The article made me really think about life. I read 1984, and was terrified of the regime it portrayed, but after I read this article I realized that there's an even better way, a more sinister way of subjugating a nation. Not that entertainment is inherently bad, but is see how many media vehicles are actually inhibiting our learning, therfore it's a good idea to avoid them when possible. The article presents well-made questions. I disagree with his interpretation of the second commandment; he believes that it's wrong to make any image in the likeness of anything, thus, art is condemnable. That's a serious over-interpretation, in my opinion. But the rest of the article is brilliant.
Friday, January 31, 2014
25. Future Shlock
The author describes "future shlock" as an increasing stupidity among a once intelligent nation. He talks about how fragile human intelligence can be due to how easily it can be corrupted, giving Germany as an example. Germany was the leading country in education in the 20s, then all of a sudden it started having completely illogical philosophies about racial superiority and dictatorship, and it kicked out some of it's scholars. The author talks about two different kinds of degenerating intelligence. The first is comparable to George Orwell's 1984, and the second to Adolus Huxley's Brave New World. In 1984, they purge intelligence through pain and oppression. In Brave New World, they purge it through pleasure and bliss, which is more subtle and effective, and is the kind going on in America today. The author talks about how America has blurred lines between information and entertainment, so we are constantly entertained but never learn the information. Serious issues like politics are downsized, and even speech is being replaced by slang.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
Julia Keller starts with an example of a coach who can encourage their team with a personal pep talk or a power point. Which is the one more likely to be chosen? The answer is increasingly starting to be power point. PowerPoint and other Microsoft tools are revolutionary tools for business, education, science and communications. The software seems to be everywhere. There always have been presentations and means of group communications but not the same scale as PowerPoint which can be condensed into a single file filled with information. The presentation would be able to do the talking with its graphs, pictures, statistics and text. But, there is a downside. While the use of PowerPoint effectively condenses the information, it also condenses the thinking of the presenter. It started small but it has since then dramatically grown and spread, starting to become something like a drug. Although PowerPoint is a very useful tool and has changed many aspects business and education but it might also be changing the younger generations for the worse. It has affected their creativity and styles of learning. It has started to encourage a very simple black and white style of thinking, PowerPoint teaches people to make a point and not make an argument. However, Keller writes that the result of anything depends on the user and not the tool.
Keller writes a very long and extensive article on PowerPoint. She points out the positive and negative aspects and quotes many people who use it on a daily basis. She writes that it is changing the world, for better or for worse. Her examples were good and supported whatever stand she was taking at the moment but she may have utilized too many, making it hard to understand the original point. Even though it was a cohesive essay, she may have included too many examples which make it confusing at certain points. Her points and her essay as a whole would have been more effective if it had not been as long as it was. She seemed to stretch out certain points and paragraphs which would have been more effective in a more condensed version. Overall, her article would have been stronger if it had been shorter but she had very good aspects to her paper.
Keller writes a very long and extensive article on PowerPoint. She points out the positive and negative aspects and quotes many people who use it on a daily basis. She writes that it is changing the world, for better or for worse. Her examples were good and supported whatever stand she was taking at the moment but she may have utilized too many, making it hard to understand the original point. Even though it was a cohesive essay, she may have included too many examples which make it confusing at certain points. Her points and her essay as a whole would have been more effective if it had not been as long as it was. She seemed to stretch out certain points and paragraphs which would have been more effective in a more condensed version. Overall, her article would have been stronger if it had been shorter but she had very good aspects to her paper.
23.Are the Homeless Crazy?
This article is written by Jonathan Kozol in which he talks about the homeless issue. In his first aragraph he introduces the topic saing that most people view that the solution ofr this problems is to simple have more care centers, when actually it's more like a issue with the economy. He uses quantitative data in order to back up his arguments and is sucessful in it. Most homeless people have a common factor: they suffered trauma or a kind of diesease and this is not just coincidence. This label that is put on them that they have a "mental illness" is very degradative because it portrays the homeless as a threat to the United States and that does not helo them in their recovery. In the end the author does not provide a solution, rather he makes the public decide.
This article was sucessful because it talked and proved what he said in his thesis. His goal was to explain why homeess peole need to be helped and not jusdjed. In orde to convince the public of that he gives statistics in order to prove to the more skeptical that it is a real thing going on and an emtional example in the end for another side of the audience. Kozol overall does a good job in his essay becasue it is simple and effective, conveying the message in a way the public understands and going beyond that by encouraging the people to take action. Because of Kozol's simplicit and strong point of view suported by evidence this articel is sucesful inreaching it's purpose.
This article was sucessful because it talked and proved what he said in his thesis. His goal was to explain why homeess peole need to be helped and not jusdjed. In orde to convince the public of that he gives statistics in order to prove to the more skeptical that it is a real thing going on and an emtional example in the end for another side of the audience. Kozol overall does a good job in his essay becasue it is simple and effective, conveying the message in a way the public understands and going beyond that by encouraging the people to take action. Because of Kozol's simplicit and strong point of view suported by evidence this articel is sucesful inreaching it's purpose.
23. Are the Homeless Crazy?
Jonathan Kozol begins his article with with the common belief that many homeless people were deinstitutionalized in the 1970s. However, he refutes this belief with the knowledge of people who work with the homeless who say that the main reason homeless people are homeless is because of economical reasons and not clinical. He then supports this claim with statistics on how much the prices for houses has risen and how the percentage of homeless people actually have mental disorders. After listing a number of statistics, Kozol explains that even though there is a very small percentage of homeless people with mental disorders, it is huge in politics and the press because it is outside the norm. He then continues and writes that even though there are less institutions for the mentally sick and how many of them had be "liberated," he writes that it is only a correlation with the increase of homeless people. He writes that many of the homeless seem to have mental illnesses because of the terrible conditions they live in. He uses the example of a raging woman who was kicked out of her home, if all the homeless did that then maybe America would listen to the injustice they are subjugated to.
This article was very well written and it refutes a logical fallacy, the logical fallacy being the correlation between mentally ill people are usually homeless when in reality, most homeless were not mentally ill. A few points are scattered and the addition of more transitions could make it easier to connect the points. Kozol used statistics very effectively in supporting his point. He also utilizes his example at the end of his article in a very strong way to end his paper. He uses a number of things to support his stand like history, statistics and facts. He is also properly able to counter the logical fallacy slippery slope and also writes in a way that makes people start thinking about the grave situation at hand. Overall, he wrote a very compelling article that was able to successfully counter a common misbelief and make people start worrying about the situation.
