Blog Reflection

I thought the blog was a good place for me to brainstorm and to think of new ideas.  Often times I'd start writing with one thing in mind, but would redirect myself elsewhere and form new ideas.  I also liked the freedom of the blog posts and how we could write any ideas that we had.  I also liked the comments that I got from fellow students, when I did get them, because they either made me confident in my opinion, or helped me to reevaluate things that I may have said.  The blog posts normally reflected what we were doing in class and helped me to further expand on ideas that we discussed in class that I may not have mentioned or that I had just thought of.  Blogging is pretty easy and you can do it from your own computer, which is always good.  I also liked that we had an easy and informal way of commenting on our peers writing, because it gives you important feedback.  I continued to do basically what I had been doing after the midterm evaluations, but tried extra hard to remember that the blog posts are due before 8, and not before class time.

Brainstorming for Proposal Argument

For my proposal argument, I am thinking about writing about the importance of wildlife conservation.  The conservation of the planet's wildlife is important because we need clean air and water for our survival and health.  Without clean water, we will get sick and without clean air, we could potentially suffer from lung problems like asthma and other serious illnesses.  Wildlife conservation is also important to conserve the beauty of the naturally occurring landscape.  It will also help to keep the earth diverse, known as biodiversity.  This is important because everything in our world is connected by one way or another, for instance, some animals are important for the survival of others, and if a species dies out due to lack of clean air, water, or an adequate natural environment, it could disrupt the food chain and cause harm to another species as well.  It is also important to simply protect the plants and animals that occur naturally in the planet's ecosystems.  Lastly, conserving wildlife is in the best interest of everyone because it will strengthen the quality of life for humans, plants, and animals alike.

There are a lot of options for a person who wants to get involved in conserving wildlife to do.  For instance, you could donate to credible causes.  If you do not want to simply donate, there are organizations that donate a portion of their profits to help wildlife conservation.  Any company with a "1% for the planet" logo, like the clothing company Patagonia, is a good option.  Also, a person should be sure to follow all hunting laws, they are put in place for a reason!  If someone wanted to get really involved, they could lobby for change and try to help get environmentally friendly laws passed that help and conserve portions of the world and keep them as they are.  People can also help to prevent the destroying of wildlife, such as when a company is logging, drilling, or building upon wildlife lands.

Brainstorming

I was having some trouble trying to think of an issue that is of importance to me that I have not yet written about in another class.  I came up with the legalization/decriminalization of some illegal drugs.  I would say only marijuana, but i wanted to include some other, less common drugs that I also think should not be illegal, for example LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, and ecstasy.  The main reason for me thinking that these drugs should be legalized is because they do not have much potential for long term use.  Although there are exceptions, these substances are not physically addictive and will not cause the user to be dependent on them, unlike some other illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin.  I also feel like decriminalizing or legalizing these drugs would clear up badly needed space in prisons.  I think that our law enforcement should be focusing on issues that might cause harm to communities, and not have to waste their time getting users of these drugs off the street.  If the government would trust its citizens to use these substances responsibly, like they do with both alcohol and tobacco, then I think it would not be a problem.  Also, I think that if the government was regulating these drugs, they would be safer and there would be less risk of using something that the user did not intend to use.  For example, there are instances when a substance, such as marijuana is laced with another drug, like cocaine, which the user may or may not have been aware of.  

Persuasive Ads

I chose to analyze this American Red Cross Ad.  It appeals to the pathos of the audience because the girl in the ad is in obvious distress.  It looks like she truly needs help now, and it really speaks to the person who is observing it.  The ad also says that "help can't wait," and that they need you now, which appeals to the readers emotions because it makes them feel as if they need to contribute and that the need is desperate.  This ad appeals to the ethos of the reader because the American Red Cross is a very well known organization, and they have been known to do great things in the past, which adds to their credibility.  It also assures the reader that their money is all going going to a good cause.  The ad appeals to the logos of the reader because it is logical.  The girl is in distress, and there are many others like her, so they need your help now.  

classical arguments

Chapter 14's discussion of classical arguments tells us that arguments need to be thoroughly researched and backed up with specific evidence.  It tells us to research all possible sides of the argument with an open mind in order to make the most informed decision.  Once you have found the side of an argument that you agree with, it is necessary to persuade your audience to believe and agree with the claim you are making.  To do this your argument needs to be backed up with specific evidence.  This really relates to the strong response essay that we are working on right now because it is necessary for us to use as many specific details and examples as possible.  If we don't use enough examples, our readers will not be persuaded and will not be moved to your side of the argument.  Even though it feels like I am using way too many examples and explaining my position in too much depth, it is really necessary to get the point across.  If there are not sufficient claims to back up an argument, why should anyone believe what you are claiming? 

