Allyn and Bacon Question Blog

1) Write out the issue your argument will address. Try phrasing your issue in several different ways, perhaps as a yes/no question and as an open-ended question. Try making the question broader, then narrower. Finally, frame the question in the way that most appeals to you. For the classical argument paper my arguments will be the communicating through technology would be that it’s a creative, easy, and fast way of talking to people. You can talk to people around the world any time of the day, which would be hard without technology because obviously you can’t be two places at once. Another argument I would make is the safety issues. With a cell phone, you can call a help line or the police if you are in a sticky situation, people aren’t always around and having a way of contacting people would be very beneficial. Also, technology is a great way to potentially meet or stay in contact with people. Internet programs like Facebook or Myspace allow you to talk and see people on the internet. Even though some might think that this could potentially be dangerous, there are many ways to protect yourself and avoid harmful situations. Questions like: Will technology harm the social interaction between people? Is technology a good thing that could have positive effects on people and their lives? In what ways could technology increase or decrease the safety of society? I think a question that would make the best paper and have the best arguments would be a question like: In what ways could technology improve the lives of society as well as the individual?

4) What personal interest do you have in this issue? How does the issue affect you? Why do you care about it? I picked the topic that deals with technology and whether or not it affects the way people communicate with each other. Most of the articles that are provided on the Blackboard Website deal mostly with communicating through technology and relationships. I think that this issue has to do with most teenagers who have a cell phone. People can have conversations through texting, email or internet, all of which doesn’t require face to face communication. In some situations this could be a good thing, like if it’s an awkward topic or unfamiliar person, but it can also get people into trouble because reading something and hearing it in person could get totally different reactions from people. You can make relationships with people and not even know who they are, which could be dangerous because the anonymous person could be a stalker or child rapist and you wouldn’t even know it. This topic is of interest of any teenager or anyone who uses technology regularly.

6) Imagine all the counterarguments your audience might make. Summarize the main arguments against your position and then free write your response to each of the counterarguments. What are the flaws in the alternative points of view? Most people who use the internet or text a lot would probably agree that it’s a good, easy way to communicate. However there are some people who may believe that using technology constantly might not be a good thing. Potential problems that could be caused from the constant use of technology could result in forgetting formal English writing and it could also negatively influence the need for personal interaction or interest in it. If a person constantly is texting or communicating with people through technology then the person could lose their social skills and it could be hard for them to have face to face conversations with people. Addressing the other potential problem with technology, the English language could be greatly affected. Using abbreviations or using phrases like “lol” or “nvm” overwhelm Facebook and cell phones and could affect how people write in a formal way. Even though these are valid concerns, I don’t think that the English language is in danger; people still know how to write properly and know how to communicate with people without abbreviating every word. I think the only time we would need to worry was if we started using cell phones or computers as the way to teach kids in school, then the English language and peoples social skills might be in jeopardy.

Bullshit Blog

The show "Bullshit" focused on different ways to recycle and whether or not it is really neccessary. There were many different points Penn and Teller, the hosts of the show, brought up. topics like cutting down trees, no room for landfills, environmental issues due to recycling and if recycling is really worth it. Even though their views were very bias and somewhat rude, they did make some good points. For instance, the issues about cutting down "virgin" trees and making paper instead of using recyled paper. Penn and Teller talked about how when you recycle things it takes so much more time, money and resources to do that then simply cutting down trees and planting new ones. They also brought up the fact that some people believe that there is no more room for trash and the current landfills are going to run out of space. Responding to that fact, Penn and Teller showed a map of the united states and showed all of the space there was for landfills. In conclusion, i thought that the show "Bullshit" may have been a little over the top but it was entertaining to watch and the hosts brought up some very good points.

Annotated Bib. Questions

What is the research question you’ve been finding sources to try and answer?

The question I am trying to answer is: What are the different views about abortion and what are the pros and cons of both? This question will allow me to investigate both sides of the topic and then be able to determine why the rules for abortion are the way they are now.

Why are you personally interested in this topic?

A lot of my family members and well as my friends have very strong views about abortion, whether it is because of political or religious reasons, but I don’t really have a strict opinion. This is a controversial topic but it is interesting me how different people view this issue and it think it will be beneficial to learn how and why people think this way.

Why should general readers be interested in this topic?

The topic of abortion is still being discussed and fought about so I think that it is a good topic to investigate. Being able to know all of the different views and the general information about the topic will help me get more informed about abortion and I’m sure a lot of people who would be reading the paper would get helpful new information as well and could possible help them make a decision about the topic as well.

What do you know about this topic?

• Abortion an operation that “aborts” a child from a mother.
• Is very controversial due to political or religious views.
• Most of the time people disagree with it because people can’t decide when the baby actually becomes a baby.
• Many different ways to get an abortion.
• Must be 18 to get an abortion without a parent’s consent
• In the state of Ohio, the price range ranges from very expensive to lesser amounts depending where you go (places like Planned Parenthood are cheaper).