This article was very well written and it refutes a logical fallacy, the logical fallacy being the correlation between mentally ill people are usually homeless when in reality, most homeless were not mentally ill. A few points are scattered and the addition of more transitions could make it easier to connect the points. Kozol used statistics very effectively in supporting his point. He also utilizes his example at the end of his article in a very strong way to end his paper. He uses a number of things to support his stand like history, statistics and facts. He is also properly able to counter the logical fallacy slippery slope and also writes in a way that makes people start thinking about the grave situation at hand. Overall, he wrote a very compelling article that was able to successfully counter a common misbelief and make people start worrying about the situation.
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
Julia Keller talks about the role PowerPoint has in today's education and how it affects it. This tool is utilized by everyone everywhere in order to present information. People began to realize that the presentation of information is a good way to promote group communication, which helps cement the group's foundation. The introduction of the PowerPoint revolutionized the art of presentation, because the presenter's information could be neatly condensed into bullets and points, while being aesthetically pleasing. The problem with this tool is that it also changes the way people think about the material being presented. In their minds, they start to condense information the same way that PowerPoint does. Keller criticizes that people are becoming too dependent on PowerPoint. PowerPoint is limiting people's creativity, because people are all using the same tool, the same format, to present information. Some argue that although they are a necessity in today's modern world, they should not be used to teach children who should be learning how to connect ideas and think on their own. Yet, the problem is not with technology in itself, but the way that it is used. PowerPoint is meant to be used as a tool for teaching, not to become the definition of what teaching is. Yes, technology can be utilized in distorted ways, but if it is used correctly, it proves to be a great learning tool.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
23. Are The Homeless Crazy?
Jonathan Kozol writes there exists a misconception that the cause of homelessness is the mental instability acquired from the lack of mental institutions to treat them. Workers who work among the homeless disagree with this claim, because the homeless situation is more of an economic issue. Poverty has intensified, since the number of traditional industrial jobs has declined. Number of low-income housing has also declined due to urbanization, and while rents have risen drastically, federal support has also dropped. Despite the fact that a study has shown mental illness is not the most common medical problem among the homeless, people still assume their correlation, because both are issues attributed to the lowest part of society. Usually, it is forgotten that, even though many homeless are also mentally ill, the real cause is an economic one, specifically the lack of housing opportunities. Mental illness does not cause homelessness, but the stresses of homelessness can cause mental distress, which is why this issue has caught the attention of so many people.
Kozol writes beautifully by clearly establishing his points and supporting them. This article is overflowing with statistics, research, and backup information, which constantly support the author's claims. For instance, Kozol uses the account of an enraged homeless woman that was evicted from her small room to support his claim that the homeless may seem a little odd and out of their mind, but only since they are constantly having to face harsh situations. Also, by presenting the "common knowledge", the misconception, first, before his own arguments, the author is able to refute it more expertly by pointing out its flaws. However, the organization of the article does seem a little messy. Kozol seems to have written two articles in the same one, because the second section simply restates many of the ideas already introduced in the first section while merely adding some additional information and research. Although it may sound repetitive at times, this essay is able to successfully support its arguments.
Kozol writes beautifully by clearly establishing his points and supporting them. This article is overflowing with statistics, research, and backup information, which constantly support the author's claims. For instance, Kozol uses the account of an enraged homeless woman that was evicted from her small room to support his claim that the homeless may seem a little odd and out of their mind, but only since they are constantly having to face harsh situations. Also, by presenting the "common knowledge", the misconception, first, before his own arguments, the author is able to refute it more expertly by pointing out its flaws. However, the organization of the article does seem a little messy. Kozol seems to have written two articles in the same one, because the second section simply restates many of the ideas already introduced in the first section while merely adding some additional information and research. Although it may sound repetitive at times, this essay is able to successfully support its arguments.
24.KILLING ME MICROSOFTLY
In the Tribune, Julia Keller impose usage of power points is insipid compared to other ways of presentations. She starts the essay with a small anecdote that places a football coach in a dilemma; he has to decide whether he should make an heart touching speech or a banal power point to talk to the players. This dilemma points out the two type of people in this world, ones who use believe in themselves to tell the message or depend on power point to do it for them. Keller expresses the head aching use of power pint. it has become mainstream in society mostly among business man ans students. However, Keller doesn't forget to extol power point as it has contributed as renovation of giving presentations. The display of the visuals, verbalized ideas, and speaker's arguments on the power point has encouraged speakers using power point. Nonetheless, power points obstructed people from thinking further in creating ways to present their ideas. People now have become so relied on the power point that individual thinking is less valued when it comes to power point usage.
Julia Keller is a writer who expresses herself with many words. Julia Keller's ideas seem conservative in thinking that technology has created the worst of many things. She does imply that Power points have contributed in the beneficial outcome by renovating ways in presentations but she is very obtrusive to say that power point hasn't only done good in the society but also bad to the point that people depend on power points for confidence. She uses a logical fallacy in the beginning of the essay when she introduces the anecdote. She only gives the coach two options when there can be more than only two. Her language is great and the structure of the way she approaches the audience is pretty clear, but i didn't appreciate that fact that she was so obtrusive about her ideas.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
Julia Keller is a writer who expresses herself with many words. Julia Keller's ideas seem conservative in thinking that technology has created the worst of many things. She does imply that Power points have contributed in the beneficial outcome by renovating ways in presentations but she is very obtrusive to say that power point hasn't only done good in the society but also bad to the point that people depend on power points for confidence. She uses a logical fallacy in the beginning of the essay when she introduces the anecdote. She only gives the coach two options when there can be more than only two. Her language is great and the structure of the way she approaches the audience is pretty clear, but i didn't appreciate that fact that she was so obtrusive about her ideas.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
24. Killing me Microsoftly
This article written by Julia Keller explores the influence of Microsoft in our society today. Keller focuses primarily on the Microsoft PowerPoint. She states that our society has become so dependent on that program to make presentations that we do not know of another way to do it. Keller begins by stating all the positive aspects of PowerPoint, and showing how useful and easy to use it really is. She then moves on to express all the negative aspects of the PowerPoint and how it is taking away the creativity of our society. A big part of the article is talking about the negative effects of PowerPoint and arguing that we should stop using it as much as we do. She argues that it is addictive and that there are many other options of ways to present something. Keller finishes the article advising the reader to think about her points.
