My position paper is on the benefits of nuclear power for electrical generation. I will be comparing nuclear to coal power and also renewable sources for power like wind and solar.
Works Cited
Capiello, Dina. “Capitol’s Coal Power Plant Dirty Problem” Press Enterprise
02 Mar. 2009: A4
This is article illustrates some of the reasons why politicians prefer burning coal over other sources for electricity in the U.S. I will show in my paper that cost is one of the main reasons we are not using more nuclear.
Lorenzini, Paul. “A second look at nuclear power: by overlooking nuclear power in the quest for clean energy, we are condemning ourselves to a future of increased fossil fuel use.” Issues in science and technology 21.3 (Spring 2005) p31 (8)
This article shows the percentages of how much of our power is generated by what sources, coal, nuclear, wind ect. By quoting from this article I will show how nuclear should be replacing coal as our main source of power.
Wolfe, Bertram David. “Why environmentalists should promote nuclear energy.”
Issues in science and technology v12.n4 (Spring 1996) pp55 (6)
This article shows some of the drawbacks of renewable power sources such as wind and solar. I will explain how wind and solar at this time can not keep up with current demand let alone future demand for electricity.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
i have decided to write my position paper on whether or not hate groups should be given freedom of speech. I believe that, with all morals set aside, that these groups should be allowed to freely express their thoughts and views openly, because that is what this great nation was founded on.
1. Group Defamation and Freedom of Speech: The Relationship between Language and Violence
Book by Monroe H. Freedman, Eric M. Freedman; Greenwood Press, 1995
this source has alot to do with group defamation and the affects of hate speech.
2. Freedom of Speech: Words Are Not Deeds Book by Harry M. Bracken; Praeger Publishers, 1994
this source talks in general about freedom of speech and and the favoring forces that are trying to silence offensive speech.
3. Banning Hate Speech and the Sticks and Stones Defense
Journal article by Larry Alexander; Constitutional Commentary, Vol. 13, 1996
this article is on how it is wrong to silence the freedom of hate groups to speak freely in america, and how people are trying to quiet them and make them feel inferior.
1. Group Defamation and Freedom of Speech: The Relationship between Language and Violence
Book by Monroe H. Freedman, Eric M. Freedman; Greenwood Press, 1995
this source has alot to do with group defamation and the affects of hate speech.
2. Freedom of Speech: Words Are Not Deeds Book by Harry M. Bracken; Praeger Publishers, 1994
this source talks in general about freedom of speech and and the favoring forces that are trying to silence offensive speech.
3. Banning Hate Speech and the Sticks and Stones Defense
Journal article by Larry Alexander; Constitutional Commentary, Vol. 13, 1996
this article is on how it is wrong to silence the freedom of hate groups to speak freely in america, and how people are trying to quiet them and make them feel inferior.
Global Heating
My topic for the Argument Position paper will be global warming. As my sarcastic title suggests, I will be opposing the issue of it being a real danger that it is said to be. I will use all of opposing views and facts, beliefs of, and scientific sources.
http://www.edf.org/ is a source caught rather in the middle. It explains how daily routines, such as driving, are contributors to our global emission's. It is a group of environmentalists trying to raise awareness of global warming by scientific research.
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org is a site that is actively trying to make a difference and stop global warming. It is a non-political site by citizens trying to save the earth. Their spotlight supporter is Hillary Clinton as view on the information page. On the learning section of the page it gives a slight rundown on what global warming is...but it is more so trying to get you to sign up.
http://dels.nas.edu/climatechange/ is a site that gives a more thorough run down of global warming and lets you decide for yourself whether you would like to buy into global warming or not. It explains that the world is going through a climate change...as it should every so often and that although our human emissions do play a role...it is so small that it pondered why it is worth mentioning.
I'd like to find more scholarly sources and not just Hillary trying to get me to going a club so I'm working on it...but they are all supposed to be .org...
http://www.edf.org/ is a source caught rather in the middle. It explains how daily routines, such as driving, are contributors to our global emission's. It is a group of environmentalists trying to raise awareness of global warming by scientific research.
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org is a site that is actively trying to make a difference and stop global warming. It is a non-political site by citizens trying to save the earth. Their spotlight supporter is Hillary Clinton as view on the information page. On the learning section of the page it gives a slight rundown on what global warming is...but it is more so trying to get you to sign up.
http://dels.nas.edu/climatechange/ is a site that gives a more thorough run down of global warming and lets you decide for yourself whether you would like to buy into global warming or not. It explains that the world is going through a climate change...as it should every so often and that although our human emissions do play a role...it is so small that it pondered why it is worth mentioning.
I'd like to find more scholarly sources and not just Hillary trying to get me to going a club so I'm working on it...but they are all supposed to be .org...
Sources for Position Paper
Right now I am stuck finding scholarly sources for my paper. I am trying to right a position paper on the pros and cons of teenagers being one sport athletes in their high school careers. I was an athlete that only played one sport and now regrets my decision to do so.
I have had several talks with my parents and other adults that have said the same thing. I can easily get interviews and such with adults that have their views of the single sport athlete, however I am running into a little bit of a brick wall with the scholarly sources. Right now I am trying to find research and statistics and occurances that people have found with teens limiting themselves to one sport, such as injuries due to overuse because this is something I found common while playing softball. My scholarly sources will be posted once I have finally found the information I am looking for.
I have had several talks with my parents and other adults that have said the same thing. I can easily get interviews and such with adults that have their views of the single sport athlete, however I am running into a little bit of a brick wall with the scholarly sources. Right now I am trying to find research and statistics and occurances that people have found with teens limiting themselves to one sport, such as injuries due to overuse because this is something I found common while playing softball. My scholarly sources will be posted once I have finally found the information I am looking for.
Oppressed mentally and physically by way of recidivism in the golden state
My position paper will argue that recidivism is not out of control as is suggested and thought by tax payers and paper pushers, but that it is in fact controlled-- and intended to mentally and physically oppress its "catch.'' Prison just happens to be a huge business that pretends to have not known that its demand would rise and sit atop education.
