1. An arguable statement is the basis of an argumentative thesis. An arguable statement is a statement that can be refuted, yet an argumentative thesis includes the claim and the reasoning behind that claim.
2. The four ways a writers establishes credibility are by demonstrating knowledge, establishing common ground, demonstrating fairness, and using visuals that make ethical appeals. The author demonstrates knowledge by providing different types of credible and reliable information to back up their argument. In an argument, the author should establish common ground by providing both sides of the argument to show a “starting point of agreement” (EW 82) and take their side of the argument from there on. Another reason why the author should recognize the counterargument and give it some credit is to demonstrate fairness; therefore making the reader believe that the author has taken both sides into consideration. Lastly, an author can create credibility by using visuals that make ethical appeals, meaning that they create images for themselves (like a seal) to brand themselves.
3. Bullet List:
- Establishing common ground and demonstrating fairness are two things that will definitely help me on this essay. Before reading this, I wasn’t too sure if I should include both sides, but now I know that it’s beneficial for my argument to provide both sides of the story. It’s not convenient to just demonstrate one side; that just shows you’re an ignorant writer who’s trying to overcast the other side.
- Establishing causes and effects will help me on my essay because showing causes settles groundwork for an argument. Also, this is very effective when the effect is something we’d like to change, giving the author ground to work on for arguing.
- To organize an argument is an important part of the essay writing process. There’s the classical system and the Toulmin system of organizing an argumentative essay. Having some sort of organization makes the essay seem more better thought through, more formal, and less scatter-brained.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Essay Topic
Thesis:
Even though many see motocross as a very dangerous sport, I will show how it's safer than most contact sports.
I will start off by introducing the sport of motocross. I'll state rules and regulations and the importance of training and practicing. I'll compare it throughout the essay to contact sports, such as football, that have a higher percentage of injuries per year. I'll compare not only the percentage of injuries, but the requirements for the sports, the movements, actions, etc.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Journal #6
AB pg. 608
1. All three writers use the article in very different ways. The first writers uses the article in a more analytical manner, dissecting the causes of this violence by summarizing the article. The second writer supports the control of arms and writes to persuade. The last writer uses McGrath’s article to show how humans constantly change how crime is defined. The first writer quoted and summarized because McGrath’s essay works as a strong point in his/her essay. The second writer paraphrased enough so the text in McGrath’s essay would fit his/her thesis. The third writer did a little bit of both, since McGrath’s article served as a point for his/her essay.
2. The first writer would probably have more specific notes, jotting down points, highlighting possible examples, and what not from McGrath’s article. The second writer would probably raise questions from McGrath’s points. The third writer would do some of both, since he/she stands more in the middle ground.
3. All of them have a thesis and all of them back up the information they’re handing you with research and strong, clear points. They use the information they’re given from McGrath’s essay correctly and throughout their essays they respond to their thesis.
1. All three writers use the article in very different ways. The first writers uses the article in a more analytical manner, dissecting the causes of this violence by summarizing the article. The second writer supports the control of arms and writes to persuade. The last writer uses McGrath’s article to show how humans constantly change how crime is defined. The first writer quoted and summarized because McGrath’s essay works as a strong point in his/her essay. The second writer paraphrased enough so the text in McGrath’s essay would fit his/her thesis. The third writer did a little bit of both, since McGrath’s article served as a point for his/her essay.
2. The first writer would probably have more specific notes, jotting down points, highlighting possible examples, and what not from McGrath’s article. The second writer would probably raise questions from McGrath’s points. The third writer would do some of both, since he/she stands more in the middle ground.
3. All of them have a thesis and all of them back up the information they’re handing you with research and strong, clear points. They use the information they’re given from McGrath’s essay correctly and throughout their essays they respond to their thesis.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Journal Number 5
AB pg. 241
Journal #5
1. She uses the surprising-reversal strategy by first presenting the problem and what she thought the solution would be, then she shows facts proving that what she thought the solution was, in reality, isn’t so great.
Shannon poses the question whether hydrogen fuel-cell cars are the solution to global warming and the scarcity of oil.
