automatically I prefer
not using one.

Schools Kill Creativity TED Talk Review: February 24, 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed this TED talk, since it was funny, and regardless of the fact it was taken in what
2006? It still holds true to now. I think that in most ways, schools do kill creativity by forcing an
unofficial hierarchy of class importance. As the man said, Math is at the top, and the arts are at the
bottom. I cant remember the last time, except for college, I was forced to take an art class. Maybe 5th
grade? But that is over 8 years ago, so it is a little irrelevant to my life now. I had a dance class, maybe for
a month or two in the 3rd grade, that while I hated, it at least let me know I hated it.
One argument I hear from, even fellow students, as to why they shouldnt have to take art classes and
such is because they dislike them. But if it w erent for the fact you had to take them in the past, you
wouldnt have known you disliked them. People also argue that the arts are less important, but in regards
to school, my art class had the same weight on my GPA as my math class, meaning that I should take
each of them seriously.
In regards to creativity, I think it most definitely died with me from late elementary school to middle
school. I was a super creative child who made their own dope ass stories, and stuff like that, but then was
forced to take myself seriously, and couldnt do fun and more artistically challenging things. But then
there was a revival of creativity in me, when I started studying on my own, outside of school, and when I
took sculpture in my senior year of high school. While those two times might have gone hand in hand,
they were important, since I learned how to have fun with art and stuff like that.
I think that since in our times factory or math based jobs are becoming less important, and arts are being
more heavily mainstreamed, that we should start reinstating the types of classes we had in elementary
school. I had a Spanish class, that I kind of enjoyed in 3rd grade, and now more than ever is that relevant.
Not only the arts, but foreign languages are so important to the development of children, do to the heavy
correlation between the intelligence of children, and their success, and the fact that they are bi-lingual.
Since I started learning new languages, I felt that I was able to understand many other things better. And
since I feel that kids are better at learning when they are younger, you should teach them more, younger. I
know I was shit at learning when I was younger, but now Im fine. Maybe.
And sorry if this seemed like a rant, but the fact that they view maths such as calculus and such, which
most of us will never use, as more important than learning a language, or how to play an instrument, is
ridiculous.

Japanese Speech Contest Results: February 24, 2015

So as I wrote about in one of my papers, I was entering the Japanese Speech Contest on campus. I wrote
about my fat cat Binks in my speech, and it was pretty dope and funny. I was pretty nervous, since I dont
like public speaking, but I did it regardless. I had the whole room laughing with just the name of my
speech, since most peoples were boring, or rather lacked creativity. So when the title of mine was
projected up onto the board of the lecture hall, people immediately started giggling. Plus my friends who
knew me well enough thought it was funny that I was even going to do it, and was up there having fun
with it.
After all 45 or so contestants presented their speeches, they concluded, and moved on to the rewards
ceremony. They started with the introductory level first, which was my level. They said there would be 3
winners, and commenced with calling the names of the winners. My best friend Robert and the infamous
Nick were sitting next to me, showing me pictures they had taken of me while I was speaking, and also
telling me I would definitely place, since I had done well. I laughed since I knew I messed up numerous
times. Then they started calling names, and I was shocked to hear the Japanese woman call what sounded
like Joey LeDrew first. My friends shouted YEAH JOEY! and I was like what? So I got up on
stage, along with 2 other people. I ended up receiving 3rd place, which was super dope. I was excited just
to participate, but to actually win something made it all the better!

The certificate I got

Me accepting my prizes like a boss and stuff.

Ghostwriter thoughts: March 19, 2015

Before reading this article, Nick told me a little about it. I actually respect this guy. He does hard, and
honest work. So I dont actually dislike the company he works for, or the work he does. I think quite
frankly, if the student is smart enough to cheat and not get caught, then good on them for being able to do
it. Ive cheated before, and most likely will do it again. Now am I saying Im a habitual cheater? No, but I
will say that sometimes an A is better than a C. That was true in my high school chemistry class.
Now in regards to having someone else write a paper for me, I dont think Id ever do that. Now Im not
just saying that because this a blog post for my writing class, but because I actually consider myself a
decent enough writer to pass on my own merits. Also, a lot of writing is graded on content, and not actual
writing skill. So even if a sentence was mittons Romneey wuz a politics Present candate in the 08
elecshun against Obama I wouldnt be wrong technically. I dont know. I guess what Im trying to
say is that I actually almost entirely agree with what the man who wrote that article said. Its not the
students who are really at fault, its the school system, for one, not being able to recognize that the paper
isnt theirs, but also for not helping them become a decent writer, and allowing them to literally hold
positions of authority and respect, like a teacher or nurse, and write horrid papers. Also, I think if given
the opportunity Id totally do his job. Maybe not for as long as he has, or do nearly as many papers, but
kinda as a side thing. Like, professional video game player by day, and paper writer by night. Sounds
good, right?

