October Blogs
01. October. 2009
In previous postings and in-class exercises we've discussed your writing process, now I want you to describe your research process. What type of sources do you use when you have a paper that requires research? Do you use the Internet? Periodicals/Magazines? Scholarly journals? Books? Documentaries or other forms of media? A combination of everything? Does the type of research you do depend on the assignment? What do you think is the benefit of a certain type of source (ex. is the Internet beneficial because you can access a lot of smaller bits of information quickly? Or is a book more beneficial because you have more in-depth information? What about other types of sources)?
Next, I want you to look at the following two websites: http://www.gatt.org/ & http://www.wto.org/. Which website do you think is the real "World Trade Organization" website? Explain and justify your answer using specific examples.
My research process differs from my writing process in many ways. After coming up with my research topic, I write down my own personal list of objectives I want to address in my research paper. I search for information through many different types of sources. For example, I will use books that pertain to my subject, credible Internet sites, periodicals, and the encyclopedia. I rarely use magazine articles due to the fact that they never seem beneficial to me. I try to get as much information I possibly can while composing a research paper. The type of research does depend on the type of assignment I do. If I am doing a simple homework assignment and one of the questions requires a little bit of research I will use the Internet. On the other hand, if I am composing a research paper I will then use the sources I mentioned above. I believe books and periodicals are the most beneficial types of resources. Books and periodicals provide concrete information. They also give you more in-depth information than you can find in a magazine or the Internet. Whereas, the Internet is not that great of a source to use, because it is hard to distinguish a credible site from a non-credible site. Magazines are the least beneficial to me because, magazines rarely give the reader a substantial amount of information. Magazines usually recap the information of the story that is already known. They rarely give details that the reader did not already know. I think the www.wto.org website is the actual World Trade Organization website. The set-up of the site seemed like an actual site. Whereas, the other website seemed very opinionated.
In previous postings and in-class exercises we've discussed your writing process, now I want you to describe your research process. What type of sources do you use when you have a paper that requires research? Do you use the Internet? Periodicals/Magazines? Scholarly journals? Books? Documentaries or other forms of media? A combination of everything? Does the type of research you do depend on the assignment? What do you think is the benefit of a certain type of source (ex. is the Internet beneficial because you can access a lot of smaller bits of information quickly? Or is a book more beneficial because you have more in-depth information? What about other types of sources)?
Next, I want you to look at the following two websites: http://www.gatt.org/ & http://www.wto.org/. Which website do you think is the real "World Trade Organization" website? Explain and justify your answer using specific examples.
My research process differs from my writing process in many ways. After coming up with my research topic, I write down my own personal list of objectives I want to address in my research paper. I search for information through many different types of sources. For example, I will use books that pertain to my subject, credible Internet sites, periodicals, and the encyclopedia. I rarely use magazine articles due to the fact that they never seem beneficial to me. I try to get as much information I possibly can while composing a research paper. The type of research does depend on the type of assignment I do. If I am doing a simple homework assignment and one of the questions requires a little bit of research I will use the Internet. On the other hand, if I am composing a research paper I will then use the sources I mentioned above. I believe books and periodicals are the most beneficial types of resources. Books and periodicals provide concrete information. They also give you more in-depth information than you can find in a magazine or the Internet. Whereas, the Internet is not that great of a source to use, because it is hard to distinguish a credible site from a non-credible site. Magazines are the least beneficial to me because, magazines rarely give the reader a substantial amount of information. Magazines usually recap the information of the story that is already known. They rarely give details that the reader did not already know. I think the www.wto.org website is the actual World Trade Organization website. The set-up of the site seemed like an actual site. Whereas, the other website seemed very opinionated.
8. October. 2009
All of the readings for Thursday make various arguments for or against the institution of marriage (Coontz's "The Future of Marriage" pgs. 344 - 352, Hymowitz's "The New Girl Order" pgs. 375 - 385, and Noer and Corcoran's"Careers and Marriage" - Available Online). What are the differences between these authors' arguments? Which of these pieces do you find to be the most compelling and why? Lastly, in your opinion, what seems to be the greatest reason for a marriage's success? How about a marriage's failure?
