What is Style? Part 2

At the beginning of the semester we were asked the same question and I responded by comparing writing style to a dress style. A comparison that was shot down at the next class meeting...
Well, after the last three torturous months, I changed my mind.
Style, to me, is the way in which you use the words to express your message. For instance, at the beginning of the semester we explored how writing is a technology and the change from oral to literate cultures. Before writing, oral was a style. It was the way they expressed their message. The style changed with the shift to literate cultures. Then, rules were made to set a standard for this technology called writing. Hence, the style manuals we read. The new style was writing.
The transition continues... we moved onto comics and the idea of combining pictures with writing to express the message. Thus, another style. More specifically, we studied the style of comics. As we coasted along this sea of pictures and words, we of course came to movies. A moving picture, if you will. Another style. This style used words the least, other than the oral cultures of course, and it was interesting to note the changes of writing and expression throughout the course and the different styles that were created due to these transitions.
So all in all, I think that style is the way in which you express your message or "words". It is not a a style of writing like fiction or comedy, but the way in which you give the message to your audience.

Peer Review Final Post

All in all I would have to say that the most useful part of peer review is the chance for someone else to read your essay and see if they understand the point you are trying to get across. If I don't really understand what someone is saying, I will let them know. Also, if I get the point htey are trying to make, but it is a little confusing, I will let them know. I think the most difficult part of writing our essays in 328 is that we are supppose to write to an audience that has no idea of th eclass or anything we are doing. It is easier to write to an audience that has some background on what you are doing. Many times we assume that since we understand what we are writing, our audience will too.
As far as things not working in peer review, the quality of the comments given. I want and embrace comments, and I mean comments like what isn't working and what should be fixed or if something is wordy or confusing to understand. But it seems that many don't put the extra effort in. I'm sure we all want to believe that we wrote A papers without any editing, but we probably didn't. And giving comments back are our last chance between our own editing and grading.
The one thing that I have learned in peer review over the course of the semester is that not everyone wants or give honest comments or editing. I think that people don't want to hurt other people's feelings so they say it was great or good point even if it really wasn't or they really didn't read it. I remember one time in class we discussed a similar situation where someone felt like their comments were mean or rude. So basically I learned that honesty is the best to give true comments but you should say something positive too so the person dosn't feel like they are being dumped on.
I also found (well someone else found it and showed me) a really really cool tool on google docs. If you go under word count you can check the level of your writing on different scales. If you write for what grade audience, so on and so on. Very neat!