Freewrite

Edmundson provides some arguments about the typical college student that I agree with, but he also argues some that I disagree with completely.  I agree with him when he talks about the effects of consumerism on the university campus, but I think he is making this assumption without realizing that not everyone is like that.  Sure there are plenty of people on this campus that are influenced by entertainment and who are devoted to consumption, myself included, but I think there are more then just a few students who break away from this "norm".  He does mention that he has a couple extraordinary students, for example Joon Lee, but I feel like there would have to be more then just the few that he emphasizes because I for one can name plenty here.

He also says that my culture is on that is "committed to a laid back norm" (pg. 3 par. 3), and I can not see what is wrong with that.  Maybe I'm speaking from the point of view of my generation, and maybe I just can't see his side of the argument, but I can't see why having a laid back norm would be a bad thing, it seems like a better environment to live in personally.

I like what he says about how Colleges are marketing their campuses by the entertainment that they have as opposed to how great the professors are, like he says that did when he was going to school.  He mentions that students are receiving brochures to their houses that market these things to them.  I remember getting at least 5 letters from different colleges per day, so I could really relate to his point and it really made an impact on me.

My only other problem with this article was when he was talking about how students are too formal when they come to talk with him in his office.  I for one have many teachers that would be offended if I were to come in and talk with them about everyday life or if I were to come in without a question.  Also, when he mentions that he wishes his students would wear more interesting clothing, I must point out that teachers definitely don't like it when we wear what we want all the time.  There's a time for the outfits that are fashionable nowadays, but generally speaking, talking with teachers is not one of them.

reading response

I disagree with Edmondson's final statement where he says that Universities are an inefficient method of learning. I know that personally I am learning more here then I ever did in high school. Even though there are some very large classes in which there is very little or no interaction between the students and the professor, I still feel like I am learning actively in those classes. I can understand why it is difficult for some students to learn in such an environment, and maybe a traditional university just isn't for them. There are plenty of other alternatives, and other colleges that are small and only offer small classes. I think that he is arguing this on too broad a spectrum, and I think that only certain people feel this way.
I do agree with some of the points that he makes though, such as when he says that college age students are swayed easily by the media, like tv, the internet and radio. I also agree that we are in a consumerist society, and that money is essential to almost everything.

U.R. Riddle Letter

September 9, 2008

To Whom It May Concern:

            Although it has been several years since he has been in my class, I still remember Uriah Riddle well.  His analytical skills were brilliant and he was able to relate multiple facets of different fields in his studies.  He wrote some of the best papers from my class, and I learned from them myself.  Not only was he a strong writer, but he also excelled in mathematics.  His knowledge of statistics was beyond the other students in the class.  He was very motivated to learn the material himself and consistently produced high quality work.  He took many liberal arts courses and was able to apply what he learned in those classes to his other courses as well as to his life.  I could only hope that I could have such a brilliant mind working for me.

                        Best Regards,

                                    Professor Dumbledore

Chapter 6

The subjects in chapter 6 will definitely prove to be useful for our writings this year.  I agree with the text when it says that we should be able to recognize the different parts of whatever it is that we are reading, and then be able to summarize it accurately.  Often times I think that I understand a reading, but when I try to explain it to myself I find that I can't.  What I mean by this is that it is important to be sure that you actually understand what you have just read, because many times, even if you think you understand something, you might actually not understand it.  

I also think it is a good idea to take notes on the text that you are reading.  It is true that taking notes helps you to remember what you have read better, and it is a good way to make sure that you understand the material fully.  I don't think it is necessary to write all over your book to get this done, like the article we read in class mentioned, but simply to take notes will be beneficial to you in the long run.

Contrasting Descriptions Activity

Favorable Description

            I am sitting on the grass outside of Ikenberry, my dorm building in the village.  It is a beautiful, sunny day and there is a light and gentle breeze, making the weather very pleasant.  There are people walking by, but since I appear to be doing work, no one bothers me much.  There are trees directly in front of me and to my right, some of them with leaves, and others with pine needles.  There is also a line of bushes to my right, which blocks my view of the parking lot that is located just beyond them.  It is getting near dinner time, so there are not too many cars on the road, only a couple have passed by so far.  There are two other people sitting in the grass to my left, and they are also getting some homework done.  I think all of the bugs must realize that I am doing work, for they are not bothering me either.

 

Unfavorable Description

            I am still sitting in the grass in front of Ikenberry with my back against the brick of the building.  To my left there is a window, which leads to a boy’s dorm room.  I know this because they have been talking loudly and making profane comments to each other.  Directly in front of me is the rusted lid of a sewer, and multiple white pipes that are sticking out of the ground, which probably have to do with the sewer system as well.  There are patches of grass that are missing, and only dry dirt there to replace them.  There are a couple pieces of trash to my right, which look like they are food wrappers of some sort.   Also, there are wooden poles at the front of the field which have a metal chain connecting them all together, the purpose of which is unclear to me.  The marching band rehearsal is just about to start behind the tennis courts to my right, but since they have yet to start, they are tinkering with their instruments and making sounds that do not make musical sense.