Coontz's "The Future of Marriage", Hymowitz's "The New Girl Order", and Noer's and Corcoran's "Careers and Marriage" all make arguments regarding the institution of marriage. The author's of these stories vary in opinion on how marriage really is. The spectrum for this argument goes from married women that have a career is destined to be the downfall in a marriage to men and women should both embrace an egalitarian marriage. The author's discuss the institution of marriage from the very beginning to what is known as the modern day institution of marriage. Noer argues that women with good careers should not marry because the relationship is doomed to fail. Whereas, Corcoran, a career woman herself, argues that marriage has nothing to do with the woman's career but how well the couple negotiate and compliment each other. I find Corcoran's argue against Noer the most compelling out of all three arguments. Corcoran's argument was the most compelling because she has personal experience with being a married woman/mother with a solid and sturdy career. Her response to Noer seems to be more grounded. Noer's argument suggest that independent women should be alone. Whereas, Corcoran embraces the fact that this is the twenty-first century and women are not forced to stay in the home all day being a midwife. Marriage is about compromise and excepting the person for who they are and what they do, and that is the main point Corcoran is trying to make. The greatest reason for a successful marriage in my opinion is the amount of patience and acceptance the couple have for one another. I plan on getting married in the future and staying married to that one person for the rest of my life, and I cannot see myself being with someone I do not accept or have patience to deal with when times get hard. The greatest reason for failure in marriage is the lack of self-giving. When married, the couple gives up the "I" for an "us". In my opinion I believe many people forget that. People get married, but they are sometimes not willing to sacrifice or give of themselves.
All of the readings for Thursday make various arguments for or against the institution of marriage (Coontz's "The Future of Marriage" pgs. 344 - 352, Hymowitz's "The New Girl Order" pgs. 375 - 385, and Noer and Corcoran's"Careers and Marriage" - Available Online). What are the differences between these authors' arguments? Which of these pieces do you find to be the most compelling and why? Lastly, in your opinion, what seems to be the greatest reason for a marriage's success? How about a marriage's failure?
Coontz's "The Future of Marriage", Hymowitz's "The New Girl Order", and Noer's and Corcoran's "Careers and Marriage" all make arguments regarding the institution of marriage. The author's of these stories vary in opinion on how marriage really is. The spectrum for this argument goes from married women that have a career is destined to be the downfall in a marriage to men and women should both embrace an egalitarian marriage. The author's discuss the institution of marriage from the very beginning to what is known as the modern day institution of marriage. Noer argues that women with good careers should not marry because the relationship is doomed to fail. Whereas, Corcoran, a career woman herself, argues that marriage has nothing to do with the woman's career but how well the couple negotiate and compliment each other. I find Corcoran's argue against Noer the most compelling out of all three arguments. Corcoran's argument was the most compelling because she has personal experience with being a married woman/mother with a solid and sturdy career. Her response to Noer seems to be more grounded. Noer's argument suggest that independent women should be alone. Whereas, Corcoran embraces the fact that this is the twenty-first century and women are not forced to stay in the home all day being a midwife. Marriage is about compromise and excepting the person for who they are and what they do, and that is the main point Corcoran is trying to make. The greatest reason for a successful marriage in my opinion is the amount of patience and acceptance the couple have for one another. I plan on getting married in the future and staying married to that one person for the rest of my life, and I cannot see myself being with someone I do not accept or have patience to deal with when times get hard. The greatest reason for failure in marriage is the lack of self-giving. When married, the couple gives up the "I" for an "us". In my opinion I believe many people forget that. People get married, but they are sometimes not willing to sacrifice or give of themselves.
15. October. 2009
Very simple for this week: Locate two sources, read them, and post an "annotation" for both. What does an annotation include? 1). The citation (i.e. how the source would appear on a works cited page), 2). a brief summary of the source (for example, what type of source is it -- website, journal, magazine, book, etc. -- the argument or information contained within the source, how the author got their information, some interesting findings, etc.), and 3). a brief explanation of how you will use the source in your rhetorical analysis.
Bittar, Christine. " Clairol's Herbal Ecstasy". Academic Search Premier.
14 October 2009. 01 May 2000. .
This is a magazine article source posted on a website. This article discusses the different tactics Clairol uses to persuade women to buy more of Herbal Essences products. It discusses his plan and expanding the franchise to fulfill womanly needs from hair care to body wash supplies. This is an interesting article because the author uses a lot of facts to support her argument. This piece will be of great usage for my rhetorical essay. The article contains information on how the ads are constructed to appeal to the prospect costumer and how Clairol expands Herbal Essences to get more money.
