Apr 6: Evaluating an Argument

Worked with: Yana Walia, Abhiraj Gill

This meme was found on Google and it comments on how black people’s arguments about racism and violence are often undermined by white people trying to turn the tables back on to black people. It uses humor to undermine the seriousness of the issue and how it affects the stereotypes and society’ s perception of the issue as black people are countered with this argument to undermine their experiences with racism. It also successfully shifts the focus of the argument from the main issue of racism to black on black crime hence manipulating the narrative of racism. This meme is effectively thought provoking and it uses a popular argument presented to black people to address how invalidating that statement is. The meme itself is fairly simplistic so that may affect its strength as an argument, but still, the argument is clear.

Apr 6: Identifying Plagiarism

Is this plagiarism or not?

Excerpt from page 23 of an article in 2011 by William Ellis entitled “Culture in Transition.”

World problems such as poverty, pollution, war, and hunger are inherent in the current system of world order based on nation-states and economic competition. They can be solved if people know and understand one another on a global, grass-roots basis.  By developing people-to-people linkages irrespective of national borders, we can start to ameliorate global tensions and inequalities.

Student versions

Is this plagiarism or not?  Y or N

 

__Y___William Ellis asserts that world problems such as poverty, pollution, war, and hunger are inherent in the current system of world order based on nation-states and economic competition (p. 23).

Direct quote missing

__Y___Global tensions and inequalities can be solved if people begin to help one another on a grass-roots basis, moving beyond the current world order of economic competition 

(Ellis, p. 23).

Improper citation

___N__Ellis (2011) argues that global problems are often a result of exploitation inherent in economic competition.  He contends that “grass roots….people-to people linkages  irrespective of national borders” can do much to ease global tensions (p. 23). 

Correct

__Y___Economic competition is at the basis of many of the world’s problems (Ellis 23). Only by seeing ourselves as a single family without the separation of national boundaries can world tensions begin to be eased.  The year and page number are missing 

__Y___Ellis (2011) argues that world problems are caused by overpopulation and that the only possible solution is an enforced tax on families who have more than one child (p. 23).

Made up information

Original Text: Alaska’s wetlands provide many benefits including: food and habitat for wildlife, fish and shellfish species, natural products for human use and subsistence, shoreline erosion and sediment control, flood protection, and opportunities for recreation and esthetic appreciation.

Hall, Jonathan V., W. E. Frayer, and Bill O. Wilen.

Status of Alaska Wetlands.

4 Nov. 1997.

Web. 12 Mar. 2011.

Student Version:

Alaskan wetlands offer advantages such as erosion and flood control, homes and food for wildlife, and natural beauty and products for humans’ benefit.

 

2.Original Text:

 

Assertive individuals tend to feel more in control of their lives, derive more satisfactions from their relationships and achieve their goals more often. They also will obtain more respect from, and inspire confidence in, those with whom they interact since they tend to be viewed as strong characters who will not be easily swayed.

 

Hargie, O., Saunders, C., & Dickson, D. (2000).

Social Skills in Interpersonal Communication.

London: Routledge, p. 271.

 

Student Version:Because they are not readily influenced, assertive people gain respect from others, and they experience success in guiding their own lives, nurturing good relationships, and achieving their goals

 (Hargie, Saunders, & Dickson, 2000, p. 271).

 

3.Original Text:

A new to recycle bald tires has been developed by researchers at the University of Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station. Instead of hanging them on trees as swings, they’re using them as mulch around the base.

 

“Tires Return as Mulch.” Popular Mechanics 94.2 (2000): 22. LEXIX-NEXIS. Web. 31 July 2011.

 

Student Version:

A Popular Mechanics article notes that University of Georgia researchers have found a new use for worn tires: instead of having them on trees as swings, they’re using them as mulch (“Tires Return”).

 

March 30: Activity 2

Abhiraj Gill, Briana Do, Chinaza Hughes

A wise old gentleman retired and bought a home near a middle school. He mainly spent his summers in his cottage. Then the school year began, and his peace and quiet came to a sudden halt.

On the first day of school three boys came down. The alley beating merrily on every trash can they see, and the same thing happens the next day and the next, and the noise started driving the wise old man crazy. Time for action.