30 is Not the New 20 Thoughts: March 25, 2015

I liked this TED talk a little bit, since it was from a psychologist, and I have a big interest in psychology. I
liked how she said, and used many examples, on how your 20s arent an extended adolescence, and
that they are in fact a very important developmental stage in your adulthood. I think many people forget
that, and start their lives at a later age, not allowing them to enjoy their life for as long. For example, my
parents got married and started careers young, so they are only in their early 40s now, and so are still
young enough to do whatever, regardless of the fact that they have an 18 year old son. Whereas most
peoples parents I know are in their 50s or even 60s, and got started much later. This also can cause
a disconnect with their kids, and not make them able to understand them as well. Be it they are not as tech
savvy or just not down with the times. Either way, I think that you should get started on your adult life
as soon as you can. But that doesnt mean that just because you are an adult you dont have fun, it just
means that you have to be slightly more independent. And I feel that it is something I am ready to do.
I also really liked her identity capital and using weak ties ideas. Cause weak ties always seem to be the
way I get shit done, and building an identity that benefits you is also something so incredibly important.
Too many people do things they dont enjoy, or that dont fit their identity, simply because they thing
society wants them to.

PowerPoint Dependency: April 9, 2015

Just a quick gripe about how some teachers teach now, as well as how some people give presentations
or lectures. I am a firm believer that technology is a wondrous thing, and should be utilized whenever
possible. However, some people have become too dependent and have lost that kind of personal touch
you can add to a lecture, or presentation. For example, I have a professor now who simply throws up a
powerpoint, reads off of it, almost exactly word for word, may go into the occasional detail about a point
that isnt self-explanatory, then class gets let out. I think this is literally one of the most boring things one
can do, except for doing what the author of an article (http://www.vice.com/read/i-tried-to-spend-24hours-in-24-hour-walmart-242) did, and even that seemed like it would be more fun. Now, Im not anti
powerpoint, but Id rather her do what a teacher I had for AP US History did, when I was in the 11th
grade. He would have a powerpoint up on occasion, use it for pictures or words for reference, then
explain them in great detail, and almost always have an interesting story about the topic. Not to say there
werent times where I didnt sleep in his class, but it was much better then the dreaded LBST I have. Or
rather, it isnt so much that the class is bad, but the way it is delivered is poor.
Also, students giving speeches or presentations for classes relay WAY to heavily on powerpoints. It has
gotten to the point where they just read straight off of them, literally offering no additional insight to what
the powerpoint already says. Maybe it has a picture or two, but really the only people they are helping by
being there and regurgitating the information is blind people, who cant read the damn powerpoint. I ask
that people use it only for reference, almost like a note-card, so that way people can write down the main
concepts as notes, but then listen to what you have to say, to define those concepts. And stop sounding
mono toned during your speeches people Get some intonation in that voice of yours.

Every Kid Needs a Champion Response: April 18, 2015

First, I must say that since I do plan on becoming a teacher at some point in time, this was fun to watch. I
think my favorite things she said were that learning and teaching should bring joy. I think that is the best
way to look at it. You shouldnt try to teach a stuffy and boring class. Though sometimes that is
unavoidable. But I have seen teachers make history fun, and I have seen teachers make math enjoyable. It
is possible. You just have to try.
This kind of inspired me to strive for excellence when teaching English in Japan. If I get selected to, and
you know Im gonna try super hard to make sure that happens, then Ill make the dopest lesson plan these
kids have ever seen. Ill find ways to make English seem fun, teach them useful phrases they can use to
impress their foreign friends. Ill use pop-culture things they should be aware of to make sure they can
relate, as well as learn. Because some things nowadays just arent relate-able. So I think by using things
like Chandler from Friends to teach English sarcasm, or Family Guy to teach metaphors, then Id be able
to make it a little more fun. Now obviously I may not be able to use all of those, since Id probably have
to follow some lesson plan, I still think Id be able to find some way to be clever and creative, and
incorporate neat lessons amongst the things they are supposed to learn.
I also like this woman, in that she tries to teach subjects she doesnt fully know, allowing for both the
student and the teacher to learn at the same time. From hearing things from friends in the past, they have
said they learned math the best when they learned something together. And I think that is a cool
experience to have. Now Im not saying you should just blindly wander into a subject, so do try to have
some knowledge. But its okay to not be omniscient.

