Posted on

Write a persuasive essay in which you argue for a specific change in the law impacting the U.S. educational system that you believe would economically improve society or the overall success of younger adults (such as college-age students and recent graduates).

Paper #1: A Persuasive Argument for a Change

Write a persuasive essay in which you argue for a specific change in the law impacting the U.S. educational system that you believe would economically improve society or the overall success of younger adults (such as college-age students and recent graduates).
Below are only a few of the issues about which one can write. However, say something original! The same tired arguments have been made about most issues to the point where they lack any impact. Instead, you should choose an issue about which you can develop an intelligent, thoughtful, and unique set of points. So deciding upon your topic is the biggest challenge of this assignment.
For this assignment, you may engage in research to learn more about your chosen issue. This research should be only to gain necessary background information if needed; it should not involve seeking out the arguments of others on the issue. Therefore, YOU MAY REFER TO THE RESEARCH IN THE ESSAY, NOT INCLUDE ANY RESEARCH IN YOUR PAPER (such as statistics or ideas presented by others). Instead, you must develop your paper based on your own ideas.Therefore, you should choose a topic about which you are knowledgeable and believe that you can develop a thoughtful, intelligent argument for change. There are two primary reasons for this “no research” requirement: I haven’t yet taught you how to properly credit other people’s ideas (so you may end up committing plagiarism if you use research information at this point), plus I really want to see you develop original thoughts rather than repeat what others have already said.
Lastly, remember that the point of this assignment is NOT simply to share your views on an issue. Instead, you are seeking to write a persuasive essay that revolves around a series of logical points. You should not make any assumptions about the reader’s view on the issue and should otherwise also adhere to the standards of sophisticated academic tone discussed in our course lessons.
Here are a few of the possible issues that you may choose to write about, but please do not limited yourself to just this list:

  • Reform of the public education system. Argue for a specific change or set of changes to the public school system. This should not merely discuss the need for a change, but instead should be structured so as to advocate a set of specific changes.
  • Eliminate high-stakes standardized testing in the K-12 school system. For example, the Florida Standards Assessment (previously the FCAT) is used to determine the success of individual students and schools within the state. Should this be eliminated? Or is there a change to this system that would benefit students, improving their ability to gain a quality education?
  • Teacher Evaluations. Would the use of required teacher evaluations improve classroom teaching? Would it be beneficial to tie these evaluations to a teacher’s on-going employment?
  • Reform in undergraduate degree programs. Is there a change in traditional college degree programs that would be beneficial?
  • Change in voting age. At present, Americans can register to vote once they have turned 18 years old. Argue for a specific change in the age of eligibility to vote. Would this impact education or economic policies that affects younger adults?
  • Voter ID laws. Many states are passing laws that require voters to show one or more forms of state-issued identification (driver’s license, birth certificate, etc) in order to vote. In some states, these laws are designed to discourage students who only have a local college-issued ID. Argue for a change in these laws or for all states to adopt such law.
  • Financial reform. Argue for a change in laws in regards to financial regulation.
  • Tuition reform or changes in financial aid system. Should changes be made to how students pay for higher education? If you’re going to advocate something that would lower costs for students, how will those costs be then paid? (If the answer is simply that the government will pay, you’ll have to argue for why increased taxpayer spending would ultimately benefit the overall society)
  • Change the minimum wage. Should the minimum wage be raised? Should it be lowered or eliminated altogether?
  • Change the income tax code. Should there be changes in the income tax code? Simply arguing against taxes or for lower taxes would be note effective. Rather, an argument for changing the system should thoughtfully consider how to fund government spending while changing the method of raising revenue. For example, you could argue for changing the tax brackets, for specific exemptions to income taxes (such as all educational costs, the costs of insurance, etc), or for a “flat tax” system.
  • Change in access to medical insurance. At present, younger adults are among the most likely to lack access to affordable medical insurance. Is there a change in law that would help improve this?

Key Requirements:

  • This paper must adhere to MLA style or APA style guidelines. Confirm with your instructor which format he or she would prefer you use on this assignment.  Information about these style guides and your academic pathway is listed on the syllabus.  Additionally, there are modules within this unit on both MLA and APA style.
  • This paper must be at least 5 paragraphs in length AND must be at least 700 words long. This generally equals at least 2 complete pages. Do not exceed 5 pages. If you do not meet the minimum length requirement, you will not earn a passing grade on the paper
  • Make sure to upload each assignment as a Word document (.doc or .docx) in the Assignments tool within the Assessments tab above.

