Month: October 2021

Group Members: AJ, Sam, and Lillian 

FANBOYS: 

1. A wise old gentleman retired and bought a home near a Middle School. He mostly spent his summers in his cottage, but then the school year begins and his peace and quiet came to a sudden halt.
2. On the first day of school, three boys came down the alley, beating merrily on every trash they could see. The same thing happened the next day and the next, and the noise started driving the wise old man crazy. It was time for action.
3. 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?”
4. 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.
5. The boys were thrilled. Every day they pounded on trash cans and collected a dollar.
6. 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, 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.”
7. 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?”
8. “Are you kidding?” said one of the boys. “We’re not going to waste our time beating on those trash cans for only a lousy quarter! We quit!”
9. The wise old man smiled and enjoyed his peace and quiet.

My Response: 

Today, I read Ian’s reading response to the effectiveness of the visual arguments. Ian and I both discuss how effective visual components are because the visuals appeal more to audiences than only textual arguments. This is because visual components stand out to individuals than textual information. Both of us discussed how adding pie charts or bar graphs will not only help increase the credibility of the argument but also entertains the audience.  The difference between our posts is the examples that we chose. He chose to talk about competitive biking and the usage of pie charts and bar graphs. On the other hand, I chose to talk about the black and white photograph and the usage of pie charts and bar graphs in infographics. Although we chose to use different examples, we had the same view on visual arguments where they are more effective than an argument that is just full of text.

Discussion: Nub and Vincent

Nub read Jash’s post and Vincent read Lexi’s posts. Nub said that both Jash and he focused on logos. They both use the same examples. Vincent said the Lexi also focused on the appeals of logos.

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.”

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

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

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

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

Group Members: Ian, AJ, and Lillian

(Excerpts below are from the following text:  Clines, R.H & Cobb, E. R. (2012)

Research Writing||Simplified, 7th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.)

1. 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

inequities.

Student versions:

Is this plagiarism or not?  Y or N

_____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).

Yes, this is plagiarism because the writer is pulling the exact sentence from the text without citing it.

In his intext citation, he didn’t mention the author’s name. 

_____Global tensions and inequities 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 23).

Yes. Although he re-wrote it in his own words, he didn’t use the correct in-text citation. 

_____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).

No. 

_____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.

Yes, because the in-text citation is incorrect. 

_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).

Yes, because he didn’t use the information therefore he doesn’t need to quote. 

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.

Yes, this is plagiarism because he didn’t mention the source he got his information from and he forgot to put the author’s name.

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, and Dickson, 2000, p. 271).

It isn’t plagiarism because not only did they re-write the text in their own words, but they also provided correct in-text.

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”).

Yes, because they didn’t use in-text citations correctly.

Group Members: Ian, Elise, and Lillian 

Practice: 

1. My dog is not only friendly but also playful.

2. We can go to the park or dance in the classroom.
3. Jeremy likes to read historical, realistic, and speculative fiction.
4. When I go to the bar, I want to dance, drink and punch on the rowdy faces.
5. Buying a car is not a decision to take lightly nor be careless about.
6. Tyler is for the legalization, not the criminalization of marijuana.

7. Sally needs a new stove, dishwasher, and knives for her kitchen.
8. My first grade teacher taught me how to write, read, and play tic-tac-toe.

9. She will not admit it, nor will she be apologizing.

10. The whole wheat pasta is better than enriched wheat pasta.
11. Literature classes teach students to analyze texts, think critically, and improve writing.

12. Beets are just as nutrient rich as rutabagas even though they are not in season.
13. Drunk drivers are thoughtlessly taking the lives of other people into their own hands,

risking their own lives, thinking only about their own pleasure and fun, and not considering the consequences 

of their actions

14. In order to convey the information correctly, the police officer spoke loudly to the crowd, 

told people where they should stand, repeated the information to help people remember, and gestured.

Today, I read Elise’s post on chapter 14 of the book, “Everything’s an Argument”. The main ideas of the response are about the use of visual arguments in persuading their viewers. Both of us chose to mention the impact of visual arguments on the tendency to trigger one’s emotions and furthermore, how visual media can help verbal appeals to pathos, ethos, and logos. The difference in our posts is that she used different examples. She used the college instructor example while I used the flags and McLunhan’s statements to support the main ideas. Since we had similar ideas, I didn’t really find anything new. Rather, her post reinforced my claim that visual arguments are powerful and useful in our academic writing.

The person I chose to focus on today is a Youtuber, Cory DeVante Williams. His channel name is CoryxKenshin and has around 11.3M subscribers right now. He posts different content on youtube, but he is mainly a gamer and a reactor. He presents a lot of characters in his video therefore it makes his videos very entertaining to watch. Although most of the time he looks like a very energetic and funny person, there are times where he would be vulnerable to his viewers and tell them the difficulties that he goes through in life, his “Regarding my retirement” videos. Once in a while, he would also post motivational and inspirational videos so that he could motivate his audience; such as his “No limits” video. Based on Cory’s videos, he appeals to ethos because he doesn’t only post gaming and reaction videos but he also presents himself to the audience. By doing this, he appeals to ethos because the audience is able to see himself, despite presenting himself in front of the media, which builds credibility.

