Final Reflections

Three things I learned from this class:
-What a Rogerian Argument is
-What a Narrative Argument is
-New MLA format when incorporating sources into a paper

Reflections on my writing process:
My writing process hasn't changed at all this semester.I spent too many years in middle school and high school conforming to teachers standards on "the best" or "the most effective" way to write. There is no such thing as a best method when it comes to writing. We are all writers, and we know what works for us. My senior year I finally got to use my own writing method, and I produced some of my best work. Now that I'm in college and this class allows us to choose a method that works, I'm sticking with mine. With my headphones turned on and a snack by my side, I begin to write. Once I get my thoughts on paper I'll either love everything I write, or I'll condemn it all and start over.

Reflection 4.2

After my workshop I spent a lot of time reviewing my paper and deciding which argumentative approach I would like to take. Similar to my original paper (the very first draft before I posted to my blog) I argued in favor of teen pregnancy. The first time I tried this, the paper sounded like an overwhelming teenage rant. (Seriously, you could hear "We're Not Gonna Take It" playing in the back of your head as you read). I shifted the focus of this paper to discuss the importance of education in regard to teenage pregnancy. The majority of my argument stemmed from personal experience, arguing that my young age did not stop me from being able to deliver this baby, it was my education that allowed me to continue my work. This was, of course, followed up by outside sources that helped me to build credibility and enhance my argument.

Specific changes I made after the workshop:
-many students wanted to know the difference between an E.M.T. and a Paramedic
-people wanted some details of the actual childbirth. I found a good balance in including this information without getting too graphic.
- students asked that I include a little bit of my training/background as an E.M.T.

Essay 4.2: Kids Don’t Come with Instruction Manuals, but Preparation is Still Essential

“KYM819 Fair Lawn Communications to the duty crew” were the first words transmitted through the pager that was securely fastened to the belt of my cargo pants. I know that cargo pants are wildly out of style, and trust me, I don’t wear them with any regularity. This is just a snapshot of my life that consumes a big part of who I am when I’m not away at college. Every alter ego needs an appropriate wardrobe, and mine would not be complete without my stunning pair of navy blue cargo pants. This is the uniform I wear whenever I am on duty for the Volunteer Ambulance Corps in my town of Fair Lawn, NJ.  Being an E.M.T. has truly been a rewarding experience, and in the two short years that I have served as a member of this organization, my cargo pants and I have seen many interesting injuries, and have met some even more interesting people. Through all of this there is one call in particular that I tend to replay on a loop in my mind, remembering every detail of the call from start to finish: the call that you are about to hear. The message transmission continued as I laced up my boots and seized my stethoscope off of the ice cold kitchen countertop: “…child birth in progress” calmly danced off of the dispatcher’s lips and all I could do was give the pager an incredulous glare. “Was this really happening?” I thought to myself. This past winter break I had the honor of becoming one of the youngest regular members of the Corps, which allows me to respond to calls with just one other member and assume all medical responsibility. On this day my partner was Nick, a good friend of mine who was a freshman in college at the time, and the two of us were about to deliver a baby.

I weaved through side roads to avoid all traffic lights and commuter trains as I responded to our headquarters. Pulling into the parking lot I threw the transmission into park before I got out of the car to meet Nick. He hustled over to me and said, “Did you hear what I just heard?” It turns out that Nick was not as excited as I was to deliver a baby. He began to delegate the work and volunteered himself as the official driver for the call, making me the official stork in this delivery. Nick and I arrived on scene and entered the patient’s house with a well-organized medical bag that balanced out our untamed nerves. A baby-faced 17 year old boy answered the door and pointed us in the direction of our patient. To our surprise, the boy who met us at the door turned out to be the baby’s father, and the 16 year old girl sitting in the living room was our patient for the day.

I assessed our patient and attempted to calm her down as tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. Her boyfriend mentioned that she had been in pain for hours, but the girl was hoping to wait for her mother to come home before she went to the hospital. Our patient described the intense pressure building in the lower half of her body, and we knew that she was well into her contractions. Nick and I called for Paramedics, a standard procedure for emergency child birth. Although child birth is included in the job description for E.M.T.s, Paramedics have almost 1,000 more hours of training, and they have the ability to deliver medication to patients if necessary. On this day, however, we were surprised to find that all paramedic units were preoccupied, and we would be left on our own. With only the knowledge from E.M.T. school to guide us, we made the most of the hand we were dealt and meticulously planned out the birth.

First, Nick and I transferred our patient onto the ambulance stretcher. Sheets were draped along the side of the stretcher, protecting the floor of the ambulance from the dregs of child birth. In school we had been warned that child birth is a messy procedure. Nick and I joked for a full hour when we cleaned the ambulance after this call; “messy” is an understatement if we ever heard one. As Nick drove to the hospital I coached our patient through the birth. As the baby girl was evicted from her dark, quiet home for the past nine months, I was careful to keep her body below her mother’s hips. I quickly suctioned the baby’s mouth, followed by her nose, before giving her the conventional welcome pat on the bottom. I removed two clamps from the obstetrics kit, and when the venous rope that connected this mother and child stopped pulsating, I placed the clamps two inches apart, and cut right between them. Finally, the baby girl was swaddled in fresh linens and handed over to her eager young mother. It isn’t very often that a patient or an E.M.T. can be seen smiling in the back of an ambulance, but many aspects of this emergency call could be considered unconventional.  How many people can reminisce about a time when four people under the age of 20 worked to bring this baby into the world?

The nursing staff at the local hospital expected our arrival and assisted us immediately when we paraded through the automatic door. Other patients in the emergency room stared, and trustworthy people in scrubs whispered subtly behind their clipboards. It appeared that the thought of two teenage parents potentially raising a child proved to be too much for the staff and clientele of Valley Hospital. The defiant stares and whispers of bystanders were completely ignored by the courageous young couple who relished in the birth of their beautiful daughter.  Yes, this young woman was only 16 years old, but does her age necessarily make her incapable of raising a child? In the years from 1940 to 1960, America experienced its highest surge of teenage birth rates. Kriste Lindenmeyer, a Professor of History at the University of Maryland, regards this as one of the most fertile times in history, during which "one-third of American females had their first child before reaching age twenty” (Lindenmeyer, par 6). This was a time when young girls were expected to settle down with a man and begin their family. In the years following 1960, the teen birth rate began to drop due to advanced educational opportunities and careers for women. Some women chose to shed their old lifestyle for the opportunity to experience new things, but for others, the call of motherhood was too overpowering to leave behind. For the young couple I helped, their willingness to go through with the pregnancy proved that it was something they wanted to do. With the proper education and assistance, this couple could easily be prepared to raise their newborn child. They may not appear to be the ideal candidate for parenthood, but in comparison, Nick and I did not appear to be the most fit candidates to deliver a baby. It is our education that made the difference in this situation, and it is education that will distinguish young couples as poorly behaved adolescents, or competent parents.