Julia Keller is very persuasive in her article. She acknowledges the opposing point of view and then debates on top of that. She uses valid arguments with facts and statistics to prove her point. She gets the reader to think about technology in a whole different way and encourages them to think more thoroughly about the subject. She uses a language that captivates the attention of the reader and continues with the attention by using facts and statistics. It is an engaging article that makes the reader realize that technology can be dangerous and that we should focus more on what type of lifestyle we are living. In the end, the author places the decision of who they want to be in the reader's hands, making them actually evaluate their life.
Julia Keller is very persuasive in her article. She acknowledges the opposing point of view and then debates on top of that. She uses valid arguments with facts and statistics to prove her point. She gets the reader to think about technology in a whole different way and encourages them to think more thoroughly about the subject. She uses a language that captivates the attention of the reader and continues with the attention by using facts and statistics. It is an engaging article that makes the reader realize that technology can be dangerous and that we should focus more on what type of lifestyle we are living. In the end, the author places the decision of who they want to be in the reader's hands, making them actually evaluate their life.
23. Are the Homeless Crazy?
This essay written by Jonathan Kozol talks about the common mind set that all the homeless people in America are crazy. Most Americans believe that homeless people are former patients of mental hospitals and most of the time have mental diseases. They use that as an excuse to why there are so many homeless people: because they are mentally unstable. The article points out that the people who really have interaction with the homeless people around them do not agree with this theory. They do not believe that the homeless people are crazy, but unfortunate. They just missed out on opportunities of making life easier and having enough money to move out of the streets. Diseases are also a big thing that cause people to become homeless. Addiction and other disease cause people to not be themselves and have to spend a lot of money to treat themselves. This article concludes by expressing how homeless people feel about the labels they receive from the wealthier part of society and claim that we as a society should be more interested in helping them.
This essay is very interesting because it makes the reader see homeless people from a different perspective. It makes the reader think about the question in topic: are homeless people crazy? Kozol approaches the topic in a way that doesn't offend the readers that believe that the homeless are crazy, but that makes them think about it. The article does not present any obvious logical fallacies, because in every instant the reader makes realize the flaws in the argument being discussed, but not in a manipulative way. Overall I believe that the article was extremely well written. It presents their argument and them develops the reasons why to believe the argument.
This essay is very interesting because it makes the reader see homeless people from a different perspective. It makes the reader think about the question in topic: are homeless people crazy? Kozol approaches the topic in a way that doesn't offend the readers that believe that the homeless are crazy, but that makes them think about it. The article does not present any obvious logical fallacies, because in every instant the reader makes realize the flaws in the argument being discussed, but not in a manipulative way. Overall I believe that the article was extremely well written. It presents their argument and them develops the reasons why to believe the argument.
24. New Media Theory
This article by Julia Keller talks about the influence of PowerPoints in the way we educate and think. She first addresses the positive points of the PowerPoint, such as convenience (easy to use and quick to organize), and the negative points like how it condenses material and our creativity (for the presenter and the audience). Then Keller goes on about how PowerPoint is more than just branding, or a way of presenting information. PowerPoints are "poised for world domination". PowerPoints say something about you. If you use PowerPoint people know you have a computer or some sort of technological device (you have $). Keller then compares it to cocaine, saying how once one starts using PowerPoint, it's very hard to stop using it (I agree). Then she addresses prejudice. She writes that those who question technology are labeled as "antediluvian". The rest of the essay mainly consists of opposing views about the subject. Some are against PowerPoint is said to be dangerous to our imagination and it restricts our ability to think for ourselves. Others are for it, arguing that it is not technology in itself that is bad; it is how we decide to use it that makes the difference. Businessmen and women in particular, feel like it is a good way of presenting information to their audience quickly and efficiently. According to Keller, "30 million PowerPoint presentations are made daily by business professionals around the world." In the last paragraphs, the author asks the reader what we think about the matter.
I actually think this article is very humorous, mainly because of the topic. I was not expecting that a topic like PowerPoint would lead to an argument about serious issues in our lifestyle. I expected this article to be casual and informative, but it ended up addressing disputable claims. The tone of this selection is casual and objective. Keller is very effective in her writing style. She uses similes ("like oaks toppling unheard in the forest") to diversify and keep the reader interested. She also uses statistics and the opinions of college professors, psychologists, businessmen, teachers, and critics to support her arguments. Her thesis is also clearly stated: "PowerPoint, the public-speaking application included in the Microsoft Office software package, is one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous technological tools ever concocted." What I like the most is that Keller presents two sides of the coin, and seems to be somewhat neutral throughout the essay (neither for or against it). Keller also asks questions about what we think about PowerPoint and how we think it is changing us. All these components allow the readers to formulate their own opinions and think further about the topic. Therefore, I believe this selection is effective.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
I actually think this article is very humorous, mainly because of the topic. I was not expecting that a topic like PowerPoint would lead to an argument about serious issues in our lifestyle. I expected this article to be casual and informative, but it ended up addressing disputable claims. The tone of this selection is casual and objective. Keller is very effective in her writing style. She uses similes ("like oaks toppling unheard in the forest") to diversify and keep the reader interested. She also uses statistics and the opinions of college professors, psychologists, businessmen, teachers, and critics to support her arguments. Her thesis is also clearly stated: "PowerPoint, the public-speaking application included in the Microsoft Office software package, is one of the most pervasive and ubiquitous technological tools ever concocted." What I like the most is that Keller presents two sides of the coin, and seems to be somewhat neutral throughout the essay (neither for or against it). Keller also asks questions about what we think about PowerPoint and how we think it is changing us. All these components allow the readers to formulate their own opinions and think further about the topic. Therefore, I believe this selection is effective.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
24.Killing Me Microsoftly
In this article by Julia Keller she talksa about PowerPoint. More specifically the good sides and bad sides about this device created by Microsoft. She begins by defining what exactly PowerPoint is; she does so in a very simple manner so that a person who does not know the program may understand what it is. Keller acknowledges that is is widely used and very helpful in some classrooms and presentations, however, she shifts into opposing Microsoft rather than being neutral like in the begining. She starts talking about he negative sides of this resource because it can limit imagination and make someone be too dependant of the PowerPoint when it actually should only be a tool to guide a presentation. Keller cites a lot of people who speak against PowePoint but then also gets quotes from people who do suport PowerPoint. In the end, her concluson is that this device is a helpfl tool but should be used in the right way as only a guide rather than letting this resource become the presentation.