On the first day of school, three boys came down the alley. They merrily beat on every trash can they saw and the same thing happened the following days. The noise started driving the wise old man crazy and he decided it was time for action. 

The next afternoon, he stopped the drummers as they banged their way down the street. He said, “You kids are a lot of fun! I love hearing your drumming because it is so cheerful and it reminds me of what I used to do at your age. Will you do me a favor?”

The boys looked at him suspiciously. “What?” they asked, “I’ll give you a dollar if you promise to come around every single day and keep beating on those trash cans,” said the man.

The boys were thrilled. Everyday they pounded on trash cans and collected a dollar.

After about a week, the wise old man stopped the boys again and this time he looked a little bit sad. I still love your drumming,” he said to the boys, “however, I’m afraid spending a dollar a day is hard on me because I’m on a fixed income. From now on, I’m only going to be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans.

The boys weren’t too happy, but they decided to accept 50 cents a day, and they continued beating on all the trash cans. After another week, the clever old man stopped the boys again. “I’ve got more bad news,” he said. “My Social Security check hasn’t come yet, so I’m not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents a day. Is that all right?

“Are you kidding?” said one of the boys. “We’re not going to waste our time beating on those trash cans only for a lousy quarter! We quit!

The wise old man smiled, and enjoyed his peace and quiet.

March 30: Activity 1

A minister, walking down a country lane, sees a young farmer struggling to load hay back onto a cart. “You look hot, my son,” said the minister. “Rest a moment and let me give you a hand.”

“No thanks,” said the young man. “My father wouldn’t like it.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind,” the minister said. “Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water.” Again the young man said that his father would be upset.

Losing his patience, the minister said, “Your father must be a real slave driver. I’d like to give him a piece of my mind. Tell me where I can find him!”

“Well,” replied the young farmer, “look down. He’s under the load of hay.”

March 29: Group work on Video Essay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0QXif2Ojeo

 

Group members: Zushan Liu, Chinaza Hughes

 

The video makes the argument that people should be kind to each other. Pathos is dominant in this video because it appeals to emotion and that is also shown in the visuals. The video started with the main character being reluctant to be kind to strangers. He grew more open to being kind to others and that change created a change in him and his demeanor. He appeared to be happier and more confident after choosing kindness. We think it effectively persuades the audience to be more open to giving and receiving kindness; it plays into pathos by using visual representations of what kindness can do and that is inspiring. 

March 29: Group Work on Plagiarism

Group Members: Parker Qualls, Xena Neira, Chinaza Hughes

A.

  1. N- The information used is commonly known and it would be plagiarism if she copied the exact quote.
  2. Y – Tam is not giving credit Where it is due, even if the whole class is reading the same novel. To correct this Tam would need to properly cite the book.
  3. N- The paper was approved by his teacher.
  4. Y- Chris must cite his sources if he has information from the internet. Chris should correct the parts of the paper he plagiarized and instead he can paraphrase the text and cite it when necessary.
  5. N- She properly paraphrased the information used.

B.

  1. N- The source was mentioned.
  2. N-You do not need to cite if it is general information
  3. Y- If you are copying information from a source it must be cited to give credit to the author. To correct this the encyclopedia needs to be cited if quoted or paraphrased.
  4. N-Because it was not copied from anywhere. 
  5. N- It was paraphrased and not directly copied.
  6. N- If you are summarizing an idea then that means you are rewriting in your own words.

 

Mar 9: Sentence Variety

This was intended to be group work but I worked alone.

  1. The reality show follows the lives of Bruce and Kris Jenner’s combined family and most of the episodes focus on the three oldest daughters: Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian. 
  2. Bruce Jenner was famous for breaking the world record and winning a gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics; his sons from a previous marriage, Brandon and Brody, have also appeared on their own reality shows. 
  3. The Kardashians’ father, the late attorney Robert Kardashian, was famous for representing O. J. Simpson and through that, his daughters gained recognition as American socialites. 
  4. Kim came into the national spotlight in 2007 after a sex- tape scandal and resulting Playboy appearance, which helped the Kardashian fame grow into a profitable reality series. 
  5. The show depicts the daily routine of the Kardashians and their spin- off shows feature Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé’s attempts to build their line of fashion boutiques. 
  6. The Kardashians’ behavior at first seemed outrageous, but in reality, they are a loving family. 
  7. The Kardashians squabble like typical siblings and Kris, the mother, holds the family together. 
  8. Kim’s $ 10 million wedding to pro basketball player Kris Humphries in 2011 was seen by an estimated 10.5 million viewers, but the marriage lasted only 72 days.