I intend to use a press release from Governor Schwarzenegger that will prove what the guy is really about. I also will introduce the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations take on this matter. I will revisit some of Angela Davis' thoughts as well as my own personal experience. The personal anecdote will be brief. However, it will tie up any loose ends and add a dose of truth. Statistics will also be provided, but will not dominate this paper.
I intend to use a press release from Governor Schwarzenegger that will prove what the guy is really about. I also will introduce the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations take on this matter. I will revisit some of Angela Davis' thoughts as well as my own personal experience. The personal anecdote will be brief. However, it will tie up any loose ends and add a dose of truth. Statistics will also be provided, but will not dominate this paper.
Choose a side
The position paper I am writing on is prescription drug addiction vs severe pain.
One of the resources I am using is an article titled "Prescription Oxycontin Abuse Among Patients Entering Addiction Treatment". Basically the article shows research done by several doctors who prescribed medication to patients who had to then enter into drug treatment facilities because of abuse.
I chose an opposing view point titled "The Media Have Exaggerated the Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis". This author states that prescription drug abuse is not as bad as the media likes to tell people it is, and do not offer accurate information on these drugs and their benefits.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services conducted a survey and found a decrease in teen drug abuse of illegal "street drugs" and an increase in prescription drug abuse in young adults.
All of these articles have usable information for me to however, I would like to find others stating what the government and doctors are attempting to do about the new found love of addicts in prescription drug abuse.
One of the resources I am using is an article titled "Prescription Oxycontin Abuse Among Patients Entering Addiction Treatment". Basically the article shows research done by several doctors who prescribed medication to patients who had to then enter into drug treatment facilities because of abuse.
I chose an opposing view point titled "The Media Have Exaggerated the Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis". This author states that prescription drug abuse is not as bad as the media likes to tell people it is, and do not offer accurate information on these drugs and their benefits.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services conducted a survey and found a decrease in teen drug abuse of illegal "street drugs" and an increase in prescription drug abuse in young adults.
All of these articles have usable information for me to however, I would like to find others stating what the government and doctors are attempting to do about the new found love of addicts in prescription drug abuse.
sources for position paper
My position paper is on technology vs. humanity. I believe that technology is slowly causing mankind to forget how to be human.
The sources I am using are three opposing viewpoints, one written by Fukuyama, one is based on nature vs. technology, and one is based on the fact that technology causes humans to be less literate. I also found one other scholarly journal on life sciences to prove my point.
I realize that this doesn't really help much because I am not giving the actual sources. That is because I do not know how to open these articles on my laptop to get the URL's so I have to get them off the computer at school. I have all my sources saved under favorites I just can't open them!
Anyway I still wanted credit for this blog so I figured I would at least give ya somethin to work with. I do have my sources though so don't worry! I just gotta print them out off the schools computer cuz I can open them there. I'm a little computer illiterate... Kinda ironic concidering my topic, right?
The sources I am using are three opposing viewpoints, one written by Fukuyama, one is based on nature vs. technology, and one is based on the fact that technology causes humans to be less literate. I also found one other scholarly journal on life sciences to prove my point.
I realize that this doesn't really help much because I am not giving the actual sources. That is because I do not know how to open these articles on my laptop to get the URL's so I have to get them off the computer at school. I have all my sources saved under favorites I just can't open them!
Anyway I still wanted credit for this blog so I figured I would at least give ya somethin to work with. I do have my sources though so don't worry! I just gotta print them out off the schools computer cuz I can open them there. I'm a little computer illiterate... Kinda ironic concidering my topic, right?
position paper sources.
In my position paper, I am researching on why video games are bad for children. I have come across numerous resources stating that the violence in video games will influence children to similar terrible behaviors.
Here’s one source: In the article, “Violent Video Games Can Increase Aggression,” Karen E. Dill, Ph.D. and psychologists Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D., states that their studies reveal that young men who are exposed to violent games are more likely to be habitually aggressive and are more vulnerable to the aggression enhancing effects. Also their other study reveals that even a brief exposure to violent video games can temporarily increase aggressive behavior in all types of participants.
http://www.apa.org/releases/videogames.html
Another source: In an article called, “Video Games are Bad for Children, Study finds” it concluded that in another study, of more than 600 ordinary adolescence ranging from age 13 and 14, found that teachers noticed those who played violent games were more aggressive, likely to have more arguments with authority figures and more prone to fights with other students.
http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html
A third source: A new study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation explains that children age 0 till 6 are exposed to video games more than they should. They could have used that time wisely such as to play outside and interact with other children their age. They could have also used that time to do more educated and productive activities such as reading or being read to.
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia102803nr.cfm
Here’s one source: In the article, “Violent Video Games Can Increase Aggression,” Karen E. Dill, Ph.D. and psychologists Craig A. Anderson, Ph.D., states that their studies reveal that young men who are exposed to violent games are more likely to be habitually aggressive and are more vulnerable to the aggression enhancing effects. Also their other study reveals that even a brief exposure to violent video games can temporarily increase aggressive behavior in all types of participants.
http://www.apa.org/releases/videogames.html
Another source: In an article called, “Video Games are Bad for Children, Study finds” it concluded that in another study, of more than 600 ordinary adolescence ranging from age 13 and 14, found that teachers noticed those who played violent games were more aggressive, likely to have more arguments with authority figures and more prone to fights with other students.
http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html
A third source: A new study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation explains that children age 0 till 6 are exposed to video games more than they should. They could have used that time wisely such as to play outside and interact with other children their age. They could have also used that time to do more educated and productive activities such as reading or being read to.
