exam blog 2

1. For an entire semester I have had writing argumentively “beaten” into my head, so is there a posibility that our essay exam be based on that topic?
2. Is it possible to know everything you may be looking for ahead of time, i.e. pages and/or grading criteria? 
3. Certainly the exam is just an essay, right? It is not like we have multiple choice or fill in the blank. Im military, so I am used to not having a choice! Ive enjoyed the class; truly enjoyed. To be a morning class, awesome is an understatement.

exam blog 1

The text informed me that the most important thing about writing any essay for exam or an assignment essay, is that you have to comprehend the question. I have to apply a plan, method, or theory rather when writing – sort of like “thinking before I speak” when I am talking. That thought process is analyzing the question.I do not know why, but I tend to let how well others are doing on the test/exam a big concern: if the air is thick or thin and how long will it take to finish. People may not admit it, but most of the time, I feel like I could be doing something else more exciting. I am my worst critic. Therefore I stress over reading and understanding the text/exam. Here is something teachers do not seem to understand; when I get what it is I want to write, I cannot stop. The “limit” makes me mad I guess. All of this could be put into one word; expectations! I feel like I could say something profound in my writing, but if my teacher does not think so, I fail. Page 722 it states that if I panic when I take a test, I should make a deal with myself and re-read the question and block out the things that I do not have to consider

Fallacies

Who is your specific audience?

Blue colar; everyday common people.

Why did you choose them?

We do not really know about this alternative fuel that growing in our backyards and how it contributes to our businesses, economy, and environment.

How will your audience affect the argument you intend to present?

Drastically! Millions of dollars of federal funding are being used to produce the product. It is as though we are investing in something we have never heard of and when made will not know what it is doing. I know that if more people knew about the issue of greenhouse gases, fossil fuels, renewable fuels, global warming, etc we would voice our concern.

Which fallacies will you need to focus on keeping from your argument? Why are these (individually) important to consider in  your argument?

Hasty generalization, red herring, slippery slope and non sequitur because they are of the the easiest to mislead. While I am addressing an uneducated people of the issue, I must not go above thier heads with surveys, and statistics; just facts.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

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  • The air was fine to breathe long ago. Now that cars are on the road, the air is getting more harmful.

Hasty Generalization

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  • Brazil is totally oil independent using ethanol; it is the best way the U.S. also.

False Analogy

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  • We are to oil as water is to us.

Either-or Reasoning

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  • Either you are pro-choice ethanol or you are against saving our family farms in the U.S.

Ad Hominem (Against the Person)

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  • Ethanol is a scam Bush is falling for and putting off to cover/justify the war.

Appeals to False Authority and Bandwagon Appeals

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  • Voters for the war also vote for ethanol production.

Non Sequitur (”It does not follow”)

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  • If we do not use alternative fuels more, we will die.

Circular Reasoning

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  • Burning fossil fuels is dangerous to the atmoshpere because it polluts the air.

Red Herring

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  • You talk about ethanol extracting the land, but hear this on how E10 will support the economy.

Slippery Slope

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  • Now it is just corn that is making ethanol, opening the door for almost all crops to be removed from the food chain, ending eating to live.

Failing to accept the burden of proof

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  • This fuel alternative is the best way to reduce global warming!

Overreliance on authority

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  • There are people that spend thier lives studying the environment. They must know what they are talking about.

Oversimplification

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  • Ethanol is the new “gold rush.”

Research Prespectus: Ethanol vs. Oil

• overview of the argument
  • what issue are you examining and why is this issue important to you?

I am examining how corn kernel ethanol is and will further affect our economy verses petroleum oil for an energy source. It is extremely important to me because I am sick of gas prices fluctuating as often they do with no warning. It maybe more important to all of us in the since that fuel alternatives will grant our country independence from foreign petroleum oil.

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  • how recent is this argument? How easily can you find the materials needed for the research?

                   A fuel alternative first arrived in the twentieth century looking for ways to fuel our new automobiles, but is as recent as President Bush’s visit to
Brazil via the current production of ethanol. Materials are all over the nation newspapers, magazines, television and web.

• summary of the pro side of the argument
  • For those on the pro side, what arguments do they use (Why should you be “for” this)?

A few advantages (pro) to this are national independence, lower gas prices and higher gas mileage, cleaner fuels cuts pollution, lowers taxes and that money can be used to fund social security.

• summary of the con side of the argument
  • Why should you be “against” this argument? What does the research say?