What I do NOT know about this topic?

• All of the ways to get an abortion.
• The different reasons not to get on due to religious views.
• Whether or not a certain places will and certain places wont.
• What the law is about abortion as of now.
• When the regulations are about when you can and can’t get an abortion.

Summary/ Strong Response Questions

Where do I agree with the author?

I somewhat agree with the article "Chick Flick Paradox" by Natalia Thompson, when she talks about how most chick flicks don't have any basis in reality. Yes, most movies would probably never actually happen the way they would in the movies. Most chick flicks are too exaggerated and boasting the fact that their characters found love.

Where do I disagree with the author?

Even though I agreed with the fact that most chick flicks are very over exaggerated and probably never would actually happen, I don't agree that they are pointless and should be under the criticism of feminist writers. I personally love watching chick flick movies, whether it is with a boyfriend or just the girls. There is no harm in watching people fall in love or movie about family or friendship. Honestly, I think feminist writers are too adsorbed in trying to judge every piece of entertainment that they have no time to actually enjoy what they are watching or are too busy to actually experience anything that goes on in the chick flicks that they are watching.

Who is the intended audience, what is the writer's purpose, how well does the text suit its particular audience and purpose?

Natalia Thompson most likely aimed her article, "Chick Flick Paradox" at other feminist writers or any other person who would agree with her point of view. Thompson was trying to give her two senses about how chick flick movies are just a way for the box offices to make money and how they have no basis in reality. Most feminist writers would probably agree with her article, and most likely any boy or girl who genuinely doesn't like watching chick flicks. Even if a boy liked watching them, they would agree because chick flicks are girlie and not good for a man to watch. But because these few groups are who the article was intended for I suppose that her article would do a fine job of the text suiting the audience and its purpose.

How well does the author persuade readers that he/she is knowledgeable, reliable, credible, and trustworthy?

I think that the author, Natalia Thompson, did a very good job at convincing the readers that she was credible. If I wasn't told that she was still in high school I would have had a hard time figuring out she was as young as she is. Her writing was filled with her opinion but also opinions of others which made her writing reliable and trustworthy. However, because she is still in high school, she probably wouldn't be as credible as some other feminist writers who have already made a name for themselves and who are older.

Practice Summary

"The Chick Flick Paradox" written by Natalia Thompson discusses her discomfort with "chick flicks" and the way women are portrayed in them. She expresses that she believes that romantic movies are "uncomfortably stereotypical portrayals of gender, race and sexuality detract from their otherwise rosy glow." Thompson then goes on to say that chick flicks aren't made to address real issues with women but to make more money for the box offices. Thompson, being a feminist writer, believes that chick flicks are better than "dick flicks" because they don't focus on violence and sexist views. However, she does not believe that watching something that doesn't have any place in reality is a waste of time. Natalia sums up her article by saying that movies should focus on the real lives of women not romantic, rosy realities that most people will never see.

**sorry i was very sick last night and i tried to go to bed early and feel better in the morning but it got worse as the night went on. i apologize and i will try to get to class tomorrow!

Allyn and Bacon Blog

Chapter One- Thinking Rhetorically About Good Writing

One thing that I found interesting was on page six when it talks about the three major concepts to good writing. The first concept is "Good writing can vary from closed to open forms of prose." The second concept is "Good writers pose questions about their subject matter," and the third concept reads, “Good writers write for a purpose to an audience within a genre." I picked this part because in all of education, this is the first time I have seen these concepts before. I have heard about asking questions while you’re writing but the other two I was completely unfamiliar with and didn't really understand them.

Another thing I found interesting about this chapter is the chart on page 16 and 17. I am a visual learner so I definitely liked seeing the questions generated for the writing in front of me. When I was reading the paragraphs before the charts I was a little confused about what the writer was talking about. However, once I saw the chart I easily understood the concept. There are also many other charts which helped me understand the other concepts mentioned in the chapter.

Chapter Two- Thinking Rhetorically About Your Subject Matter

On page 29 I saw the heading "Professors value "wallowing in complexity."" I was taught this concept by my English teacher in High School. In High School this concept was not my favorite, probably because it was drilled into my head for almost the whole year. She really taught us to go into high level thinking and push ourselves to think outside of our comfort zone. Even though it wasn’t my favorite topic in school it made me a better writer and I’m glad I know what the book is talking about, it makes me feel like it wasn’t a complete waste of time learning it in school.

From page 32 to 38, I liked reading about all of the different ways to focus your writing. Sometimes a get frustrated writing because I don’t know how to start a paper or focus all of my thoughts. These strategies were different ways to help me focus my ideas and use creative ways to write. All of them are stress-free and somewhat fun to do, like the idea mapping or the believing and doubting game. I would consider using these different strategies to start and focus my own writing.