Blog #13

In chapter 9 of Writing Analytically, the chapter talks about the purpose of an argument with an introduction to the rules of an argument. There are three viewpoints on an argument:

•       Formal Argument Analysis: The Syllogism and the Toulmin Model
•       Rogerian Argument and Practical Reasoning
•       Figurative Logic: Reasoning with Metaphors

The Rules of an Argument: Syllogism and Enthymeme

The Aristotelian model is the syllogism. There are three parts that consist in this model. The major premise is a general proposition presumed to be true. A minor premise is a subordinate proposition also presumed to be true. The conclusion is a claim that follows logically from the two premises, if the argument has been properly framed. It gives an example to understand easier:

And here is my example of what I understand:

            All actors are handsome.

            Chris Hemsworth is an actor.

            Therefore, Chris Hemsworth is handsome.

Toulmin’s Alternative Model of the Sylopgiam

Philosopher Stephen Toulmin studies arguments as we see them in everyday life instead of mathematical formulations. A good argument connects the whole discussion together. You need a claim that is a standpoint which is presented by a writer. Data is the evidence which supports the claim. A warrant is a general principle or reason for connecting particular data to a particular claim. A claim is a conclusion about the data. Here is Toulmin’s example:

            Data: Harry was born in Bermuda.

            Warrant: The relevant statutes provide that people born in the colonies of British

    parents are entitled to British citizenship.

            Claim: So, presumably, Harry is a British citizen.

                              

Rogerian Argument and Practical Reasoning

Both Rogers and Booth’s goal is the need to be able to understand and accurately represent the positions of “opponents” in an argument (196). This goal is important because of the standard in academic writing, where you try to put different points of views into the conversation rather than just argue about one view point. Also, there are two examples to illustrate how qualifying your claims and checking for the unstated assumptions upon which your claims depend on, can remedy the two primary problems created by categorical thinking: unqualified claims and overstated positions. So, you should more carefully limit the claims.

Figurative Logic: Reasoning with Metaphors

The Logic of Metaphor

•      Metaphors pervade our ways of thinking
•      Metaphor is a way of thinking by analogy
•       The logic of metaphors is implicit
•      The implicit logic of metaphors can be made explicit by scrutinizing the language
•      We can recast figurative language to see and evaluate its arguments just as we recast language to examine its logic in syllogistic form
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The last section of this chapter is about fallacies. Fallacies are false moves that can subvert arguments and interpretations. It is in the categories Pathos, Ethos, and Logos from classical rhetoric. It is important because it appeals to the audience’s emotions. If you understand fallacies, you can easily to avoid them in constructing arguments and in analyzing the arguments of others. 

Blog #12

In the process of writing, it is important to know how to start and end a piece of writing. These parts of your writing are called the introduction and conclusion. In chapter 16 of Writing Analytically, the chapter talks about how to write your introduction and conclusion in a better way. These are important in your writing; an introduction shows what your paper is going to about. The Latin root of the word introduction means “within” and “to lead or bring”. This means exactly what you are trying to say at the beginning of any writing. You are supposed to lead into the conversation instead of just saying what you want to say. This is kind of like when you talk to someone. You say “Hi, how are you?” so that you do not sound rude or too quick to ask someone something. Many professional works are better when you have an introduction, “in fact, papers in the humanities often begin [this] way” (356). The information that you write in the introduction must be relevant; “in deciding how much to introduce up front, you must make a series of difficult choices about what to include and exclude” (357). Sometimes you write too much or too little about your paper. A good introduction will make your whole paper better. There are many ways to begin your paper. These are “challenge a commonly held view”, “begin with a definition”, “lead with your second-best example”, and “exemplify the topic with a narrative.” You can start by asking a question that society is controversial about or maybe has an opinion about. This will usually make readers more interested in your topic. Another way is to define a word that goes with your theme. That way readers know what you are about to talk about. Another good way is to make a narrative or personal story about the topic. 

                                          

Now for the conclusion, “the concluding paragraph presents the paper’s final “So what?”(361). This is the last chance for you to convince readers about your point of to make a last impression. “At the end, the writer should rephrase the original research question and discuss it in light of the results presented”(363). You are supposed to restate your purpose, not repeat it. It is supposed to connect everything that you have said.  This creates some problems because sometimes you do not know where to stop when you are gathering all of the ideas. Some problems are “redundancy”, “raising a totally new point”, “overstatement”, and an “anticlimax”. You can be repetitive or even make up new points that you were not supposed to do. The conclusion is a sum of ideas. 