                 A few disadvantages (con) to this are “corn” will be cut short of our food supply and is not strong enough support fuel economy alone.

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  • Are you pro or con? Why?

       I am pro because the good simply out weighs the bad.

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  • what you have learned in your research thus far?

That ethanol is not something new and can be made from more things than corn such as soybeans and wood chips.                provide a brief summation of the research you have completed.

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  • Have you found statistics?

Yes. Example: E85 means that 85% of ethanol is mixed with 15% gasoline that is sold at the gas pumps today nation wide. But to me that’s not enough.

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  • Have you found support for your side of the argument?

Yes in every renewable energy article or book out.

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  • Have you found counterarguments you can use?

                    Economically and politically weak is mainly the problem with this renewable fuel.

• What you still need to find in your research?

What is being done in current research/production and how or why it is not rapidly growing. 

• What statistics do you still need to find?

        % of amount needed to obtain economic change

• What testimonies would be helpful?

The businesses and factories that are already making this product would be helpful.

• Do you need to interview somebody to get an expert’s testimony?

          Maybe through a nicely worded email.

putting in “ddb”

To Tom Shakesspeare

Today I thought that I would do something that most people do not do in reference to a topic that they “hands down” do not like. In a post from last week you can see clearly that I do not like any of the solutions that have been suggested; and with such sarcasm. But then it dawned on me that you have to have a logical reason for your words, as should all men. Without being critical, which is hard not to be by the way, I like to think that you were not talking to me anyway or asking for my opinion but simply supporting the appetites or attitudes of those who live that life today. I would like to drag this out for about two pages, but all I want to say is I praise you for being that voice of so many people that literally and figuratively do not have it themselves. In so many ways I believe that you have given hope and raised questions in the best interest of the disabled and not the caregivers. With that I leave you a simple “I can only imagine”.

Summary

1. Summarize the article– 

pp1 Looks like someone has already taken sides on the issue pointing out that increasing growth is hard enough, so why stun or cease growth.

pp2 This implys that there is logic or benefits. But to whom?

pp3 Morally the parents are only wanting to make their lives easier. Keeping the childat home was ideal until they decided the end result would be too hard for them. We can not start disabiling peole for our liking.

pp4 Is this suppose to be justification for or why anyone would do these things?

pp5-6 Sarcastically speaking, if you are going to make it convient, go all the way.

pp7-8-9 Lets just do away with everthing, large or small, that annoys us “caregivers” about anyone.

pp10 For the convience of the parents, it is a great idea to make the changes since you will never really change the person on the inside.

pp11 Since the are so many other things we can do and are open to, why not do whats right?

pp12 But since we are playing with words, lets call convient rational and think about what this controversial innovation means for the future.

pp13 Nevertheless, this all comes down to being the right decision for THIS family; ethically. 

1. Judge the article as it relates to potential research on the Ashley X issue. Would this be something that you would consider appropriate for including in a researched essay? Why or why not?

If i have to judge or compare, it sounds like it is talking about the same exact thing and Ashley X. Though I do not really like the whole idea at all, there is little I can say because I have never been in such a situation. Sad has to be the only word I can muster up. This would be a wonderful topic for research. Why? IT IS REAL! There is little reason as to why people should not be imformed on what is going on around them. After the research, it can reach at least one family that needs to know all sorts of things deal with the unfortunate issue.

makin it easyER

Topic: Oil and Corn (ethanol)

 When I first started talking about oil and corn, I was thinking that maybe we could do away with mass production of crude-oil and use a cleaner burning, renewable alternative fuel. In previous post, you can easily observe that I had already taken sides to the issue/question. But that was based on my “dry-knowledge” if I must say. There are many things that I did not know. For example, I did not know that the production, distribution or use of ethanol had already begun years ago. (I guess that’s why its called research huh? lol) So when I start to considering a target I think about, as suggested, who is affected. Yes in terms of pollution everything is affected but I am talking within the US. I do know that the US would love independence from foreign suppliers, so that would involve our businessmen, and politicians; economy and representatives. That is it; as of now I will try and research how the production of a cleaner burning fuel affects/pertains/delves within politics… Now that is interesting.

“its all dirt”

 Are you writing on an issue that is actually controversial?

The issue at hand is running out of natural resources. it is my understanding that the U.S. would love to depend on no one for anything and lately that dependency has been oil, causing gas prices to skyrocket. Seemingly there is as solution lying within the means of the soil, harvest or hands of the farmers. I have to do furthur research, but for what I already know is corn, with the right technology, serves the same functionsas oil and gas to our cars and more; the result or product is called ethanol. On that note, many questions have swept the economy i.e. what it means for business, cost, disburstment, effects to the enviornment, etc.