The common or popular answer would be yes; hydrogen fuel-cell cars will save the world.
The surprising answer is no, they aren’t as great as thought.
2. Shannon uses a handful of different sources to prove the popular thought wrong, and to support the idea that hydrogen fuel-cell cars are defective and still harmful, emphasizing that they’re also still a work in progress.
3. I believe her essay is more informative than persuasive because she presents a problem, the popular solution, and refutes it with facts. She doesn’t apply her personal opinion to try to persuade the reader.
Journal #5
1. She uses the surprising-reversal strategy by first presenting the problem and what she thought the solution would be, then she shows facts proving that what she thought the solution was, in reality, isn’t so great.
Shannon poses the question whether hydrogen fuel-cell cars are the solution to global warming and the scarcity of oil.
The common or popular answer would be yes; hydrogen fuel-cell cars will save the world.
The surprising answer is no, they aren’t as great as thought.
2. Shannon uses a handful of different sources to prove the popular thought wrong, and to support the idea that hydrogen fuel-cell cars are defective and still harmful, emphasizing that they’re also still a work in progress.
3. I believe her essay is more informative than persuasive because she presents a problem, the popular solution, and refutes it with facts. She doesn’t apply her personal opinion to try to persuade the reader.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Journal #4
1) My eye is first drawn to her face; her eyes, the fact that there’s a butterfly just sitting in her nose. My attention is drawn there first because it’s unusual, so I want to know why she has that butterfly there, why she’s looking so serious. Unlike the second ad, my attention is first drawn to her pose, she seems victorious and happy, she has a wide smile and she’s flexing her right arm, holding her head high. My attention is drawn there because she’s in the middle, in the spotlight, plus I want to know why she seems so triumphant.
2) There’s absolutely nothing in the background – just a plain dark background that contrasts with the light/bright colors she brings, sending all the attention to her and to the text in the ad. In the second ad there’s just a bright light gray background, which contrasts with the color of her skin, her dress, and the text, giving the same effect the first background does.
3) The ad does have text speaking of changing –metamorphosis- from a child to a young adult, which explains the butterfly in her nose, saying that milk helps one grow. The colors that stand out are the purple in the butterfly (Causing it to stand out), her white shirt matching her white milk moustache. Most of the text is black, contrasting with her clothes, but complementing the background color. In the second ad, the pink/red of her dress stands out, her skin color stands out, and the black of the text, all of these contrast with the background.
4) The model featured for the ad is a young girl called Amanda Bynes, an American child actress (she used to have a show on Nickelodeon called The Amanda Show), she’s blonde and has green eyes. Even though she is upper-class she looks like the average teen in this ad. The audience meant for this ad probably is for young adults and teenagers since her show aired when kids from my generation were younger, making us familiar with her character. Also this ad could also be meant for parents, since this ad talks about growing up and changing for the best; parents always want the best for their kids. The second ad features a Hispanic-looking woman who –apparently- was a contestant in a show called “The Biggest Loser” (a show in which contestants compete to see who loses the most weight), supporting the text that indicates that milk helps one be thin and stay thin. This woman, Ali, represents an average woman who lost weight, letting her case apply to any average woman who feels the need to lose some pounds.
5) Since Amanda Bynes is a child star, people are more likely to believe that she’s grown in the sense that the ad stuggests (“grow beautiful inside and out”), especially when one is able to compare her persona now to back when she had “The Amanda Show.” She looks serious in this ad, while in her show she used to be a very comical and goofy character; she looks straight into the camera, looking slightly confident yet unsure (like most teens feel while growing up), and she looks mature. Her hair looks a little disheveled, yet it’s a look that a lot of young women have adapter, giving the audience the idea that Amanda is “just like you.” In the second ad, Ali looks like an average woman, short black hair, slightly tan skin, and average height – yet she looks triumphant. On the bottom right corner of the ad one is able to see a picture of her before “The Biggest Loser” contest, then the text on the side supports that milk indeed did help her lose weight and get fit. Weight is a big problem with today’s society, and especially women because they feel the pressure to look like every other model looks, and more and more women fall into this; now in this ad you have Ali who looks great and claims that milk helped her get there, which is very appealing to the masses.