Overall this article is very engaging because even thoug it is long it's examples and theme are a hook that keeps the audience untill the end of the article. Keller starts her article in avery creative way talking about a team that is very behid and this is a device she used in order to introduce her theme but also capture attention. Her pace is also very good introducing topics at the right time and also having good transitions to change from one topic to the next. The author was sucessful in her essay because Keller showed both sides of PowerPoint and came into a neutral conclusion in which the reader can choose his own side.
Overall this article is very engaging because even thoug it is long it's examples and theme are a hook that keeps the audience untill the end of the article. Keller starts her article in avery creative way talking about a team that is very behid and this is a device she used in order to introduce her theme but also capture attention. Her pace is also very good introducing topics at the right time and also having good transitions to change from one topic to the next. The author was sucessful in her essay because Keller showed both sides of PowerPoint and came into a neutral conclusion in which the reader can choose his own side.
23. Homeless Crazy?
A question manny years ago arose that
was as follows: what is the main cause for people to not have a home?
After some quick research they concluded that homeless people become
homeless for mental disabilities affect them. The other people how
work to help homeless have a different opinion. They believe that yes
there are some homeless people how have mental illnesses, yet most
are homeless because they could not pay there rent sometime or
another in there life. The government was naturally more pleased with
the first reasoning, they did not want people thinking that the
homeless are in some way there fault. It is much better to think of
them as wanting or choosing to be there, as being dangerous,
unpredictable people. By presenting this false view, “normal”
people can continue to care about there own lives without any
worries, when they actually should worry. The author concludes his
essay by saying that if the homeless rose up as one, with one clear
voice, they would possibly be heard, and then government would do
something about it.
The way the essay is written is clear,
yet it presents some wordy part. The author did a good job in
providing many outside sources. With the outside sources the author
is able to both gain readers trust and also prove his point. The
author also present a good informational topic in witch the public
should be aware of. It is a topic involving the misguiding and
misleadings of the government in witch greatly affects people in a
particular situation how need help. Overall the author did a good job
with his language and presentation of a topic witch needs more public
attention.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf
23. Are the Homeless Crazy?
Jonathan Kozol discusses the main cause for homelessness in the United States in the article "Are the Homeless Crazy?". He presents statistics to show what the reality and the conditions are for those who do not have homes. For instance, he states that "since 1968 the number of children living in poverty has grown by 3 million" and that the federal support for housing has dropped from $30 billion (1980) to 7.5 billion (1988)". Basically the primary reason for homelessness in the United States is the economy. His thesis is pretty clear: "While conceding that a certain number of the homeless are or have been mentally unwell, they believe that, in the case of most unsheltered people, the primary reason is economic rather than clinical." Later on, Kozol addresses political and social causes for kicking people out of their homes. According to Kozol, we label the homeless as mentally ill individuals so we feel comfortable; so we do not feel responsible for their suffering. By labeling the homeless, we feel like we cannot do anything for them; that we do not have any intimate connection with them or their problems. The author uses the President as an example. He usually hides the harsh reality of poverty by saying "Now you’re hearing all kinds of horror stories”. The author also appeals to everyone to recognize homelessness as social federal stain and that those who are more fortunate are capable of helping.
This essay is very effective. Kozol's purpose is to persuade and to inform (make the audience aware) the audience of what is really going on in society. Kozol's tone is serious and criticizing. He criticizes the medical institutions, the government, and the people (us), and subtly calls out for us to do something about it. By providing disturbing statistics about the economic situation (homeless children and unemployment), he is able to captivate and shock the audience. He makes the reader feel guilty (I know I did). I really like the author's vocabulary because it is appropriate to the tone of the article. There are some big words but the essay is clear and objective; it is easy to understand. What I like the most is how he addresses the issues of the economy and how he supports his thesis so well, not only with statistic but interesting real life scenarios. It is embarrassing to see our society the way it is. Maybe things have changed since Kozol wrote this article, but poverty is still an impending issue that the government seems to overlook (or ignore). I believe Kozol was very effective in moving the reader and keeping the reader interested.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf
This essay is very effective. Kozol's purpose is to persuade and to inform (make the audience aware) the audience of what is really going on in society. Kozol's tone is serious and criticizing. He criticizes the medical institutions, the government, and the people (us), and subtly calls out for us to do something about it. By providing disturbing statistics about the economic situation (homeless children and unemployment), he is able to captivate and shock the audience. He makes the reader feel guilty (I know I did). I really like the author's vocabulary because it is appropriate to the tone of the article. There are some big words but the essay is clear and objective; it is easy to understand. What I like the most is how he addresses the issues of the economy and how he supports his thesis so well, not only with statistic but interesting real life scenarios. It is embarrassing to see our society the way it is. Maybe things have changed since Kozol wrote this article, but poverty is still an impending issue that the government seems to overlook (or ignore). I believe Kozol was very effective in moving the reader and keeping the reader interested.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
In this essay Julia Keller, the Tribune's cultural critic, writes about the use of language to compel an audience, specifically through powerpoint presentations. She begins by narrating the sullen mood in the locker room and gives the coach one of two options to compel his team to go on: to give a heart-touching and emotional speech, or use a powerpoint to go over the dull, rudimentary aspects of the game. From this narration she concludes that there are two kinds of people: those who believe in the power of words and the emotion behind them, and those who believe in powerpoint. She continues by stating that there is an overwhelming use of the powerpoint as a means of expression, stating how it has drastically changed modern society and business by the change in how information is conveyed. Furthermore, she draws a timeline of the forms people have used communications over the years, presenting the drastic change from the "old-school memo" to the "modern" visual aid incorporated through the powerpoint. The powerpoint added the element of the verbalization of ideas, giving confidence to the speaker while also creating an organized display of their arguments. Nevertheless, she goes overs the danger of an over-condensed and summarized powerpoint, which compromises thought and invariably changes the effect the presentation has. Furthermore, she writes about the history of the powerpoint, from its conception to its distribution among software companies to its "world domination."She continues by describing the attachment a person creates to the program, establishing a new way of expressing oneself easily and clearly. Some people dislike this program due to the limitations it imposes on society and the flow of information, furthermore it limits one's ability to think for themselves. Nevertheless, it has become a requirement in the business world, yet it limits a child's ability to make an argument. A powerpoint does not require the same interactions in a classroom, creating a sometimes detrimental tool which limits learning in depth. She ends her essay by pondering on how the powerpoint reflects on society and presenting a dilemma. This dilemma is between the positive aspects of technology and the effects it has of turning everything into a summary.