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia102803nr.cfm
Annotated Bibliography
My research paper will be about why Iran willing to build new relationship with US. and how they are seeking ways to return to the negotiating table and ease a nearly 30-year-old diplomatic standoff. Following are three sources i will be using
1. ISRAEL FINDS ITSELF BETWEEN OLD IRAN, NEW U.S
In this article Israles head of Foreign affairs committe Knesset's thinks that "Obama's overtures to Tehran are tactical -- to justify an eventual tightening of sanctions against Iran, and even possibly military action, to prevent Iran going nuclear, not an illusory strategy that Iran can be talked into abandoning its nuclear quest."
Global Information Network. New York: Apr 14, 2009.
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
14 Apr. 2009 http46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
2. Antinuclear Groups Propose Three-Site Weapons Complex
In this article The National Nuclear Security Administration claim that it needs better computer codes to maintain existing warheads is The NNSA's claim that it needs better computer codes to maintain existing warheads is significance to Iran's claim that it needs domestic uranium enrichment capability for nuclear powerto Iran's claim that it needs domestic uranium enrichment capability for nuclear power.
Defense Daily. Potomac: Apr 15, 2009. Vol. 242, Iss. 10
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
15 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com.proxylib.msjc.edu
3. IRAN: NUCLEAR ISSUE PRESENTS A HURDLE FOR U.S. TO CLEAR
In this article Ali Khamenei did not make direct reference to Iran's nuclear program. His focus on the economic and political pressures that have been imposed on Iran in recent years and the direct reference to what he called Washington's policy of "threat and inducement" were meant to make clear that, unless Obama finds a way to change the general direction of past policies and settle the nuclear issue in a mutually satisfactory way, Tehran will continue to ignore demands placed on it and go about its business as it had during the presidency of George W. Bush
Global Information Network. New York: Apr 8, 2009
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
13 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com.proxylib.msjc.edu/
1. ISRAEL FINDS ITSELF BETWEEN OLD IRAN, NEW U.S
In this article Israles head of Foreign affairs committe Knesset's thinks that "Obama's overtures to Tehran are tactical -- to justify an eventual tightening of sanctions against Iran, and even possibly military action, to prevent Iran going nuclear, not an illusory strategy that Iran can be talked into abandoning its nuclear quest."
Global Information Network. New York: Apr 14, 2009.
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
14 Apr. 2009 http46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
2. Antinuclear Groups Propose Three-Site Weapons Complex
In this article The National Nuclear Security Administration claim that it needs better computer codes to maintain existing warheads is The NNSA's claim that it needs better computer codes to maintain existing warheads is significance to Iran's claim that it needs domestic uranium enrichment capability for nuclear powerto Iran's claim that it needs domestic uranium enrichment capability for nuclear power.
Defense Daily. Potomac: Apr 15, 2009. Vol. 242, Iss. 10
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
15 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com.proxylib.msjc.edu
3. IRAN: NUCLEAR ISSUE PRESENTS A HURDLE FOR U.S. TO CLEAR
In this article Ali Khamenei did not make direct reference to Iran's nuclear program. His focus on the economic and political pressures that have been imposed on Iran in recent years and the direct reference to what he called Washington's policy of "threat and inducement" were meant to make clear that, unless Obama finds a way to change the general direction of past policies and settle the nuclear issue in a mutually satisfactory way, Tehran will continue to ignore demands placed on it and go about its business as it had during the presidency of George W. Bush
Global Information Network. New York: Apr 8, 2009
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library, Menifee, CA.
13 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com.proxylib.msjc.edu/
Annotated Bib
For our upcoming paper I decided to research both the negative and positive effects of big business in
here are some sources I will be incorporating into my essay
Russell S Sobel, Andrea M Dean. "HAS WAL-MART BURIED MOM AND POP?:
THE IMPACT OF
ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES. " Economic Inquiry
46.4 (2008): 676-695. Research Library Core. ProQuest. MSJC Library,
13 Apr. 2009 http://www.proquest.com.proxylib.msjc.edu/
In the following article authors Russel S Sobel and Andrea M Dean discuss The Wal-Mart and how it impacts small business in
"The role of small and large businesses in economic development. " Monthly Labor
Review 1 Oct. 2007: 35. Research Library Core. ProQuest. ***MSJC Library,
In, “The role of small and large businesses in economic development”, the article discusses a study done by Kelly Edminston. The study goes on to explain how positive effects of big businesses are sometimes offset by negative effects, such as prevention of small businesses to expand and very little net gain in new jobs. The article goes on to explain how these big businesses and other factors can lead to declines in our nations GDP.
James C Metzler. . "The Small Firm Advantage. " Journal of Accountancy 202.1 (2006): 61-63. Research Library Core. ProQuest. ***MSJC LIBRARY,
This article by James C. Metzler discusses the special advantages that small firms have. This article is in favor of small businesses. The author explains how unlike big business small businesses have advantages such as better customer service, special offers for employees, and the fact that they can be more creative than large firms. The other makes a good argument, that even though large firms can seem overwhelming, they can also thrive with their special strengths.
Sources for Orginal Argument Paper
I am writing my original argument paper on homeschooling. Homeschoolers are currently required to get higher scores on their SATs for college enrollment which is unequal and unfair. Here are my three of my sources:
1) scholarly article by Kima Payne Stewart and Richard A. Neeley titled "The Impact of Homeschooling Regulations on Educational Enrollments in the United States"- this source gives the cold hard facts about homeschooling and reveals how many states fall short in their homeschooling requirements through data and stats. I plan to use this as one of my anticipated objections that will help writing my rebuttal.
2) scholarly article by Michelle Wichers titled "Homeschooling: Adventitious or Detrimental for Proficiency in Higher Education"- this source expounds on a study done to see if homeschooled kids are able to academically compete at a college (or higher) level. The results were positive, showing that not only were homeschooled highschoolers at par, but many were above average in their education. I plan to use this solid evidence to aid in validating the credibility of homeschooling.
