Summative Exercise Posting

I chose this blog as my best exercise posting.

Exercise 5.2 Martin Luther King, Jr Letter

1. I think it can be explained as Rogerian because as he wrote he was finding common ground by talking about the common beliefs of Christians and the same beliefs as Americans.
2.  He made and effort to establish common ground when he quoted from the Bible and from the former Presidents and from the Declaration of independence. He did succeed in establishing common ground because most Americans have the same beliefs as well as Christians.
3. The moments that seemed un-Rogerian were when he spoke of the clergymen commending the Birmingham Police Department. He did not see common ground on that at all and it could have had a negative effect on the reader.
4. King definitely used ethos and appealed to emotions when he was writing of how it feels watching the violence against blacks. He also appeals to logos when he was writing about how we all have not only a legal but moral responsibility to obey just laws. I think he uses those appeals to get the readers to agree that there are just and unjust laws and the reasons needed to break the unjust laws.
5. He seemed to make a special effort to reach his audience of fellow clergy when he spoke of how disappointed he was in the white church and its leadership.
6. In his essay, King’s sequence was Rogerian because he started with identifying the shared problem of just and unjust laws and problem of unequal rights. Then he stated Christian beliefs that they all agree on from the Bible and Apostles and Christ.  Further on he spoke of the misunderstandings of how the clergy saw his actions as “unwise and untimely” but explain why he chose that time. He found common ground in human rights for everyone and how they could all work together.
7. I think he did not have to take a more aggressive approach in his letter. His appeals to emotions seem to really work for me. Also the common ground he stresses that all mankind deserve equal rights. I think it was an important time to find common ground and take the Rogerian approach because it would have made white people mad if he took a different approach.

Exercises 6.1, 6.2 and 6.6

6.1
1. a. I think the author is using the method of Contradictions and Oversimplifications.
    b. I think the author is using the method of Inconsistencies.
    c. The author is using the method of Omissions or Oversights.
    d. The author is using the method of Oversimplifications.

6.2
1. Buying a new or a used car.
Sample or survey different age groups of people who have owned or own the type of vehicle I am thinking of buying. I would make sure that those who I spoke to actually had experience with the type of vehicle in question. Get information and statistics from the manufacturer of the vehicle. Look for reliable reviews of the vehicle.
2. Choosing a birthday gift for a friend or parent.
I would come up with ideas based on things I have experienced being around this person. I would take a survey of the people who are also friends or family of the individual and based on the majority, would purchase a present.
3. Determining the chemical composition of an unknown gas.
I would likely get statistics and information from at least 20 to 30 studies that have been done on the chemical composition.
I would make sure that the studies were performed by reliable sources such as scientists or experts in chemical compositions.

6.6
1. An article on improving airport security
I could create a scenario of a family traveling to see their grandparents for the 1st time in 10 years and the need for people to feel safe on the airplane with their children.
2.An article on preserving the individuals right to privacy
I could tell a story of someone whose privacy was invaded and how it has changed their life since then.
3.An article an teaching children to swim before age five.
I could dramatize how the brain learns better at age five or that it gives children better coordination skills at an early age.
4. An article on reducing the risk of drowning accidents among children.
I could tell a story of a family that has had a child drown and how it could have been prevented if the precautions were in place at the time.

Exercise 5.2 Martin Luther King, Jr Letter

1. I think it can be explained as Rogerian because as he wrote he was finding common ground by talking about the common beliefs of Christians and the same beliefs as Americans.
2.  He made and effort to establish common ground when he quoted from the Bible and from the former Presidents and from the Declaration of independence. He did succeed in establishing common ground because most Americans have the same beliefs as well as Christians.
3. The moments that seemed un-Rogerian were when he spoke of the clergymen commending the Birmingham Police Department. He did not see common ground on that at all and it could have had a negative effect on the reader.
4. King definitely used ethos and appealed to emotions when he was writing of how it feels watching the violence against blacks. He also appeals to logos when he was writing about how we all have not only a legal but moral responsibility to obey just laws. I think he uses those appeals to get the readers to agree that there are just and unjust laws and the reasons needed to break the unjust laws.
5. He seemed to make a special effort to reach his audience of fellow clergy when he spoke of how disappointed he was in the white church and its leadership.
6. In his essay, King’s sequence was Rogerian because he started with identifying the shared problem of just and unjust laws and problem of unequal rights. Then he stated Christian beliefs that they all agree on from the Bible and Apostles and Christ.  Further on he spoke of the misunderstandings of how the clergy saw his actions as “unwise and untimely” but explain why he chose that time. He found common ground in human rights for everyone and how they could all work together.
7. I think he did not have to take a more aggressive approach in his letter. His appeals to emotions seem to really work for me. Also the common ground he stresses that all mankind deserve equal rights. I think it was an important time to find common ground and take the Rogerian approach because it would have made white people mad if he took a different approach.

