Timing Is Everything

The topic I chose for my argument paper is one that I chose because of its timing. I feel it is everyone’s constitutional right to vote, and this election is a turning point in our government, so if you don’t vote you have no right to criticize our government. I have a list of arguments a mile long but I will share a few of them with you, but not all because I don’t wish to spoil it for you.

The candidate choices
The first time an African American has won the nomination of his party
We are in indebted up to our eyeballs to China
Slumping economy
Bailouts
War in Iraq
School reform
No Child Left Behind
The appointing of supreme court justices
Floundering global image
Outsourcing of jobs and technologies
Environmental issues [global warming, arctic drilling]
Gas prices/ oil dependency
Cleaning up corporate America
Repairing our infrastructure
Reforming social security

Those are just the tip of the iceberg, I think people who are voting for the first time need to be aware of how presidential elections really do impact us, because no matter who you are, you are affected by at least one or two of the issues I’ve mentioned and probably know a couple other issues that do affect you that I haven’t mentioned. I am using a broad variety of sources to research my topic, I’ve been trying to use both right wing and left wing news sources as well as some of the debates themselves. I also feel it is important that I show the history of suffrage as well as information on this specific election. I will have to lessen my ideas and try to consolidate them to a reasonable amount. My topic is obviously timely because we elect our next president who will either make or break our nation in 30 some odd days. I feel as though I have a strong connection to, even though it is the first election I have the privilege to vote, it is not the first election that I have followed. Ever since I vaguely understood the idea of politics I’ve been following the presidential elections. The first conscious memory I have is watching bill Clintons reelection in 1996, then I remember watching Bush Vs. Gore in the ridiculous election of 2000, and I finally got active in 2004 volunteering with the democratic party in Seattle while I stayed there that summer. I just want people to understand the struggles many Americans went through to have the right to vote and make it so future generations would have that right and now we’re all very apathetic about the entire political process and often take no interest in the topic of politics, especially the age group that just became old enough to participate in our democracy. I just hope to change the apathy that the majority of people have towards the simple process of going and voting for the next leader of the united states, because if they don’t I feel as though they have absolutely no right to criticize our government if they don’t take advantage of their constitutional rights.

Easterbrook Discussion

I think this is a very entertaining argument, almost redundant throughout the past 75 years. From teaching evolution being completely taboo, to creationism being basically outlawed in schools is quite confusing. I love how he brought up the Scopes trial, it triggers the reader to think about the contradiction of our society, one minute one thing is some old crack pot scientists view of life, then it’s almost as thought science became a religion that millions follow. The use of the comparison of God and the head of the biology department, is one that I found very amusing, it catches the reader off guard and its almost sacrilegious to compare the two, but it’s a very effective way to stun the reader. I think Easterbrook framed this essay magnificently, how he varied his language and caught the readers attention is definitely his strength. I also enjoyed how he broke his essay up with the headings, I found that very helpful to following his points. His conclusion, or compromise as I saw it was very well done, I enjoyed how he actually had his opinions in here and they were black and white, not much room for the gray scale to invade. He seems so sure of his argument its something to aspire towards in my own paper. I also think his use of a rhetorical question at the end of the essay was a lovely way to end it.

Pollan Part 2

I really enjoyed the thoughts that Pollan’s essay got me thinking about. It was contradiction after contradiction, confusing yet clearing things up all in the same sentences. I also thought he did an extremely good job at sparking up both sides of the issue, almost bickering back and forth with his own ideas, and it is very present in the work. Like some people mentioned in class it was almost like he makes people angry just to answer they’re angry questions to throw off the skeptics. His organization definitely is inspiring I hope I can achieve that in my own argument paper, how he brings up the questions just to answer them. Or how he skillfully moves from topic to topic but the transitions are completely smooth. It seems as though he effortlessly glides from story to fact to statistics back to personal opinions without the slightest bit of problems. I feel that his level and writing style is key to how easy he can transition and jump from topic to topic, proving his point and raising questions the entire essay through. I thought the comparisons that he chose to use were what made the essay work so well. For example when he’s talking about the treatment of animals in the traditional slaughter houses versus the treatment of animals on the Polyface Farm, where all the animals are allowed to “live” their lives, free roaming chickens that fertilize the grass for the sheep who eat everything that the other animals won’t, just proves the point that he shows both extremes and finds a happy medium where people are still aware of how animals are treated but also realizes that the whole world isn’t going to stop eating meat just because of an essay.

Pollan: Part One

i think this is a very interesting topic, very sad and controversial as well. he backs up his points in a variety of ways, both factual anddddddwith a ertin abmount of star power almost. stating that even someone who wrote speeches for president bush even backed animal rights, england outlawed the practice of breeding for fur alone. he also uses quotes in a very effective way, grasping the emotional issues with the subject while not letting it turn into a complete manipulation of the heart strings. THe author was also quite good and captivating and making the reader think about what i, the reader was reading. a good balalnce of heart and thought as J.R. put in the introduction.

Nguyen Reader Response

While reading this essay the first thing that I connected with was “That in school, everywhere I turned, and often when I closed my eyes, I saw blonde blonde blonde?” When I started kindergarten I noticed all the little “pretty & sweet” girls, that got all the attention, had blonde curly hair and blue eyes. I was terribly envious, I was the little girl with mud colored straight hair & hazel eyes, a far cry from the Shirley Temple I wished I was. I really didn’t like those little girls with their curls and their dresses; I was the complete opposite, I to this day can’t wear a dress and feel comfortable. At the end of that school year we did a sort of superlatives, every class member being voted something. My friend Van got fastest runner, one of the little blonde girls got sweetest, & I much to my surprise got best hair. Funny enough, that day I found out while I was envying their golden locks, all they wanted was my long straight hair.

I thought that the author did an excellent job capturing every person’s attention with this topic, because no matter who you are, you have felt uncomfortable and self conscious in a situation. She also did a very good job interjecting select important events in the whole general timeline. Her use of dialogue made it easier to picture how she felt in the classroom and at home as well. I feel her emotion as she weaves the story from age three to the conclusion when she was however old. The transitions were never abrupt or really obvious, but I would’ve preferred her to paint a better mental image of the people she was around, more physical descriptions and personality descriptions as well. It would’ve helped me relate to her situation even more.

I Suggest Trying Something New Every Once & Awhile.

Try something new today, try listening to Tegan and Sara. Amazing sisters from Canada, whose music and lyrics are the soundtrack to my life. The best part about them is they come up with a slightly different sound with every cd that comes out. for example their first cd This Business of Art, sounds different, and the lyrics are less meaningful in comparison to their next cd. so for everyone that needs lyrics to relate to here they are. i've included some links to videos of my favorite songs. Enjoy :]

The Con-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIftFIG1j_c

Living Room -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va-1diMIpqk

My Number-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-UiLP-BIhY

Intro. [not to be confused with nitro.]

So in simple terms, I'm Sadie. Nothing more nothing less. I'm Originally from Napa, CA, then i moved to Cave Junction, OR. From tourist capital, to less than 5,000 person hick town. Living in both places broadened my horizons; exposing me to both yuppie winos, migrant workers in Napa, to well-educated hippies and loggers with a complete lack of manners. I moved to Crescent City just north of here, almost 4 months ago, i love it there. The Ocean, and the perfect mesh of people no one fitting just one group. enough about where I'm from... I love music, in almost every form, except I'm not a fan of polka. i have a thing for taking pictures, capturing every moment i can and saving it for a rainy day. i like the idea of living healthy but the whole putting into action thing never seems to work, i always cave for lounging on the couch eating taco bell. so this is me in a very very small nutshell but its me nonetheless .