                                          

Blog #11

For my first draft of writing project #2, honestly, I kind of rushed and I did not think my first draft is organized nor clear because I did it kind of last minute. I had a hard time trying to choose a discourse community because I was not sure what the discourse community can be. Also, I was confused on how I should write about them. When I was writing, I did not know what I was writing about. I know I need to spend more time to work on my writing project #2.

When I discussed with my partner, she said that my essay sounds interesting but for the introduction, I need to show a clearer purpose, goal, and argument of what I am writing about. Also, I need to add some rhetorically analysis because she said it seems I just described the discourse community. She mentioned that I try to make extended conversations about one side and then the other side. That way I can have a better flow. She also told me that she wants to hear more about the women who experienced a change in beauty and their feelings about the transitions and such. 

                      

For my second draft of my writing, I am going to make sure that my purpose/goal of my writing is clearly written and I will make good arguments with it. I always have a hard time trying to write rhetorically so, I will go back to look up Prezi, which we discussed in class on Wednesday. It is not on the Prezi yet but I am sure he is going to post. Mr. Frank gave us the examples about good introduction, conversation, and rhetorically analyzing. It was really helpful of him to give examples for our first writing project rather than just explaining. I think that is because we all know what the writing project was about. Also, I will research more about my discourse community and make sure that I know what I am writing about. 

Blog #10

Writing Project 2

Before I start my essay, I kind of panicked because there was one more 7 to 8 page writing project. I was really unsure where to start from because I was unclear which discourse community I want to write on. I chose hospital and doctors the last time when we learned about analysis the discourse community in class but I was not sure what things I should write about hospital and doctors. I kept thinking about how I am going write 7 to 8 pages and what I should talk when it comes to the hospital and doctors, but I could not think of any arguments. I think because I do not know that much about them. Then, I decided to write about young women because I thought this discourse community is going to be easier to write with. I can easily include my thoughts and opinions into this topic, because I was more familiar with the topic.

This discourse community is really interesting to me because I am in this community and I feel that I could agree with them. That is why I choose this discourse community. Young women are sensitive on trend. In my opinion, most young women’s focus more on their looks. For example, in today’s society first impression is extremely important going to a job interview. One issue of this discourse community is that the media has such an enormous influence on not only young women but everyone actually. The media has such control over us that we do not even notice how much it has impacted us. For instance, the standard of women’s body, the media portray the ideal body to be skinny. Everywhere you go or see is skinny beautiful young women. We have this image embedded in our head of what beauty is defined as. This is a huge issue; beauty cannot be defined by our size. The media is sending a horrible message to young girls out there, and the worst part is we are letting them do this. This idea of being perfect or having the perfect body does not exist so we cannot be brain wash by the media. We have to except the fact that what we born with is a blessing and just learn to love and embrace our imperfections.
                                             

                                   




Chapter 11

                     

In the chapter 11, it is about how to improve and write a good and clear thesis statement to make your paper explore. I always struggle with writing a thesis statement. The reason behind this is because it is hard to adapt to the English language and writing. I know that having a thesis statement is one of the key elements to have in my writing. The author states that “A thesis is an idea. It is a thought that you have arrived at about your evidence, rather than something you can expect to find, ready-made, in whatever you are studying.” Having a good thesis can be having a good idea so, it help to explore your thought with good evidence. I am pretty sure this chapter is going to be really help to write thesis statement in the future.
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Blog #9

                      

Last Wednesday, we got in to the group and discussed and worked together. The group work was to talk about one strategy that we read before class and summarizing and editing one group member’s paragraph of their writing project #1. Our group’s strategy was “Strategy 4: Use Your Sources to Ask Questions, Not Just to Provide Answers.” We used Google document to complete this task. It was cool because we can type together at the same time. The strategy 4 was about when you are using a source to your argument or issue, it can bring up ideas and questions. Also, you should try using your source to avoid using the source as answers. One more thing is that you should consider only the source in isolation, you might not find much to say about it. Sometimes, you may not discover all the questions in the source. But you should not say that the source is “wrong”. It's just limited in some ways.

                         

Here is my group’s revised paragraph:

In “The Meaning of Mobile Phones for society” the author breaks down social matters regarding the cell phone and its significance on people. Cell Phones today are more than just a convenient device they are becoming a symbol of individuality by being able to contact someone directly this ability allows not only for us as individuals to be more accessible but the rest of the world as well (Glotz 11). The Cell Phone allows us to be free from traditional means of socializing so now we can be mobile with no restrictions of time and place smart phones especially allow us to chat face to face through the web anywhere anytime (Glotz 13). This quote from Glotz makes us wonder, “How are cell phones harming the society?” The main thing the cellphone does is bring down the boundary of space and time people now have conferences in other countries while never leaving their own town. The Ability to communicate whenever and wherever gives us the mobility to be free. This attribute is the reason our mobile world needs cell phones.