Joyous Valadorous Opinions: April 20, 2015

While I read this a long while ago, I did forget to put a blog response to it, so here it is.
I personally liked this, in that it basically described hummingbirds to the point where you think that is all
this is going to be about, then it drops some deep shit on you, with the quotes at the end: You can brick
up your heart as stout and tight and hard and cold and impregnable as you possibly can and down it
comes in an instant, felled by a womans second glance, a childs apple breath, the shatter of glass in the
road, the words I have something to tell you, a cat with a broken spine dragging itself into the forest to
die
I really liked how it compared the heart of a hummingbird to your own. I had also previously heard of
Brian Doyle, though I cant remember exactly what in particular it was I remember him for. I enjoyed
reading this, though I dont have too much to say about it in particular. It was a good read, though.

How to buy happiness Response: April 20, 2015

As I have said before, I love TED talks, and this is no exception. This guy started off by saying, If you
dont think money can buy you happiness, you are spending it wrong. And I totally agree. This was
almost exactly what I wanted him to say, too. Because honestly, it can. Though he went the research route
with it, and did a cool experiment. They went to various places; colleges, businesses, and the widely
popular choice for research studies, dodgeball teams. What they did after, was gave them money, and told
them what to spend it on, be it themselves, or a gift for someone they know. And what they found was
extraordinary. They found that you were not only happier, but you performed better as well, if you choice
the prosocial (give to others) option. Be it that you sold more, or won more matches in dodgeball, you
ended up being, well, better. And that is a win in itself. But as I said, they were also happier, showing that
money can indeed buy you happiness.
Now I can also relate this to myself, because this past Christmas, I decided to spend about $75 on presents
for my friends, instead of on myself. Now granted I knew they were going to buy me things in return, but
I didnt get to choose, so essentially it was just me giving them a gift, without expecting much in return.
And I found myself to be really happy after buying it online, and shipping it to them. I was also happy
when they got the gifts, or when I gave the gifts to them. So I think that says a lot, that it is about how you
spend your money, and who you spend it on, that determines whether or not you can buy happiness.

How I want to feel by the end of the Semester: April 20, 2015

This picture is the definition of happiness and content with ones self. It is of Wayne Brady and Colin
Mochrie from Whose Line is it Anyway? and they are by far the two funniest people in existence. They
can embarrass themselves just like this, and still put on a smile, because they are happy the way they are.
And that is how Id like to be. Plus, those costumes are pretty dope. So I too would like one. I think Id
also want to be as funny as those hooligans. Though improv isnt really my thing.

Why Writers Are the Worst Procrastinators Response: April 28, 2015
Without even reading the title, I can totally 100% agree with this. And you want to know the amazing
reason why I can agree with that? Its because. wait for it. I procrastinated on doing this blog post!
Oh the irony! I think that is comedy gold right there.
But in all seriousness, I think I can agree with the reasons stated, as to why writers are the best
procrastinators. Though Id also like to add my own. First, Ill use Nick Ramos as an example. He sets
aside a perfect amount of time for him to get his work for Writing class. So say the assignment would
take an hour, hed set aside an hour and fifteen minutes, just to be safe. The issue is, he ends up stopping
mid sentence, dancing, and 10 minutes later continuing the sentence, but not reading where he left of. It is
terrible really.
Next example is me. I procrastinate so much, I literally find worse assignments that arent even required,
and do those instead of the required assignment. It is amazing really. I once made a powerpoint that had
nothing to do with a speech I was telling, instead of writing the speech. Really, it is amazing. I also
learned 5 Taylor Swift songs on guitar, instead of writing a paper for an LBST last semester. Why?
Because at the time, Taylor Swift was more important than Linguistics. Obviously. Id say that statement
holds true just about all the time as well.

Sayonara! Goodbye Malcolm: April 28, 2015

It has been a blast, and for my last post Id just like to say thanks, and (sayonara, goodbye). I
really enjoyed having you as a teacher, and I hope you didnt hate having me as a student.
Also, I really liked the picture of Wayne Brady and Colin Mochrie that I posted, so I think Ill add it
again. I think I do feel like them, now that it is the end of the semester. So, mission accomplished.

Also, as a side note, thanks again for letting me compile these into a word/PDF file. Technology can be so
tiresome, especially when it doesnt work for me.