Week Fourteen Post

Great, great posts last week regarding the health care system! I hope you learned a little bit more about argument as a result of watching that film!

In this post, please discuss your argument topic. What is your thesis? Who is your audience? How are you using ethos, pathos, and logos?

Why is "arguing" an important skill to learn?

Thanks!

Sicko Part II

Thank you very much for your previous posts! It seems that many of us do agree that our health system needs some type of change.

For this post, please analyze Michael Moore's argument. How does he use ethos, pathos, and logos? Does he use any fallacies of argument? Which ones?

Do you think his argument might've been more effective? How so? If you feel it was already effective, explain why.

Lastly, what do you learn about argument from watching this film?

Good work!

Sicko Part I

This week we will be watching the movie Sicko by Michael Moore. The movie discusses the health care systems in the United States, Canada, England, France, and Cuba.

What do you know about the health care system in the U.S.? What stories do you know personally or have you heard that relate to the health care system?

Use this space to share those stories. Also, how would you propose we "fix" the system here in the U.S.? Or, do you even think it needs "fixed"? Either way, explain your answer.

A couple more weeks to go!

Week Twelve Thought Question

Everyone made good comments about plagiarism--why it is important to avoid it, how to avoid it, and what types of penalties happen to those who plagiarize. Good work overall!

For our blog, please use this space to respond to "All's Not Well in the Land of the Lion King," "Football is a Sucker's Game," or our two articles about running at recess and the "dangers" of tag. Please keep your responses appropriate and focused on ideas. Be respectful and put into practice the techniques we discussed in our PowerPoint regarding the construction of arguments. Review the fallacies of argument. Review ethos, pathos, and logos.

Thanks!

Week Eleven Thought Question

Most people seem to go to the Internet for their sources. Be careful when using Internet sources. You have to be very certain to evaluate them for their credibility.

In this space, please discuss why you think plagiarism is such a problem these days? Why wasn't it as prevalent a few years ago? How can you avoid plagiarism? Why it is so important to avoid plagiarism? Please discuss why you would personally never try to use other people's ideas as your own.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to reading your replies! I'm also anxious to begin working on these final argument papers!

Week Ten Thought Question

This week we will begin discussing our last and final paper--yes, the eight page argument paper. One of the most important things we will be focusing on involves research. We will discuss where to look, what to look for, and how to avoid plagiarism. Learning how to avoid plagiarism will be absolutely essential.

Considering that you will be using outside sources for this assignment, where are some places where you might be able to find sources? What are some ways to evaluate sources for credibility? Give an example of a credible source and give an example of a source that is not credible. Be specific. Do not duplicate other people's answers. Explain how you know the sources are credible or not.

Thanks!

Week Nine Thought Question

Last week, we read "The Declaration of Independence" and Douglass' "What To The Slave Is The Fourth of July." We will continue our unit on comparing and contrasting by reading "Biotech Century" and "Enemies of Promise." In these two essays, the authors discuss many issues that relate to genetic manipulation--namely, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and how they are impacting the environment and us.

Quote one key line from at least two of these essays (and/or "Clan of the One-Breasted Women"). In other words, for example, you might have a quote from Jefferson and a quote from Douglass.

Respond to these quotes. Discuss how they relate or contrast to each other. Discuss whether or not you agree with the ideas presented in each quote. Rifkin and Bishop have very strong opinions about science and its advancements.

Thanks!