Monday, February 21, 2011
Rhetor’s Notebook Post #9: Rough Rough Draft of Your Individual Blog Post
Before class on Wednesday, I’d like you to post a rough rough draft of your individual blog post here as a comment. In this draft, I’d like to see you expand on what you drafted in class on Monday, using the rhetorical proofs as a way to “invent” your argument and support for this piece. In addition to appeals to logos, ethos, and pathos, I’d like you to begin including appeals to extrinsic evidence that will support your argument. Find at least one outside example that will help you in this regard. Also, explain what kinds of additional evidence you might need to enhance your argument’s persuasiveness. Aim for (at least) 250-350 words in this initial draft.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In the United States during recent years, there has been a tremendous push for “green” technology and renewable energy. People are becoming less dependent on oil due to the preservation of natural resources and new methods of powering our country. Denver has made a conscious effort to promote a “green” city and utilize all of the resources available in the process. The current use of solar panels and wind farms in Denver and surrounding areas are revolutionizing our dependency on fossil fuels. Solar and wind energy are beneficial for our environment and although they may not produce immediate results, they will have a significant impact in the long-run. We do not have endless natural resources and we must find ways to preserve the minimal resources we do have in order to prolong their existence. Many people question these new methods due to the incredibly high bills that tax payers must tolerate the costs of, as well as we do not have the materials to physically create the panels and turbines. The majority is in favor of this new technology though which is seen by the numerous solar companies that implement panels for commercial and personal use. For example, in the Denver Post there was a recent article regarding Xcel energy cutting incentives offered to customers for using solar energy. The article states, “The utility is asking state regulators to approve further cutbacks in the subsidy program. Xcel said the reductions are justified because the cost of solar panels has been declining and customers no longer need higher incentives to offset installation costs.” Solar panels are becoming much more common, especially in Denver; therefore, they are becoming less costly. The article also addresses the concerns of Neal Lurie, executive director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, he states, “This is absolutely devastating to the solar industry. No industry can survive this kind of shock.” These incentives are necessary in the promotion of solar energy because the financial sanctions lure people in more efficiently due to the high costs.
ReplyDeleteImmigration has always been a controversial issue in the United States. In Colorado lately, laws have been pushed even more to accommodate immigrants into both society and the education system. Colorado has considered the law allowing all immigrants to pay for in-state tuition if they have attended a Colorado high school. While the Dream Act has been beneficial to immigrants and their education, has it positively impacted the state of Colorado at all? That is the major question. As Americans, and Coloradans, we want to be fair and offer immigrants a good education, but in the process will it take away from our money or the rights of other citizens? In a recent article from the Denver Post, the author argues that allowing immigrants in-state tuition in the state of Colorado is the right thing to do both morally and economically. He argues that these children deserve this opportunity for a shot at education in a wealthy country. Apparently this is the ‘fair’ action to take. While it may be fair to immigrants, it is not fair to out of state college students. With this law, immigrants have to pay less for school than documented citizens. If most immigrants do not pay taxes, why should they pay less for school as well? In this instance, children are not paying for the actions of their parents. It may be unfortunate that children cannot obtain a higher education at a lower price if their parents brought them here illegally, but in reality the law is the law. But if this law is passed, everything changes.
ReplyDeleteWhat to do on a Friday night… “Let’s go downtown!” you decide with some friends. How great! Downtown is a great place for having fun with friends, getting some delicious eats, and seeing an eyeful.
ReplyDeleteThe lights of downtown are breathtaking, walking down 16th street mall. Everything is so inviting. Well, almost everything. Your posse trots by a poor-looking man. He seems to be sleeping on the cold, hard pavement. Isn’t his skin pale? You and your friends observe that you can practically see the man’s innards. His quasi-transparent skin leaves more to be desired. The man’s demeanor, passed out on the less-than-appropriate bedding, is rather unsightly. There could definitely be more meat on his bones, as well as just more life in him, in general. Where his arms bend are scabbed and looked as if they have been prodded many an occasion. The balding head on his rather knobby shoulders holds a face that is lacking something. His eyes look as though he hasn’t slept in weeks, and his tattered and ripped clothes suggest that he doesn’t have the funds for sufficient, well anything. He’s emaciated, tired, and tattered.
