The difference in writing the first paper compared to the 2^nd paper.

The first paper we were challenged to write was a narrative peace about a writing experience we had encountered at some point in our lives. I found it a little easy to come up with an idea to write about and could probably fill a couple of pages. The format and lay-out was pretty easy to follow since it was like telling a story and I am pretty good at telling stories. The only thing that I had a problem with and as always its grammar and spelling but nun the less I liked writing the first paper.I think i like being more descriptive and being able to use my own knowledge of the facts rather than having to look them up and cite them and make sure they are accurate. After all that you have to make sure its in the right format as well. I don't like to write that much so the less rules and restraints the better for me. I also liked the narrative over the argumentative because it brought me back to that hell hole they called great lakes naval station. I enjoyed the bad and the good memories that writing that peace brought along with it. The second paper was an argument paper where we had to choose two relative topics and tell the reader which one you thought would be the better choice and why. With this paper I found myself not as enthused about it, not sure if it’s due to it being later in the quarter or that I had less free range and had to follow a few guide lines. Once again it’s pretty easy for me to come up with a subject to write about but having to follow the few guidelines I felt less enthused about it. Although I liked the subjects and had a personal connection with the peace it’s just something about the narrative I liked the best so far. T he argumentative paper made me feel like a robot because of the material and the way I had to present it. Yes the narrative has some guidelines but it doesn't feel as restrictive as the second paper did. I guess i just like to be able to write the way I talk. I am one who doesn't like to write a whole lot so if i can find pleasure in writing a peace it goes by a lot faster and easier. when the subject I am writing about is one of particular interest and one i can relate to on a personal level it make writing a paper easier for me.

THINKING AOUT THE TEXT PAGE 175

1.       I would say her main insight is how we compare our dreams to the American dream and what it actually means. I think the last passage put it all together, she gave good examples of each character and the role they played in the show and how it depicts where we are now verses back then.

2.       She establishes her authority in the first paragraph where she talks about people always wanting and upgrade and how it’s a sickness. She also sheds light on how we as a nation are never happy with the simple things and we always want more than what we need.  

3.       Once again she appeals to readers in her first paragraph but also in her second and then last passage. She conveys to the simplest where having a car, a house and a job to pay for it all was the American dream but now we have super unattainable goals that we almost kill ourselves to reach them.

4.       I have never watched the show before but had a general idea that it was depicting how it was back in the 50’s and 60’s . The way she describes the characters and their roles it fits into what I was thinking of the show. I am also somewhat familiar with the way things where back then from old movies and such and it sounds about right. The American dream being sold away by cheap advertisements telling you what you should and do with your life

Health and mental disorders have been around since the dawn of man but man has only begun to understand what and how they are caused. That has caused human race to set out and search for the answers to the puzzles that cause people to get sick. Scientists and doctors over the years have discovered ways to combat these illnesses by using manufactured drugs in recommended doses to combat disease and mental disorders. The issue that arises when taking these medications is what side effects they come with and how much will it impair an individual.  Throughout the years people have used other means besides prescription pills to try and cure the same types of health and mental disorders. Marijuana has been one of those outlets to help treat many health and mental disorders people suffer from and have had great success. The issue that arises from taking medical marijuana is what sided effects it comes with and how much it impairs an individual. So should prescription pills and prescription marijuana be in the same category when it comes to punishment at the work place.

Medical prescriptions have generally been viewed as a harmless solution to a health or mental disorder. When a doctor prescribes a patient some sort of man-made product to combat the stress of everyday life, that so called patient is trusting that doctor to help and not further hurt or just put a band aid on the problem. This has been the problem for generations of people having to go through the health system and has somewhat brain washed people into thinking that prescription pills are the only answer to what the medical problem is and that it’s okay to do everyday activities while on these prescriptions. Doctors have been treating patients for decades from the common cold to cancer using modern technology and science. One of the innovations of the medical world was the discovery and then the manufacturing of prescription drugs.  Some of the early explorers in modernizing the natural properties found in nature where, Doctor pepper, Coca-Cola and anyone else who believed in there concoctions to help heal what ails you. Doctors have been pushing prescription pills since the 40’s to help the house wife with her daily chores around the house or to help relax her after the hard day of work.  This is where the problem starts because they make it seem okay to use these drugs for when and where ever you need to calm own or its directed you to take it a certain amount a day at certain time intervals.

Should prescription pills be viewed in the same category as medical marijuana in the work place? Medical prescriptions have generally consisted of little multi colored pills of some sort that a doctor prescribed to you to help with pain or some type of health disorder. Over the years people have become reliant on prescription pills and the side effects that come along with them. People take prescription pills before they go to work so they can deal with their anxiety or pain issues. It makes me wonder why people look so harshly at medical marijuana over prescription pills due to that medical marijuana does the same thing as the prescription pills.

                Medical marijuana has been legal since __________ and people have been using it way before that for its healing properties. 

Thinking about the text page 100.           

1.       Spriggs states many facts about why local farming and buying from those farms is a good idea and it will help out local economy. She makes her argument a little confusing those because she puts the opposition’s side in too but doesn't make it a 100% clear which is better due to the good examples of the good and wrong the both can cause.

2.       Spriggs tosses the other side’s story into by mentioning that the third world workers will suffer as well as the people across the United States who won’t be able to get cheaper produce or strawberries during the winter.

3.       I am not too sure how I feel the whole peace was a little confusing. She starts out with talking about how nice it is to get certain fruits and vegetables at different times of the year but then goes into why local farming is good. Throughout the peace she goes back and forth not really declaring which is the lesser of the two evils.

4.       The photos take your attention and focus it on what she is talking about. It also provides the visual to explain better what she is trying to say.