We used Angel’s paragraph from her writing project #1. When we revised this paragraph, it was kind of hard to apply this strategy because we did not have the source, so we were not sure what the sources were about. Also, I understood what the strategy is but I was not sure how to produce a question in this paragraph. We did not know what to do until the very last minute. So, we talked how to come up a question, and Angel told us that this article is about how cell phones are harming the society. Then, Kabao made a question “How are cell phones harming the society?” and she just put the question. After we finished our group work, Angel was presenting our group work and Mr. Frank told us to add, “This quote from Glotz makes us wonder,” this phrase to make more sense. This strategy made Angel’s paragraph more understandable. It also helps the reader to have an understanding of what the article was about.

                                         

For my writing project #2, I am not sure what discourse community I am going to write about. I chose hospital and doctors last time when we learned analysis the discourse community in class. I was thinking about what I should talk when it comes to the hospital and doctors, but I could not think of any argument. I think because I do not know that much about them. However, I will have time to choose my discourse community and get some ideas and the purpose of my writing project #2. 

                  

Blog #8 "On Political Labels"

This week we worked on the midterm portfolio description assessment. We read peer’s midterm portfolio and graded them 5 ways: reading and writing strategies, reflection, summary and conversation, rhetoricality, and language coherence. This is already blog #8 and I feel like the time goes by really fast. We have learned lots of things by doing these blog works. And we only left one week until spring break.
                                    

                         

When I skimmed through this reading, something caught me my attention. The words “Humpty Dumpty” and “Alice in Wonderland” were interesting because I know the movie “Alice in Wonderland” and I have watched this movie before. But I had no idea what or who is Humpty Dumpty. I think that is because I did not grow up here. So, I searched and asked my friends what is Humpty Dumpty. It was a character. When I started reading this article, it was kind of confusing for me because I am not much of a political person, I do not really know about politics. So, I felt this reading was going to be boring and challenging for me. But then it was okay to understand and it was good to learn about the rhetorical effect of words and labels in respect to politics.   

                  

In the reading, “On Political Labels” it shows how people label and how labeling works. Borick mentions that “Luntz advises his politician clients to change the name of the “estate tax” to the “death tax” and to switch the word “privatize” to “personalize” in an attempt to sway public perceptions.” They switched the words I think because they want to make a new word and have attention so they describe the situation better. Also, he said, “Since in all likelihood you will encounter thousands of political labels over the course of your lifetime as a citizen, it is important to develop a lens that will allow for a productive analysis of a label’s use and effects.” This quote demonstration as a citizen, that political labels are important in your lifetime.

                  

This related to the discourse community that we have learned in class. The political community can change by your political thinking, background and side of views. The city or what you have heard or watched before can affect it too. 

Midterm Portfolio

REVISING MY PAPER

It is already time to turn in the midterm portfolio for this class. Since we worked on the first writing project, I got the feedback from my peer and Mr. Frank. For my first draft, my peer said that I needed to start with my topic sentences first, that way I can have better flow in my paragraphs. She also told me that one paragraph in my essay is kind of out of topic. So I put topic sentences at the beginning of my paragraphs, took out the paragraph, and it was better than before. For my second draft, Mr. Frank said that as I introduce my sources and demonstrate my ability to work with their ideas, summarize, and quote, I am able to explore many interesting ideas. He also said that I will have to do more of that though-not just choosing sources that go along with how good cellphones are, but sources that have a bone to pick with cellphones. Another thing that he mentioned is to try to connect each idea to the next and show how my argument is developing. I will explore many interesting ideas from other sources and find negative sides to cellphones. First, I am going to read “The Idea of the Paragraph” again, which is about the relation and connection of paragraphs. Then, I will revise again and use strategies in my tool box.

                          

REFLECTIVE COVER LETTER

For my reflective cover letter, I will write about what I have learned in this class from my writing project. I will include things like how to write and think rhetorically, analyzing the reading, languages on academic writing, what strategies I have learned from reading the book, and how to apply them on my essay.

PREPARING MY PORTFOLIO

For my portfolio, I will post my first writing project with pictures and some texture elements to create my essay. I am going to using some of my blogs that go with my writing project for extra work. I think it is going to be helpful for my portfolio. I will also find some pictures that go to with my essay and put the pictures along with it.