In her article Keller uses very affective language and compelling arguments, both of which give strong support for her main purpose. She handles a great amount of data effectively, clearly transitioning through them to support her points by presenting counter arguments and arguments supporting the use of powerpoint. Keller tackles several social issues involving the role of society in the lives of the young and in every day life. These issues are heavily backed up by various sources which are both credible and informative. Furthermore, she is very thorough, presenting evidence several times for emphasis while also shedding light from the perspective of different authorities. Nevertheless, she does have some logical fallacies, namely in her introduction where she presents two choices. These two choices, preferring powerpoint presentations or an emotional appeal, do not present the whole spectrum of available routes one can take. Although it may be misleading, it does not distract the reader from the main point of the essay. Furthermore, her tone is challenging, for she is able to create room for the reader to formulate their own opinion by presenting an unbiased portrayal of each. Overall, her essay is successful in conveying her message and fulfilling the purpose of her essay: exposing the dilemma the powerpoint presents in modern society.
In her article Keller uses very affective language and compelling arguments, both of which give strong support for her main purpose. She handles a great amount of data effectively, clearly transitioning through them to support her points by presenting counter arguments and arguments supporting the use of powerpoint. Keller tackles several social issues involving the role of society in the lives of the young and in every day life. These issues are heavily backed up by various sources which are both credible and informative. Furthermore, she is very thorough, presenting evidence several times for emphasis while also shedding light from the perspective of different authorities. Nevertheless, she does have some logical fallacies, namely in her introduction where she presents two choices. These two choices, preferring powerpoint presentations or an emotional appeal, do not present the whole spectrum of available routes one can take. Although it may be misleading, it does not distract the reader from the main point of the essay. Furthermore, her tone is challenging, for she is able to create room for the reader to formulate their own opinion by presenting an unbiased portrayal of each. Overall, her essay is successful in conveying her message and fulfilling the purpose of her essay: exposing the dilemma the powerpoint presents in modern society.
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
Julia Keller wrote about the PowerPoint,
a program made by Microsoft for public speaking that influenced the world of
business, education, science and communications in less than one decade. It was
a success because Microsoft realized the people`s need to have a visual aids
and outside notes in order to have a complete speech. The program allows the
speakers to organize their ideas into a series of bullet points that is easier
for the audience to absorb the information and also guarantee that the speakers
will not forget their information. However, PowerPoint has its negative sides
because since the function of the program is to condense the ideas into several
bullet points, sometimes the speakers get limited in their way of thinking and
looking at the material. PowerPoint was so wildly used among the people that it
needed no introduction or explanations since everyone knows this program. On
the other side, there are people who dislike PowerPoint such as Jay Phelan who
is an evolutionary biologist and also a professor in University of California.
He believes that a good lecture does not need PowerPoint because the transfer of
content from teacher to the students would be lost and it also limits the
people`s imagination. PowerPoint is so powerful that Clarke L. Caywood, a
professor of marketing at Northwestern University, declared that no business
man would able to carry out a good speech without the help of PowerPoint. Whether
PowerPoint is a good program for learning is a debated idea because although it
is helpful for the businessman but on the other side, it is damaging the
children`s ability to think and connect the ideas.
Julia Keller wrote an essay to
inform the people about the influence of PowerPoint on the people nowadays and
its impact in the world. In the beginning of her essay, she has a strong
attention getter about the story of a football team. She introduced the main
topic of the essay smoothly by saying that coach used PowerPoint to review the
strategies to the teammates. Her humoristic way of writing makes the readers
interested throughout the essay and the contrast of ideas between the positive
and negative sides of PowerPoint keeps the readers attentive on the subject.
The many examples and statistics enrich the whole article and enforced how
powerful PowerPoint is in the society. An example would be when she wrote that
there are 300 million users worldwide of PowerPoint and several people are
dependent on it. This example allows the readers to understand the influence
that this program has upon the people and its power to control the areas of business,
education, marketing and others. She also consulted the opinions of many
professors and people who are constantly involved with the use of PowerPoint.
The interesting part is that these opinions are most of the time, contradicting
one another because some professors believe that the use of PowerPoint can
bring negative affects to the students while others believe that it is actually
beneficial. However, the author used too many opinions and examples that can be
tiring for the readers. She also repeats her ideas several times and it can
make the readers lose their interest for the subject rapidly.
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
1900 power point was invented witch
changed everyone. Before power point, people used slideshows or plain
imagination, yet after the invention everyone from 4th
grade teacher to business worker, everyone uses it. It has its
advantages and its disadvantages. Some people like it and others hat
it. And the author himself said how Power Point swallows humans idea,
there trace of though. Yet it is an easy way to make something hard
understandable. It captures peoples attention, especially kids. And
finally the author also talk about Power Point not slowing
discussions anymore, were they previously were “allowed”.
Personally I think Power point is not
as important as it used to, this might have appeared differently to
the Author because of the timeframe he was writing it. This program
does not necessary take way the time of discussion, people can just
pause it and have a discussion anyway. In some ways, Power Point only
opens time for discussion. Yet tho, it is a useful tool for almost
anything. The Author was clear in his text and gave various examples
witch helped readers comprehend his point of view. Overall he Wrote a
good essay with his point of views, yet with space open for
discussion.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
23. Are the Homeless People Insane?
Jonathan Kozol's article explores the long-held belief that homeless people are homeless because they are mentally insane. That due to the lack of proper asylums for them, they were turned out upon the streets. But studies show that the main causes for homelessness are not psychological as they are economical. The article notes the rise of prices since the inflation and the great depression, and also notes that it's not unnatural for homeless people to be insane, since insanity isolates them from society and from the help that they need. It also points out that the government prefers to make homeless people sound like dangerous subjects, so that they don't appear as "victims of displacement from enterprising realtors", which most of them are. It also alloows people to keep from thinking about solutions for the homeless, and to enjoy the extra space that others might actually need. It also mentions that homeless people obviously don't feel well on a regular basis; they're denied food and shelter, and might have families to raise, so it's ridiculous to expect them to be happy. The article ends by saying that if homeless people all raised their voices against their treatment at the same time, they might force people to listen.