So what educational resources are available to young couples who find themselves in the midst of teen parenthood? After much research, the answer looks bleak. A publication of the Institute for American Values concurs that “...most teen pregnancy initiatives concentrate almost exclusively on how teens should behave before they get pregnant…But once a girl or young woman is actually expecting a child, adult guidance from the larger community, particularly regarding marriage and adoption, frequently disappears. (Gallagher, par 54). It appears that America’s unwillingness to provide adequate education to teen parents is the very reason why teens are laced with the stigma of being unfit to raise a child. The education that we are providing to teenagers is ineffective at best and inadequate at worst. Our leaders must make changes to the current federally-funded sexual education and health programs that exist in public schools. Congress conducted a study in 2007 which found that “federally-funded abstinence-only programs have no beneficial impact on young people’s sexual behavior. (“Facts on American…”). So why do our leaders insist upon using abstinence-only programs to solve the growing issue of teen pregnancy? The fact is: teenage pregnancy is on the rise, and our current system needs fine-tuning. If teens are getting pregnant, and they are getting pregnant, then it is our responsibility to educate them properly, and arm them with knowledge that will benefit them in their current situation. Chastising teens for engaging in pre-marital sex would be redundant because the deed has been done. Although it is difficult, now is the time to accept that the pregnancy is real, and that teens deserve to know all of the options that are available to them. Adoption and abortion are not the only paths that teen parents can take, though most policy-makers prefer to believe that the less-informed teens are, the better off they will be.

The most interesting part of this story is the fact that no matter whom I tell their first reaction is always: “You’re 18 and you delivered a baby?” Naturally I always receive questions about being nervous, not feeling prepared, or wishing that paramedics had arrived and let me off the hook. The fact that people judge the situation based on age alone is what surprises me the most. Yes, I am only 18, and I would not say that I have extensive worldly knowledge or experience, but I am educated. I chose to give up my summer vacation to attend E.M.T. school for 120 hours of instruction, and that decision armed with the knowledge to handle a great variety of emergency situations. From my experience, patients certainly do not care about the age of the people helping them, as long as they receive the proper emergency help they need from trained individuals. At first glance I may not appear to be the ideal candidate to have autonomy of judgment in an emergency situation, but my extensive training and proficient skills say otherwise. It is proper education and my eagerness to learn that outfit me to do what I do. Nobody can deny the power that comes with knowledge, so what gives anyone the right to deny knowledge to those that deserve it?

Works Cited

“Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health” Guttmacher Institute. Jan 2011. Web. 7 May 2011.

Gallagher, Maggie. “The Age of Unwed Mothers: Is Teen Pregnancy the Problem?” Institute for American Values. 1999. Web. 6 May 2011.

Lindenmeyer, Kriste. Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society . The Gale Group. 2008. Web. 6 May, 2011.

Reflection 4.1

This is an incredibly rough draft. I've been playing around with it for a while, and I don't like the actual argument that I'm making (which is not posted on the rough draft). I found a ton of scholarly research that advocates for teen mothers, and I tried incorporating these sources into my paper. I ended up with 4 paragraphs of "preaching" and I absolutely hated the way it turned out. Several hours later I ended up deleting the whole thing. I would have left it in to be workshopped, but despite the feedback I'll receive, I know that I would have deleted it from the final draft anyway. Think of it this way, I saved you guys a lot of pain in not having to read that crap.

So I know that there isn't too much for everyone to read and workshop, but I'm hoping that the in-class workshop will set me on the right track. All comments are welcomed and appreciated!

Essay 4.1: Due Dates Come Quickly. It’s Time to Act Now.

“KYM819 Fair Lawn Communications to the duty crew” were the first words transmit through the pager that was securely fastened to the belt of my cargo pants. I know that cargo pants are not in style, and trust me, I don’t wear them with any regularity. This is just a snapshot of my life that consumes a big part of who I am when I’m not away at college. For the past two years I have been a member of my town’s Ambulance Corps. and I have seen many interesting injuries, and have met some even more interesting characters. But through all of this there is one call in particular that I tend to replay on a loop in my mind, remembering every detail of the call from start to finish. The message transmission continued as I laced up my boots and grabbed my stethoscope off of the cold countertop: “child birth in progress” danced off of the lips of the dispatcher’s mouth and all I could do was give the pager a quizzical glare. Over Winter break this year I had the honor of becoming one of the youngest regular members of the Corps., which means that I can respond to calls with just one other member and assume all medical responsibility. On this day my partner was my good friend Nick, a fantastic EMT who is a year older than I am, and the two of us were about to deliver a baby.

I weaved through side roads to avoid all traffic lights and trains as I responded to our headquarters. Pulling into the parking lot I threw the transmission into park before getting out of the car to meet Nick. The first words he said to me were, “Did you hear what I just heard?” It turns out that Nick was not as excited as I was to deliver a baby. He began to delegate the work and volunteered himself as the official driver for the call. Knowing that I would be the primary provider for the patient, I grabbed an extra set of gloves in preparation of the interesting call ahead. Nick and I arrived on scene and entered the patient’s house with a well-organized jump bag that balanced out our untamed nerves. A baby-faced 17 year old boy answered the door and pointed us in the direction of our patient. To our surprise, the boy who met us at the door turned out to be the baby’s father, and the 16 year old girl sitting in the living room was our patient for the day.

I assessed our patient and attempted to calm her down as tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. Her boyfriend mentioned that she had been in pain for hours as she described the intense pressure building in the lower half of her body. She was well into her contractions, and we had to determine how soon this baby would be delivered. Nick and I called for Paramedics, a standard procedure for emergency child birth, but none were available and we were left on our own. With only the knowledge from EMT school to guide us through, we made do with what we had, and began to plan out the birth.

I remember the rest of the call vividly, and I can retrace the steps I took to deliver a beautiful, healthy baby girl to this young couple. I did everything that was expected of me, as outlined in the EMT textbook I studied vigorously in summer EMT school, and I do not doubt anything I did that day. A shadow of doubt begins to enter my mind when I think about what happened after the baby was delivered and how this young couple got into the position they were in.
On the way to the hospital I handed the baby over to her exhausted mother who looked surprisingly calm considering what she had just been through. She looked down at the baby and sighed before speaking. "What should I name her?" she asked. That's when it really hit me that this girl was incredibly unprepared to be in this position. I wondered if she had thought any of this through, or knew about all of the options available to help her and the baby. In no way was I passing judgment, because I had no right to do so, but my patient had no idea what her next move would be, and I wasn't entirely sure that my 18 year old wisdom would be a very good guide.

Prewriting Essay 4

I honestly didn't do much prewriting for this paper. Telling stories is natural for me, so once I narrowed down my topic I decided to let the creative juices flow and see where that river brought me. I was very hesitant to outline a narrative argument because I would rather let the framework of the story shape where my argument leads, instead of the other way around).

For my narrative argument I am writing about a fascinating emergency call I responded to as a member of my town's Ambulance Corps. The paper is a detailed reflection of how two EMT's (ages 18 and 19) delivered a baby to a 16 year old girl. Thinking about the purpose of the paper/argument, I have to see what I decide to pick. Maybe I'll talk about the importance of support for teen mothers, or how lack of proper sexual education puts teenagers in a difficult position. I'll see where the story leads me...

Reflection 3.2

Another essay completed! Wow, time flies. I'm happy we got a bit of an extension on this paper because I needed that elbow room to make some much-needed corrections. I think Affirmative Action is very appropriate for a Rogerian Argument, but I didn't have a lot of experience with the topic. I can't think of a moment where I've been personally victimized by it, so I had no personal experience to include in my paper. This is the second paper where this has happened to me. I feel that I did a good job remaining neutral and finding common ground. Oddly enough, I almost feel as if the last assignment, my "Amy Chua paper" was more Rogerian than the paper I just completed. I wish I could have submit that essay for this assignment, but alas, what's done cannot be undone.

I had to work diligently to make sure I did not offend anyone by discussing this topic. Like I said, I don't have any personal experience with this topic, i just felt that it would be easier to incorporate Rogerian ideals into my body paragraphs. Finding research had its challenging moments because in my searches, I came across many biases and racist websites that I could not use.