3) article (it might be scholarly?) by Julie Blair titled "College Admissions Adapts to Students Taught at Home"- this source shows a lot of the changes many universities have made for homeschooling. This source will be good to show how far America has come in allowing homeschooling and encourage people to take just a few more steps to make college admissions completely fair and equal for home schoolers so they have no disadvantage.
1) scholarly article by Kima Payne Stewart and Richard A. Neeley titled "The Impact of Homeschooling Regulations on Educational Enrollments in the United States"- this source gives the cold hard facts about homeschooling and reveals how many states fall short in their homeschooling requirements through data and stats. I plan to use this as one of my anticipated objections that will help writing my rebuttal.
2) scholarly article by Michelle Wichers titled "Homeschooling: Adventitious or Detrimental for Proficiency in Higher Education"- this source expounds on a study done to see if homeschooled kids are able to academically compete at a college (or higher) level. The results were positive, showing that not only were homeschooled highschoolers at par, but many were above average in their education. I plan to use this solid evidence to aid in validating the credibility of homeschooling.
3) article (it might be scholarly?) by Julie Blair titled "College Admissions Adapts to Students Taught at Home"- this source shows a lot of the changes many universities have made for homeschooling. This source will be good to show how far America has come in allowing homeschooling and encourage people to take just a few more steps to make college admissions completely fair and equal for home schoolers so they have no disadvantage.
One of the sources I will be using in my position paper is an article from Opposing view points by Debra Bell. She states that there are many challenges faced when it comes to homeschooling, such as time demands, preparation time,the need for private time and the unrealistic expectations parents put upon their children. She also explains that there are teacher limitations and that community involve is kept to a minimum.
Another one of my resources I will be using for my position paper is an article from Opposing view points by Dawn C. Pitsch. She explains the difficult trials of homeschooling, and how homeschooling is not for every family. She goes on to continue about how parents take homeschooling to heart, explaining that if their children are failing it is essentially the parents fault, when in reality-its not.
My last source I will be using in my position paper is another article form Opposing View Points by Isabel Lyman. She explains that homeschooling is a viable alternative to public schooling. She goes on to explain that choosing the right homeschooling program is crucial for families. She also continues on by saying that children who are home schooled generally do better on standardized tests and excel well in college.
Another one of my resources I will be using for my position paper is an article from Opposing view points by Dawn C. Pitsch. She explains the difficult trials of homeschooling, and how homeschooling is not for every family. She goes on to continue about how parents take homeschooling to heart, explaining that if their children are failing it is essentially the parents fault, when in reality-its not.
My last source I will be using in my position paper is another article form Opposing View Points by Isabel Lyman. She explains that homeschooling is a viable alternative to public schooling. She goes on to explain that choosing the right homeschooling program is crucial for families. She also continues on by saying that children who are home schooled generally do better on standardized tests and excel well in college.
position paper title: New Homeless in America, Federal or State responsibility
In today's housing market there are hundreds of foreclosures. The climb in foreclosures yielded thousands of displaced families, forcing these families to live in cars or in shelters. Whose responsibility should it be to help this raising minority? To find whose responsible, there should be a finger pointed at whose to blame.
Works cited:
National Coalition for the Homeless
www.nationalhomeless.org
April 15, 2008
Still looking for more "scholarly" articles...
Works cited:
National Coalition for the Homeless
www.nationalhomeless.org
April 15, 2008
Still looking for more "scholarly" articles...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Technology vs Humanity
Is technology slowly destroying humanity? With all the advances in technology we, as humans, are forgetting how to actually BE humans. We've made alot of improvements in our society and have come up with brilliant new things, but are all these accomplishments hurting us more than they are helping us? I've found many sources that believe the more we advance in technology the more our humanity is at stake. I agree with this. The human being used to be the most intellegent thing on the planet. And that used to be something to be proud of. Going to college and learning how to be a banker or a stock broker or even something so simple as a "fix it" guy or a cashier were great accomplishments that made us human. With the invention of the computer technology has just gotten more and more intellegent... Far more intellegent than human beings could ever be. This is NOT a good thing. In my position paper I am going to prove that sometimes advanced technology is not helpful to human beings, instead it just aids to our slow destruction. The articles I have found are:
Is Humanity Destined to Self Destruct? -This scholarly google article is about how humans need to adapt to the advances in technology in order to survive.
Technological Innovation Must Be Limited to Protect Humanity -This is an opposing viewpoint which is pretty much explained in the title
Children's Isolation from the Natural World Is a Threat to Their Health -Another opposing viewpoint which states that children who spend their time alone in front of the TV or computer are more likely to contract cultural autism.
Electronic Interaction Is Making Americans Less Literate -This opposing viewpoint was determined from various national surveys about the effects of technology and literacy in college students.
Is Humanity Destined to Self Destruct? -This scholarly google article is about how humans need to adapt to the advances in technology in order to survive.
Technological Innovation Must Be Limited to Protect Humanity -This is an opposing viewpoint which is pretty much explained in the title
Children's Isolation from the Natural World Is a Threat to Their Health -Another opposing viewpoint which states that children who spend their time alone in front of the TV or computer are more likely to contract cultural autism.
Electronic Interaction Is Making Americans Less Literate -This opposing viewpoint was determined from various national surveys about the effects of technology and literacy in college students.
On Arguing Successfully
Hi all,
Some of this we've gone over (yawn, but necessary), some perhaps not. In any case, I though this might be a useful once or tenth-over regarding the paper and how you can most successfully approach it.
1. Avoid moral arguments (and moralizing in general). You need to find factual, or at least viable evidence to support your claim. When you are trying to support a moral belief, the support you'll find is likely going to center on others' moral beliefs. In this way, you wind up with a circular argument that can't get off the hamster wheel of judgment. Choose your topic with care.