Exercise 4.2

1.       A. Qualifier - When a mayor has not disclosed past criminal history, he should be removed from office.

Evidence-Legal data - Policies that govern elected officials.

Statistical data – opinion polls

Warrant- may be implied - elected officials should not have an arrest record.

 Counterclaim – Elected officials should not be judged for past mistakes.  Counter data- testimonial data, maybe firsthand experience.

Counter Warrant- Although some individuals have had prior criminal records, they should still be able to hold a position as mayor.

B. Qualifier- Novels that include the use of racial slurs should be banned from public school classrooms if they are not for educational purposes.

Evidence-scholarly data and statistical data

Warrant – Society is obligated to ban the use of novels that use racial slurs if they are not for educational purposes.

Counterclaim- Public schools should give students access to all literature, even if racial slurs are used.

Counter data-statistical data

Counter warrant – Public schools are obligated to allow all literature in classrooms.

C. Qualifier- Beef in restaurants should be prepared well-done unless requested by the consumer.

Evidence- scientific data and experiential data on beef undercooked

Warrant-Undercooked beef  has dangers of E-coli and society is responsible to protect individuals from eating it.

Counterclaim – Regardless of the dangers of E-coli, individuals should be able to choose to eat undercooked beef.

Counter data– statistical data, like opinion polls

Counterwarrant- Individuals have the right to eat undercooked meat.

2.       Classical Model

 Issue –Living conditions in Pocatello

 Thesis -It is important to improve the conditions of Pocatello for our future generations

Evidence- Reports of poor living conditions in Pocatello that explain why they are poor.

Opposing views- The argument that the living conditions in Pocatello are good.

Refutation of opposing views and recommendations for resolving the problem.

Conclusion

 Toulmin Model

 Claim – Persuade you to believe that the living conditions in Pocatello are poor and need to          be improved.

Data/Grounds- Scientific data form reports from environmental agencies. Statistical data from laboratory experiments of Pocatello water and soil.

Warrant – It is society’s obligation to improve living conditions in Pocatello for the future generations.

3.       A.Books are an environmental problem when they start to destroy trees at an alarming rate.

 B. Cats make better pets than dogs because they are easily house trained.

 C. Students should be admitted to college on merit only because the students would be better    prepared for college.

4.      A. Learning about economics is college better prepares students for their careers.

B. College courses over the internet make is easier for individuals to get an education.

C. Sex-education courses need improvement in high school to better educate those individuals.

    5.   Backing

A . Scientific backing from studies of college students

B.  Backing can come from testimonials.

C. Backing can come from own experiences.

Exercise 3.1 (pg 100) questions

1. I personally do not think Guillebaud and Hayes supported their thesis the best they could. They mentioned that 50% of all pregnancies were unplanned but did not provide evidence of that. I also would like to see evidence that countries with controlled populations like China have more crops, fish and fossil fuels. It was kind of all over the place to me. I would have like to have had statics that back up the statement of "no increase in per capita wealth or other presumed essentials".
2. a) I think some of the statistics were useful. The statistic of the 2 billion people that live in poverty was useful to me. b) The decline in the fertility rate in Iran seems relevant. That the couples are educated about family planning and the fertility rate went down. c)I don't think that the statistics were very thorough. I think they were very vague. 
3. They did appeal to logic by getting me to think logically that the more people there are, the less resources. Although I think they tried to appeal to compassion, it didn't work for me. They also appealed to authority stating the UK doctors should beak a deafening silence. It just wasn't effective to me or appropriate.
4. I did not find the refutation very effective. It was not convincing to me and lacked evidence. They could have expanded further about why population control does not work or how meeting women's unmet fertility needs and choices does work. 
5. I feel like the overall structure of the piece was confusing and hard to follow. I didn't feel like it could have changed my mind or convinced me of anything. To me it did not follow the Classical argument structure very well. I don't think they ever established a clear context for the problem. It was confusing to me. It did not engage me or keep my attention. It could have been strengthened by introducing the problem better. In the book it states that the heart of the Classical argument is the evidence and then reinforcing it by persuasive appeals. I just didn't see the evidence it needed. to be convincing.

Element 2 of Exercise 2.7

When I am thinking of my reading and if my motivation to read has changed, I think of the things that I have been reading. I have noticed a change in the things I think about when I am reading. I think about my view on the subject the author is writing about and think of an argumentative statement to disagree with the topic.
I also am reading more with a purpose. There is so much I can learn when I read to improve myself or gain education on a subject.I am motivated to learn more and be educated on subjects that I have not been before. I have noticed in different reading I have done the different styles of writing that I have learned from this class. I am motivated to read also to feel inspired and spiritual.