Thinking about the text on page 91

1.       The argument and the point that Mr. Herbert is trying to make is one of more schooling and stricter guidelines for the teachers.  He puts some blame on the teachers and their lake of interest of the children being taught. He talks about how the teachers should be observed before being granted teenier.  He then talks about how children are doing better with longer school days and less days off.

2.       His tone is one of blame and finger pointing towards the teachers and students. He talks about teacher quality over academic prowess and how the students need to be geared towards today’s technological advances and not the archaic ones we have been teaching.

3.       He starts off with a personal story that affected him and could have affected others in the same way.  He states facts that report the status of the education in America and that even though we make a little head way in math and English we shouldn't celebrate because it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s really going on.

4.       The first passage that comes to kind is the very first one that opens up the argument about the status of teacher and students in public schools. The second passage is at the end when he points out how effective the KIPP program is and how its turning troubled youths into better students.

5.       I believe that you, Mr. Herbert are somewhat right and wrong. Your argument about the teachers is good but I feel somewhat unfair because after their trial period a teacher could be fired for no reason and then have to start from scratch with negative reviews. I do believe though those teachers should be screened to see if they are still an affective teaching and learning tool for the kids they are going to be helping along in life. I also feel that you have to look at the kids; sure we should gear those towards success but why not let them choose. I am pretty sure that everything would balance out rather than force kids to learn what they don’t like.

                Mr. Herbert’s argument is one of telling the teachers to care more or they will lose their jobs. He also argues the point that if we force the kids into longer school days and the duration of school, shorter summer brakes, and the upgrading of the teaching module so it can help better prepare the young youths of today for the technological advances of tomorrow.  The facts that he spits out are ones of truth but he doesn't mention how if we maybe gear the youths towards their interests rather the interests that society puts on them we would see a change in the way teachers and students do in school.  

Things that interest me

S o I have a paper due, it’s a position paper about some of the things that interest me and that can be somewhat argumentative. Well some things that interest me are the recent legalization of marijuana, the way people treat each other, where we have come as a civilization, why do plants do the mysterious things they do. I have a lot of other interests but I think these have enough topics around the base subject that I can find something to write 1200 to 1500 words on.

My response to the “N” word

Watching the five minute video about Tim wise and the “n” word and  yes the derogatory word used back in the day to classify African Americans and still used today by all sorts of people and races. He talks about how, when to use the word and if indeed is okay to use. I like how he states the fact that for one, black and white people would have to take separate conversations and he being white would have no part or interest in what the African Americans decided to do with the word. He takes a type of position of its wrong to use the word no matter who you are but being of that decent you should be able to decide on what words to use and not use. He also goes on talking about the red neck issue where being called a red neck is not as degrading as the “N” word due to the fact that it was never in the same group as the “N” word.  He mentions how if a Jewish man where to tell jokes about red necks such as Jeff Foxworthy they wouldn't be as funny, but if he tells Jewish jokes they would be funnier. Tim wise seems to find that no one should actually use any degrading or hurtful slurs towards anyone in the spoken word. He talks about how if someone is being quoted in text, it should be alright but when spoken it takes on another character which shouldn't be accepted.  I was skeptical at first because I have noticed that today people think that it is acceptable to use the “N” word and others of the same character. I don’t find it acceptable at all; a word that is not uplifting or positive should not be used as such. I find it socially unacceptable to use such words and if they must be spoken due so in the comfort of friends and not around strangers. I really enjoyed Tim wises video and the position he takes on the “N” word and pretty much all other degrading words.

The message on the video pertained to the average working class and how they can help make the change Obama is talking about.  The actors and song writers in the video are well known for being advocates for the less fortunate. It also takes all different types of people and unites us as one and that if we all come together and work towards one goal we can accomplish it. The relationship between the famous people who watch them was also touched on. People see the celebrities they like and relate to them. The video made his speech into a song to help people further relate to what he is trying to accomplish. The video helps break down the visual message of people coming together to accomplish a goal. The goal was accomplished because he became our first African American president.

Sidney sterling

                                                                THINK ABOUT YOUR WRITING

I recently had to write a paper on the effects of medical marijuana for my life science class. I feel that I did my research very thoroughly on both sides of the subject. I first considered the negative aspects of cannabis and what the draw backs where from using it not only health wise but also the way it effects a person’s social abilities. Then I spoke about the positive aspects of cannabis and what they could do for a person’s health and social abilities. I found myself taking the position of the advocate for medical marijuana due to the facts that I found and how the government has been with holding the true facts if medical cannabis. I responded to what the beliefs and urban myths about cannabis over the years and how they have found most to be just that, urban myths or lies. I presented a clear reason why the topic matters, because if we can use an alternate source of healing that doesn’t cause so many side effects. My authoritative tone was one of siding with the medical marijuana advocates and what they stood for. I also believed it appealed to readers since I live in Washington State where it is legal now not just for medical patients. I feel I could have maybe done more on the negative side of it but all in all it was a good paper.

Sidney sterling

YES WE CAN

The yes we can video is a compelling peace of work.  It takes the simple words of a man running for president and turns it into an emotional, moving peace to convey his point and position on the matter of change in the government. It wasn't only for change but for something that has never happened before, an African American president. To help support the position of what Mr. Obama is saying they add in a plethora of famous people singing to his speech and you have a powder keg of emotional and strong messages being sent by the actors, singers and other famous people included in the video.  The message that the people singing the song put out is that they agree with Obama and what he stands for and that they are going to vote for him. They capture a lot of different aspects with the video and touch on a lot of people’s responses to people they like in the media and that are famous. If I had the position to create something like this I don’t think I would change a thing. They have a strong point and message they put out and he was elected president of the United States, so I wouldn't change a thing about the video.