6) This ad has a pretty blonde girl, yet she doesn’t look silly or goofy like people play out blondes to be (dumb blondes), she looks mature and grown-up. I found this ad online, but I can be found mostly on magazines such a Cosmogirl, etc. It’s intended for young audiences who are in the process of growing up. The second ad features an average woman, again using the “just like you” factor. She looks happy because she’s lost a large amount of weight and wants you to know that you can too because of milk. Again, I found this ad online but I can be found mostly on health related magazines. This ad is definitely for people who want a slimmer figure.
7) This ad is about how milk helped her grow up and mature, so they show her in a way in which she looks feminine, yet not very sexual. She looks grown-up and focused as a young woman. The ad speaks of being beautiful, which is something most women will like to achieve, or become. The second ad is about how milk helped her slim down in a healthy manner while building muscle as well. She’s wearing a dress and heels, showing she’s a feminine woman in her early 30’s, yet she’s flexing her right arm, proving that she has muscle and the protein in milked helped her achieve so.
8) This ad doesn’t really show anything about sexuality; although you could say that from her pose and glare, she seems secure and not promiscuous at all. The second ad doesn’t show anything about sexuality either, it just shows that she’s her own persona, and she’s proud of herself for getting where she is. She’s in a dress and heels, showing some femininity, but no promiscuity or sexual innuendo at all.
9) The creators of this ad are using Amanda Bynes as an example of a girl who’s growing into womanhood by putting the butterfly there (Exemplifying metamorphosis) and mentioning her old TV sitcom, “The Amanda Show.” On the second ad, the creators are using Ali as an example of a woman who’s living the healthy lifestyle, eating healthy food, and drinking healthy drinks, and using the picture of her before “The Biggest Loser” as an example of how milk can help you get fit and healthy.
10) The intended audience is young girls who are going through the same phase, and parents who want their teenage girls to grow up right. She is looking directly to the camera (to the audience) almost as if she’s talking to you, telling you her story, which has been written in the text right under her. The intended audience for the second ad is women who are seeking for hope, that they can lose weight, and even men too (because women aren’t the only ones with weight problems!). She looks victorious, smiling, posing strongly, telling you that if she could do it, you can too!
2) There’s absolutely nothing in the background – just a plain dark background that contrasts with the light/bright colors she brings, sending all the attention to her and to the text in the ad. In the second ad there’s just a bright light gray background, which contrasts with the color of her skin, her dress, and the text, giving the same effect the first background does.
3) The ad does have text speaking of changing –metamorphosis- from a child to a young adult, which explains the butterfly in her nose, saying that milk helps one grow. The colors that stand out are the purple in the butterfly (Causing it to stand out), her white shirt matching her white milk moustache. Most of the text is black, contrasting with her clothes, but complementing the background color. In the second ad, the pink/red of her dress stands out, her skin color stands out, and the black of the text, all of these contrast with the background.
4) The model featured for the ad is a young girl called Amanda Bynes, an American child actress (she used to have a show on Nickelodeon called The Amanda Show), she’s blonde and has green eyes. Even though she is upper-class she looks like the average teen in this ad. The audience meant for this ad probably is for young adults and teenagers since her show aired when kids from my generation were younger, making us familiar with her character. Also this ad could also be meant for parents, since this ad talks about growing up and changing for the best; parents always want the best for their kids. The second ad features a Hispanic-looking woman who –apparently- was a contestant in a show called “The Biggest Loser” (a show in which contestants compete to see who loses the most weight), supporting the text that indicates that milk helps one be thin and stay thin. This woman, Ali, represents an average woman who lost weight, letting her case apply to any average woman who feels the need to lose some pounds.
