CAP 7

This project has been a great experience! Everything has come together and I believe this will have a lasting impact on the community. Now there is information available on the web, and awareness has been raised on this topic which has been universally ignored. With the proceeds from our website going to Raptor Rehabilitation centers we will also be able to help out with raptor care fisthand. This has been everything I hoped it would be! I'm excited for our presentation today.

CAP 6

My group and I have decided to set up advertisements on our website, and all proceeds will be donated to the Wildlife Care Clinic to help in the rehabilitation of injured raptors, therefore furthuring our purpose.

CAP 5

The video has been created and edited, but I am having trouble getting it out to the public. Iowa State television will not work, so i'm going to try to show the video before a few programs for public viewing. It will also be available to the public on our website. www.projectraptor.webs.com

C.A.P. 4

Difficult to find information

I contacted other rehabbers for information on their permanents and statistics

C.A.P 3

Meeting tomorrow at the Wildlife Care Clinic to make the video

website is underway, information and pictures are being added as well as links to other rehabilitation centers

C.A.P. 2

Ran into snag with programs, will not be able to do a public program because I am the only licensed rehabber.

Trying to get our video on ISU television

C.A.P.

Inventoried patients of the Wildlife Care Clinic

2 Red-Tailed Hawks
2 Barred Owls
2 American Kestrels
1 Screech Owl
1 Short Eared Owl
1 Great Horned Owl
1 Long Eared Owl

to be used on website

Community Action Project

contact with other rehabber
www.soarraptors.org

Discussion Questions for A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

Question 1 : How does Leopold use personification in this piece? Is it effective in drawing a more vivid picture? Does it allow the reader to connect on a different level?

Question 2: How does Leopold display his opinion? What is his stance concerning the man vs. nature issue? How can you tell?

Bad Apple

I have been in several groups with bad apples, usually the types that just sit around and do nothing while the rest of the group shoulders the workload. I have found that the best way to deal with this situation is to continue working with the rest of the group and try to include the "bad apple" in discussion by asking them for their opinion on the groups ideas and in some ways forcing them to be involved. There isn't really a way to force the bad apple to take part in the work if they refuse to participate, but keeping them involved in discussion helps to alleviate the hostility from other members of the group. Other bad apples that I have encountered during group work include the ery annoying "bossy" bad apple. This person refuses to listen to the other group member's ideas and thinks that their opinions are superior and that the rest of the group should do exactly what they say. This can be dealt with by kindly discussing with the "bad apple" that other people in the group also have valid ideas and that the combination of all ideas will make for the best final project.

Group Work

I have a very dominant personality, and I have found that when working with others in a group this can be both a good and a bad thing. I tend to take charge and be a little bossy. I know this and I try to let others express their ideas and opinions, but I usually end up getting stuck with all of the work because I am also a perfectionist and I don't feel like things are done correctly until I do them myself. Therefore, I usually find group work frustrating due to the time and effort I put into the projects and the feeling of being a "supervisor".

Imitation of Annie Dillard an Fecundity

My feet are were getting to warm. Standing so close to the fire that softly licked my skin, but at the same time threatening to scald it. It was a perfect scene. Family members gathered around the fire, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, laughing and talking, but I couldn't take my eyes out of the flames. Magnificent and glorious, the fire bursts into the air, an intruder, warming everything in it's path. Something that is miraculously good and bad at the same time. Of course fire can be bad, it ruins homes and destroys lives, but it can also be good, allowing for regrowth and regeneration in lands long barren by death. Can man say as much for themselves? Depends on how you look at it, but is what man creates ever truly natural? Fire is nature's cleaning crew, sweeping in and marveling, bringing family's together with it's warmth and tearing them apart with it's consequences. The ultimate two-face.

Personal Mission Statement

I am committed to living a purposeful life. I intend to care for all of Earth's creatures, wild and domestic, ensuring they have a chance at the life they are given. I intend to be peaceful and maintain relationships that will help me to grow and develop personally. I intend to love those who will love me in return and always do my best to stand up and fight for what I believe in. I intend to work towards a more sustainable earth, and make the environment a place where all creatures can exist harmoniously together. Most importantly maintaining wildlife and wilderness conservation, for what is wild is what is truly free. Lastly, I intend to explore everything life has to offer and get the most out of my time on earth.

Reading Like a Writer Response to Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front, and The Making of a Marginal Farm by Wendell Berry

Q# 1 :What are the major themes in this piece? Are there any minor themes as well?