"Tousled Hair- NEW Tousle Me Softly hairstyling products". www.Herbal Essences.com.
14 October 2009. September 2009. .
This is the actual Herbal Essences website. I figured this would be useful for my rhetoric paper, because it will enable me to compare and contrast the strategy used in the ads. This website also gives me the chance to go into what the product Herbal Essences is promoting, which looking at a magazine advertisement cannot do. The website provides reasons on why the new tousle me softly products should be bought.
Very simple for this week: Locate two sources, read them, and post an "annotation" for both. What does an annotation include? 1). The citation (i.e. how the source would appear on a works cited page), 2). a brief summary of the source (for example, what type of source is it -- website, journal, magazine, book, etc. -- the argument or information contained within the source, how the author got their information, some interesting findings, etc.), and 3). a brief explanation of how you will use the source in your rhetorical analysis.
Bittar, Christine. " Clairol's Herbal Ecstasy". Academic Search Premier.
14 October 2009. 01 May 2000. .
This is a magazine article source posted on a website. This article discusses the different tactics Clairol uses to persuade women to buy more of Herbal Essences products. It discusses his plan and expanding the franchise to fulfill womanly needs from hair care to body wash supplies. This is an interesting article because the author uses a lot of facts to support her argument. This piece will be of great usage for my rhetorical essay. The article contains information on how the ads are constructed to appeal to the prospect costumer and how Clairol expands Herbal Essences to get more money.
"Tousled Hair- NEW Tousle Me Softly hairstyling products". www.Herbal Essences.com.
14 October 2009. September 2009. .
This is the actual Herbal Essences website. I figured this would be useful for my rhetoric paper, because it will enable me to compare and contrast the strategy used in the ads. This website also gives me the chance to go into what the product Herbal Essences is promoting, which looking at a magazine advertisement cannot do. The website provides reasons on why the new tousle me softly products should be bought.
22. October. 2009
Locate specific passages in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" where King appeals to logos (hint: What reasons does he give to justify being in Birmingham? How does he support each reason?). Where does King appeal to ethos (his own or the ethos of others) and is his ethos compromised considering the conditions under which he was writing? Where does he appeal to the emotions of the audience and who do you believe is his intended audience? EXPLAIN each of your selections/responses.
One specific passage in Dr. King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" that appeals to logos is, when he tells the clergymen that he is in Birmingham because injustice is there. He uses biblical references to explain how his help is needed in Birmingham. King appeals to the emotions of the audience by putting the audience in his shoes. He writes the inner most thoughts of the African- American person. He explains how it feels to be reminded on a day to day bases that you are not welcome just because of the color of your skin. King uses a great amount of emotion to justify his reasons for being in Birmingham.
Locate specific passages in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" where King appeals to logos (hint: What reasons does he give to justify being in Birmingham? How does he support each reason?). Where does King appeal to ethos (his own or the ethos of others) and is his ethos compromised considering the conditions under which he was writing? Where does he appeal to the emotions of the audience and who do you believe is his intended audience? EXPLAIN each of your selections/responses.
One specific passage in Dr. King Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" that appeals to logos is, when he tells the clergymen that he is in Birmingham because injustice is there. He uses biblical references to explain how his help is needed in Birmingham. King appeals to the emotions of the audience by putting the audience in his shoes. He writes the inner most thoughts of the African- American person. He explains how it feels to be reminded on a day to day bases that you are not welcome just because of the color of your skin. King uses a great amount of emotion to justify his reasons for being in Birmingham.
29. October. 2009
It occurred to me today that it might be a valuable resource for each of you to interview people for your Inventing Arguments Essay or toconstruct and administer your own surveys. With that in mind, here's what I'd like you to do for this week's blog posting:
1. Write and post three "open-ended" interview questions that you would like to ask somebody about your topic and also briefly discuss (two or three sentences for each question) why you think/feel each question is important. Remember, "open-ended" questions are questions that don't have a simple "yes or no" answer and often ask the person being interviewed what they feel about something and why (ex. What are your thoughts on standardized testing being used for college entrance/placement and what do you think is a viable alternative to standardized testing in public schools?)
