A Brief Film About Adjectives

https://vimeo.com/143060010

Web Sources Evaluation: Dustin Saunders

Dustin Saunders

ENG-121

Professor Jen

October 10, 2015

Web Source Evaluation

I chose to evaluate an article written for Time Magazine.  The article was written by Janet Vertesi, a professor of Sociology at Wesleyan University.  The article was written in a very clear and concise manner.  The information presented was a mixture of option and factual evidence.  The facts and statistics were cited very well and the links were all relevant to the article.   Initially Professor Vertesi was misrepresented as working at Princeton University but this was corrected post publication.  

The article itself addressed the many different aspects of the current debate surrounding mandatory police body camera’s.  The author voices here opinion surrounding the subjectiveness of prospective when it comes to video evidence being used in the court of law.  She cites many instances of video evidence being interpreted in different ways in previous cases.  She makes strong arguments on the power of prospective when it comes to video and photographic evidence.  “In my 15 years of studying how experts work with images, it has become clear that the evidence never “speaks for itself.”  “Like words, images are open to interpretation.”

The second article I evaluated was written for the publication Business Week.  The article was strongly biased opposing mandatory body camera’s.  The article was completely opinion based.  I found this to detract from the credibility of the Author.  The article did not include any sources or links to information surrounding the content of the article.  The author of the article is not listed and this again detracts from the credibility of the article.  

I found the first article to be a much more informative informational piece.  The author clearly had a through knowledge of the subject and her credibility was clear.  The many references to events and statistics surrounding the content of the article greatly improved it.  Although it was clear that both articles had a bias it was presented in a way that was much more convincing in the first article.  

Work Cited

1. The Problem With Police Body Cameras. Janet Vertesi, 04 May 2015. Web, http://time.com/3843157/the-problem-with-police-body-cameras/

2. Police Cameras Are A Bad Idea. Bloomberg View, Business Week. 11 May 2015. Web, http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e085b330-16ff-4b99-955e-2466eb6ed080%40sessionmgr115&vid=11&hid=123

-Dustin Saunders

Outline For Madeleine

Thesis Statement: The deviant behavior that drug addicts and alcoholics convey should not be excused because they are considered to have a disease.

Example #1: Most diseases display a physiological abnormality that create the symptoms of the disease.  These symptoms are beyond the control of the individual in question and in general require medical treatment to help control or treat. An classic example being  Diabetes.  The Diabetic individual cannot choose to stop experiencing symptoms from the disease because they do not have control over the physiological abnormality that creates them.  This is not the case with addiction as the addicted individual consciously ingests the drugs or alcohol that create the symptoms of their disease.  
http://www.thecleanslate.org/myths/addiction-is-not-a-brain-disease-it-is-a-choice/ 

Example #2: An addicted individual knowingly engages in the use of drugs and alcohol leading to the physical addiction.  Despite predisposition and circumstantial factors each individual begins their use consciously. 

Example # 3: Addiction is an adaptation.  It is a by product of your environment not a disease.  New scientific evidence for this theory supported by the Rat Park experiment conducted by Professor Bruce Alexander from Vancouver.    
http://www.brucekalexander.com/articles-speeches/rat-park/148-addiction-the-view-from-rat-park
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936.html

Example # 4:  The use of heavily addictive prescription drugs as medically advised safely and effectively without resulting in drug addiction

http://www.amazon.com/The-Useful-Lie-Entrapped-Addiction/dp/1889032379

-Dustin Saunders

Partnered Outline for Dustin Saunders

Exemplification Essay Outline for Dustin Saunders 

By Madeleine Seltzer

Ideas:

• Our generation is addicted to social media
• Most people are more concerned with what is going on in other people's lives more than their own
• People hide behind their computer and eventually it becomes their persona. It makes them avoid living their actual life.