The major theme encountered in Berry's work is the claim that the earth is inhabited by many kinds of people. those who choose to restore it and those who choose to expend it. He establishes himself as a conservationist in his farming and his appreciation for the smaller details in life. Minor themes include his love of farming and how it introduced him to a life of preservation, and that we as humans should not take for granted what we have and we should instead work together in an attempt to salvage our earth.

Reading Like a Writer Response to Having Faith by Sandra Steingraber

Q#2 : What specific details stay in your mind? Why? How do these small details lead to larger ideas?

Steingraber establishes her agenda early in this piece. She exposes the truth of bioaccumulation and the unfortunate end recipients of this chemical buildup, children. Specific details she uses to support her claim include examples of technology development and how these developments often lead to disaster, years later. She also includes details of her environment, proving that the scary truth of hidden chemicals are not visible on the surface until it is to late. These small details lead to larger ideas as she wraps up the piece with a stirring notion. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and everything we put into our earth eventually comes back to destroy our future.

Personal Response to Sociology and Social Change

The excerpt from Sociology and Social Change proved to be a powerful piece. The small changes made by a single person may lead to larger transmissions in the world. The world is an unfair environment of poverty, inequality, and hate, but a few small acts may lead to a huge change in environment. This piece inspires action in the reader and challenges the common belief that what one does in private does not have an effect on others as a whole. This statement is simply untrue. In an ideal world, the challenges of today would never exist, but this world is a figment of the imagination. One can change the world by making small adjustments to daily life, and by simply getting involved which is a powerful motivation. Using pathos to appeal to the reader's sense of duty this piece effectively confronts the reader and encourages action to make the world a better place for one and for all.

Analysis of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

Substance:

The author uses statistics and scientific facts as evidence to illustrate the outstanding decline of Eagles and other birds of prey during certain time frames. The selection of these facts to support her purpose of bringing to light the horrible effects of DDT allow the readers to relate to what she is saying. She appeals to the emotional side of the reader when she discusses the town in the beginning of the piece and talks about children dying and none of the life returning. This pulls at the heartstrings of many American's and may have caused them to take action against DDT. She also appeals to the logical side of the reader by supporting her claim that DDT is the cause of the loss of life and great decline in predatory bird populations by using concrete evidence such as what percentage of Eagles were actually able to reproduce in a given year( In 1957 there was only one young eagle for every 32 adults). This combination of appeals pulls the reader in with interest and then solidifies their thoughts so that they too see what has happened and are willing to take action against this silent killer. Carson also highlights scientific experiments that have been performed to establish what is harming the birds. This furthers the conviction of DDT and provides even more concrete evidence for Carson to support her claim.

Reading Like a Writer Response to A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf

Q#3: Does any particular image run throughout the essay? Why does the author choose it?

The image of "the creator" runs constantly throughout this piece as Muir establishes his opinion of man's apparent take over. He uses this image and other examples of satanic creatures juxtaposed together to prove that all creatures were not created for the benefit of man. He uses specific examples to support this claim and sticks to his claim throughout the entire essay. Leaving the reader with a feeling of questioning and appreciation for nature in its purest form.

Reading Like a Writer Response to Polemic: Industrial Tourism and National Parks

Q#4: Find specific examples of abstract and concrete language. What are the effects?

Abstract language is used in this piece to convey the writer's opinion on the National Parks and why he thinks the roads are ruining the beauty. This is effective because the reader can relate to the writer's emotional appeal and those who are familiar with national parks are influenced to take action against road building.

Concrete language is used to in this piece to explain exactly WHAT is happening to the National Parks, and the writer gives examples of the before and after effects of the roads. This is effective coming from this writer in particular because he works in the National Parks and he has experienced the changes and the particular effects they have brought about.

Reading Like a Writer Response to A First American Views His Land by N. Scott Momaday

Q#7 : How does the writer structure the essay and to what effect?

The writer structures the essay by beginning with Native American hunting styles of other times. He then goes on to describe how views of the land have changed throughout history and ends with a powerful suggestion to the reader relating to conservation of the earth. He structures the essay this way in order to lay out a story for the reader to understand how we as humans have impacted our earth and to influence us to think more like the Native Americans and think of ourselves as part of the land instead of just "users" of the land.