2. Write and post five "close-ended" survey questions that you would like to ask a large group about your topic and also briefly discuss (two or three sentences for each question) why you think/feel each question is important. "Close-ended" questions are often simple "yes or no" questions (ex. Are you a smoker?) or questions that provide some type of demographic information (ex. Are you a freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate student, etc.?)
What is your definition of the "N" word? This question is important because a number of people feel as it there is only one definition of the "N" word. With many people having different ideas on what the "N" word really is only proves that the word itself should not be used by anyone. day life. What are some experiences you have had regarding the "N" word? This question is important because experience is a necessary in every day life. If there are no experiences, there is no need for change to be made. In order to change something negative, one must personally be affected by the situation. Instead of using the "N" word, what world would you use as it's replacement? This question is important because it will open up people's eyes and show them that other words that are not as "sensitive" can be used. There is more to the English language than using vulgar terms to describe people. Do you or have you ever used the "N" word? Asking this question will show people how they have had some part in using the negative connotation of the "N" word. If this question is asked, people that do use the "N" word will realized how they have to point the finger at themselves and change their language before they can try and change others. Does the "N" word offend you? This question allows the person to put themselves in other people's shoes, mainly the shoes of the African-American race. Are you an African- American male/female that uses the "N" word when talking to members of the same race? This question allows African- Americans to realize that if we as a race use the word among each other, other people outside of our race will think we are now comfortable with the word as a whole. Are you an African- American that uses the "N" word, but is offended if people of other races use the word? This question should show African -Americans should not be offended if other people outside of the black race use the word if they are using it themselves. Hopefully this question will change the attitude of African- Americans that use the word and get offended if someone else uses it, and they will stop using the word period. Do you know the actual definition of the "N" word, and it's history. This question is important because it will engage people to think about the actual meaning of the "N" word. It will allow people to do research and realize that the "N" word is not just a term used to describe an African-American person.
It occurred to me today that it might be a valuable resource for each of you to interview people for your Inventing Arguments Essay or toconstruct and administer your own surveys. With that in mind, here's what I'd like you to do for this week's blog posting:
1. Write and post three "open-ended" interview questions that you would like to ask somebody about your topic and also briefly discuss (two or three sentences for each question) why you think/feel each question is important. Remember, "open-ended" questions are questions that don't have a simple "yes or no" answer and often ask the person being interviewed what they feel about something and why (ex. What are your thoughts on standardized testing being used for college entrance/placement and what do you think is a viable alternative to standardized testing in public schools?)
2. Write and post five "close-ended" survey questions that you would like to ask a large group about your topic and also briefly discuss (two or three sentences for each question) why you think/feel each question is important. "Close-ended" questions are often simple "yes or no" questions (ex. Are you a smoker?) or questions that provide some type of demographic information (ex. Are you a freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate student, etc.?)
What is your definition of the "N" word? This question is important because a number of people feel as it there is only one definition of the "N" word. With many people having different ideas on what the "N" word really is only proves that the word itself should not be used by anyone. day life. What are some experiences you have had regarding the "N" word? This question is important because experience is a necessary in every day life. If there are no experiences, there is no need for change to be made. In order to change something negative, one must personally be affected by the situation. Instead of using the "N" word, what world would you use as it's replacement? This question is important because it will open up people's eyes and show them that other words that are not as "sensitive" can be used. There is more to the English language than using vulgar terms to describe people. Do you or have you ever used the "N" word? Asking this question will show people how they have had some part in using the negative connotation of the "N" word. If this question is asked, people that do use the "N" word will realized how they have to point the finger at themselves and change their language before they can try and change others. Does the "N" word offend you? This question allows the person to put themselves in other people's shoes, mainly the shoes of the African-American race. Are you an African- American male/female that uses the "N" word when talking to members of the same race? This question allows African- Americans to realize that if we as a race use the word among each other, other people outside of our race will think we are now comfortable with the word as a whole. Are you an African- American that uses the "N" word, but is offended if people of other races use the word? This question should show African -Americans should not be offended if other people outside of the black race use the word if they are using it themselves. Hopefully this question will change the attitude of African- Americans that use the word and get offended if someone else uses it, and they will stop using the word period. Do you know the actual definition of the "N" word, and it's history. This question is important because it will engage people to think about the actual meaning of the "N" word. It will allow people to do research and realize that the "N" word is not just a term used to describe an African-American person.