Evidence:

• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/-sarah-bourassa/how-giving-up-my-phone-forced-me-to-live-my-life_b_7841752.html An article from the about a life addicted to social media. It explains that when she gave up her phone she had more interactions with people and less anxiety.
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8436831/Student-addiction-to-technology-similar-to-drug-cravings-study-finds.html An article about how the cravings drug addicts and alcoholics feel when they are withdrawing are similar to how people feel when they are without technology. 
• "People today are more connected to one another than ever before in human history, thanks to Internet-based social networking sites and text messaging. But they’re also more lonely and distant from one another in their unplugged lives, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology social psychologist Sherry Turkle, PhD. This is not only changing the way we interact online, it’s straining our personal relationships, as well." http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/06/social-networking.aspx 
• http://www.phonearena.com/news/Cell-phone-addiction-has-a-name-and-yes-there-is-formal-treatment-for-it_id34866 

Thesis- When using technology with the intention of staying connected to one another, it can in fact isolate us and can discourage direct communication.

www.pinterest.com

Logical Fallacy

Non Sequitur (It Does Not Follow) or in other words Getting Off Track

Non-Sequitar literally translates to "it does not follow." This is usually used as an attempt to strengthen a debateable argument by either referencing an irrelevant detail, statement, fact or opinion. Many people, including ourselves, get caught up in proving the point that the examples tend to distract from the actual subject.

Tip to Avoid Non-Sequitur Fallacy

Make a solid, complete outline with distinctive details. Do your research before writing a draft and stick to those examples. Try to not stray from those specific examples that you chose and if you end up getting off track, then quickly bring it back to the main focus.

\https://www.byui.edu/pathway/videos/off-track-commercial

Exemplification Thesis

When using technology with the intention of staying connected to one another, it can in fact isolate us and can discourage direct communication.
-Dustin Saunders

http://blog.monitor.us/2013/11/social-networking-a-revolution-in-modern-communication/

Just Walk On By

"Just Walk On By" By Brent Staples

  Questions and Answers

 

Dustin Saunders

Preston Allen

Connor Allen

Madeleine Seltzer

 

Comprehension 

 

1. It describes and exemplifies that he has the power to put her in the category of a victim.

 

2. He fits the stereotype of being dangerous and therefore he has the ability to alter public space or to alter the feelings of other people.

 

3. It is a way to interact with his environment and a way to get around. He lived in major walking cities such as Manhattan and Chicago.

 

4. They usually do not have the means to achieve higher goals and in poor neighborhoods it is usually romanticized to choose the life of a young thug rather than a quiet sensitive type.

 

5. He tries to change his persona by changing his presentation and body language. He even whistles a non threatening tune to let the people know he is harmless.

 

Purpose and Audience

 

1. He states his thesis and it is "it was in the echo that terrifies woman's footfalls that I first began to know the unwiedly inheritance I'd come into-the ability to alter public space in ugly ways."

 

2. Both were used. He provides examples that are backed up by both logic and emotion to capture the reader and persuade them further.

 

3. The preconception is that if you are walking at night and run into a tall black man then you are in danger of being mugged, raped or robbed.

 

4. He is trying to paint a picture of his experience and explain the effect his presence has.

 

Style and Structure

 

1. He mentions Norman Podhoretz because it is introducing someone else's point of view. It is also a logical example instead of just a personal experience. It gives the essay variety.

 

2. It was a very effective strategy because it hooks the reader and starts the essay off with an example.

 

3. It is very convincing and he uses several examples and several different types of examples.

 

4. He spreads out the personal experience examples and the logical points of view of others. He lists several examples in a row but then shortly after goes into detail about a specific one. It was easy to follow and understand.

 

5. Thug- criminal, mugger, deviant, gangster, bad boy, delinquent, hard ass, tough, hooligan, hoodlum. They all convey the same idea.

 

Journal Entry

 

Being a white young woman it is hard to come off as threatening. Once, I was outside late at night with a hood on and a backpack, and my neighbor saw me and was put off. He proceeded to call my parents to make sure that I was not being disobedient and then never called me to babysit his kid again.