This article is deeply thought-provoking, exploring another issue which is usually taken for granted. It's short and concise, and raises the right questions without being agressive. It doesn't commit any blatant logical fallacies, and covers multiple sides of the argument frankly and honestly. I agree with the speaker's point of view, but it's a hard pill to swallow, because it's uncomfortable for us to reach out to people who are seen as undesirables. It's much safer to assume that they're insane and walk by them than to offer help. Also, there is the issue of drug-addicted homeless people, which is prevalent in Brazil. Many often use the money they get for drugs. It makes it tri9ckier to help them, but it's not impossible.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf
This article is deeply thought-provoking, exploring another issue which is usually taken for granted. It's short and concise, and raises the right questions without being agressive. It doesn't commit any blatant logical fallacies, and covers multiple sides of the argument frankly and honestly. I agree with the speaker's point of view, but it's a hard pill to swallow, because it's uncomfortable for us to reach out to people who are seen as undesirables. It's much safer to assume that they're insane and walk by them than to offer help. Also, there is the issue of drug-addicted homeless people, which is prevalent in Brazil. Many often use the money they get for drugs. It makes it tri9ckier to help them, but it's not impossible.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf
23. Are The Homeless Crazy?
Jonathon Kozol marks the only problem to the homeless is devoid homes. Homeless are usually known as people who were brought into the streets in the 1970s when many people started losing jobs. The mentally ill are not necessarily the ones living on the streets, but it was the conditions in which they were exposed to, mostly not having shelter to stay in, that made the homeless this way.The stress from the small wages with economical instability caused many people to gradually move to the streets. Kozol's points that we, who have homes have neglected the ones in need such as the people on the streets, pushing forth more people to be on the streets.
Kozol's essay is persuasive and clear. Kozol's way of approaching "homelessness" has a good flow. He starts the essay with an opposing argument. Around about in the second paragraph Kozol adds his argument and imposes the idea that homelessness increased due to many economical problems many people have to face everyday. He uses statistics and direct quotes from actual homeless people. These reliable sources make his essay firm. Kozol doesn't forget to sum up his thoughts about the cause of homeless in the concluding paragraph. Overall, i enjoyed reading this essay.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/myoung/poverty/Are%20the%20Homeless%20Crazy.pdf
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
The article talks about the rise of the Power Point as a tool for teaching and giving presentations to large groups of people. It notes that people were forced to lecture to make their arguments clear, but with power points the entire lecture can be condensed to just the main ideas. It's convenient, but the article questions the implications it has for our learning and development. It states thet Power points take away creativity in presentations, and keep the topic presented from being fully discussed. It notes that the Power Point was invented in 1984, the year of George Orwell's famous book on a brainwashed society. Power Points greatly resemble assembly lines and pre-made products, not something truly stimulating and engaging.
I don't agree very strongly with the author, but I can see the point that the essay makes. I think Power Points are convenient, and we as students have little time as it is; not enough to devise a new way of presenting something every time. I do agree that normal lectures are often more engaging and thought-provoking than lectures with Power Point Presentations; then again it does depend on the teacher. there are good and bad lecturers, as well as good and bad "Power Pointers". The article is excellently written, sparking internal debate within the reader, and possibly future external debates. The author is bold in their article, but doesn't appear to commit logical fallacies; they don't necessarily attack any particular group, and they make well-rounded arguments.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
I don't agree very strongly with the author, but I can see the point that the essay makes. I think Power Points are convenient, and we as students have little time as it is; not enough to devise a new way of presenting something every time. I do agree that normal lectures are often more engaging and thought-provoking than lectures with Power Point Presentations; then again it does depend on the teacher. there are good and bad lecturers, as well as good and bad "Power Pointers". The article is excellently written, sparking internal debate within the reader, and possibly future external debates. The author is bold in their article, but doesn't appear to commit logical fallacies; they don't necessarily attack any particular group, and they make well-rounded arguments.
http://bradley.bradley.edu/~ell/nmt/04/concept4b1.html
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
19. Recess Without Rules
A research experiment done by two local universities on the playground of Swanson Primary School, Auckland, New Zealand, went so well that the school decided to make the changes permanent. What were the changes? The experiment required the playground to abandon all rules. Students were obliged to climb trees, ride skateboards, play contact games--such things that would normaly be prohibited on a school playground. The results were unexpected; bullying, serious injuries, vandalism were decreasing while concentration levels in class increased. Professor Grant Schofield of Auckland University who worked on the experiment claimed that limiting children's play is harmful to children in the long run because it ignores the benefits of risk-taking. However, despite this professor's encouragement on other schools to embrace the same freedom of "play and risk-taking", the American school administrators are not showing any attempt towards this approach. Turns out to be that parents are the ones at the steering wheel, driving the nation's tendency toward more restrictive playground rules since they are the ones who sue schools when children get hurt.
At first, Lahey's main purpose of the article seemed like it was to introduce a new approach made in a New Zealand school that ameliorated childrens' academic skills and showed decline in bullying and injuries. Nonetheless, ever since Lahey mentioned American parents, it seemed like Lahey was ridiculing the overprotective characteristic of American parents and their inclination to sue anything as soon as something hurts their child. Lahey gave a situation where in one of her issued articles, "Why Parents Need to Let Their Children Fail" was accompanied by enthusiastic comments of parents agreeing with her, she doubted their same reaction if one of their own kids get hurt. Layhey also mentions that she has even written a book on how parents should let their children fail and give them freedom to take both physical and emotional risks. It is clearly shown that Lahey strongly supports the Swanson School's decision. While she says she is being "cautious and optimistic" about this controversy, her writing is surely persuasive-getting the readers to agree with her. Although I'm not sure what she was trying to get the readers to agree on, whether if schools should abandon rules like the one in New Zealand or just proving that American parents are all about the lawsuits.