I'm now really looking forward to writing the Narrative Argument, because I can tell a real story and use personal experience to help build my argument. While I know that I have to use outside research to support my claims in the fourth and final paper, arguing on my own (as I have been doing in my first drafts) will prove to be very effective.

Essay 3.2: Finding Balance in Negotiating the Effects of Affirmative Action

Opportunity is a valuable gift, and one that everyone deserves to be given. Our nation was built on the foundation that all men are created equal and deserve the opportunity to experience the rewards of their unyielding effort.   However, upon America’s seemingly even playing field, some would say that there are bumps in the ground that make it difficult for particular individuals to utilize our nation’s vast resources to reach their full potential. Thus, certain policies are put into place to level out all unnecessary hurdles, and to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the same resources and opportunities. One such policy is commonly referred to as “Affirmative Action” and it is supported by the United States Department of Labor. On its website, the Department of Labor states that the purpose of Affirmative Action is “to recruit and advance qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.” The expectation is that Affirmative Action will rightfully enhance the opportunities available to these underrepresented groups in our nation’s schools and workforce. Many argue that without policies such as Affirmative Action in place, the talents of our country’s brightest and most intelligent individuals will be overlooked and undermined due to racial injustice and prejudice in the workplace. While Affirmative action has been successful in granting opportunities to highly deserving individuals, I am concerned that this policy expands the discriminatory cavity between the facade of shiny teeth lining America's "colorblind" smile.
According to Dan Froomkin, a writer for the Washington Post, “Affirmative action is the nation's most ambitious attempt to redress its long history of racial and sexual discrimination. But these days it seems to incite, rather than ease, the nation's internal divisions (Froomkin par. 1).” One major concern of Affirmative Action is the idea that certain people are being granted preferential treatment based upon ethnicity rather than work ethic or abilities. Non-minorities argue that they are affected by reverse discrimination, and they now lose out on valuable opportunities that were once available to them. The truth is that there are only a limited amount of employment opportunities or openings for college freshmen, so if some people are going to be denied under any circumstances, why should race be a deciding factor at all? Would it not be better for everyone if the best candidates received rewards for their hard work? If this were the case, there would be less tension among various ethnic groups. There would be no speculation about special treatment or unearned accolades. Everyone would achieve greatness through hard work, the way it is meant to be achieved. Please understand that I am not opposed to offering opportunities to people of all ages, religions, genders and ethnicities, but I wonder if a policy like Affirmative Action is necessary to make this happen. When we subdivide ourselves by race or gender, half the time one group will always lose out. If we are looked upon as a group, then everyone's accomplishments can be counted as a win-win. My plea to Americans is to reevaluate our standards of judgment. I hope we can agree that mutual understanding and respect is the most effective way to reward deserving idividuals, as well as to run fair businesses and institutions of higher learning. To suggest that Americans shed all discriminatory feelings and impulses is a hopeful request at best, but that is the only way we can reach an agreement. If the majority and minority put in the effort to better understand each other and appreciate the differences that shape us to be successful, then nobody will feel as if opportunities are being wrongfully stripped away from them.

In contrast, one argument that supports Affirmative Action states that it gives underrepresented groups better access to employment. According to a table produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, the 2010 unemployment rate for White Americans was 8.7%, while that of African Americans was doubled at 16% (“Labor Force Statistics”). This statistic confirms that there is a clear disadvantage for minorities in America's workplace. While dividing the statistics into demographics provides great detail regarding the people who are unemployed, I fail to understand how the ethnicity of the unemployed is an important statistic. Even if the unemployment rate is balanced, with 12% African American and 12% Whites out of work, 100% of them would be Americans who do not have jobs. As a nation, we are setting ourselves back by focusing on facts like White versus African American unemployment. Policies like Affirmative Action are putting too much emphasis on race, and not enough focus on individual abilities or accomplishments. We cannot wholly succeed as a nation unless the sum of our individual parts is working together. It would be wasteful to put new tires on a car that has a dead engine.  As a country we need to reevaluate our priorities by recognizing the true characteristics that make a person a competitive candidate in the work force. After all, we are all Americans, and we all need jobs. Wouldn't we rather see jobs given to deserving Americans, majority or minority, rather than outsourced to foreign countries? Our main focus should be on the success of Americans, regardless of gender or skin color.

            In addition, while on the topic of race I feel the need to point out that there is no association between skin color and job performance. Back in the day, when racism ran rampant, whites believed themselves to be academically and socially superior to their African American counterparts. Now that we have become more reasonable and understanding, we know that there are no distinguishable differences in brain size or academic abilities. So why is race such an important factor in college acceptances and job offers?  It should not even be a factor. If we truly believe that “All men are created equal,” as stated in our Declaration of Independence, then there is no need for anyone to rely on Affirmative Action to make great accompishments in their field. By no means am I saying that we live in a color-blind society, because it would be insulting to suggest such harmony when racism and discrimination are still so prevalent throughout the world. Racial discrimination is unfortunately a deep-rooted splinter in American history, and it is a daunting task to eliminate such hatred across the world. But while racial discrimination toward minorities does exist, the point I am trying to make is that there is no clear evidence that discrimination contributes to the high unemployment rates in specific ethnic groups. An interesting fact published by the Pew Research Center, a public opinion poll based out of Washington D.C., reports "A 53% majority of African Americans say that blacks who don’t get ahead are mainly responsible for their situation, while just three-in-ten say discrimination is mainly to blame ("Blacks See" page 33)." Even specific minority groups refuse to point fingers at discrimination as a means to their rather unfavorable social standing. So is race really the red tape blocking minorities from the opportunity they seek, or could our problem be ignorance, a more demeaning culprit that plagues our society?

             In conclusion, to ensure the success of our nation's people, both minority and majority alike, we must consider ourselves as one cohesive group that works together to achieve a common goal. The only people holding us back from success are ourselves, and this problem can be easily fixed. We are all in agreement that everyone deserves the opportunity to prove their abilities and experience the rewards of their hard work. By now, I hope it is clear that our innate differences such as skin color or gender have no bearing on who can and cannot succeed in this world. Our common goals of supreme work ethic and commitment to excellence make us all worthy candidates for employment opportunities. It is important to remember that we cannot look at opportunity as a win-lose situation, especially since nobody wants to see their fellow brother fall in the mud. We must work together to achieve mutual understanding of each other's strengths, and choose the best American candidates, minority or majority, to be given life-changing opportunities. Let us all make a conscious effort to put aside characteristics that subdivide us into minorities. In the end, we can only achieve real success by working together to improve life as the majority: hard-working American people.

 Works Cited

“Blacks See Growing Values Gap between Poor and Middle Class” Pew Research Center. 13 Nov. 2007. Web. 15 Apr. 2011.

Froomkin, Dan. “Affirmative Action Under Attack” The Washington Post. Oct. 1998. Web. 28 Mar. 2011

 “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. The United States Department of Labor. 4 Mar. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

Solis, Hilda L. “Hiring.” www.dol.gov. United States Department of Labor. 28 Mar. 2011

Reflection 3.1

This draft is definitely not my best work, and I plan to do major editing on it. Not only did I get a late start on the paper, but I also changed topics because I couldn't find sufficient research about Planned Parenthood. My next best option was Affirative Action. I'm confident in the sources I found, but I have yet to find a decent scholarly source that relates to my argument.