Are you conscious of both sides of the argument?

I know now that one major problem with oil is its a natural resource, meaning that it can not be renewed and we only have what earth has offered. So should we run out, all that we have and use that rely on oil and gas will suffer. Like other problems that have come up about natural resources we have found a few ways to preserve them, i.e. the building of dams was hurting sea life by mass declining of water levels and using it to power generators that with very high powers fueled our cities with electricity. The solution to building dams came with solar and wind powered turbines that power the generators. Now we are trying to answer the same questions about “oil”. Not all pros and cons of corn (ethanol) have been addressed but we do need an alternative. Is it corn though? Again I have to do furthur research because I am sure this issue goes farther than how much and how soon we need it. For example, the debators of the issue are our political representatives and major businessmen. When you have to pull out the “big guns” to settle anything, it should get pretty messy.

Is this a topic that needs to be expanded or narrowed so that you are not burdened with covering information in your essay?

If I must say so myself, I do believe that my topic may need to be narrowed, but really depends on what target question/thesis I will ask myself to address this entire research as suggested in the text for homework. That is where I will need a little time.

breaking the racial barrier…. still?

How do they make you feel about common beliefs held by others? Have they made you aware of any racially motivated thoughts or actions you have had yourself? The way it makes me feel is in my title: this topic is old and VEXING. Beliefs by others.. I could care less. Until one makes truly getting to know that of which he/she wants to judge, assume or speculate will almost always conclude falsly. When you hear or think Jews, you first think religion because the culture is very big on its religion. But I honestly do not know what would make someone think and publish the idea that their wealth is solely a religious act or fortune. Maybe I misunderstood the article, but the stereotype that there is a Jewish way to get rich is stupid. These men and woman or just trying to make a honest living like anyone else. Do not think I am exempt from making assumptions of other cultures, ethnics, or single persons, but I promise you I have always made it my priority to know the facts first or leave the matter alone all together.

What is the difference, as you see it now, between xenophobia and ethnocentrism? I could be wrong, but I do not see a difference in the two terms other than their spelling and meaning. Okay, nows not the time for a joke, but can you really have one without the other? To know that you hate or simply fear a culture; xenophoia, something would have had to have happened for you to feel that your race or another is better or superior; ethnocentrism.

Do you know anybody who has any of these beliefs? What (speculate if you need) led them to these beliefs? Were they raised this way? Was there a life experience that changed their attitude? No I do not know anyone with these beliefs; not alive at least because they lost their lives yearning for something as over-ratted as equality.

Have you ever had an encounter with somebody who shared these views? Are you comfortable sharing this encounter? If so please do. If not, we will not delve into the experience. Yes I have encountered someone with the views. No I do not want to share the experience. My opinion on this entire subject I am afraid would affect my grade. But I will say I do not hate the man whom which I encountered the experience, but I do hate the mere influence he is boldly driven by. No one is born that hateful.

knowin’ who’s who

The word culture is literally defining by itself. To be a member of a culture has an enormous influence on who you are. For example, a culture, particular societies or communities that value the same beliefs, morals, values, ethics, and more under structure will breed ideas of life from birth. On the other hand, individualism has added a small change to that theory.

Admitting I know very little about culture, I will state I belong to the american culture. Yes there are many types today; i.e. African American, Asian American, Native American, Latin American etc., but I will not sell myself short by being one part. I like to think I am, in a comical way, “all-american”. But if you allow me to be honest I will state I truly do not know what makes me american. At the age of 21, I have to admit that until today, I have taken my life, in a cultural since, for granted. I would like to know what to be an american really is myself.

I know the instructions clearly state to list cultures outside my own, but I really would love to know the basis of the society in which I live. Therefore, number one on my list is: 1: American ( if there is no exception then 1: is Roman) 2: Egytian 3: Latin and Hispanic 4: Nigerian 5: Japanese

1 Romans- I already know they are some if not the best architecturers ever. And they were once the most dominate empire of the world.

2 Egytians- I know a little about their religion in a biblical since and the way they ruled as a kingdom.

3 Latins- I know or should I say like their music culture and their strong family beliefs.

4 Nigerian- I know macosa is one of many many forms of dance.

5 Japanese- I know are very humble and passionate about education. Though I was stationed 2 years in Japan, I know very little but it was amazing to watch and listen. Thus my interest.