The Writing Process:

  • STEP 1:  Submit an Outline Worksheet for Paper 1. This worksheet (a Microsoft Word document that you can download) can be found by clicking on the link here or within each learning unit’s Paper #1 Assignment folder . This worksheet asks you to develop your thesis statement as well as the topic sentences for your body paragraphs. Please submit this completed worksheet in the Assignments section of the course. I will reply to you with feedback on your thesis & topic sentences and specific suggestions as to how these might be revised to more successfully craft a quality paper.
  • STEP 2: In-Class Peer Review Session. On the designated day on the tentative course calendar, bring three printed copies of that unit’s essay in rough draft form for in-class peer review session.  In order to earn attendance credit for the day, you must come to class with copies of your rough draft.
  • STEP 3: Submit Rough Draft to Tutor (optional). You may submit your essay to BrainFuse (for online tutor feedback) or visit the Academic Success Center’s Writing Lab (on campus tutoring center) with your essay for additional writing help.  An extra credit essay activity is based on your experience with the tutors.
  • STEP 4: Submit FINAL Draft.  Upload a final, well-polished draft of your essay to the Assignments section of the course.

On steps one, two, and three above, you will receive feedback and a grade that indicates credit for submitting the assignment. However, the grade is ultimately of less importance. Instead, the FEEDBACK provided by your instructor is of ultimate importance. Utilize this feedback to proceed in the writing process in order to develop a quality final draft that will earn a successful grade.
Any plagiarism on this paper or any of the steps in the writing process will lead to failure of this course, so please do not make that mistake.

How is this paper graded?

I will grade your paper based on the following elements:

  • Paper is based on your own ideas, yet written in in 3rd person point-of-view.
  • Proper essay persuasive essay structure that revolves around a series of logical points, including a detailed, quality thesis statement.
  • Proper grammar, spelling, syntax, and sentence mechanics.
  • Proper academic tone.
  • A clear, thoughtful, sophisticated, and intelligent argument.
  • Adherence to all items listed under Key Requirements.

Please remember that this assignment should NOT be similar to writing that you may have written during high school or in a college-prep course. I expect original, intelligent, well-structured, quality writing and thinking; otherwise you will not earn a passing grade. The point of this course is to raise your critical thinking and writing skills to the level necessary for quality college-level discourse, so make sure to keep that goal in mind as you work on this project.

Posted on

Critical Thinking Case Study

Read the short case study below carefully.
Then rank each character in order of their responsibility for Reggie’s failing grade.
Give a different score to each character.
Most responsible <– 1 2 3 4 –>Least responsible
[Most responsible is #1 and least responsible is #4]
___ Professor Harrison, the teacher
___ Sally, the academic counselor
___ Reggie, the student-athlete
___ Arnie, the other student
Explain your choices.
Reggie is a student athlete. He must attend practice every day and often travels out of town for meets.
He was really upset. It was Friday and he hadn’t started a paper that was due the following Thursday. In fact he had only read about 25 pages out of the 300 he needed to read before beginning the paper. Making matters worse, he had missed class discussions because of games. The first thing Reggie did was call Sally, his academic support counselor, to see if he could work with a tutor on his paper. Sally met with him, but she told him tutoring wouldn’t help until he read more of the book. He asked her if she had read the book, and she said no. Reggie tried to read more on the weekend, but he didn’t have much time because of a game.  Besides he had to prepare for exams in other classes.
By Sunday night Reggie was really stressed out and started searching the Internet to see what he could find out about the book.  Finally, he found an essay on the Internet and used it to write his paper. The next day he ran into Arnie, another student in his class. Arnie said he hadn’t started on the essay and was still trying to finish the book. Reggie told Arnie about the Internet essay, but warned him against using much of it since he was already using it for his essay. On Tuesday, Reggie took his essay to Sally to have her read it over. Sally told him the essay didn’t make much sense and asked him to explain to her what he was trying to say. She soon realized he hadn’t read much more of the book and told him she really couldn’t help him. She warned him about turning in someone else’s ideas as his own. Reggie went away discouraged. On Wednesday he tried to revise the essay some more before turning it in on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Arnie kept trying to read the book. However, he was really upset because the book was difficult and he couldn’t read it quickly.  Wednesday night in a panic, he took the Internet essay, added his own introduction and conclusion and turned it in during class on Friday.
On Sunday night when Reggie returned from his meet, he had a voice mail message from Professor Harrison asking him to come to her office on Monday morning. At the meeting, she explained that she knew he and Arnie had not written their own papers. Not only were the papers almost exactly alike, but she had found the original essay on the Internet. On top of that their papers were not about the assigned topic. She told him that they would both receive an F for their final grade in the course.

Posted on

How does Miller present the relationships between Eddie and Catherine and Eddie and Beatrice in the opening of the play a view from the bridge?

How does Miller present the relationships between Eddie and Catherine and Eddie and Beatrice in the opening of the play a view from the bridge?
How does Miller present the relationships between Eddie and Catherine and Eddie and Beatrice in the opening of the play a view from the bridge?
How does Miller present the relationships between Eddie and Catherine and Eddie and Beatrice in the opening of the play a view from the bridge?