 

Writing Workshop

 

3. Intimidation is associated with power and the most masculine usually wins. If a man backs down from a physical fight or shows any signs of feminity, he is perceived as weak. There is most definetly a romance surrounding intimidation.

 

Combining the Patterns

 

He could have been more clear of the steps in becoming a thug. He is relatively clear about the aftermath and the process after a young man is classified as a thug but there could have been more detail in the upbringing of it.

 

 

 

www.scadconnector.com 

 

 

A Confederacy Of Dunces

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/310612.A_Confederacy_of_Dunces

A Confederacy Of Dunces By: John Kennedy Toole

A Confederacy Of Dunces By: John Kennedy Toole

                Often Authors work is not appreciated until after their death

                Amazing literature came come from unexpected places

                At times a work of art has such a powerful affect it cannot be ignored

                Many authors spend their lives working on their novels and never live to see them celebrated.

                Literature does not follow a set pattern of rules and profound writing came come from a very unexpected person or place.

                At times a piece of writing comes along that has such a powerful effect on the reader it cannot be ignored.

 

At times a piece of writing comes along that has such a powerful effect on the reader it cannot be ignored.

Blog Reviews And Ratings

                                http://undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrary.com/image/47539635406 

Blog Ratings 

Madeleine Seltzer followed Lofimusicblog.com and found that it was consistent with their posting and frequent. It was visually pleasing and inclusive but it could have used more text, image relevance and reviews instead of only audio posts. The rating it received was a 8. 

Connor Allen followed Hemmings.com and found that it was consistent and frequent. It was especially visually pleasing if you were a car enthusiast. The rating it received was a 6. 

Preston Allen followed Classicrockblog.com and thought the blog was consistent considered nothing ever changed. It feels like there is a sense of abandonment to the site. The rating it received was a 7. 

Blog Review
http://undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrary.com

        Dustin Saunders followed the blog Undergroundnewyorkpubliclibrary.com and came to the conclusion that a blog does not necessarily need to include tons of text to still be appeasing. Interesting images suffice just as well. The audience that this blog is targeting is anyone interested in literature but it also expands to anyone interested in photography as well as urban environments. 

        This blog is not only visually stimulating but it is also informative. The author simply takes a photo of a stranger reading on the New York subway and then lists resources regarding the book. It includes a place to rent or buy and a brief preview of the novel. 

        Although the ratio of text to images is slim, the pictures convey an emotion to the reader that makes them return to the site. Usually it would be difficult to keep a stable audience but it is done so well in this blog and it inspires you to read and return. 

What Your E-mail Etiquette Says About You

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/ftc-fines-debt_collection-texting-1282.php

Thesis:  “But even the most garbled and indecipherable of them are saying something, and what they have to say is, in terms of social status, a bummer. See, the e-blurt, like so many modes of personal expression, is all about power.”

The thesis states that the emailer or texter is too busy to spell out what he or she is trying to convey, so they have given you the job to decode it.  They do this because they are more busy or powerful then you and don’t have time to waste.

First Supporting Argument:  “To shoot a messy spitball through the cybernetic air is to convey a very simple and subconscious message to it recipient: I am busier than you, hence I am more powerful than you.”

The first supporting argument states that the sender feels as though they have already mastered the correct etiquette. In that case they don’t feel the need to practice it on a lower status’.

Second Supporting Argument:  “But these days it is often the highly wired overlords, and those who aspire to march among them, who choose to express themselves in the brute vernacular of 12-year-old- mall rats. “One, it says that you’re sort of ‘hip’ powerful. You’re not formal and stuffy. And done right, it can also remind people of your power. In other words, you’re so confident of your position in life that what might be considered errors for others are not errors for you.”

The second supporting argument states that it is also done to stay current and connect to the times and connect to a younger audience.  As well as to not appear stuffy and stale.