Similarities and Differences between Chris McCandless and Thoreau

Similarities between these tow men include the desire to live in the wild and find happiness outside of the material world. They are both striving to break away from the norm and experience life in the moment.
Differences between them include Thoreau's desire to build a home and live with knowledge of the forest while McCandless is simply tramping his way into the wilderness and learning along the way.

ImitationPoem of Voodoo V: Enemy Be Gone by Patricia Smith

Within me excitement was stirring,
a happiness daunting, new
memories beginning, a
man-made cave opened, she left
no air undisturbed, no leaf unturned
no dream unimagined, she left
in a whirl of wings, a blast
of feathers, in a slowed
hurry, with unspoken fire
she burned through the sky,
she took with her a vision, a
passion, and left behind
a peace of mind, a she
flew towards the heavens
free at the last.

Reading Like a Writer Response to What Was The First Sound by Patricia Smith

Q#3 : Does any particular image run throughout the essay? If so, why does the author choose it? Does it have any "metaphorical significance"? Does it transform in any way from the beginning to the end?

The image that runs through this poem is the color purple. I believe the author chose this to represent a multitude of things. First being the sadness and despair brought on by the hurricane. The mixing of water and blood coming together to represent the vibrant color surrounding the storm. The metaphorical significance may be that of blood and water, but also despair and fear. This image of purple transforms from the beginning to the end by starting as a sound and then being described as a vivid image of torn bodies and swollen gazes while ending with the wind "finding its color".

50 Word Snapshots

1. April 29^th, 2010. This is the day that I released a Red-Tailed Hawk back into the wild. At Brookside Park I took the cage out of the back of my truck, and within it was a hawk that came to us with a broken wing. I walked deep into the forest and took him out of the cage, threw him into the air and watched him fly away with a grace and beauty that I never could have imagined was possible.

2. Walking through Brookside park with my friend Kylie and our dogs Keya and Sunny. A beautiful day with the sun shining brightly and the foilage in the forest gleaming after the rain. The river running next to us quietly with a strong and forceful current. The day could not get any better; until the sun peaked through the trees to reveal a baby fawn hiding in the grass.

3. Sitting in my front yard at home that spreads widely throughout the Iowa landscape. Sounds and smells of the farm surround me. Brand new kittens frolicking in the hayloft, cows mooing softly, and horses running rampidly around the pasture. Mom is calling for me to come inside, but it's so hard to leave the perfect harmony.

Reading Like a Writer Response to The Summer Day (poem)

Q #5: What kind of rhythm does the writer create? Is there a variety in the sentence structure? Write about the author's rhythmic choices and their effect on the overall tone of the piece.

This poem begins with a choppy rhythm as Oliver begins introducing her ideas and then gradually flows into a continuous description of a single being. This rhythm allows the reader to be pulled in by the questioning beginning and then convinces them to stay and learn more about this grasshopper who takes over line by line. The ending is also effective in closing with a question and leaving the reader wondering and wanting more.

Reading Like a Writer Response to The Ninemile Wolves by Rick Bass

Q #1 : What are the major themes of this piece? Are there any minor themes as well? Is there any kind of "subtext" in this essay? What kind of murmurs run below the surface?

In this exerpt from The Ninemile Wolves, Bass focuses on the major theme of wolves as subordinants to humans; continually fighting for their freedom while at the same time being suppressed. Wolves are urged to travel to level off the increasing ungulate populations and perhaps run into some cattle every now and then which strikes fear and anger in the hearts of humans. Minor themes include the lives of the wolves. Their pack structure, hunting style, and traveling abilities are highlighted by Bass to show the reader how and why humans have become so persistant on destroying them. Which presents the murmur running below the surface of this piece that wolves are explicitly tied to humans, and as much as we may try to deny it and suppress them, they will continue fighting for their right to live free and wild, as it should be.

Reading Like a Writer Analysis of From Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams

Q #2 : What specific details stay in your mind? Why? How do these small details lead to larger ideas?

From Refuge by Terry Tempest Williams is based upon the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Williams uses specific details such as the fluctuations of the Great Salt Lake to highlight the effect of these changes on the migratory birds. Her main interest is the burrowing owl whose life is greatly impacted by the environmental changes and human development. Small details that Williams highlights such as the daily life and protective instinct of the burrowing owl leads into the "bigger picture" or larger idea and allows the reader to sympathize with the owls when their homeland is destroyed in conjugation with the creation of the Canadian Goose Club. Allowing the reader to experience these specific details influences the reader to share Williams' way of thinking and to share her passion for the birds of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.