5) Since Amanda Bynes is a child star, people are more likely to believe that she’s grown in the sense that the ad stuggests (“grow beautiful inside and out”), especially when one is able to compare her persona now to back when she had “The Amanda Show.” She looks serious in this ad, while in her show she used to be a very comical and goofy character; she looks straight into the camera, looking slightly confident yet unsure (like most teens feel while growing up), and she looks mature. Her hair looks a little disheveled, yet it’s a look that a lot of young women have adapter, giving the audience the idea that Amanda is “just like you.” In the second ad, Ali looks like an average woman, short black hair, slightly tan skin, and average height – yet she looks triumphant. On the bottom right corner of the ad one is able to see a picture of her before “The Biggest Loser” contest, then the text on the side supports that milk indeed did help her lose weight and get fit. Weight is a big problem with today’s society, and especially women because they feel the pressure to look like every other model looks, and more and more women fall into this; now in this ad you have Ali who looks great and claims that milk helped her get there, which is very appealing to the masses.
6) This ad has a pretty blonde girl, yet she doesn’t look silly or goofy like people play out blondes to be (dumb blondes), she looks mature and grown-up. I found this ad online, but I can be found mostly on magazines such a Cosmogirl, etc. It’s intended for young audiences who are in the process of growing up. The second ad features an average woman, again using the “just like you” factor. She looks happy because she’s lost a large amount of weight and wants you to know that you can too because of milk. Again, I found this ad online but I can be found mostly on health related magazines. This ad is definitely for people who want a slimmer figure.
7) This ad is about how milk helped her grow up and mature, so they show her in a way in which she looks feminine, yet not very sexual. She looks grown-up and focused as a young woman. The ad speaks of being beautiful, which is something most women will like to achieve, or become. The second ad is about how milk helped her slim down in a healthy manner while building muscle as well. She’s wearing a dress and heels, showing she’s a feminine woman in her early 30’s, yet she’s flexing her right arm, proving that she has muscle and the protein in milked helped her achieve so.
8) This ad doesn’t really show anything about sexuality; although you could say that from her pose and glare, she seems secure and not promiscuous at all. The second ad doesn’t show anything about sexuality either, it just shows that she’s her own persona, and she’s proud of herself for getting where she is. She’s in a dress and heels, showing some femininity, but no promiscuity or sexual innuendo at all.
9) The creators of this ad are using Amanda Bynes as an example of a girl who’s growing into womanhood by putting the butterfly there (Exemplifying metamorphosis) and mentioning her old TV sitcom, “The Amanda Show.” On the second ad, the creators are using Ali as an example of a woman who’s living the healthy lifestyle, eating healthy food, and drinking healthy drinks, and using the picture of her before “The Biggest Loser” as an example of how milk can help you get fit and healthy.
10) The intended audience is young girls who are going through the same phase, and parents who want their teenage girls to grow up right. She is looking directly to the camera (to the audience) almost as if she’s talking to you, telling you her story, which has been written in the text right under her. The intended audience for the second ad is women who are seeking for hope, that they can lose weight, and even men too (because women aren’t the only ones with weight problems!). She looks victorious, smiling, posing strongly, telling you that if she could do it, you can too!
Journal #3
1.The two accounts differ in that Stanley’s first emotion is fear (“we see a sight that sends the blood tingling through every nerve and fibre of the body…”), while Mojimba first expresses a lot of excitement (“…we will go to meet our brother and escort him into the village with rejoicing!”), but after they figure there’s a war, they feel a lot of fear as well.
2.What both accounts have in common is that there was violence, weapons, and war. The scenery was the same from both, and they both felt afraid and defensive.
3. Both use figurative language throughout their respective account, yet Stanley’s over statement of meaning from the beginning was negative, while Mojimba began as positive and excited, then became afraid. They both shape the story to fit their personal point of view by omitting the possible reasons to the events occurring and details unknown to the reader; both of them made sure that the reader felt what they felt during those events.
4. They both judged each other before even meeting each other. Stanley sensed that the natives were primitive and began shooting as soon as they were in sight. On the other side, Mojimba was excited to meet the white man and was expecting to give him a grand tour of the village, and even a feast.
