Summative Assessment Posting

I chose this one as my best assessment posting.

Appeals and Argumentative Models

Appeals

In my own words I would describe an ethical appeal as a way of convincing the audience that what is stated is very important to all of us and is the right (or wrong) thing to do. I would say that it is a way to convince them to believe that as human beings we should value the argument and should see it as important and credible.

I would describe a rational appeal as something that shows cause and effect in a logical way. I would use it if I were arguing to change something in some area of importance and state the logical outcomes. I think is has more fact, statistics and experiment based information.

Emotional appeals to me are those that bring out emotions in the audience. I think it gets the reader to make decisions based on how they feel about the subject. If it makes them feel anger or sadness or any other emotion they may agree with the argument based on that alone.

Argumentative Models

The Rogerian Model is finding common ground, considering both sides. It focuses on common points and the goal is to work together to work out the issue. It starts with the introduction being a problem that each agrees is a problem. The next part states reasons there are differences or show misunderstandings. It is a model that shows multiple perspectives toward an issue. It is a model with a cooperative stance. It concludes with a way to resolve the different views and work together.

The Classical model is structured and focused on the topic of the paper. It starts with the problem then gives background information, the next step is to provide evidence in support of the thesis statement and have some evidence to contest those with opposing views. The end if the paper is the conclusion, restating the thesis and if needed recommendations.

In the Toulmin Model the paper starts with the claim first and then backs up the claim with facts and truths. Then next, backing up the facts and data to show they are reliable sources, called the warrant, then backing those reliable sources to show that it is trustworthy data.

Reading Clusters November 14 - November 20

I read "I Hear the Mournful Wail of Millions" by Frederick Douglass
1. Douglass uses the special occasion of Independence Day as a foundation for his address because it was a perfect time to state the non independence of slave. It was a time to rebuke those that were celebrating independence but at the same time did not recognize that all men were not independent in the United States. Douglass was very effective in this way, it brought attention to the fact that it was hypocritical to celebrate independence while all men were not being treated equally.
2. The first two words of his speech are significant because he is stating that he is a citizen of the US just as white men are. Politically it is significant because he is basically stating that he is just as equal, to vote and to be elected as any white man. Rhetorical because it was effective and was the best available means of persuasion at that time.
3. He states that there is "nothing to be argued" regarding the abolition of slavery because the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal so what would the argument be? The slave are men and he listed all the things that slaves do.
4. Douglass characterized the Fourth of July from the perspective of a slave as "a day that reveals to him the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim".

Reading Clusters November 7 - November 13

I read "The USA PATRIOT Act and Patron Privacy on Library Internet Terminals.
1. Roving wiretaps are wiretaps that are not confined to just one person but can go wherever the target goes including libraries. It can be valid anywhere in the United States. This means that individuals Internet will not have the same privacy as before.
2. I think that Minow advocated library cooperation in providing the FBI with Internet records with a court order because it must have a reason for the search or still have some time of probable cause. So to have a court order would be advisable also if an individual was to sue the library for giving personal information that was not necessary for any investigation. I think that a library should provide any information to the FBI that would help keep our nation safe. I think their job is to get information from any source that would ensure that those using the internet are not planning attacks on the US.
3. I think that libraries in California are not entirely clear "whether or not the law protects Internet use records from disclosure without a court order" because they would want to leave it open to be able to cooperate to the best of there abilities and not have things so clear that they are unable to cooperate. I only think the steps they could take further to protect their patrons' rights would be to be clear to the patron that the only reason they would disclose any information or cooperate with the FBI was if they had probable cause the shows there would be harm done to American citizens.

Reading Clusters 31 October - 6 November

I read the Keynote Address at the First Woman's Rights Convention by Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
1. I think that she started with the reference to dress because the men thought that the women were only interested in having equal rights in how they dressed. Perhaps she was clearing up the intention of the meeting and that it was not as petty as modes of dress but it was far more serious. Maybe not equal dress but equal rights. The point I think she was trying to make with her reference to the apparel of certain members of the clergy was that attire of men is not dignified and the way the women dress was much more artistic.
2.The laws Stanton consider to be "a disgrace to a Christian republic" were the laws that kept women from being represented in the government, the laws that give men the power to chastise and imprison their wives, take her wages and property and even take her children if they separate. These laws were a disgrace because they were unjust.
3.The purpose  I think Stanton had in referencing Joan of Arc was to show the feelings that women were having were the same that Joan of Arc felt. The women are ready to fight for rights just as Joan of Arc was ready to fight.
4. The consequences of female degradation that Stanton articulated is the population will not grow into a truly great and virtuous nation. That women are the foundation of a strong generation of people.

Logical Fallacies

I do not think people as a whole are aware of logical fallacies. I think logical fallacies sill work, even if there are errors because I don't think people use critical thinking that I have learned in this class. I don't think they try to find out if the person who is arguing their point has experience with the subject or is familiar with other points of view. Maybe people do not want to make the effort to challenge the statements.It may be easier to just accept the material.

Rogerian approach

I think that the Rogerian approach is not more widely used because I think society likes to debate and prove that they are right and show evidence why their side is right. I also think society doesn't take the time to establish common ground.
I could use the Rogerian approach in my own home setting. It would be better for me and my husband to decide how to discipline the kids based on our common views of raising our children to be responsible, loving adults. If we work together to solve the issues of how to discipline, it would be much less competitive between who's discipline works the best. Also this could work with my teenage daughter. If I use this method it would help me to hold off my opinions and not prematurely judge her views before I consider them carefully.