I like the Rogerian elements I have in my paper so far, and I hope to sift through and add more wherever I can.

Essay 3.1: Finding Balance: Negotiating the Effects of Affirmative Action

Opportunity is a valuable gift, and one that everyone deserves to experience. Everyone is worthy of the chance to accomplish great things and experience the rewards of their efforts. Society, as it clearly stands now, has its own checks and balances as a security feature to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the same resources and opportunities. But upon our seemingly even playing field, some would say that there are certain bumps in the ground that make it difficult for particular individuals to utilize our nation’s vast resources to reach their full potential. Thus, certain policies are rightfully put into place to level out all unnecessary hurdles, and afford everyone an equal opportunity to succeed.

One such policy is commonly referred to as “Affirmative Action” and it is supported by the United States Department of Labor. On its website, the Department of Labor states that the purpose of Affirmative Action is “to recruit and advance qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.” These minority groups have been selected because they are underrepresented in our nation’s schools and workforce. The expectation is that Affirmative Action will rightfully enhance the opportunities available to these specific groups. This policy is intended to increase opportunity for those who are in need, but it is equally important not to take opportunities away from those who already have them.

Another argument that supports Affirmative Action is that it gives underrepresented groups better access to employment. According to a table produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor, the 2010 unemployment rate for White Americans was 8.7%, while that of African Americans was doubled at 16%. While dividing the statistics into demographics provides great detail regarding the people who are unemployed, the ethnicity of the unemployed should not be important. Even if the unemployment rate is balanced, with 12% African American and 12% Whites out of work, 100% of them are Americans who do not have jobs. Policies like Affirmative Action put too much emphasis on race, and not enough focus on individual abilities or accomplishments.We cannot wholly succeed as a nation unless the sum of our individual parts are working together. It would be a waste to put new tires on a car that has a dead engine. As a nation, we need to prioritize, and focusing on trivial facts like White vs African American unemployment will not make our country more successful. In fact, semantics like these are more likely to set us back than propel us forward.

            According to Dan Froomkin, a writer for the Washington Post, “Affirmative action is the nation's most ambitious attempt to redress its long history of racial and sexual discrimination. But these days it seems to incite, rather than ease, the nation's internal divisions (Froomkin).” One major concern of Affirmative Action is the idea that certain people are being granted preferential treatment based upon ethnicity rather than work ethic or abilities. Non-minorities argue that they are affected by reverse discrimination, and they now lose out on valuable opportunities. The truth is that there are only a limited amount of employment opportunities or openings for college freshmen. If people are going to be denied no matter what, why should race be a deciding factor at all? Would it not be better for everyone if the best candidates received rewards for their hard work? If this were the case, there would be less tension among various ethnic groups. There would be no speculation about special treatment or unearned accolades. Everyone would achieve greatness through hard work, the way it is meant to be achieved. I reiterate, I am not opposed to offering opportunities to people of all ages, creeds, religions, genders and ethnicities, but policies like Affirmative Action are not necessary to make this happen. If we are looked upon as a group, then everyone's accomplishments can be counted as a win-win. When we subdivide ourselves, half the time, one group will always lose out.
            I feel the need to point out that there is no association between skin color and job performance. Back in the day, when racism ran rampant, whites believed themselves to be academically and socially superior to their African American counterparts. Now that we have become more reasonable and understanding, we know that there are no distinguishable differences in brain size or academic abilities. So why is race such an important factor in college acceptances and job offers?  It should not even be a factor. If our country is founded on the basis that “All men are created equal,” and we truly believe that this is so, then there is no need for anyone to rely on Affirmative Action to make great strides.

            In conclusion, to focus on our nation's success, as a whole, we must consider ourselves one cohesive group that works together to achieve a common goal. The only people holding us back from success is ourselves, and this problem can be easily fixed. We are all in agreement that everyone deserves the opportunity to prove themselves and make great accomplishments. By now, I hope it is clear that trivial matters such as skin color or gender have no bearing on who can and cannot succeed in this world. It is important to remember that we cannot look at opportunity as a win-lose situation, especially since nobody wants to see their fellow brother fall in the mud. Policies like Affirmative Action only seek to better the lives of the minority, while working together as a majority seems much more effective to me.

 Works Cited

Froomkin, Dan. “Affirmative Action Under Attack” The Washington Post. Oct. 1998. Web. 28 Mar. 2011

 “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. The United States Department of Labor. 4 Mar. 2011. Web. 28 Mar. 2011.

Solis, Hilda L. “Hiring.” www.dol.gov. United States Department of Labor. 28 Mar. 2011.

Prewriting Essay 3

Possible topics:
-arguing against the funding cuts to planned parenthood
-arguing for the importance of arts education in public schools
- "Under God" in the pledge of Allegiance
-Lowering the drinking age
-the cons of affirmative action
-America should not feel obligated to help other countries after natural disasters

The topic I choose will be dependent upon the amount of research I can find to support my claim. I don't want to have the same difficulty with this assignment as I did with the last one.

Ideally, I would like to write about Planned Parenthood. I know that I won't have any trouble finding articles/opinions that support the funding cuts, but I'm concerned about finding 2-3 scholarly journals. This is a topic that I feel strongly about, and that I can make valid arguments to sustain funding. Because this is such a recent article, it gives me more of a pressing occasion as to why I'm writing about this topic in particular.

I steered clear of the "big ticket" topics like abortion and euthanasia because I honestly have nothing new to add to the age-old argument.

Reflection 2.2

Despite some difficulty, I am happy with the way my final draft turned out. The hardest part of this assignment was finding sufficient data to support the argument I was trying to make. I think part of the trouble came with the fact that the articles we were rebutting/refuting were so recent that there weren't many scholarly responses to support our claims.

If I could go back, perhaps I would change topics. To be 19 years old and writing about parenting was really a difficult undertaking. Most of the personal experience I included in my essay was due to the fact that I only have experience with the way my parents raised me, and I know that their method worked just fine. This is a topic that really needs strong first-hand experience from a parent, or from a person who researches child psychology and development. Beyond that, I could only write about what I know.

Another problem I encountered while writing was the publication of responses to Amy Chua's initial article. She was interviewed by several people and she tried to set the record straight about her intentions in writing her book, and the fact that it was meant to be a memoir. I also later found out that she did not choose the title of the article, which I berated her for in the first paragraph of my essay. Overall, as I was writing and finding ways to rebut her ridiculous argument, I no longer opposed her opinion as strongly as I did when I first received the assigment. This made it increasingly difficult to make my point. Thus, I chose to stick with the only thing I know: my personal experience.

Essay 2.2: Muting the Modern Day “Mommie Dearest”- A Rebuttal of Amy Chua’s “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior”

Dear Amy Chua,

            After reviewing your article, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” published in the Wall Street Journal, your method of parenting raises several concerns and questions that I would like you to clarify. The truth is, by writing this article you chose to unleash Tiger Mom from her cage and put her on display to the world. It should come as no surprise that many people have questions and concerns regarding your uncanny parenting style and the way you went about writing this article. While I am not enraged by your argument, I do feel that you made a few ignorant claims against Western parenting. Although I am in no position to refute the validity of your parenting, I am giving you the opportunity to explain yourself further before I position your article on the chopping block for slaughter.