Links to the videos that I mentioned:

1. 1. “Regarding my retirement”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j42VFHeptl8&t=221s

1. 1. “No limits”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjsHz8k1bD8&t=14s

Group Members: Yuka, Elise, and Lillian 

Part I: Hard evidence or constructed arguments?

Discuss whether the following statements are examples of hard evidence or constructed arguments. Not all cases are clear-cut. 

1. Drunk drivers are involved in more than 50 percent of traffic deaths
   1. Hard evidence
2. DNA tests of skin found under the victim’s fingernails suggest that the defendant was responsible for the assault.
   1. Constructed argument
3. A psychologist testified that teenage violence could not be blamed on video games.
   1. Constructed argument
4. The crowds at President Trump’s inauguration were the largest on record.
   1. Hard evidence
5. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
   1. Constructed argument
6. Airbags ought to be removed from vehicles because they can kill young children and small-framed adults. (Based on the activities in Lunsford, p. 63)
   1. Constructed argument

Part II: Plagiarism or not?

Directions:  Read the following scenarios and decide whether it is a case of plagiarism or not. (Y or N) and explain why._____ 

1. Kyoko needs to write a report on American politics.  She looks up Barack Obama in Wikipedia and discovers he is the 44th president of the United States.  She includes this information in her report but doesn’t mention Wikipedia. Plagiarism, because even though she didn’t use direct quotations, she used a piece of information that she found on Wikipedia. 

2. Tam is writing a paper on a novel for his English class.  Since the whole class is reading the same book, he doesn’t need to use a citation. Plagiarism because he isn’t citing the source. 

3. Sugi wrote a paper for his European history class last semester and got an A on the paper. This semester, his Political Science class is addressing some of the same issues that are in his History paper.  He checks with his professor first who agrees with Sugi, so he uses the material from his History paper.  Self- Plagiarism.
4. Ramiro, Stephan, April, and Chris are working on a group project.  Chris submits his work and the others suspect that some of it came from the Internet, but it sounds good, so they submit it. Plagiarism, because Chris didn’t cite information. 
5. Maria finds a lot of good information for her paper on the Internet.  She carefully changes the wording and prepares a good paraphrase.  She doesn’t copy anything verbatim. Plagiarism, she didn’t cite the source. 

 Directions:  Decide whether the information described in each scenario will require citation of the source (Y or N) and explain why.

1. You clearly identify the source at the beginning of a paragraph that summarizes the author’s ideas about teenage drinking.  Since readers will naturally assume all of the ideas in the paragraph are from the source, no additional citation is necessary. You need the citation because the author shouldn’t “assume” that the readers know the whole paragraph is from the source. 

2. In your paper on the history of aviation, you state the date of the Wright brothers’ first successful flight at Kitty Hawk. You need a citation because you didn’t cite the source. 

3. In a paper on the civil rights movement, you find some general, well-known background information in an encyclopedia.  It is obviously common knowledge, so you copy the information and include it in your paper. You need a citation because you copied the information, if you didn’t copy it, then it would be fine. 

4. You ask your mother about the steps she went through in obtaining a bank loan for a new car. You include this information in your paper.  If it’s an interview, then you need to cite. Otherwise, you don’t need to.

5. You skim a 325-page book entitled Using the Internet. A major theme throughout the book is that the Internet is an important technological achievement.  You include this in your paper.

Cite it because you used the book. 

6. You find an article that takes the same position you have taken on the subject of gun control. To save time you summarize in your paper a portion of the argument from the article since the author’s ideas are identical to your own.

Cite it because you clearly used it from an article

I was thinking about doing a rhetorical analysis essay on either a newspaper article or an advertisement or political cartoon and similar things. I am not sure if advertisements or political cartoons are allowed, but if they are, I would prefer to do them over a newspaper article. I would like to work with something that has visual appeals or both visual and factual appeals.

Group Members: Yari, Lexi, and Lillian 

1. The reality show follows the lives of Bruce and Kris Jenner’s combined family, mainly focusing on the three oldest daughters, Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé Kardashian. 
2. Bruce Jenner became famous for breaking the world record and winning a gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. He has two sons, Brandon and Brody, from a previous marriage who have appeared on their own reality shows. 
3. The Kardashians’ father, the late attorney Robert Kardashian, was famous for representing O. J. Simpson, while his daughters gained recognition as American socialites. 
4. Kim came into the national spotlight in 2007 after a sex-tape scandal resulting in a Playboy appearance which caused the Kardashians’ fame to grow into a profitable reality series. 
5. The main show depicts the daily routine of the Kardashians, on the other hand, the Spin-off shows feature Kourtney, Kim, and Khloé’s attempts to build their line of fashion boutiques. 
6. The Kardashians’ behavior seemed outrageous at first; however, they are a loving family. 
7. The Kardashians often squabble like typical siblings, and Kris, the mother, attempts to hold 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, lasting only 72 days.