This man is a drug addict. He has a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. Otherwise, his health could worsen, causing things to become much worse for this poor soul. The place for this man to go is a drug rehabilitation center. When the center is effective and efficient, this man will be on the road to health and happiness.
What good is a drug rehab center? A junkie is a junkie, you can’t change that.
Wrong. Drug rehab can be very effective: “According to several studies, drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent and significantly decreases criminal activity during and after treatment” (http://www.drug-addiction.com/how_effective_is_drug_treatment.htm). When those who are addicted to drugs and illegal substances get the help they need, they can “return…to productive functioning in the family, workplace, and community.” (http://www.drug-addiction.com/how_effective_is_drug_treatment.htm) Isn’t it important to be happy and successful? How can one be these things when they are constantly clinging to something that is a serious danger to their health? (insert metaphor here)
We already pay enough taxes. Why should we have to pay more for these people that made the mistake themselves? Why is it our fault? They should have to deal with the consequences.
That is correct. Every action has a consequence. But how good is a nation if there is a portion of people that heavily abuse illegal substances? How are we supposed to get ahead in this world when there aren’t enough people pushing forward, helping us to achieve new heights that other nations have never seen? If those that need the help get the help, we can work to become a stronger nation, thus getting higher up on the totem pole.
More to come.
It can be argued that the oil industry runs our country. At the very least, it has a huge hand in shaping our economy and who we are dependent on as a nation. Oil drilling has been a point of debate in recent years. The reason for this is the fact that the United States’ dependency on fossil fuels is a huge director of our economy. We are very reliant on cheap transportation, and when transporting goods and services becomes more costly, the quality of those goods and services decreases, or the price for them goes up. This directly shakes both national and local markets.
ReplyDeleteThe issue can be approached from 2 sides. On the one hand, oil drilling companies in the U.S. provide a steady and substantial stream of profit into the area. The injection of revenue into any economy is a good thing. People’s whole livelihoods can be centered on oil drilling. But there is also a flipside. Because of our dependency on fossil fuels, our economy is directed and controlled, in part, by the places where we get this oil.
A problem that has been growing and growing each and every day in America is global warming and the worsening of our environment. There are so many measures that should be taken a lot more seriously so that we can help ourselves. I feel like people have so much going on in their personal lives that they don't even have time to think about what really matters, and what will some day affect us all. Wind turbines, solar energy, hydroelectric energy, are all different methods of saving our earth. In Colorado, gas prices have recently been in the news about prices rising. This, I think, would do wonders for our economy. Just think, cut half the people on the road in half, which means half of the gas being used, and half of the polluted air, would be a step in a good direction for our economy, and for our environment. People need to realize how much is at stake right now in regards to the future of our earth, because before we know it, we could loose it all.
ReplyDeleteRape: sexual contact that is accomplished through “force or threat of force,” (RAAP FAQ).
ReplyDeleteWhen you hear “rape,” here are some things you might be thinking:
• “Any woman could prevent rape if she really wanted to. No woman can be raped against her will.
• Rapists are easy to spot. They are abnormal perverts. Only insane men rape women.
• Rape is an impulsive act, an uncontrollable act of sexual gratification.
• If a woman has consented to sexual relations in the past with a man, she cannot be raped by that man in the future.
• A man has to show a woman whose boss right from the start. A woman will only respect a man who will lay down the law to her.
• Some women deserve to be raped because of the way they dress, act, etc. They cause a man to ‘lose control.’
• Women say ‘NO’ when they really mean ‘YES’.
• Rape is no big deal if the woman has had sex previously.”
(http://www.houseofruthdothan.org/rapemyths.htm)
Now, here are some statistics:
2,121 reported forcible and other sexual offenses in Denver in 2009 and 2010 (City and County of Denver). 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will experience sexual assault. Every 2 minutes a person in the United States is sexually assaulted. 60% percent of victims do not report sexual assault/rape. 6% of rapists spend one day in jail. 73% of sexual assaults are committed by a non-stranger. 38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance. 28% of rapists are an intimate partner of the victim. 7% of rapists are a relative of the victim. 33% of rapes happen between 6 am and 6 pm (rainn.org)
It is obvious from these statistics that rape is not uncommon, perpetrated by a perfect stranger, or an event of the darkest night.