To begin, I would like to remark upon the title you chose when publishing your article. My reading of your title implies that there is a definite right and wrong way of parenting and that your method is the most effective one on the market. You make a major assumption in generalizing that anyone other than the people who share your views are inadequate parents or do not push their children hard enough. In paragraph ten of your article, you create a scenario in which Western parents appear notably inferior to Chinese parents and are incapable of proper parenting because they “have to struggle with their own conflicted feelings about achievement, and try to persuade themselves that they’re not disappointed about how their kids turned out” (Chua). These words are not only callous and demeaning, but ignorant as well. My issue with your article is that you fail to acknowledge that there are various parenting styles based upon many variables such as ethnicity, religion, and social class. Parenting methods are extremely personal, and they can all succeed or fail based on several different variables.You must realize that not every parent stresses academia as the most important factor in their child’s life the way Chinese parents do, but while the alternative "Western" parenting model may not suit your fancy, it cannot be immediately dicounted as ineffective or inferior. A more reasonable approach to this article would be to share your story as a piece of advice, rather than a divine intervention for the struggling Western parent.

I also question the emphasis you place on Chinese children owing their souls to their parents, stating that, “…the understanding is that Chinese children must spend their lives repaying their parents by obeying them and making them proud” (par. 16). It is an unnecessary burden to make any person feel involuntarily indebted to every authority figure they encounter. My parents have given me everything I could possibly ask for to be a happy person and a good citizen, and they are even paying to put me through six years of college at a private school. The only thing they have ever expected of me was to be a good student. Not once did they demand obedience or respect as a reward for doing their job. I learned to naturally respect my parents because, while I am not Chinese, I recognize their efforts, without feeling obliged or indebted to them. When someone feels so indebted to another person, they spiral into a frenzy trying to live up to others’ expectations. Sometimes they fall so quickly, that nobody can catch them in time to set them straight. According to a statistic published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans represent one of the fastest growing segments of the population. Unfortunately, depression is the second leading cause of death in this group, with the highest rate of suicide among women between 15-24 years of age…The stereotype of the highly successful, well-educated and upwardly mobile person can sometimes make it difficult for Asian women to accept their “flaws.” They feel they must live up to high standards and succeed in all areas (par. 1).

Heightened suicide rates among young Asian women only proves that the constant pressure to deliver perfection to elders is a heavy cross to bear. I only point out that there are other ways to gain your child’s respect and loyalty, without obligatory submission to your challenging demands.

As a response to the public criticism you have been receiving, your oldest daughter, Sophia, wrote a letter titled “Why I love my strict Chinese mom,” published in the New York Post. In this letter she states, “To me, it’s not about achievement or self-gratification. It’s about knowing that you’ve pushed yourself, body and mind, to the limits of your own potential.” (par. 6). I admire her perspective on success and achievement, as I share the same goal-oriented charisma that she is displaying. I do, however note one important difference: when Sophia talks about pushing herself, I cannot help but point out that it was you who single-handedly pushed her to achieve the goals that you set. My crew coach once told me, “Goals are not supposed to be easy to reach. That is why they’re goals. You have to want them and you have to work toward them.” I have always found it best to set my own goals, that way I am not answering to anybody else, or working on somebody else’s behalf. I know that my success is my own, and I reach my goals on my own merit. By forcing your daughters to play violin or piano, and then forcing them to play their instruments perfectly, none of their goals are ever personal. It appears that you live vicariously through your daughters by giving them seemingly impossible goals and forcing your children to reach them. Going back to the advice my coach offers, success is mind over matter, and you have to want something badly to eventually get it. Since your children have never set their own personal goals and have only put in effort to please you, is it safe to say that your girls have experienced true success?

This leads me to my next question: is success measurable or quantifiable, and how is it defined? Judging by your article, one can only be considered successful if he or she is the best in all fields and never experiences failure. While winning or achieving greatness is a wonderful feeling, please allow me to point out an obvious flaw in your definition. The truth is, there is more to being successful than just excelling at academics or attending Ivy League schools. If this were not the case, then only a very small percentage of the world’s population could ever be considered successful.  An interesting fact I encountered when searching on the Nobel Foundation website shows that only eight recipients of the Nobel Prize were born in China, while 236 recipients are Westerners born and raised in America (Nobel Prize Foundation).  Interestingly enough, it is known that some recipients of this esteemed Prize never received any formal education in their lifetime. Being on the receiving end of a Nobel Prize is no small accomplishment, and it comes with many years of trial and error. The recipients have emerged as some of the best and brightest in their field; all due to their obstinate attempts at success, regardless of how many solid A’s appeared on their report cards. Along the way these scholars made a few wrong turns or an occasional unsavory decision, but eventually they reached the goal they wanted by finding their own way. A roadmap is an easy tool to follow for anyone who cannot think on their own, but for those that do not rely on formulas and methodical routes, unchangeable directions are the enemy.

According to the National Council on Family Relations, studies showed that: “Typically, they [Chinese mothers] stated that parents in the U.S. were ‘too lenient’ with their children…affording them too much autonomy (Gorman 77). As a child, I tried every activity known to man: swimming, art class, piano, girl scouts, gymnastics, softball, and the list goes on. Perhaps if my parents forced me to stick with piano I would have played alongside your daughter at Carnegie Hall, but I knew that I did not want to play anymore, so my parents did not press the matter. They decided to let me experience each activity first hand, and discover on my own if I was meant to pursue it. In your article you say, “To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences” (par. 6). But by pushing your children in one direction, you may very well have prevented them from discovering something that they are truly meant to do. Your daughter may have gone on to be the next James Cameron or Pablo Picasso, but you’ll never know that, will you?

In conclusion, when it comes to parenting, no one can undoubtedly say that one method is more effective than the other. Parents only have their child’s best interest at heart, and they wish to see their children fly on their own and succeed. Congratulations on a job well-done as a parent. Considering your child’s accomplishments, I cannot argue that she is not talented or successful in everything she does. My argument is that you pushed her to get there, and never gave her the opportunity to experience life first-hand. Sophia may excel in academics, and she may bear eight letters from the Ivy League begging her to commit to their institution, but what else has she gained in the process? I only ask that you reflect upon your child-rearing method, and reconsider the claim that your method is superior, but instead: modestly effective, like every other method in existence.

Works Cited

"All Nobel Laureates". Nobelprize.org. Web. 18 Mar 2011.

Chua, Amy. "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior." The Huffington Post. 8 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Feb 2011.
Chua, Sophia. "Why I love my strict Chinese mom." The New York Post. 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.

Duckworth, Ken Dr. “Asian American Women and Depression Fact Sheet.” National Alliance on Mental Illness. Oct. 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
Julian, Teresa W., McKenry, Patrick C., McKelvey, Mary W. "Cultural Variations in Parenting." National Council on Family Relations.
Vol. 43, No. 1. Jan., 1994. Web. 27 Feb. 2011

Reflection 2.1

I'm pretty happy with my first draft on a global level. For revisions I"m looking to go in on a local level and make small adjustments within my paragraphs. One thing I want to improve for my final draft is the research I am incorporating in my paper.

The research process was a little challenging. Because this article was so new, there wasn't a lot of recent research on the topic of Chinese parenting styles. Most of the articles that came up in my search were from the early-mid 90's. At first glance I didn't find research that really brought new facts to the table and supported my claims, but I plan to find more effective evidence when I construct my final draft.

By the end of my paper I no longer felt as opposed to Amy Chua's argument about parenting styles. My letter to her became more of a compromise to meet half way instead of touting her view as the right method or the best method. If I had the opportunity I would want to read her entire memoir to get a better idea of what she is all about.

