Class Presentations

The presentations in class yesterday were vague in their information. I feel like there should have been more information to help tell their point. In stead of separating key points and than adding details, maybe they could add a key point and follow directly with summaries of the point. I feel that would be more concise to getting their point across.

The images and graphics chosen were excellent. Some made me look away because I couldn't just watch the pain without reacting.
In summary I think my fellow students did very well and am proud of them since you could see it was difficult for some of them to be up there presenting in front if us all.

Opposing Viewpoints

When looking at the debate that comes up when one wants to discuss whether or not to drug-test welfare recipients there has to be a well-rounded discussion. I have chosen to use "Welfare Programs Should Include Mandatory Drug Testing" (Haerens). and "Welfare Programs Should Not Include Mandatory Drug Testing" (Lewis, Kenefick). 

There are many good points to both sides of this debate. The writer approving drug testing gives a personal perspective when she relives memories of an addict mother trading/selling welfare for drugs and money. She doesn't get in to much depth when it comes to research and facts though. It leaves a lot of questions unanswered. She is great at appealing to ethos and pathos but not at the logos of the situation. The writers opposing the drug testing give a great deal of information that relates the logos and are experienced Social Society reseracgers so that gives them ethos. They however don't play to the pathos at all. It give their article an impersonal point of view.

I feel that after reading both articles, I can say that because the first writer (Haerens) is giving moving testimony from a personal standpoint, she is the more believable source. I do think that children suffer when we as a society don't force their parents to do the right thing.

"Welfare Programs Should Include Mandatory Drug Testing." Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 July 2016.

Lewis, Matt, and Elizabeth Kenefick. "Welfare Programs Should Not Include Mandatory Drug Testing." Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Random Drug Testing of TANF Recipients is Costly, Ineffective, and Hurts Families." Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 17 July 2016.

Toulmin Argument

Many colleges and universities have instituted online education programs. These programs are the best way to learn because they offer many benefits to the colleges and students.

If colleges are going to meet the rising demand for education, they are going to have to be able to compete in a market that is becoming more technology dependent every day. There is a need for classrooms that will give top notch education combined with flexibility on scheduling.

The online course that I took gave me the freedom to work my full-time, manage my household and attend classes all at the same time. This gave me the advantage of getting my degree while not causing my family or employer to suffer for lack of my time.

Recent studies show that students that attended all or some online classes received higher marks on tests than students receiving traditional classroom educations.

Some people argue that students are not learning through online classes as well because they are not receiving the quality of education they would receive with a brick and mortar classroom and on site professor. They believe that students are not effective at time management when not instructed to attend class at given times and locations.

These arguments don’t work since the average student needing online classes is aware of their time management and know that they would not be able to commit to a rigid schedule of classes due to conflicts with work and/or family. They also understand that they are giving up having a professor teach them face to face and can manage learning with web-accessed professors.

For these reasons, online education is the best for a student that is not able to attend regular classes with on-site classrooms and professors. We should be allowing all students to learn in the environment that works best for them. How else will an entire portion of the world’s population be able to better themselves and their futures if they aren’t allowed access to online learning?

Rogerian Argument

With more and more students taking online courses, both the students and the colleges benefit. For example, colleges can reach students nationally and internationally. In addition to the savings that colleges save by removing the expense of a large brick and mortar operation. Students benefit for having the ability to learn on their schedule as well as having 24 hour access to their educational tools.

However, online education does have some drawbacks. Students lose the ability to create relationships among their peers. As well as not having one on one assistance when they need it.

These problems could be solved by offering hybrid classes that will allow students the online learning experience while offering them a traditional classroom they can come to when they need it. Colleges can also make chat rooms assignments a part of their graded learning experience.

If these problems are addressed, both students and colleges would benefit because the students would be able to schedule the online portion of their classes but still have access to traditional classrooms for additional learning enhancements.  Colleges would only have to employ professors part-time and would attract students that need both learning aspects.

Dreaming of Sweatshops

Kristof begins his essay with referencing to recent political moves regarding "labor standards" He brings to light another view on the debate about whether sweatshops or using bad labor standards. Kristof believes his readers are aware that there is an entire population that believe sweatshops are their only route to a better financial outlook. His article is trying to provide another viewpoint for the debate about sweatshops. He is getting his point across by using examples of people living in poverty that to most people, is unimaginable. He also uses his own life to tell of what he himself has seen and heard from the people in his country.

He recognizes that people are against sweatshops because they are trying to keep people from being used and their labor being underpaid and overworked. He goes against this by adding the quotes from people that are living in dumps and trying to make a living in hellish conditions and making less than they would in a sweatshop. 

Kristof closes with a story of a young girl that is making less than poverty wages and has a sister that suffered the loss of a limb because of a garbage truck running her over. She believes that with all the faults of the sweatshops that they are still better than the conditions of the dump she works at now.

Kristof makes a very effective and valid point for his argument. He uses vivid words to describe the "dante-like vision of hell." The way he uses word-play makes you feel like you can smell, taste, breathe and feel the dirty and dank place that these poor people are trying to get out of. He has talked to  and seen people that are living in these countries that we know so little about. I realize after reading this that perhaps there is a better way to purchase that will help labor standards without overworking and underpaying people.

Violent Images and Children's Exposure to it

A visual posted on the site mediaviolence.org depicts animated characters in various scenes of violence. These visuals make a powerful statement about how animation is becoming increasingly violent in their themes and content.
The central image shows a dark, shadowy and ominous figure overlooking a city while holding a weapon on his shoulder. The background enhances the central image because it has dark shadows and an almost fiery look about the city that is being watched.
The visual includes words as well as images. The words, "Grand Theft Auto," imply this game will include illegal and possibly dangerous play.
The goal of the organization that posted the visual seems to be to draw an audience in that will enjoy illegal activity. It also is drawn in an almost cartoon format as if to draw in an audience of children.
The visual is not effective because today's society needs more action and less imagery to keep their attention and make them want to purchase their game.