Human activities are leading the increase of the impacts of global climate. On average the temperature raises 2 to 10 degrees Celsius each century. This will then lead to more severe drought, rising sea levels, shifting seasons, and increased disease. In Colorado, these problem are apparent because numbers show that on average each year the temperature rises 4 degrees Fahrenheit. This will then cause more heat related deaths and illnesses from insect-born diseases like malaria and West Nile virus. In 2003 Colorado had the most West Nile infections in the nation with more than 3000 cases reported. The increased temperatures could also create a northward shift, which causes more diseases-carrying mosquitos which will infect humans and livestock across the state. Weather patterns also may shift as an effect of the global warming in Colorado. Instead of snow precipitation it will increase to more rain. This will then lead to a shortened ski season for ski bums. The tourists coming to Colorado will then decrease, and the shortened spring season increases summer forest fires. These increased temperatures will also lead to an earlier spring snowmelt which then causes the reservoirs to become lower in level. Colorado already has a low number of reservoirs within its state.This would then limit water flow increases the need for water resources in the summer and become a large investment for the irrigation systems.
ReplyDeleteImmigration is a large debate in the United States today and the effects that immigrants have on different parts of our society is a huge part of this debate. On of the biggest aspects of our society that they effect is the American economy. These effects can be both negative and positive, however the positive effects need to be more widely known.
ReplyDeleteImmigrants have an enormous impact on the United States economy. Some immigrants pay taxes and some don’t but either way they have a positive effect on our economy. Because of their legal status, they have a greater difficulty finding work and so they are more willing to take jobs that are considered low class in our society. Many of them have entered America with fake identification and so they do in a back handed and still illegal way pay taxes. They are paying taxes it just isn’t under their own name like the normal American citizens taxes are.
In the least stereotypical tone, they are our gardeners, housekeepers, factory workers and janitors. Without these positions filled, the wealthy citizens, and even the middle class, of America would be dead in the water. By this I mean no one to do their laundry, watch their kids, or mow their lawn. These seem like things that could be filled by other unemployed Americans however they are not willing to work like the immigrants are. These immigrants, especially those paying taxes, deserve to live the way that you do in what is supposed to be the land of opportunity.
The topic of immigration as a whole stirs up a lot of discussion among many U.S. citizens, not to mention how much argument the Arizona SB 1070 has stirred up in the past months. Arizona SB 1070 is the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. This Act was signed by Governor Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010 and requires that all aliens within Arizona carry their required documents of U.S. citizenry. The Act is also putting a crack down on those people who may be housing, hiring, or transporting illegal immigrants. This Act encourages racial profiling and should be looked down upon.
ReplyDeleteRecently I attended a small seminar called “Immigration in a New Light” in Driscoll. This seminar hosted two men, Dr. Miguel De La Torre and Richard Froude. Dr. Miguel De La Torre came to the U.S. from Cuba as a refugee in 1961. He has now been a U.S. citizen for many years. Richard Froude decided to come to the U.S. on his own from London. Froude had some troubles attempting to get a green card. As of right now Froude is not a U.S. citizen and is here as a lawful permanent resident. After both men had told their individual stories there was a time for questions. One women who attended the seminar brought up Arizona State Bill 1070 and asked the men`s opinion on it. Dr. Miguel De La Torre’s answer was very interesting and also quite disturbing. De La Torre said that because of this bill and because of the way he looks, he is more likely to be stopped by the police for questioning over Richard Froude. Richard Froude is Caucasian and unless he was to speak he would most likely not be questioned about his citizenry. The ironic point about this is that Dr. Miguel De La Torre is a U.S. citizen and Richard Froude is not. With the Arizona SB coming into action, many people will begin to be questioned based solely on their looks alone. This is completely wrong and definitely raises some arguments about the racial aspect of the bill.
Education is one of the most precious gifts in the entire world. The value of knowledge can enable one to expand their horizons and invigorate them to move forward and change the world. With recent budget cuts within the government in Colorado, the public education system is being given less money to keep the programs funded. With these cuts, the quality of education is going down and classes are getting bigger. Students are not able to work to their full potential with circumstances such as these and are unable to thrive as they should. There are few choices in this decision. When such a large thing is being put at risk, there is little room for opportunity because either way something will have to be sacrificed. The government has to analyze the type of impact these budget cuts will have on the school system and decide if education is really the right area to take money out of. Cutting the budget in schools will not only affect the quality of the education, but so many other aspects of it as well. The state also has to look at the long term effects of these cuts on the citizens and if the state will continue to have a firm structure if the citizens are not given good educations. If the people are not being encouraged to work to their full potential, the state will slowly fall apart and the economy will dissolve if people don’t have the skills to keep it working.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever see homeless people sleep outside? Have you ever think about why are some of homeless people do not use homeless shelters? It has to be some reasons for those situations. Therefore, I am going to point out some of those causes.