Reflection

            I actually really enjoyed doing this assignment because it got me to think differently.  I liked that I had to describe the same scene in two different ways because I’ve never done that before, and it was a good way to help me learn how to use angle of vision.  Since I wrote the positive description first, it was hard not to contradict myself in the negative description.  I would always want to say things like the weather was bad, but I couldn’t because the weather was actually very nice and I had already mentioned that in the positive description. 

            This activity has definitely helped me to write in differing angles of vision better.  I had never really thought about doing that before, and after learning about it, I thought I might try it in a paper or something.  I’m glad we did this activity before I tried using angle of vision on my own, because it was a very straightforward and clear way to learn how to use it.  What I mean by that is just that it was a pretty easy activity, describing what was around you, but it really helped me to learn how to use angle of vision.

Angle of Vision

I had never really thought about changing the angle of vision that I am writing in to better convey an idea, but I know see that it is a good strategy.  In a persuasive paper, it is important to convince the reader to believe the opinion of what you are writing about, and shifting the angle of vision is an excellent way to achieve this.  Changing the angle of vision forces the reader to only see the facts about your argument that you want them to see, while hiding the unfavorable ones.  It provides the reader with only one point of view, without allowing them to see any counter arguments, which might sway the reader to the other side of the argument.  

Changing the angle of vision seems like an easy way to persuade readers of a certain opinion, but it is not effective if it is not done well.  Even though it is not necessary to provide counter opinions when there is only one point of view, it is still important to write the arguments well and to make them compelling to the reader, so that they will want to read more.  It is also important to use as many specific details as possible, and to use language that has a positive connotation, so that the reader is never confused or uninterested.   

After learning about angle of vision, I found that , in a persuasive paper, changing the angle of vision is an effective way to make your audience see an issue or an event only the way that you want them to see it.

Get it Right: Privatize Executions believing/doubting exercise

Believing

Believing this article in a literal sense is obviously very hard to do.  I was at first appalled by what he was saying about capital punishment as a form of entertainment, but I quickly realized that he was using a sarcastic voice and writing a satirical article.  After that, it was easy to believe what he was saying and agree with the point he was trying to make, which is to portray capital punishment as a cruel and impractical way of dealing with a prisoner.  He is also trying to show that there is too much crime, namely murder, in the United States.  This is evident when he says that "we merely add to the number of untimely dead without diminishing the number of murders committed." He seems to want Americans to realize that the death penalty is not the best way to deal with prisoners and that maybe the "an eye for an eye" philosophy is not the most practical way to punish criminals.  I have always believed that a person never deserves to be killed, even if they committed murder themselves.  I think that every person deserves a second chance and no one should be forced to give that up.  Everyone has the right to redeem themselves for their actions and it is not fair to deny anyone of that privilege, no matter how awful the crime that they committed might be.  Also, it seems to me that spending life in prison, being forced to constantly contemplate what crimes they have committed, is a much harsher punishment then death row because it is unbelievably lonely and causes the person to have to think about what crime they have committed and feel guilty for it.

Doubting

Doubting this article will definitely be the difficult side of this for me. I can understand

why there are people who believe in the "an eye for an eye" philosophy because it makes

sense that someone gets a punishment that represents the crime that they themselves

committed. Also, since murder is such a serious crime, I can understand why someone

would want the person to suffer greatly, especially if the victim was someone close to 

them. I can also understand why it would seem like a less expensive alternative to life in 

prison, but, according to balancedpolitics.org, it actually ends up costing the American 

taxpayer more then keeping the prisoner in custody for life. I suppose advocates of the 

death penalty would also argue that keeping a prisoner in jail for life risks that person

being able to escape, and kill again, whereas capital punishment entirely eliminates that

possibility. The final reason that I can think of is that capital punishment might keep 

other criminals from committing murder for fear that they will be put on death row, but 

I don't see how that could really be tested or proven.

On Campus Dining Facilities Go Trayless

The article in the Breeze that I chose to critique was "D-Hall Helping Save Water" from the thursday edition.  This article argues that, since it is no longer necessary to wash the trays from certain dining facilities, JMU will be able to use less water, over 320,o00 gallons less.  The article states that this practice was tested on earth day last year, and since it received such positive feedback, they are planning on using it all throughout this year.  

I had been wondering for a while now if going trayless would actually help save water here at JMU, and after reading this article I definitely think it will.  The author was also asking herself this question, and has now provided others with reasons why it really will work.  Saving over 320,o00 gallons of water each semester is a great deal of water, and I think it is definitely an easy method of saving our water supply.  If only they would stop turning on the sprinklers while it is already raining!

In addition to saving water by going trayless in some of the dining facilities,  they have also installed new, front-loading wash machines in the majority of the dorm buildings.  This will save us water because these wash machines have a larger chamber for clothes, which will increase water efficiency since it will be possible for you to fit more clothing in one load.  These new washers also wring clothing dry more efficiently, which saves energy in the dryers as well.