Essay 2.1: Muting the Modern Day “Mommie Dearest”- A Rebuttal of Amy Chua’s “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior”

Dear Amy Chua,

After reviewing your article, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” published in the Huffington Post, your method of parenting raises several concerns and questions that I would like you to clarify. While I am not enraged by your article I do feel that you made a few ignorant claims against Western parenting. Although I am in no position to refute the validity of your parenting, I am calling you out on specific shortcomings of your parenting method, and giving you the opportunity to explain yourself further before I position your article on the chopping block for slaughter. The truth is, by writing this article you chose to unleash Tiger Mom from her cage and put her on display to the world. It should come as no surprise that many people have questions and concerns regarding your uncanny parenting style and the way you went about writing this article.

To begin, I would like to remark upon the title you chose when publishing your article. My reading of your title implies that there is a definite right and wrong way of parenting and that your method is the most effective one on the market. You make a major assumption in generalizing that anyone other than the parents who share your views are inadequate parents or do not push their children hard enough. However, I have to point out that every parent has a strategy that works for their child; otherwise nobody in the world would have successful children besides you. The way parents choose to raise their children is dependent on many factors including family history, social circumstances, and culture. I understand that the way you parent is very reflective of how your immigrant parents raised you, just as my parenting will reflect the way my parents raised me. This much we have in common: while my parents are not immigrants, their parents were, putting me in the same position as your daughters. My immigrant grandparents came to America for the opportunity it has to offer, instilling values of hard work and a dedicated mind set into their family. My parents, specifically my father, brought me up on this foundation, and it has contributed to my success as an individual. I graduated in the top 25% of my high school class and have been granted admission into one of the top entry-level physical therapy programs in the nation. So while I did not have the blessing of a Tiger Mom to push me along, I would say that I am doing pretty well for myself.

In addition, I noticed that you write in a very untouchable tone, touting your method as being superior and unmatchable by anyone. The majority of the article is spent putting down "Western parents" and priding yourself on your success. This is the point at which I question your motivation for writing the article. Did you ever intend to offer advice or compromise about how to raise children, or was your original intent to evoke shock and awe from your audience?

As a response to the public criticism you have been receiving, your oldest daughter, Sophia, wrote a letter titled “Why I love my strict Chinese mom,” published in the New York Post. In this letter she states, “To me, it’s not about achievement or self-gratification. It’s about knowing that you’ve pushed yourself, body and mind, to the limits of your own potential.” (par. 6). I admire her perspective on success and achievement, as I share the same goal-oriented charisma that she is displaying. I do, however note one important difference: my parents never forced me to become goal-oriented, I became that way on my own merit. When Sophia talks about pushing herself, I cannot help but point out that it was you who single-handedly pushed her to achieve the goals that you set. My coach once told me, “Goals are not supposed to be easy to reach. That is why they’re goals. You have to want them and you have to work toward them.” I have always found it best to set my own goals, that way I am not answering to anybody else, or working on somebody else’s behalf. I know that my success is my own, and I reached my goals on my own merit. By forcing your daughters to play violin or piano, and then forcing them to play them perfectly, none of their goals are ever personal. You live vicariously through your children by giving them seemingly impossible goals and forcing Sophia and Louisa to reach them. As my coach said, success is mind over matter, and you have to want something badly to eventually get it. Since your children have never set their own personal goals and have only put in effort to please you, unfortunately they have never experienced true success.

This leads me to my next point: is success measurable or quantifiable, and how would you define it? In the real world, what do people get for being the best? In most cases, being number one yields a trophy, medal, certificate, and in some cases, a bouquet of beautiful flowers. The truth is, there is more to being successful that just excelling at academics or attending Ivy League schools. If this were not the case, then only a very small percentage of the world’s population could ever be considered successful.  I learned an interesting fact: that only a handful of Nobel Prize recipients have hailed from the East, while hundreds of the recipients are Westerners, some of whom never received any form of education. Being on the receiving end of a Nobel Prize is no small accomplishment, and it comes with many years of trial and error. The recipients have emerged as some of the best and brightest in their field, all due to their unyielding attempts at success. Along the way they made a few wrong turns or an occasional unsavory decision, but eventually they reached the goal they wanted by finding their own way. A roadmap is an easy tool to follow for anyone who cannot think on their own, but for those that do not rely on formulas and methodical routes, unchangeable directions are the enemy.

In your article you place emphasis on Chinese children owing their souls to their parents, stating that, “…the understanding is that Chinese children must spend their lives repaying their parents by obeying them and making them proud” (par. 16).This is an unnecessary burden to make any person feel involuntarily indebted to every authority figure they encounter. My parents have given me everything I could possibly ask for to be a happy person and a good citizen, and they are even paying to put me through six years of college at a private school. The only thing they have ever expected of me was to be a good student. Not once did they demand obedience or respect as a reward for doing their job. I learned to naturally respect my parents because, while I am not Chinese, I have incredible respect for their efforts, without feeling obliged or indebted to them.

According to the National Council on Family Relations, studies showed that: “Typically, they [Chinese mothers] stated that parents in the U.S. were ‘too lenient’ with their children…affording them too much autonomy (Gorman 77). As a child, I tried every activity known to man: swimming, art class, piano, voice lessons, girl scouts, gymnastics, saxophone, softball, and the list goes on. Perhaps if my parents forced me to stick with piano I would have played alongside your daughter at Carnegie Hall, but I knew that I did not want to play anymore, so my parents did not press the matter. They decided to let me experience each activity first hand, and discover on my own if I was meant to pursue it. In your article you say, “To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences” (par. 6). But by pushing your children in one direction, you may very well have prevented them from discovering something that they are truly meant to do. Your daughter may have gone on to be the next James Cameron or Pablo Picasso, but you’ll never know that, will you?

In conclusion, when it comes to parenting, no one can undoubtedly say that one method is more effective than the other. Parents only have their child’s best interest at heart, and they wish to see their children fly on their own and succeed. Congratulations on a job well-done as a parent. Considering your child’s accomplishments, I cannot argue that she is not talented or successful in everything she does. My argument is that you pushed her to get there, and never gave her the opportunity to experience life first-hand. Sophia may excel in academics, and she may bear eight letters from the Ivy League begging her to commit to their institution, but what else has she gained in the process. I only ask that you reflect upon your child-rearing method, and reconsider the claim that your method is not superior, but modestly effective.

Works Cited
Chua, Amy. "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior." The Huffington Post. 8 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Feb 2011.
Chua, Sophia. "Why I love my strict Chinese mom." The New York Post. 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 1 Mar. 2011.
Fu, Victoria R. Lin, Chin-Yau. "A Comparison of Child-Rearing Practices among Chinese, Immigrant Chinese, and Caucasian-American Parents." Society for Research in Child Development.
Vol. 61, No. 2. Apr., 1990. Web. 27 Feb. 2011.
Julian, Teresa W., McKenry, Patrick C., McKelvey, Mary W. "Cultural Variations in Parenting." National Council on Family Relations.
Vol. 43, No. 1. Jan., 1994. Web. 27 Feb. 2011

Documentation Quiz

1) We are using MLA (modern language association) format.
2) There are in-text citations and a works cited page at the end of the paper.
3) For a web source you must include:
-author and/or editors
-name of database
-date of version, revision, posting
-publisher info
-date accessed
-the word "web"