Exercise 2.2 Campus Article

1. I read an article about 'Idaho State of Mind' a television program produced at ISU.

1. The most important thing I learned from this piece was that it will provide students with a unique educational experience and will increase their skills and help them prepare for their future careers. It will give the students opportunities to polish their talents and the program will be broadcast statewide.
2. The evidence the author uses to support the claim convincingly is stating that the students will have hands-on experience to produce a show and have it aired on a network. The students will be in a better position to compete with others for careers.
3. The concluding insight the author left me with is that with the opportunities presented to the students of ISU majoring in the mass communications, they will have an advantage and be competitive when the are entering  their future careers.

2.  The value of prereading to me is that it is an effective way of obtaining specific, brief information and determine the central purpose and key points. This will help me in reading articles that I will be using to write my paper. It also will be a good way to read my draft to see if it is easy to find the central purpose of my paper. I think it will help me save time also, which is very valuable to me.

Exercise 7.6

1. a. not common knowledge
    b. common knowledge
    c. common knowledge
    d. not common knowledge

2 .I chose the argument , Patriot Act, to evaluate. The author cites factual information from the last date the Patriot Act was renewed. She does not have any information cited after 2009 and there could be some updated facts since then she could have used.
The facts are relevant to the topic of the paper. She cites information that can be connected to and supportive to the disillusionment that the Patriot Act is intrusive on Americans.
I found the paper to cite reliable sources. Some of the information given was facts from the Library of Congress and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The writings were clear and easy to understand. She did not need to paraphrase much.
I think when it comes to thoroughness, I would have to say that there was more potential to add more statistics and facts. I think the topic is very debatable and needs to provide more data to be convincing.
3. Paraphrase A is unacceptable because is it plagiarized. The writer does not acknowledge any author and gives no indication that the information was taken from Scott Wallace's article. It is written as though the ideas were his own.
Paraphrase B is acceptable.
Paraphrase C is unacceptable. The paraphrase is faulty because it has distorted the original idea by stating that "timber barons are murdering anyone who gets in their way".

Exercise 1.5 strengths and weaknesses

In reading the essay, High Score Education, I think one of the strengths in the body is that the author is very persuasive and used clear and concise language. Another strength I think the author  has is that he is able to relate to his audience and use examples of games that are relevant and current. He shows that he has experience using the video games also.
I think one of the weaknesses in the essay is that it does not include any evidence to support his claim that video games are a more powerful form of learning than a classroom. He does not show that he has carefully researched the issue and gathered statics that are reliable to be convincing.

Exercise 7.3

1. Listed below is a description of some strengths and weaknesses I found when comparing the effectiveness of Google and Dogpile search engines.
Google Strengths

1. One of the largest search engines, the current estimate is 20+billion databases that include PDF, DOC, PS and many other file types.
2. Cached archive of web pages as they looked when they were indexed.
3. Not case sensitive, will bring up the same results if capitalized or lower case.
4. Can tun on family filter to exclude adult web pages.
5. Has 34 languages.

Google Weaknesses

1. Limited search features.
2. Link searches must be exact and are incomplete.
3. Only indexes first 101 KB of a web page.

Dogpile Strengths

1. It is a meta-search engine which supplements major search engines.
2. Searches all the best know search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN and Ask.
3. Searches a series of content sites, then compiles those results and displays them in a uniform manner, eliminating duplicates and restoring results according to their relevance.
4. Produces fewer results but move applicable.
5. Can opt to skip any engines that you don't want Dogpile to search

Dogpile Weaknesses

1. Didn't find any

2. I entered an online forum called thoughts.com and learned about how others felt about the topic of drug testing individuals prior to receiving food stamps. I learned that several states have already adopted it into law, and  some other states are trying to do the same. I knew that the subject was controversial to begin with and I was very interested in learning  the views of others. One of the most presented arguments was that drug testing violates the constitution. I read views of people concerned about the children of the parents who use drugs and are receiving food stamps and how they will be fed.
I also read comments from those who are for drug testing recipients of food stamps. Some comments I read were stating if you can drug test working individuals then why can't those who are not working be drug tested.

3.List of blogs that have been the most useful source of information for my research topic.

http://kingdominreverse.blogspot.com/

http://sinnerscereal.com/wordpress/

http://www.postonpolitics.com/2011/09/aclu-sues-scott-to-overturn-drug-testing-of-welfare-recipients/http://www.patientfromhell.org/missouri-drug-addiction-prevention-measures.htm
I found these blogs most useful because they gave information about the topic I may be writing my paper on. They have view from both sides of the issue and information about why the law violates the constitution. They all give good reasons why they are for or against the issue. This is helpful to me because I will use some of the strongest points in their blogs to argue in my paper.