You can find yourself going down this path with all kinds of claims, not just the ones prohibited on the prompt. I see someone is thinking of writing about home-schooling. Great and of-the-moment topic. But imagine someone chooses this topic and bases his/her claim around the belief that public schools ensure students will be exposed to all sorts of horrible, secular behaviors, viewpoints, and the like. This paper could easily turn into a rant that indicts anyone and everyone affiliated with public schools. However, the next writer centers his/her claim around numbers that show home-school graduates apply to and gain admittance to universities at a higher rate than students public (or privately) schooled. This kind of claim is likely going to be based on factual evidence (in addition to opinion, theorizing, logic, etc.) As such, this paper is likely going to be more logical, more rational . . . and thus more successful.
2. Your thesis statement is really a two-parter. Remember, it's not enough to make the claim and leave it at that. Consider the argument at work here: "Military recruiters should not be allowed to recruit on public high-school campuses." Is the writer's claim clear? Absolutely. However, this thesis lacks the imperative "so what" clause. This phrase is shorthand for questioning why the claim matters in the first place, for establishing significance (the "why should I, as the reader, care about this or buy this person's argument?")for the audience. Your claim has no validity or importance if it doesn't have context and significance. Recall the thesis we came up with in class, which had three reasons attached to the claim. Having read that thesis, any reader would know exactly why the writer is offering the claim and will be more likely to be invested in the topic and argument (whether the reasons offered make the reader feel connected and familiar or combative and ready to debate or dismiss the claim). You will not be able to do this in one sentence -- it's absolutely fine that your thesis is not one sentence (though it's possible it could be if you write very concisely) -- we're not writing a five-paragraph essay here.
3. Consider laying out objections, concessions, and rebuttals throughout the paper rather than in one big chunk. If you offer three reasons in your thesis, it's likely you'll address, or need to address, three objections. You might consider bringing in objections as you move from point to point; the paper will be much more fluid and take on the natural movement of a "real" argument. Remember that anticipating and dealing with objections is an absolute for the argument paper.
4. This is the time to choose sources very carefully. If you have not already read the chapter on evaluating sources in FG, you should. Ultimately, it's not enough to have "good quotes" -- a skilled writer is going to consider (as will a discerning audience) from whence the information comes and the credibility of the source. A source who comments on what it means to be black and middle-class (as does Shelby Steele in an essay in your text) lacks experiential evidence if he/she is not black or middle-class. Does this mean such a source has nothing of value to say about these identity categories? No. However, it's important to establish the context in which the writer is coming from, and sometimes you need to do this explicitly for the audience. If your source is neither black nor middle class but is a professor specializing in ethnic studies/sociology, he/she has authoritative information that a black, middle-class "average Joe" may not have despite having experiential evidence to offer. Always ask yourself WHY the person's claims and viewpoints are viable and persuasive . . . the above two examples showcase viable perspectives, but the context in which these opinions are viable is different. Using scholarly sources will really help you in this arena -- it's usually pretty easy to establish why the author has credibility. On the other hand, if you did a general web search and found a fantastic quote that illustrates exactly what you were looking for but you cannot find any reason why that quote should be taken seriously (other than that it "sounds good"), you don't have a compelling piece of evidence. You have an opinion. Does everyone's opinion matter? In some respects, yes. The weight of that opinion, however, is what you need to consider.
5. As always, you need to focus on grammar, syntax, punctuation. Taking care to write correctly and fluidly tells your readers that you care about your writing, that you have the ability and authority to write about your topic, and that you care about their reading experience. Similarly, sloppy work that's marked with errors and clarity issues can, especially in this genre, tell your readers that you don't have the ability or authority to take a position on the issue (after all, if you can't present it successfully, there's a big, open door for critics), that you don't care about the topic or the reading experience, etc. It's difficult to take someone seriously who doesn't edit their work, and thus the entire argument is undermined. These elements do play a bigger role in this paper, as they will continue to do. While I believe content is more important, big-picture, than mechanics, and was trained in this method, mechanics still count. And, of course, you need to show that you can meet the learning outcomes for the course in order to pass it.
I hope this overview helps you put the project in perspective. If you haven't gotten started yet, there's no time like now!
Some of this we've gone over (yawn, but necessary), some perhaps not. In any case, I though this might be a useful once or tenth-over regarding the paper and how you can most successfully approach it.
1. Avoid moral arguments (and moralizing in general). You need to find factual, or at least viable evidence to support your claim. When you are trying to support a moral belief, the support you'll find is likely going to center on others' moral beliefs. In this way, you wind up with a circular argument that can't get off the hamster wheel of judgment. Choose your topic with care.
You can find yourself going down this path with all kinds of claims, not just the ones prohibited on the prompt. I see someone is thinking of writing about home-schooling. Great and of-the-moment topic. But imagine someone chooses this topic and bases his/her claim around the belief that public schools ensure students will be exposed to all sorts of horrible, secular behaviors, viewpoints, and the like. This paper could easily turn into a rant that indicts anyone and everyone affiliated with public schools. However, the next writer centers his/her claim around numbers that show home-school graduates apply to and gain admittance to universities at a higher rate than students public (or privately) schooled. This kind of claim is likely going to be based on factual evidence (in addition to opinion, theorizing, logic, etc.) As such, this paper is likely going to be more logical, more rational . . . and thus more successful.
2. Your thesis statement is really a two-parter. Remember, it's not enough to make the claim and leave it at that. Consider the argument at work here: "Military recruiters should not be allowed to recruit on public high-school campuses." Is the writer's claim clear? Absolutely. However, this thesis lacks the imperative "so what" clause. This phrase is shorthand for questioning why the claim matters in the first place, for establishing significance (the "why should I, as the reader, care about this or buy this person's argument?")for the audience. Your claim has no validity or importance if it doesn't have context and significance. Recall the thesis we came up with in class, which had three reasons attached to the claim. Having read that thesis, any reader would know exactly why the writer is offering the claim and will be more likely to be invested in the topic and argument (whether the reasons offered make the reader feel connected and familiar or combative and ready to debate or dismiss the claim). You will not be able to do this in one sentence -- it's absolutely fine that your thesis is not one sentence (though it's possible it could be if you write very concisely) -- we're not writing a five-paragraph essay here.
