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!

Week Eight Thought Question

Thanks for your posts last week! I especially appreciate the efforts of those who have been posting week to week. Remember that each post is worth 1% of your final grade. Blogging is a skill that you may need in other classes and in your careers. It also should increase your awareness of your audience and rhetorical situation. My hopes are that you will use these posts to become more conscious of your spelling, grammar and mechanics, and reasoning. These posts provide vital practice in writing.

This week's question:

Last week we read essays by Jimmy Carter and Elie Wiesel regarding the war in Iraq. This week we will read "Guys vs. Men" by Dave Barry and two famous documents by Thomas Jefferson and Frederick Douglass.

Use this post to compare and contrast any of these readings. Find 2-3 things they share and 2-3 places where they differ.

Remember that posts should be a minimum of five sentences to receive credit.

Thanks!

Week Seven Thought Question

Thank you for posting! We had some really strong responses to our movie! Many people did an excellent job of discussing the fallacies used in the movie and whether or not fallacies can be used in legitimate arguments!

This week we will begin working on comparing and contrasting. Why is knowing how to effectively compare and contrast an important skill? Informally compare and contrast two things (essays, narratives, or movie) we have read/watched in class.

Remember to proofread closely. Also, you must post a minimum of five sentences. I am considering giving extra credit to people who post above the minimum. Some of these replies are excellent and deserve to be rewarded accordingly.

Thank You For Smoking Part II

Many of you said that "good" arguments do not have to be ethical. If an argument is structured well, then it qualifies as "good." Some people, though, did feel that any argument should be an ethical one. And, I was impressed that a few of you questioned what was even meant by "ethics." I've been very pleased with the level of critical thinking that so many of you are exhibiting.

Here is our second question regarding our movie. Nick Naylor could be said to use fallacies of argument. Refer to our list of fallacies on my.dmacc to help you with your post. Identify some of the fallacies that are used in the movie (they don't have to be used just by Nick). Discuss whether or not fallacies belong to the "dark side" of argument, or if fallacies can be used in legitimate arguments. Define these terms however you will.

Lastly, in a nutshell, what did you learn about rhetoric and argument from this movie? What might you use to help you in your rhetorical analysis papers?

Again, proofread closely. The spelling in some of these posts is making me question whether or not to give credit to posts with blatantly poor spelling and grammar.

Overall, great work!

Thank You For Smoking

Last week, we had some truly impressive responses to the thought question given to us by Chazz. I really appreciate the way everyone replied to the question honestly. Thanks for being so candid and open. I'm anxious to read your argument papers at the end of the semester!

This week, you will be posting to two separate blogs regarding the movie Thank You For Smoking. In the movie, our main character, Nick Naylor, earns his living by "spinning" the truth about tobacco and its effects on smokers.

What are some techniques that Naylor uses to make his arguments? Are his arguments "ethical"? Can you have a "good" argument that is also "unethical"? Should arguments strive to be ethical? What do you think? Use specific examples and dialogue from the movie to answer this question.

You will be receiving a second question on Thursday.

Enjoy!

Week Five Thought Question

I was so impressed by the quality of posts last week! Excellent job! This makes me very excited for when you begin to write opinion papers later this semester!

This week's thought question is brought to us by Chazz:

In "A Letter to America," Margaret Atwood used the tone of a scolding mother. Joel and I had a discussion about this on our Facebook wall--although our discussions mainly centered around America's role as "world police." "Inside the Home" raised another question for me. Rather than trying to make other countries "function properly," shouldn't our health care be improved before we worry about others'? Couldn't the money spent on foreign affairs go towards bettering our nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living programs? What is your opinion on how we seemingly put off our own needs in order to deal with other countries' needs first? Even more, what might Atwood, Frawley, and Shalit say? What is some of the rhetoric you may have heard concerning this issue?

Thank you, Chazz! Again, remember to post a minimum of five sentences and proofread closely! I'm anxious to read your responses!

Week Four Thought Question

Thanks again for your high quality posts last week! I really enjoyed reading each one. Some of the posts were incredibly insightful. Remember that each post is worth 1% of your final grade. Please proofread closely and feel free to write more than just the minimum :)

This week's thought question comes from Chris Brown, and it is excellent! Thanks, Chris!

Here is the question:

Both of the stories we read in class on Thursday talked about America’s shortcomings. Sojourner opens a window into a past filled with racism, sexism, and disconnection. Margaret Atwood, in “A Letter to America,” informs us of our current mistakes in environmental, economical, and foreign relation issues.
Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence: “…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” What do you see today that would go against this statement, if anything? What issues do you think Sojourner would stand behind today if she was alive? Would she and Atwood agree on issues currently facing this country?
Constitution Day is next week. Consider how our nation has progressed over the years and where we have room for improvement. Is there ever an “expiration date” on a strong argument? Can a writer’s argument be as relevant today as it was 100 years ago? Why or why not? How so?

Week Three Thought Question

Thank you all for your replies to the Week Two thought question! Many of you raised excellent points and responded well to each other. I also really liked some of the questions that you asked. Remember to proofread your posts carefully. Check for spelling and grammar. I noticed several posts with errors.

Now, onto this week’s question! After having read “The Good Immigrant Student” by Bich Minh Nguyen and “No Name Woman” by Maxine Hong Kingston, what are some common themes that you noticed in both essays? Cite any outside source information used. Would Kingston and Nguyen be in agreement in regards to the notions of assimilation and preservation? Explain. Lastly, which of these essays did you enjoy reading more? Why?

I’m anxious to read your thoughts!

Week Two Thought Question

Hello:

To get the ball rolling for next week, I want us to consider some important questions currently confronting the world of writing. First of all, do you think universities should teach composition or writing? Many universities (including DMACC) teach website design, brochures, PowerPoint, and other visual media under the guise that "composition" can take many forms. However, there are people who feel this leads to a form of illiteracy since the focus is not on writing. Therefore, the assumption is that spelling, grammar and mechanics, and students' vocabularies suffer as a result.

What do you think universities and colleges should be teaching students--composition or writing?

Here is another question to consider: With the rise of text-messaging, instant-messaging, and forums such as Facebook that tend to encourage abbreviated language, what do you think the result will be for our written communication in the future? Do you think that people will care about spelling and grammar (commas, semi-colons, all that stuff you ignore when messaging in any form :) in five to ten years? Why or why not?

I'm looking forward to your replies!

Introductions

Please use this space to introduce yourselves to one another. Remember to use proper capitalization, grammar and mechanics, and spelling. Please be respectful and appropriate. Any posts deemed inappropriate will be deleted.

Enjoy!