Toulmin's method of argumentation

The Toulmin's method of argumentation is different from the classical method because it makes the writer make an effort to ensure that the supporting evidence fully validates the claim. It would have the writer articulate the argument clearly and as accurately as possible.
I find myself using the Rogerian model in my day to day communications because it seems more cooperative. I find myself trying to work together with someone else to fix the problem. I use it with my kids. I state a problem, like the house being dirty, and then finding ways we can work together to fix it.

The pros and cons of the classical approach.

Some of the pros of the classical approach.

• It is very structured.
• It is simple and versatile.
• It is good to use when the audience will have a mixture of reactions.
• It is good to use when you want to change the mind of the reader.

Some cons of the classical approach. (you got me on this one. I am not sure.)

Questions listed on page 92

3. My understanding of what it means to read responsibly is to delay my judgement about an issue until I understand the writers position on the issue. To read responsible I need to read to learn and understand and then reread to compare and contrast the author's views. I also need to be fair and know that there are many perspectives to consider. If I am open-minded I will allow myself to accept the writer's view and give the writer the benefit of the doubt. I will not be inclined to agree or disagree to quickly before rereading and being open to different views. I will also find some kind of common ground I have with the writer.

4. I have considered including visuals in my paper mostly graphs or charts to help show statistics. But I would like to be able to find photographs that would be useful and help to strengthen my argument. It may be difficult to find something that interconnects and serves a purpose. I would like to have some visuals in my paper and I hope they will not distract the reader.

Summaries

I found that writing a summary was hard. I felt like I didn't get as much information as I needed or maybe just not the right understanding in the summary. I found myself reading the article more than twice to see if I understood what the author was trying to say. However the more I read it, the more I got out of the article. I think it is a good idea to write the summary as soon as your finished reading.

One common issues that can make a summary less useful or trustworthy is that the reader does not understand what the author is trying to say. Another issue is misreading.

Summary of Death to the Classics!

Should the classic literature that has always been taught continue to be the same or is it better to change with the times? The old way was to use the classics that have always been on the reading list, such as William Shakespeare, because they are the foundation of much of the literature we now have. As times changes, to the classics was then added foundational Western classics. This was to incorporate women and minorities into the books that were read. Again as times have changed the books seemed to become too long and too hard. Now just to have students read is an accomplishment no matter what they are reading. Is the answer to let the students choose for themselves what is best for them to read? Would it be better to have the students read something they can relate to? The question is should the reading list stick to the classics or be ever changing with the times? Is there a right answer?

I don't know if this is the right way to write a summary, but this is what I got out of reading" Death to the Classics". It isn't much like the example in the book. ??

Appeals and Argumentative Models

Appeals

In my own words I would describe an ethical appeal as a way of convincing the audience that what is stated is very important to all of us and is the right (or wrong) thing to do. I would say that it is a way to convince them to believe that as human beings we should value the argument and should see it as important and credible.

I would describe a rational appeal as something that shows cause and effect in a logical way. I would use it if I were arguing to change something in some area of importance and state the logical outcomes. I think is has more fact, statistics and experiment based information.

Emotional appeals to me are those that bring out emotions in the audience. I think it gets the reader to make decisions based on how they feel about the subject. If it makes them feel anger or sadness or any other emotion they may agree with the argument based on that alone.

Argumentative Models

The Rogerian Model is finding common ground, considering both sides. It focuses on common points and the goal is to work together to work out the issue. It starts with the introduction being a problem that each agrees is a problem. The next part states reasons there are differences or show misunderstandings. It is a model that shows multiple perspectives toward an issue. It is a model with a cooperative stance. It concludes with a way to resolve the different views and work together.

The Classical model is structured and focused on the topic of the paper. It starts with the problem then gives background information, the next step is to provide evidence in support of the thesis statement and have some evidence to contest those with opposing views. The end if the paper is the conclusion, restating the thesis and if needed recommendations.

In the Toulmin Model the paper starts with the claim first and then backs up the claim with facts and truths. Then next, backing up the facts and data to show they are reliable sources, called the warrant, then backing those reliable sources to show that it is trustworthy data.

Argumentative Stance

An example of a situation when I have taken an argumentative stance is when I was talking to my daughter about the ridiculous gas prices. She told me she had heard the views of some media figures about the gas prices being high because of foreign oil and the unrest in the middle east. She believes the reason our forces are stationed in the middle eastern countries is because the United States is dependent on foreign oil and in order to get the oil the United State needs, those countries are being regulated by the United States military.
I took and argumentative stance by asking, is the United States dependent on foreign oil or does the US have enough oil to be self sustaining? Is there a substantial amount of oil in Alaska? Does the price of gas go up because the US oil companies see the unrest in the Middle East and see it as a way to increase their revenue? 

Expectations for the course

In reviewing the table of contents, I expect the course to cover the process of developing an argumentative thesis statement. I expect to learn the steps to writing a well researched essay that is organized, supportive to the topic and persuasive.
My first thoughts are that this class will be very challenging for me. I am very interested in learning about writing an argumentative research paper. I know it will be beneficial to my education and I am excited to learn new things. I am however very nervous.

Spot Check Criteria

I think a 4-rating on a posting requires that I have a journal entry that is clear and researched to the best of my ability. I think it also requires providing examples and analysis that stay on the topic of the posting, supporting the idea. In the entry I should use different views, if appropriate and stay within the the limits of the topic. The posting should go into as much detail as possible. It should keep the reader interested and flow smoothly. It should contain well thought out and researched support of the topic.