3. Consider laying out objections, concessions, and rebuttals throughout the paper rather than in one big chunk. If you offer three reasons in your thesis, it's likely you'll address, or need to address, three objections. You might consider bringing in objections as you move from point to point; the paper will be much more fluid and take on the natural movement of a "real" argument. Remember that anticipating and dealing with objections is an absolute for the argument paper.
4. This is the time to choose sources very carefully. If you have not already read the chapter on evaluating sources in FG, you should. Ultimately, it's not enough to have "good quotes" -- a skilled writer is going to consider (as will a discerning audience) from whence the information comes and the credibility of the source. A source who comments on what it means to be black and middle-class (as does Shelby Steele in an essay in your text) lacks experiential evidence if he/she is not black or middle-class. Does this mean such a source has nothing of value to say about these identity categories? No. However, it's important to establish the context in which the writer is coming from, and sometimes you need to do this explicitly for the audience. If your source is neither black nor middle class but is a professor specializing in ethnic studies/sociology, he/she has authoritative information that a black, middle-class "average Joe" may not have despite having experiential evidence to offer. Always ask yourself WHY the person's claims and viewpoints are viable and persuasive . . . the above two examples showcase viable perspectives, but the context in which these opinions are viable is different. Using scholarly sources will really help you in this arena -- it's usually pretty easy to establish why the author has credibility. On the other hand, if you did a general web search and found a fantastic quote that illustrates exactly what you were looking for but you cannot find any reason why that quote should be taken seriously (other than that it "sounds good"), you don't have a compelling piece of evidence. You have an opinion. Does everyone's opinion matter? In some respects, yes. The weight of that opinion, however, is what you need to consider.
5. As always, you need to focus on grammar, syntax, punctuation. Taking care to write correctly and fluidly tells your readers that you care about your writing, that you have the ability and authority to write about your topic, and that you care about their reading experience. Similarly, sloppy work that's marked with errors and clarity issues can, especially in this genre, tell your readers that you don't have the ability or authority to take a position on the issue (after all, if you can't present it successfully, there's a big, open door for critics), that you don't care about the topic or the reading experience, etc. It's difficult to take someone seriously who doesn't edit their work, and thus the entire argument is undermined. These elements do play a bigger role in this paper, as they will continue to do. While I believe content is more important, big-picture, than mechanics, and was trained in this method, mechanics still count. And, of course, you need to show that you can meet the learning outcomes for the course in order to pass it.
I hope this overview helps you put the project in perspective. If you haven't gotten started yet, there's no time like now!
Position Paper
I am not entirely sure of what I want to do my paper on but Home-schooling would be a good one. I was home-schooled for 6 years and have also been to public schooling, however, I was home-schooled online so it would make for a different twist.
Some of the arguments would be how difficult online learning can be,and how the social aspect of things is extremely tough to keep. I've always been iffy on online schooling having done it myself, so I'm not sure what position I would take on this subject. However, I'm sure by the time the piece rolls around I'll have a position or possibly another topic.
Some of the arguments would be how difficult online learning can be,and how the social aspect of things is extremely tough to keep. I've always been iffy on online schooling having done it myself, so I'm not sure what position I would take on this subject. However, I'm sure by the time the piece rolls around I'll have a position or possibly another topic.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Homeschooling
I'm thinking of using the homeschool debate for my position paper. I have homeschooled one of my three children, and next year I will be homeschooling all three. With that being said, my position on the issue would be that I am in favor of it. I hear from people that the main downsides to a homeschool education is the lack of peers, personal realtionships and socialization. The upsides to the homeschool debate are the higher curriculum standards, less student to teacher ratio, and more room for expressing and developing artistic ability and creativity.
With all the negative peer influence, lack of public education funding and poor teacher performance it makes sense for me to have my children learn at home. Learning begins in the home. As a parent, I am my childs first teacher. I have seen the schools fail children and there are other alternatives to education. If done properly, homeschooling can be beneficial and rewarding for the child as well as their parents.
With all the negative peer influence, lack of public education funding and poor teacher performance it makes sense for me to have my children learn at home. Learning begins in the home. As a parent, I am my childs first teacher. I have seen the schools fail children and there are other alternatives to education. If done properly, homeschooling can be beneficial and rewarding for the child as well as their parents.
Factory Farming
For my position paper topic, I'm planning to write on the negative effects of factory farming. Not only is the treatment of animals and the conditions they are kept in on such farms inhumane and appalling, it is destructive to the air, soil, and water surrounding them. The farms consist of a large amount of livestock crammed into a small area of land, with no pasture or grazing land. On traditional farms, the waste produced by the animals was recycled into the earth spread over the crops land for the following year, but on factory farms, where the animals can produce trillions of pounds of waste every year, the manure and urine is stored in open containers. Runoff from it into streams, rivers, and lakes can kill fish and contaminate human drinking water. As well, the air pollution caused by these farms is a hazard to air quality.
The main argument in favor of factory farming is that it is economical to produce the amount of meat the public demands at a lower price. However, for food production, in terms of feeding a larger amount of people, it would be more economical and environmentally safe to, instead of feeding all this livestock to produce meat, use the grain that would have fed the animals to feed humans. On average, the grain production that goes into feeding livestock would feed sixteen times more people than the meat produced by the animal feeds.
I have other supporting arguments as well, but this is a start. I think it would be a good topic for me to address because it coincides with what we are studying in my Environmental Science class as well.
The main argument in favor of factory farming is that it is economical to produce the amount of meat the public demands at a lower price. However, for food production, in terms of feeding a larger amount of people, it would be more economical and environmentally safe to, instead of feeding all this livestock to produce meat, use the grain that would have fed the animals to feed humans. On average, the grain production that goes into feeding livestock would feed sixteen times more people than the meat produced by the animal feeds.
I have other supporting arguments as well, but this is a start. I think it would be a good topic for me to address because it coincides with what we are studying in my Environmental Science class as well.