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/recess-without-rules/283382/
At first, Lahey's main purpose of the article seemed like it was to introduce a new approach made in a New Zealand school that ameliorated childrens' academic skills and showed decline in bullying and injuries. Nonetheless, ever since Lahey mentioned American parents, it seemed like Lahey was ridiculing the overprotective characteristic of American parents and their inclination to sue anything as soon as something hurts their child. Lahey gave a situation where in one of her issued articles, "Why Parents Need to Let Their Children Fail" was accompanied by enthusiastic comments of parents agreeing with her, she doubted their same reaction if one of their own kids get hurt. Layhey also mentions that she has even written a book on how parents should let their children fail and give them freedom to take both physical and emotional risks. It is clearly shown that Lahey strongly supports the Swanson School's decision. While she says she is being "cautious and optimistic" about this controversy, her writing is surely persuasive-getting the readers to agree with her. Although I'm not sure what she was trying to get the readers to agree on, whether if schools should abandon rules like the one in New Zealand or just proving that American parents are all about the lawsuits.
http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/01/recess-without-rules/283382/
22. On Self-Respect
In this article the author Joan Didion who start by stating his failure into getting in Phi Beta Kappa. That upset him a lot and brought him down because he started to have less self-respect. As t is written on the title this article is solely about this theme in which Dideon explores the effects of having a high and low level of self-respect. He uses beautiful language as in paragraph 4 "To live without self-respect is to lie awake some night, beyond the reach of warm milk, the Phenobarbital, and the sleeping hand on the coverlet, counting up the sins of commissions and omission, the trusts betrayed, the promises subtly broken, the gifts irrevocably wasted through sloth or cowardice, or carelessness." He is very good in using the english language in a very imaginative and graphic way helping the reader to understand. Didion also talksa bout that if you do not respect youself then other people will not respect you. According to him self-respect can be gained and developed through time so that people wth less of t can respect themselves more through time.
Overall this article was good because it completed the objectives that were in his thesis. They were to firstly inform the audience about what is self-respect and also talk abot it's effects. He is saying how not having self-respect is bad for someone because htey cannot deal with their internal problems well and do not give themselves the value they deserve. Also, it is not good so think too much of oneself and be lost in ego. Didion is very good in writing and uses beautiful words to illustrate his meaning. His article was good overall and achieved his thesis.
Overall this article was good because it completed the objectives that were in his thesis. They were to firstly inform the audience about what is self-respect and also talk abot it's effects. He is saying how not having self-respect is bad for someone because htey cannot deal with their internal problems well and do not give themselves the value they deserve. Also, it is not good so think too much of oneself and be lost in ego. Didion is very good in writing and uses beautiful words to illustrate his meaning. His article was good overall and achieved his thesis.
23. Are the Homeless Crazy?
In this essay Jonathan Kozol adresses the misconceptions of being homeless, where he targets the belief that the primary source of Americn homelessness is the lack of mental institutions. He begins by analyzing the perspective of those who work among the homeless, who have testified that the biggest discrepancy between the homeless and "normal people" are their economic conditions, which in turn, reflect on their mental stability. According to these workers, the growth of the homeless population was started by the lack of industrial jobs and the continuous growth of cities. The picture these workers portray look beyond the diagnosis of psychiatrists, revealing the economic hardship faced daily in America. Furthermore, Kozol addresses the fact that the media portrays and objectifies the homeless as "mentally disabled," they create an identity which reflects upon the whole population of the homeless based off of the disabilities of a minority. This identity, nevertheless, is taboo in many societies and is a way in which Americans can live their lives guilt-free by pursuing no real solution. Kozol continues his essay by analyzing how this misconception can be let go, introducing figures which statistically oppose the belief that all homeless people are mentally handicap. He presents evidence indicative that homelessness was not caused by a mental handicap, rather by the lack of housing due to extreme urbanization. The mental handicap, he points out, is usually acquired when the person was already on the streets from the intolerable conditions they live in and society's own agenda:building luxurious apartments and offices. He ends the article by questioning what society is doing to help and how we deceive ourselves from listening to the pleas of reality.
This article is very well elaborated, attacking the different logical fallacies society has when it comes to arguing that the homeless have mental issues. Kozol uses clear language and clear transitions to create a smooth flow to his essay while including abundant evidence. Although at times he is repetitive, his arguments build upon each other for emphasis of the demeaning identity society has adopted of the homeless. Furthermore, his evidence is well backed up and analyzed, giving credibility to his writing while also compelling the author by means of appealing to their emotions and logic. The statistics of the homeless, young mothers appeal to human vulnerability and the desire for the well being of mothers and children. The author follows a clear thesis and is able to elaborate on the subject by countering opposing arguments and analyzing logically the information he presents. He also attacks a subject which in many ways is taboo in American society, challenging mainstream misconceptions and creating life to the cause of the homeless. When the author addresses the objectification of the homeless, he pleads for the rights the homeless have as humans, and not as inanimate objects. Thus, he is able to relate to these people and appeal to the reader by challenging society to change its view of the homeless and lend a hand to them.
This article is very well elaborated, attacking the different logical fallacies society has when it comes to arguing that the homeless have mental issues. Kozol uses clear language and clear transitions to create a smooth flow to his essay while including abundant evidence. Although at times he is repetitive, his arguments build upon each other for emphasis of the demeaning identity society has adopted of the homeless. Furthermore, his evidence is well backed up and analyzed, giving credibility to his writing while also compelling the author by means of appealing to their emotions and logic. The statistics of the homeless, young mothers appeal to human vulnerability and the desire for the well being of mothers and children. The author follows a clear thesis and is able to elaborate on the subject by countering opposing arguments and analyzing logically the information he presents. He also attacks a subject which in many ways is taboo in American society, challenging mainstream misconceptions and creating life to the cause of the homeless. When the author addresses the objectification of the homeless, he pleads for the rights the homeless have as humans, and not as inanimate objects. Thus, he is able to relate to these people and appeal to the reader by challenging society to change its view of the homeless and lend a hand to them.
23. Are the Homeless Crazy?
Jonathan Kozol wrote an essay that focuses on the homeless people and
the reasons why they have mental problems. Due to their lack of money, they do
not have a proper house to live in since they do not have any source of income.