5. It happened in the Congo; as British expeditionary, Henry Morton Stanley, made his way down the Congo he encountered a native tribe led by Mojimba. Soon enough, both groups became employed in battle, creating chaos. Stanley and his crew directed fire at the natives, while Mojimba’s tribe decided to retreat and hide. As a result of the fray, the village was torn down, destroyed, and both accounts suffered a great amount.
6. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and everyone grew up developing different morals and values; so no, you can’t write an article on the Congo without it being biased at [at least] a minimum.
2.What both accounts have in common is that there was violence, weapons, and war. The scenery was the same from both, and they both felt afraid and defensive.
3. Both use figurative language throughout their respective account, yet Stanley’s over statement of meaning from the beginning was negative, while Mojimba began as positive and excited, then became afraid. They both shape the story to fit their personal point of view by omitting the possible reasons to the events occurring and details unknown to the reader; both of them made sure that the reader felt what they felt during those events.
4. They both judged each other before even meeting each other. Stanley sensed that the natives were primitive and began shooting as soon as they were in sight. On the other side, Mojimba was excited to meet the white man and was expecting to give him a grand tour of the village, and even a feast.
5. It happened in the Congo; as British expeditionary, Henry Morton Stanley, made his way down the Congo he encountered a native tribe led by Mojimba. Soon enough, both groups became employed in battle, creating chaos. Stanley and his crew directed fire at the natives, while Mojimba’s tribe decided to retreat and hide. As a result of the fray, the village was torn down, destroyed, and both accounts suffered a great amount.
6. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and everyone grew up developing different morals and values; so no, you can’t write an article on the Congo without it being biased at [at least] a minimum.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
AB For Writing and Discussion, pg. 106
A Good Ol' Break-Up Story.
1. How might you begin your story?
I’d begin with a brief description of my chaotic relationship with him, just so the reader can grasp how our relationship was. Then I’d move on to the afternoon I called him to talk about our relationship, ending up in us “taking a break.”
2. What events and scenes might you include in your story?
I’ll try to include all major events that show how our relationship/break-up went from bad to worse. I’ll add scenes that send my point across, yet remain entertaining for the reader.
3. How might you arrange them?
I’ll arrange them by chronological order, and they’ll [probably] be separated by brief explanations and/or settings.
4. What would be the climax of your story (the pivotal moment or scene)?
The climax of my story would be when I realize that I don’t need him and he’s just a bother. Although it was very harsh to him (and it only made his attitude towards me get worse), this helped me keep my head up and go on without him dragging me down.
5. What insights or meaning might you want your story to suggest?
I want my story to show/suggest a lot of things. First off, that everyone is born alone, no one needs anyone else. Sure, love is a great thing, but sometimes people confuse comfort, codependency, or obsession with love, and that’s not right. I know I’m young, but I think through this ridiculous true story I could get the audience to understand that they need to respect themselves and love themselves more than anyone else; likely they should be treated back with respect.
1. How might you begin your story?
I’d begin with a brief description of my chaotic relationship with him, just so the reader can grasp how our relationship was. Then I’d move on to the afternoon I called him to talk about our relationship, ending up in us “taking a break.”
2. What events and scenes might you include in your story?
I’ll try to include all major events that show how our relationship/break-up went from bad to worse. I’ll add scenes that send my point across, yet remain entertaining for the reader.
3. How might you arrange them?
I’ll arrange them by chronological order, and they’ll [probably] be separated by brief explanations and/or settings.
4. What would be the climax of your story (the pivotal moment or scene)?
The climax of my story would be when I realize that I don’t need him and he’s just a bother. Although it was very harsh to him (and it only made his attitude towards me get worse), this helped me keep my head up and go on without him dragging me down.
5. What insights or meaning might you want your story to suggest?
I want my story to show/suggest a lot of things. First off, that everyone is born alone, no one needs anyone else. Sure, love is a great thing, but sometimes people confuse comfort, codependency, or obsession with love, and that’s not right. I know I’m young, but I think through this ridiculous true story I could get the audience to understand that they need to respect themselves and love themselves more than anyone else; likely they should be treated back with respect.
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