Position-Kids in year round athletics
An idea I had for my position paper is whether or not kids should be in year round athletics, like just playing one sport all year long. Or is it better for kids to play multiple sports and keeping them from tiring themselves playing only one sport. My position on this topic would be kids playing multiple sports. Some reasoning I have for this is children that play one sport get burnt out and sick of it after a few years, and reoccurring injury because the same muscles keep getting used and stressed.
Homeschool SAT scores
For my position paper, I am planning on writing about how a homeschooler's SAT score requirement for college acceptance is higher than the normal highschooler. My position will be that is unfair to make homeschooled highschoolers get higher scores than other normal public/private-schooled highschoolers because that is discrimination.
Position Post ideas
There are two ideas that I am considering for my next paper. The first would be prohibiting smoking in public places. I this think this would be a good topic because people generally have strong feelings either to allow the smoking in public or to make it illegal. My position is to make it illegal because the smell of cigarette smoke makes me extremely ill, and any activity that is being done that is making others ill or endangering other peoples lives, should be restricted.
The other idea that I am considering is the incident of the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette’s instigation of this historical event. I think this would be a good topic for me because I am a history major and am extremely interested in the history of France. I think that most people feel that Marie Antoinette was a key player in the French Revolution beginning and the eventual the downfall of the monarchy of France. My position is that Marie Antoinette did not bring about the French Revolution but was merely a pawn in an unstable government with unsatisfied French citizens.
The other idea that I am considering is the incident of the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette’s instigation of this historical event. I think this would be a good topic for me because I am a history major and am extremely interested in the history of France. I think that most people feel that Marie Antoinette was a key player in the French Revolution beginning and the eventual the downfall of the monarchy of France. My position is that Marie Antoinette did not bring about the French Revolution but was merely a pawn in an unstable government with unsatisfied French citizens.
Position Paper Nuclear Weapons
This afternoon Barack Obama met with his Russian counterpart Dmitriy Medvedev and much of the talk centered on nukes. The two nations will restart talks immediately on reducing the nuclear arsenal, with plans to have a new deal worked out by July. I think it's time to cut the nuke inventory since we don't have any big threats and having nuclear weapons just leads to nuclear war.
Organic Food
I have decide to write my position paper on Organic Food. Having children has change the way I eat and what I give my children to eat. There is research that show the amount of pesticide on our fruit and veggies can be harmful in the long run. Cow that have massive production are injected with hormones to produce more. So when we drink a glass of milk we are at the same time putting those hormones into our bodies. Though the down side is the cost is more. But why do people prefer to buy name brands like Nike, Guess, etc., but not worry what we are putting inside our bodies?
Position - Cloned Meat
In recent discussions of cloned meat, a controversial issue has been risen whether to inform the public of their sales in the markets or not. On the other hand, some argue that meat which is cloned for selling is an abomination of science. Cloned life; artificial life is something that should not be taken lightly. From this perspective, people feel that meat which is grown in a Petri disk is unsettling. An animal that is consumed by the masses, which is born unnaturally, and created in a lab is disturbing. The idea that an individual is able to tinker with the genetics of an animal and then process it for people to consume, churns my stomach as a writer. There should be a label of what you are eating and where the product is coming from. Just as the mystery meat in the nightmarish days of middle school haunts us, moreover the everyday reality of “fake meat” at the supermarket is hell.
Position Blog
For the Position Paper I want to write about nuclear power and show that it is a green energy source and that is easily generated. I will show the possitives and negatives that can be associated with it and how we are not utilizing this power as much as other countries like France. I think this is a topic of importance since so many people do not want to rely on fossil fuels and are worried about global warming. The problem is most people are afraid of nuclear power, I will try to show that it is not as dangerous as they might think.
position: decriminalization
So, I've been thinking of different topics for my position paper, and even though marijuana is one of the topics we're supposed to stay away from, I still am interested in using it as a topic. Maybe not so much the legalization of it, but more so the decriminalization, especiall here in california.
with the economy in the state its in, we shouldnt be spending countless tax dollars imprisoning people for smoking pot on their own time. Because its more or less the same as having a drink after work. Just personal preference.
Decriminalizing it would also free up countless cops who waste away there days handing out tickets for possession when they could be fighting real crimes, and stopping real injustices.
as for the opposition, it only exists because people are unaware or misinformed. many people dont even know that our founding fathers grew marijuana plants to use the hemp to make materials the british had imposed large taxes on, so they wouldn't have to pay the taxes they used hemp to make equivalent products. So without hemp, and the marijuana plant whose to say we would have ever escaped british rule hundreds of years ago.
with the economy in the state its in, we shouldnt be spending countless tax dollars imprisoning people for smoking pot on their own time. Because its more or less the same as having a drink after work. Just personal preference.
Decriminalizing it would also free up countless cops who waste away there days handing out tickets for possession when they could be fighting real crimes, and stopping real injustices.
as for the opposition, it only exists because people are unaware or misinformed. many people dont even know that our founding fathers grew marijuana plants to use the hemp to make materials the british had imposed large taxes on, so they wouldn't have to pay the taxes they used hemp to make equivalent products. So without hemp, and the marijuana plant whose to say we would have ever escaped british rule hundreds of years ago.
Samples of the Objection/Concession/Rebuttal Process
Samples of the Objection/Concession/Rebuttal Process using the argument: "High schools should prohibit on-campus military recruiting."
(Keep in mind that you are not defending a moral stance or taking a
moral position on an issue. We’re treating moral stances as beliefs, not facts.)
Touchstone for what the objection process looks like or is doing, this is it (key for your next assignment, Ancillary 3):
The whole process works a little like this: Your point of view, while it isn’t mine, is valid (in areas A, B, and/or C). I concede that X,Y, and/or Z. However, ultimately, my argument is stronger/better, etc. because of D.