LIBRARY RESEARCH FOR RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

I chose this book titled, “Islamophobia: understanding anti-Muslim racism through the experiences of Muslim youth.”, because it relates to the topic of the op-ed I chose to analyze, titled “Opinion: Why Islamophobia is so dangerous” published on CNN. The E-book explains the history and origins of Islamophobia which will provide helpful context for my analysis. The history of Islamophobia runs deep in European teachings, as stated here, “One of the foundational works, which has examined the colonization of Muslim majority nations, the ideologies which provided moral justifications for it, and its continuity in constructing Muslims as ‘Other’ was Edward Said’s (1979) Orientalism.” (Bakali, 2016, p. 12). `The title I chose cites other work as historical context, such as the one above, and because of that it will be a helpful resource in my analysis as it further explains the presence of Islamophobia.

Bakali, N. (2016). Islamophobia : understanding anti-Muslim racism through the lived experiences of Muslim youth. Sense

 

3/8 Group work

 

Worked with AJ & Moriah

  1. Drunk drivers are involved in more than 50 percent of traffic deaths. 
  • This is an inaccurate fact and a constructed argument. 

 

2. DNA tests of skin found under the victim’s fingernails suggest that the defendant was responsible for the assault.

  • This could be considered a fact but it is missing a lot of context so it is a constructed argument. 

 

3. A psychologist testified that teenage violence could not be blamed on video games. 

  • This is an opinion based constructed argument.

 

4. The crowds at President Trump’s inauguration were the largest on record.

  • This is an inaccurate fact and a constructed argument. 

 

5. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

  •  This is an opinion. 

 

6. Air bags ought to be removed from vehicles because they can kill young children and small-framed adults. (Based on the activities in Lunsford, p. 63)

  • Constructed argument, lacking hard evidence.

Mar 8: Free writing for Essay 2

I am thinking of choosing an article from CNN with a political agenda. I would start with a brief explanation of the article and then I would identify the dominant appeal used in the article. From then I would like to provide examples for that appeal and using those examples I would expand on the social implications of the evidence used. I plan on choosing an article that will make the process above pretty easy. Once I’ve identified those things, I want to take note of the vocabulary used in hope of uncovering any bias. I will surely be using the information from the text book about creating a rhetorical analysis to solidify my argument and to help me remember what more to look for. I plan on closely examining the language, format, appeals, context, and more to provide me with enough information to analyze.

OUTLINE:

  • introduction to article
  • introduction to appeal using evidence
  • analysis of noted details of article
  • analyze context & language used
  • tie in details to conclude argument

March 3rd: Reading response & Library research

I read Parker’s response. I liked how she summarized the article in the first paragraph and successfully followed the reading response guidelines. I was intrigued by her personal experience being Filipino-American, just like the author of this piece, as well as being multiethnic. In the second paragraph Parker mentions the disconnect she and her sister felt when amongst the white side of her family. I relate to that a lot because, like Parker, I only see that side of my family on occasion and when I do our differences feel unavoidable. The way they view the world, the way they speak, and even the things they deem valuable topics of discussion are vastly different than me. Parker includes her opinion at the end, that she thinks Mirando perfectly captured what it feels like to be multiethnic in America, and I completely agree with that.

LIBRARY RESEARCH

The book titled “Cross-Cultural Management: Foundations and Future” explores the growing presence of cross-cultural professional relationships and it examines how it is necessary to be able to communicate healthily and effectively. That necessity is made clear by the authors saying, “Intense global competition requires this cross-cultural teamwork be highly productive and innovative. Organizations report that it takes years to develop effective teams even when people are from the same culture and work in one site. But now managers must develop teamwork with people distributed over different cultures, regions, and time zones, and do so quickly or lose out to more nimble rivals.” (Tjosvold & Leung, 2016. p. 1). That excerpt illustrates the global growth of cross-cultural business relations while also describing the struggle of many organizations to assimilate to that.

References

Dean Tjosvold, & Kwok Leung. (2016). Cross-Cultural Management : Foundations and Future. Routledge.

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