ReplyDeleteDisabilities need people to help, however there were lack of handicapped accommodations in homeless shelters. Most of homeless shelters are in old buildings. Therefore, there are no elevators, no railings in the restrooms and no ramps into the buildings. These are necessary accommodation for disable people. If the shelters do not have those, how can they stay in this place?
Diseases can spread easily in homeless shelters. “One reason it’s hard to fall asleep in homeless shelter is the almost endless coughing”. If one person is sick, it is very easy to spread the bacterium out. Therefore, homeless people who were in the shelter could be infected by the bacterium more easily. Is that better to sleep outside instead of get sick in shelter? If the shelter can sterilize everyday or there is someone who can take care of those sick person, the homeless shelter might be more useful for those homeless people.
Everyone needs to be respect whatever what situation he/she is at. The check in process is one of the reason that make people do not want to use the shelter. When people check in, they need to be asked many different kinds of questions include their sex life. It is okay to ask questions, because it is information requirement. However, it is not respectful to ask “Do you have any sexual partners you could stay with?” Those kind of questions are really hurt people’s feelings. The reason why people chose to stay in the homeless shelter is because they really do not have any places to stay at. Why the check in process force people to find a sexual partner so that they have a place to stay in? It is disrespectful! This is why people choose to stay outside instead of using the shelters.
Shelters are also lack of privacy. I do not mean that everyone have to has a room, but have to has a bed. People are not suppose to stay in a place where is too crowded. A place to take rest has to be quite, healthy and has everyone’s own privacy. A homeless people said, “Well-maning planners of homeless shelters try to make the most of their square footage by squeezing as many beds into their shelter as possible. That makes shelters even more frightening to people with claustrophobia, social anxiety, or fear of crowds”.
People need help, then the whole society try to help them. It is good to help people who need it. It would be better to help them with more concerns. For example for the homeless shelters, it is better to build more shelters for those homeless people, and also would be better to make the shelters have better quality, such as solve the privacy, healthy, check in process and accommodations problems.
Currently, the U.S. economy is struggling, this is nothing new or surprising, but it is happening and it is real. While it is on an uprising, it is still weak and people are working harder to make it work. Everyone is struggling, even when cuts are being made left and right. Perhaps one of the most heavily effected areas in the state of Colorado is education. Already on a tight budget, more cuts to public education means larger classes, less schools, and cut backs in all areas. With so much of the states budget allocated to education, it is the most difficult area to cut funds because it affects the most people. In a country where education is already weak enough, the state is going to try and make it work, just on less money. This doesn’t just mean less money for those in K-12, but also for higher education such as University of Colorado Boulder. Nobody wants to take money from children, especially children who need it most, those in public education. However, money is tight, and unless cuts are made, or taxes are increased, education is going to take a big hit.
ReplyDeleteColorado has a serious problem of littering which is having a serious effect on our landscape. 75% of Americans admit to littering within the last 5 years. The most common ages of people that litter are better 18 and 34 years old. Littering can come from various places such as dumpsters used by businesses, construction and demolition sites, pedestrians, and people in cars. There are many reasons for people littering. People littering could be because that they are lazy, don’t care, or are ignorant. If you look around outside, you are almost guaranteed to see litter on the ground. Litter can affect habitats for all wildlife on land and in water. It can cause death to animals, such as a fishing line or pop can holders can get in the water. The fish can get stuck in these items and die. The litter can decompose into the ground and cause chemicals to spread, which also effect the environment. Littering harms our storm water systems, oceans, rivers and streams. As well its also effects wildlife such as elk and deer. Animals die in the attempt to eat plastic bags that are left to blow away in the wind. When the garbage sits in a certain period outside over a certain amount of time, it will start to decompose. Once it decomposes there are chemicals that get into the ground and they affects the ecosystems. If people would just clean up after themselves it would be much easier. We spend so much money on cleaning up littering. We could use that money towards other things such as repairing roads.
ReplyDelete