***************************************************************************************
Sample process using Argument X:
Topic: Military Recruiting on High-School Campuses
Argument: High schools should prohibit on-campus military recruiting.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Reasoning for the thesis: Students are young, impressionable, and may not be ready to make this kind of decision at this stage in their life. Representatives could/might exploit the current economic crisis in order to convince students that joining is financially advantageous for them; this process is manipulative and may not be completely accurate. Students don’t need any more distraction from their studies than they already have; selling goods, services, and even opportunities on campus is problematic in a number of ways.
Thus the thesis looks like this:
Thesis: "High schools should prohibit on-campus military recruiting. Students are young, impressionable, and may not be ready to make this kind of decision at this stage in their life. Representatives could/might exploit the current economic crisis in order to convince students that joining is financially advantageous for them; this process is manipulative and may not be completely accurate. Students don’t need any more distraction from their studies than they already have; selling goods, services, and even opportunities on campus is problematic in a number of ways."
Objections:
1. If high-school students are not offered this opportunity in high school, it’s more likely they will not make a decision about their future as quickly as those who had it; in this way, they’ll get started (with the military, with college, with both) later than they could have.
2. Who’s to say what’s a distraction? Colleges are encouraged to recruit at high-school campuses, and few people object to this process. Isn’t it rather elitist or limiting to imply that college is the only legitimate option for graduating seniors?
3.Recruiting is not forcing. No one’s hands are tied behind their back. Students, high-school or otherwise, have the OPTION of joining, and recruiters have the RIGHT to make the option look good by way of whatever methods they use.
Concessions:
1. Certainly, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to allow one group with one worldview to come to campus but prohibit another that offers an alternative. Doing so flies in the face of one of the major goals of institutionalized education, which is to offer students multiple, even conflicting points of view and educate them so they can make informed choices.
2. Rebuttal: However, college-recruitment is still in line with educational goals, which are the goals any educational institution should be facilitating. The military is not an educational enterprise (at least in the traditional sense) and thus better kept off high-school campuses.
(Keep in mind that you are not defending a moral stance or taking a
moral position on an issue. We’re treating moral stances as beliefs, not facts.)
Touchstone for what the objection process looks like or is doing, this is it (key for your next assignment, Ancillary 3):
The whole process works a little like this: Your point of view, while it isn’t mine, is valid (in areas A, B, and/or C). I concede that X,Y, and/or Z. However, ultimately, my argument is stronger/better, etc. because of D.
***************************************************************************************
Sample process using Argument X:
Topic: Military Recruiting on High-School Campuses
Argument: High schools should prohibit on-campus military recruiting.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Reasoning for the thesis: Students are young, impressionable, and may not be ready to make this kind of decision at this stage in their life. Representatives could/might exploit the current economic crisis in order to convince students that joining is financially advantageous for them; this process is manipulative and may not be completely accurate. Students don’t need any more distraction from their studies than they already have; selling goods, services, and even opportunities on campus is problematic in a number of ways.
Thus the thesis looks like this:
Thesis: "High schools should prohibit on-campus military recruiting. Students are young, impressionable, and may not be ready to make this kind of decision at this stage in their life. Representatives could/might exploit the current economic crisis in order to convince students that joining is financially advantageous for them; this process is manipulative and may not be completely accurate. Students don’t need any more distraction from their studies than they already have; selling goods, services, and even opportunities on campus is problematic in a number of ways."
Objections:
1. If high-school students are not offered this opportunity in high school, it’s more likely they will not make a decision about their future as quickly as those who had it; in this way, they’ll get started (with the military, with college, with both) later than they could have.
2. Who’s to say what’s a distraction? Colleges are encouraged to recruit at high-school campuses, and few people object to this process. Isn’t it rather elitist or limiting to imply that college is the only legitimate option for graduating seniors?
3.Recruiting is not forcing. No one’s hands are tied behind their back. Students, high-school or otherwise, have the OPTION of joining, and recruiters have the RIGHT to make the option look good by way of whatever methods they use.
Concessions:
1. Certainly, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to allow one group with one worldview to come to campus but prohibit another that offers an alternative. Doing so flies in the face of one of the major goals of institutionalized education, which is to offer students multiple, even conflicting points of view and educate them so they can make informed choices.
2. Rebuttal: However, college-recruitment is still in line with educational goals, which are the goals any educational institution should be facilitating. The military is not an educational enterprise (at least in the traditional sense) and thus better kept off high-school campuses.
Position Paper topic
Is Technology Making Us More Alienated, Less Sociable, and therefore Less Human?
Convenience makes us lazy, we have many tools that help us with our day to day operations and we don’t even realize what it is doing to us as a species. We are being alienated without the social interactions that technology saves us because we "don’t have the time". People use self checkouts, drive through windows, and online banking/purchasing in their day to day business interactions. We also use many methods of social interactions without being in the vicinity of anyone but our gadgets. Some of our methods are text messaging, email, online social networks (Myspace/ Facebook) to interact with our friends and family. Is technology making us more alienated, less sociable and therefore less human, I think so.
I believe this topic is a good topic because there is a lot write about and it is not going to touch on moral issues. It is a topic that can be discussed because of the usefulness of technology and how it benefits humankind while on the other hand inhibiting our personalities.
Convenience makes us lazy, we have many tools that help us with our day to day operations and we don’t even realize what it is doing to us as a species. We are being alienated without the social interactions that technology saves us because we "don’t have the time". People use self checkouts, drive through windows, and online banking/purchasing in their day to day business interactions. We also use many methods of social interactions without being in the vicinity of anyone but our gadgets. Some of our methods are text messaging, email, online social networks (Myspace/ Facebook) to interact with our friends and family. Is technology making us more alienated, less sociable and therefore less human, I think so.
I believe this topic is a good topic because there is a lot write about and it is not going to touch on moral issues. It is a topic that can be discussed because of the usefulness of technology and how it benefits humankind while on the other hand inhibiting our personalities.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)