Third Supporting Argument:  “Still, the catch is that that CEO might be planting the seeds of his own sabotage. As Flynn explains, “If your poorly written e-mail messages are retained as part of the company’s electronic business records, and the company is hit with a lawsuit, and your e-mail is subpoenaed, the fact that your messages were written in an unprofessional illogical way could come back to haunt not only you but the company as well. Because that may help support a plaintiff’s claim that it wasn’t a professional work environment.”

The third supporting argument doesn’t support the flow of the thesis, but it does back up the fact that there can be consequences to inadequate use of grammar and communicating.

Conclusion:  “Which only confirms what I’ve always felt about power: that the people who really understand it don’t say anything at all.”

The conclusion states the underlying feelings that the author truly has about the subject.

Connor Allen, Preston Allen, Madeleine Seltzer, Dustin Saunders

Arrangements

Chapter Three: Arrangement

            Arranging an essay correctly not only improves the quality of the essay, but can also help the audience connect to your topic.  Chapter three explores the basic structure and various ways to arrange an essay.

            The classic concept of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion I was familiar with.  I was however surprised by the level of detail and the various approaches provided for each of these elements.  The chapter presented many different strategies for each of the three different components of an essay.  I found this to be refreshing.  Writing is a subjective endeavor and each of us tends to think about and approach our writing in different ways.  I felt as though this chapter was under standing of the fact that everyone has a unique approach to their writing. 

            Despite the many different avenues you can take for a essay there are specific ways to structure your essay.  I appreciated the section focused on starting with a formal outline.  I have found for myself that beginning with a formal outline helps me to clarify my thoughts before beginning the essay.  From this outline it is an easier task for me to formulate my introduction and begin to build the body of my essay.  I found the examples of many different ways to structure your introduction very helpful.  This section of the chapter is one that I will revisit in the future.  The outlined pattern of development for the body of the essay was very useful.  It helped reinforce the proper pattern of development, as well as the need for a clear coherent arrangement of examples that help reinforce your thesis statement.

            I found chapter three to be helpful and informative.  It was a mixture between concepts that were refreshed in my mind and new concepts to consider while writing an essay. This chapter will serve as a good resource for me in the future of this class, as well as many others.

Dustin Saunders

Interview with Charles: By Dustin Saunders

Dustin Saunders

08-25-2015

ENG-121

Prof. Jen

Interview With Charles

            In todays culture students today can relate to one another on the crucial role technology plays in their personal and academic life.  This was demonstrated many times through out the interviewing process Charles and I engaged in. 

            Contrary to generations past the majority of students interact with technology and the Internet on a daily basis.  From social media to text messages to the increased use of various programs in our schools, technology has become more and more a part of our lives.  Charles and I were able to relate to the use of text messages being a primary means of communication.  Charles explained that he runs his own blog on the website Tumblr.com.  He uses this blog to express aspects of his life to others.  We both have had experience in the Microsoft programs Excel and Word.  These program’s are more and more, a crucial tool for students today.  Charles like myself uses social media programs such as Facebook, and Instagram, to stay connected to friends and family. 

            While discussing what we hope to gain from this class we both expressed a desire to gain a more stable understanding of academic writing.  Having both had previous experiences with writing professors and classes we could agree that an engaging professor who is passionate about teaching and writing was critical to the learning process.  Charles does not foresee any problems arising during this course.  Charles expressed a feeling of confidence in his writing ability.  

This is Charles as well as myself second year here at Front Range Community College.  Charles has found the experience thus far to be a positive one.  He has found the campus to be a supportive environment with a good culture for learning.  Charles is excited about his time here and following Front Range Community College plans to transfer to Fort Lewis University to study Environmental Science.

Charles favorite Author is George Orwell.  He enjoys the dystopian ideas and ideas pertaining to the human condition found throughout the authors work.  He believes the author’s work has a large amount of insight into the future.

Throughout our interview there were many differences and similarities in our experiences.  Many similarities could be drawn between Charles and I during the interview.  The most reoccurring similarity was our relationships to technology.  I believe that,  now more then ever technology is a common factor that a majority of us can relate to.