Two million people have lost their jobs since 1980 and the number of children
living in poverty has grown by 3 million. Another main reason why these
homeless people do not have the basic living conditions is because many of the
low-income housing has been demolished in order to construct big condominiums. In
addition, the median rents have climbed 30 percent, making several poor
families to live on the street. The government also started to invest less
money on constructing low-income housing therefore, the homeless people have no
other choice rather than to live on the streets. The reason why mental illness of
the poor people attracts so much attention from the public is because it is outside
of the sphere of ordinary life. It represents the anguish and the misery of the
public. The mental problems, different from other diseases, conveys a stigma in
the United State that says to isolate the people who represent a threat to
national complacence. The fact that the homeless people have psychological problems
enables the people to believe that it is alright to enjoy the privileges and
ignore the people who do not have anything. Many of the patients in the mental
hospitals are the elders from the street and after they get released from the
hospital, usually, they would start living in low-income housing or boardinghouses.
However, almost 50 percent of these houses have been replaced by luxury
apartments or office buildings. The misery of these poor people is very intense
and most of the time, some pregnant women do not even have the basic living
conditions to have a baby, therefore, their child usually die on their second
year of life. This sad reality will persist for several years and the number of
homeless people is rising significantly. If the government does not invest more
on their living conditions, one day everyone would be forced to listen to their
requests.
Jonathan Kozol used clear sentence structures and word choice in order
to inform the readers about the social problem that is affecting the homeless
people. He has several statistics and credible sources in his essay in order to
strengthen his arguments. An example would be the estimate of how many
low-income housing were demolished in the past few years. This allows the
readers to realize the seriousness of this subject and if the situation remains
the same for the next few years, there will be more people living under intolerable
conditions. He also used several examples and facts to intensify the subject
such as the example of the pregnant women who live in terrible conditions,
therefore, their children often pass away in the first two years of life.
Although the author is simply listing a series of facts in the first few paragraphs,
the readers can realize that the author actually wants to urge the people to
help the society. His introduction was also very well done because he was able
to have a clear thesis and also give the readers a brief description of the
subject. However, the author wrote too much information and statistics that can
be tiring to read. He could have taken off some of the information and added
some suggestions of how the readers can improve this social problem. Overall,
his essay was very well developed and it is suitable for any kind of readers
who is interested in the subject of social problems.
24. Killing Me Microsoftly
PowerPoint was created in 1984 by Dennis Austin and Bob Gaskins in Silicon Valley, and it has become famous, widely used ever since. PowerPoint has "revolutionized the worlds of business, education, science and communications." PowerPoint was used by, as it is exemplified in the text, people with the fear of public speaking, but obliged to do so. They could guarantee that the slides would prevent the speaker going off track or forgetting what to say. Yet, it "squeezes ideas into a preconceived format, organizing and condensing not only your material but - inevitably, it seems - your way of thinking about and looking at that material," being highly vicious. One PowerPoint hater, Jay Phelan from the University of California, uses "the creative interplay of a teacher's knowledge and the students' hunger for ideas," because it affects creativity. Due to the easy formation of a PowerPoint presentation and the templates, "they totally limit your ability to express yourself." There are, incredibly, 30 million presentations made daily and worldwide. In the business world, meanwhile, PowerPoint is a must to present, just like "being able to read." Another problem of the presentations is that it "doesn't teach children to make an argument. It teaches them to make a point," definitely "not a replacement for other tools in the classroom," such as a research paper. Nevertheless, a college professor says that nothing really is totally effective, and "it can be overused and distorted." PowerPoint "easily becomes a crutch for the poor student and a stumbling block to students already too disengaged from the act of learning," being too superficial in both school and work.
23. Are the Homeless Crazy?
Many mistakenly believe that the cause for homelessness is "the subsequent failure of society to build [mental institutions] or to provide them in sufficient number" for the mentally ill. However, the "primary reason is economic rather than clinical," for the "loss of traditional jobs industry," the loss of cheap housing to new buildings, the growing rent prices, and the decline of "federal support for low-income housing." A study from the Massachusetts Medical Society even shows the minimal contribution of mental illness to homelessness when compared to other factors. Yet, the misconception is popular, because it refutes responsibility from common people. The "label of mental illness places the destitute outside the sphere of ordinary life," accompanied by the stigma. It "spares us from the need to offer realistic solutions to the deep and widening extremes of wealth," and the responsibility for "victims of displacement at the hands of enterprising realtors." Another reason why the homeless seem to be "mentally unwell" is because of the superficial researches that "do not tell us that we have made these people ill. They do not tell us that illness is a natural response to intolerable conditions."
Monday, January 27, 2014
21. How to Argue
The author believes hat modern
christians have been using too many bad reasonings. Yet christians
and the community in general, have been founded on reasonings. His
next step then is to explain in 15 ways how to argue correctly and
logically. His fifteen steps are each different logical Fallacies. In
each step he bluntly says what needs to be done, followed by an
example. The fallacies used are Ad Homiem, Straw man, False Analogy,
Slippery Slope, Confusion equals Cause, Argument from Authority,
Correlation equals Causation, Psychologist's fallacy, False Dilemma,
Moral Equivalence, Meaningless Question, Argument from consequence,
Red Herring, Begging the Question, and lastly, Appeal to ignorance.
The wording is quick and fast to read
and understand. He does not spend time with fancy words making it
easier for any reader, young or old, to comprehend. Since the
beginning of the text the author includes himself by using such words
as “we”. Yet right after he separates the audience from himself
by using “i” and “you”. The article in well written even thou
it is brief, to the point, and somewhat informal.
http://scribblepreach.com/2013/03/13/how-not-to-argue-like-an-idiot-the-15-most-common-logical-fallacies/
22. On Self-Respect
This article discusses the topic of
self respect and its actual definition. Joan Didion starts off by
narrating a particular event that happened to her. She describes
loosing something after an academic denial. For her self respect is
thought by grandparents, yet it is not what she views as self
respect. To have self respect is the possibility to love, yet at the
same time to discriminate. Self respect has a combination of self
discipline witch according to Didion, “It is a kind of ritual,
helping us to remember who and what we are. In order to remember it,
one must have known it.”
Altho long and wordy, Joan Didion
writs deep sentences. Her train of thoughts can get somewhat cloudy
in some sections yet she fills her article with examples from small
stories or events. By starting off with her own personal account, it
was somewhat of an attention-getter. Overall Didion's ideas were
good, well explained, and well developed throughout the text.
http://profacero.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/joan-didion-on-self-respect/
http://profacero.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/joan-didion-on-self-respect/
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