Prewriting Essay 2

- I am going to rebut the argument made by Amy Chua in her article, "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior."
- Questioning all of her assumptions.
- She claims that there is a definite right and wrong way to parenting, when it is obvious that everyone has a strategy that works for them.
- She writes with an untouchable tone, touting her methods as being superior and unmatchable by anyone. She gloats at her success and shines a spotlight on herself. The epitome of a "soap box" article.
- Amy Chua doesn't offer advice, she puts down "Western parents" and prides herself on her own success.
- Analyze the positive response article from her eldest daughter to determine the outcome of her parenting skills.
- What do people get for being the best? Is it worth it to be good at absolutely everything. There's only one place to go from the top.
- I personally feel that I learn from failure.
- There's more to being successful that just excelling at academics
- She may have the ultimate control over her children now, but what will happen when they get older and experience college?
- In the article she places emphasis on Chinese children owing everything to their parents who would do anything for them. I'm not Chinese, and I still have great respect for the efforts of my parents.
- Is success measurable or quantifiable?
- She makes major assumptions in generalizing that anyone other than the parents who share her views are inadequate parents or do not push their children hard enough.
- Her title is condescending. Are all Chinese mothers parenting the same way? Are they superior or is she?
- I'm not enraged by the article, but I do feel that Chua made some ignorant claims
- How does her husband feel about her method of parenting? I wonder if he had any say in how his daughters were raised.
- What's wrong with encouraging children's desires? People have gut-feelings for a reason.
- By pushing her children in one direction, she may have prevented them from discovering something that they are truly meant to do.

Reflection 1.2

Success! My first paper of the semester is complete, and I'm very satisfied with my work.  Looking back on the process of creating this essay, I don't feel like I have changed my writing process at all. Personally, I didn't feel that the pre-writing in class helped me get a head start on my first essay. Once grade school teachers stopped requiring prewriting and brainstorming, I was all too anxious to avoid doing it. I never pre-write or outline because I work best when my writing is spontaneous. I'll never intentionally procrastinate on a paper, but if I don't have any ideas until the night before a paper is due, that's when I'll begin to write. Fortunately, that happens to be my best and most successful work. Even for the revision process, I honestly never revise my paper much. For essay 1.2 I made some brief adjustments, citations and re-wording before the final product was completed to my satisfaction.

Essay 1.2: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: A Rhetorical Analysis of “Government Should Create Stricter Gun Laws” by Megan Weintraut

Americans pride ourselves on our revolutionary spirit, tireless pursuit to maintain justice, and above all else, a militant history. We have always been defined by our eagerness to uphold our freedom and defend our rights at the highest price one can possibly pay. When the Bill of Rights was established in the early 1700’s, the Second Amendment granted Americans the right to bear arms for that specific reason: to uphold our way of life if ever it was threatened. But Megan Weintraut, a senior at Ithaca College, argues that America's way of life has changed dramatically since the establishment of the Second Amendment. She argues that this right is no longer a necessity, as it was when the Bill of Rights was first drafted. In fact, many argue that the right to bear arms is the most dangerous right granted to American citizens, and it has proven to be more threatening to our nation than our forefathers ever imagined it could be. In her article to The Ithacan, Ithaca College’s student newspaper, Weintraut undertakes a difficult task in arguing for stricter gun control laws in the United States.

Unfortunately, many people have become desensitized to the debate over gun control due to its unremitting encore appearance in almost every major newspaper, evening report, and Miss America Competition. The arguments have been stated, the defendants have spoken, and the issue of strict gun control regulations still remains ambivalent. So what has changed? Why should anyone take note of Weintraut’s argument here and now? Without a compelling argument and a proper occasion, her work would be passed off as nothing more than rhetorical gymnastics, beleaguering a moot point without substantial grounds. Her success in creating an effective argument is generated from careful planning based on her reasons and evidence, the audience she wishes to reach, her use of rhetorical appeals, and finally, an appropriate alternative to the current problem.

To begin, the author successfully provides her readers with logical background information regarding her occasion for writing this article. She begins by discussing the origin and intent of the Second Amendment, including its vital purpose in protecting our fragile nation shortly after we won our independence. This information is provided to build up to Weintraut’s purpose: times have changed, and the individual right to bear arms is no longer vital to our national security.  With a solid foundation of facts mortared together with indisputable historical data, Weintraut has built the perfect launching pad for the remainder of her argument. It is difficult for anyone to dispute an argument that is largely based on facts that everyone has learned during their childhood school years. The need for personal firearms was apparent during a time when Americans had to ward off vengeful British soldiers in the middle of the night. In comparison, modern America has established a military and law enforcement to protect our country. It cannot be argued that this responsibility continues to lie with individuals in brigades of minutemen. Thus, the necessity of personal firearms has been eliminated, proving these dangerous weapons to be superfluous, further validating Weintraut’s argument.

In addition, her rhetorical appeals are explored full-circle when she utilizes pathos by referencing national tragedies such as the Columbine High School massacre, the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, and the most recent disaster in Arizona (par. 6). She explores current events involving gun use that brought our Second Amendment front and center on the stage of morality. Nobody can reasonably argue against something, unless there is a propagating event that calls for major adjustments to be made. By referencing current events across the nation that everyone feels affected by, Weintraut reaches into the soul of every American who sympathizes with the innocent victims and persuades them to demand changes to our way of life. While it would be more effective to be proactive in preventing devastating events such as school shootings, our society is extremely reactive when dealing with these issues, therefore we require a spark to propagate changes in our country's normal method of operation. Weintraut successfully uses these current events to recycle the hackneyed topic of gun control in America.

Another positive aspect of providing the reader with several facts is that the author instantly builds credibility. She appears well-versed and educated in her dissertation by using evidence to support her claims. To do this effectively, she uses many facts from several prevalent sources that reinforce the argument she is trying to make. For example, her statistics regarding the percentage of firearm owners in the United States are provided by The American Journal of Health. In addition, the National Institute of Justice reports chilling facts that quantify the prevalence of guns involved in the majority of our country’s homicides. Without data and other examples to support her claims, no reader could fully understand the gravity of her argument.

Finally, no disparate opinion can be complete without a reasonable and well-thought-out proposal to improve the problem at hand. Careful research of a topic provides further insight into the root of a problem, which sheds light on a feasible solution to correct it. For this article, Weintraut highlights bullets as the real murderers in this situation, stating that guns are not the items that physically kill others. Unlike many of the gun control pioneers that came before her, she does not suggest that guns are to be limited or completely outlawed. In her article she states, "Perhaps Americans should be allowed to bear all the arms they desire, but they should do without the ammunition" (par. 6). This is a revolutionary proposal that has been seldom suggested, and yet it makes more sense than outlawing firearms completely, a solution that has little to no chance of success given America’s trigger-happy history.

Overall, Weintraut does a phenomenal job of supporting her claims on the sensitive topic of gun control in America, but a major flaw in her argument is that she does not acknowledge her audience’s alternative point of view. It is only natural that every well-thought-out argument fails to win approval by all who read it. Any argument relating to the Second Amendment will be under extreme scrutiny of organizations such as the National Rifle Association or Women Against Gun Control. Unfortunately, Weintraut says nothing in her article that directly addresses the concerns of anyone who is pro-weaponry. This is a major shortfall of her argument because in refusing to acknowledge that her point of view is not the only one that exists, she cannot refute opposing statements and further enhance her credibility.

In conclusion, Weintraut is able to transform a worn-out opinion into a substantial argument by using solid facts and feasible compromises to solve the problems caused by firearms in the United States. She is able to connect to her audience emotionally and mentally, winning their trust early on in her argument. The success of her article was only likely if she had the ability to appeal to an already hostile audience, and she completed that difficult task with precision and accuracy. In the end, Weintraut developed an effective argument that commands attention from all who read it, and she does justice to her point of view on the daunting and sensitive subject of gun control in America.

Weintraut, Megan. “Government should create stricter gun laws.” The Ithacan. 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 4 Feb. 2011.

College Prewrite

Rick Perlstein should create a blog if he plans to relentlessly rant about how life changes as time goes on. In his own best interest, he should keep this blog privatized so that the world cannot see how ignorant he is. When I picture Rick Perlstein, I see a tie dye shirt, thick wool socks under Birkenstocks, and a sweatband holding back his hair. If I could guess where he lives, I'd say it's the state of delusion. In his argument about college, Perlstein states that college nowadays does disjustice to students. Why? His answer is simple: college is not what it was back when he attended.

(out of time...)

Reflection 1.1

Overall, I am thrilled with my first draft. I'm confident in my language, use of literary terms, and my examples. I made the paper my own by including personal feelings, and writing with a tone that accurately reflects my analysis of the article. For my second draft I plan to cite the text more often when I use examples from Weintraut's piece. After careful review, I also realized that some of my examples and personal feelings did not appropriately fit where I placed them in the text, and if I cannot find a proper place for them they will have to be cut for the final draft.

My outlook on the assignment is very positive, and I have no convictions about making the necessary changes to make my paper even better the second time around.

Essay 1.1: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang: Flirting with Gun Control in America

Americans pride ourselves on our revolutionary spirit, tireless pursuit to maintain justice, and above all else, a militant history. We have always been defined by our eagerness to uphold our freedom and defend our rights at the highest price one can possibly pay. If ever our way of life was threatened by malevolent outsiders, we are prepared to respond accordingly, most often with a brigade of armed soldiers. Oftentimes, we are fighting to retain our basic human rights that grant us the freedom to make decisions for ourselves, and, when necessary, defend ourselves. These freedoms are provided to every citizen in the form of Amendments, thanks to the discretion of our founding fathers almost 235 years ago. Throughout history we have seen several Amendments added to the Constitution, and others removed completely, but rarely are they revisited and revised to keep pace with modern times.

Megan Weintraut, a senior at Ithaca College, argues that America's way of life has changed dramatically since the establishment of the Bill of Rights. More specifically, the Second Amendment, which grants Americans the right to bear arms. She argues that this right is no longer a necessity, as it was when the Bill of Rights was first drafted in the late 1700’s. Many argue that the right to bear arms is the most dangerous rights granted to American citizens, and it has proven to be more threatening to our nation than our forefathers ever imagined it could be. This claim importunes our Government to make a ruling that minimizes access to firearms, therefore making our nation a safer place to live.

Unfortunately, many people have become desensitized to the debate over gun control due to its unremitting encore appearance in almost every major newspaper, evening report, and Miss America Competition. The arguments have been stated, the defendants have spoken, and the issue of strict gun control regulations remains ambivalent. So what has changed? Why should anyone take note of Weintraut’s argument here and now? In her article to The Ithacan, Ithaca College’s student newspaper, Weintraut undertakes a difficult task in arguing for stricter gun control laws in the United States. Without a compelling argument and a proper occasion, the failure of her rhetoric would be imminent. Her success in creating an effective argument is generated from careful planning, based on her reasons and evidence, the audience she wishes to reach, her use of rhetorical appeals, and finally, an appropriate alternative to the current problem.

First, the author successfully provides her readers with excellent background information regarding her occasion for writing this article. She begins by discussing the origin and intent of the Second Amendment, including their vital purpose in protecting our fragile nation shortly after we won our independence. This information is provided to build up to Weintraut’s purpose: times have changed, and the individual right to bear arms is no longer vital to our lifestyle or our national security.  With a solid foundation of facts mortared together with indisputable historical data, Weintraut has built the perfect launching pad for the remainder of her argument. It is difficult for anyone to dispute an argument that is largely based on facts that everyone has learned during their childhood school years. The need for personal firearms was apparent during a time when Americans had to hunt and kill their food for sustenance, or ward off vengeful British soldiers. In comparison, it would be comical to picture a modern American lurking around the Mercedes in his driveway, attempting to hunt for this week's dinner.

Another positive aspect of providing the reader with several facts is that Weintraut instantly builds credibility. She appears well-versed and educated in her dissertation by using evidence to support her claims. To do this effectively, she uses many facts from several prevalent sources that reinforce the argument she is trying to make. For example, her statistics regarding the percentage of firearm owners in the United States are provided by The American Journal of Health. In addition, the National Institute of Justice reports chilling facts that quantify the prevalence of guns involved in the majority of our country’s homicides. Without data and other examples to support her claims, no reader could fully understand the gravity of her argument.

In addition, her rhetorical appeals are explored full-circle when she utilizes pathos by referencing national tragedies such as the Columbine High School massacre, the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, and the most recent disaster in Arizona. She explores current events involving gun use that brought our Second Amendment front and center on the stage of morality. Nobody can reasonably argue against something, unless there is a propagating event that calls for major adjustments to be made. By referencing current events across the nation that everyone feels affected by, Weintraut reaches into the soul of every American who sympathizes with the innocent victims and persuades them to demand changes to our way of life. While it would be more effective to be proactive in preventing devastating events such as school shootings, our society is extremely reactive when dealing with these issues, therefore we require a spark to propagate changes in our country's normal method of operation.

Finally, no disparate opinion can be complete without a reasonable and well-thought-out proposal to improve the problem at hand. Careful research of a topic provides further insight into the root of a problem, which sheds light on a feasible solution to correct it. For this article, Weintraut highlights bullets as the real murderers in this situation, stating that guns are not the items that physically kill others. Unlike many of the gun control pioneers that came before her, she does not suggest that guns are to be limited or completely outlawed. In her article she states, "Perhaps Americans should be allowed to bear all the arms they desire, but they should do without the ammunition." This is a revolutionary proposal that has been seldom suggested, and yet it makes more sense than outlawing firearms completely, a solution that has little to no chance of success.

Overall, Weintraut does a phenomenal job of supporting her claims on the sensitive topic of gun control in America. She produces new arguments, solid facts, and feasible compromises to solve the growing problems caused by the Second Amendment in the United States. She connects to her audience emotionally and mentally, winning their trust early on in her argument. The success of her article was only probable if she had the ability to appeal to an already hostile audience, and she completed that difficult task with precision and accuracy, developing an effective argument that commands attention from all who read it.

Prewriting Essay 1

Americans pride ourselves on our revolutionary spirit, tireless quest to maintain justice, and above all else, a militant history. We have always been defined by our eagerness to sustain our freedom and defend our rights at the highest price one can possibly pay.

Throughout history we have seen several Amendments added to the Constitution, and othrers removed completely, but rarely are they revisited and revised to keep pace with modern times.

Megan Weintraut, a student at Ithaca College, argues that America's way of life has changed dramatically since the (instituition) of the Second Amendment which grants Americans the right to bear arms. She argues that this right must be _______ due to the (harm) it has caused our country.

Rhetorical Analysis Quiz

Textual analysis is a thorough investigation of what lies within the text itself. Using information supplied to you through language, voice, style, structure, and rhetorical appeals, one can discover who the author is attempting to reach, and what he or she uses within the text to reach that audience.

In comparison, contextual analysis provides background information to the reader that is not directly within the text being analyzed. This often provokes more research into the who, what, when where, why of the passage. It places an argument within a larger conversation.