Posted on

Emerging Issues and Challenges Presentation

Choose one of the following topics:
Juvenile court process and specialized courts
Women and minorities in the court
Causes of wrongful conviction
Technology in the courtroom
Prepare an 8- to 12-slide presentation that explains the topic.
Include statistics, contemporary examples, and scholarly sources in your presentation.
Arrange the information in a visually appealing manner by selecting an appropriate background design and by balancing short, bulleted phrases with complementary images.
Include all references in the notes section for each slide
Format your presentation consistent with APA guidelines.
CAUTION
presentation must have at least 100 words of slide notes per slide.  These are the notes that are below the slides, not on the slides themselves.  Remember also that I really enjoy clip art, pictures, charts, and graphs.  Add anything that adds interest and visual depth!  Half of the points (5) are awarded for the slide notes.  The other half of the points (5) are for the slides themselves.

Posted on

A Critique of Political Economy Vol 1. book 1 The Process of Production of Capital

DRAFT: GUILIANA’S: INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL CRITICISM

Explanation of the economical Setting
The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald was written and set after the World War 1 during the economic boom of the 1920s. . This essay explores examples of the Marxist belief like the theory of commodification where social relationships in the novel are expressed by the relationships between traded objects. It will also show how the characters are all stereotypes of their classes, and none of them is portrayed in a very positive light. High society was mocked, yet at the same time glamorised, while a poorer lifestyle is rejected by Fitzgerald. The characters portray Marxist ideas, through Fitzgerald’s representation of the different classes, and his interpretation of how their class defines their experience.
The American Dream is based on the ideology of getting-rich-quick and opportunity for all. This ideology blinded the middle class by telling them that financial success is simply the product of initiative and hard work. Therefore if people were poor, it is because they are good-for-nothing and lazy.When this book is set, the amount of money you had defined what class you were in. Even within the category of the wealthy there were sub-categories, such as old money when families have been wealthy for many generations. New money is somewhat frowned upon, and looked on with suspicion and contempt by the aristocracy, who pride themselves on having been affluent for generations. Fitzgerald illustrates the materialistic theme with a quote in the first chapter ‘Then wear the black hat, if that will move her, If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, Till she cry “Lover, gold- hatted, high bouncing lover, I must have you!”
Marxism believed that the class system and the large gap between the rich and poor would be bridged by the removal of capitalism, and returning the means of production to the lower and middle class people. This would lead to a classless society which governs itself, where everyone is equal. For Marx this an economical process between the rich and the poor which controls their mind set and their perception of life.
This analysis manifests itself within The Great Gatsby when comparing the Wilson’s to the Buchanan’s and Gatsby. The Wilsons, are the base of the society who work arduously in order to manufacture more goods, the ‘mode of production’, to cater for the bourgeoisie. The circumstances that some characters find themselves into, define the Marxist principles of a Capitalistic society, being the principles of commodity fetishism and reification. This essay explores examples of the Marxist belief like the theory of commodification where social relationships in the novel are expressed by the relationships between traded objects.
This commodification is evidently embodied in the character of Tom Buchanan. Tom is represented as a wealthy man, and approaches the world through his money, for him everything and everyone is a commodity.

  • For instance Daisy’s good looks and social standing substitutes Tom’s power. The $350,000 string of pearls gift which Tom gives Daisy before getting married symbolises his image of strength and financial stability.
  • Similarly, he uses the same approach towards Myrtle Wilson in order to get her sexual favours.

However, one might argue that Daisy marries Tom for his value, she loves his commodity value, and she desires his world as much as he wants hers.

  • She knows that Tom Buchanan possesses inherited wealth and belongs to the upper class not like Jay Gatsby who has a proletariat background.
  • It could be said that Daisy loved Jay as on the eve of her wedding day, she refuses to marry Tom knowing that she does not love him. However the ‘Next day at five o’clock she married Tom Buchanan without so much as a shiver, and stared off on a three months’ trip to the South Seas’ (Fitzgerald 76) in order to save her image. “his only importance lies in [her] benefit to [herself]” (Tyson 71).
  • Her quest for sophistication and wealth is even seen after her child is born. Her cousin Nick narrates that after mentioning the birth of her child “It made me uneasy, as though the whole evening had been a trick of some sort to exact a contributory emotion from me. I waited, and sure enough, in a moment she looked at me with an absolute smirk on her lovely face, as if she had asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged” (Fitzgerald 17)
  • Her affair with Gatsby is based on commodity as she knew that he would ‘fully able to take care of her [now]’ pg 156:ch 8 but when she learns about Gatsby true origins her interest dies, realising that he can never be part of the upper class.

Fitzgerald makes use of the device of the dreary setting of the ‘valley of ashes’, where the Wilson’s live, to show an alarming picture of life led by those who are socioeconomic unstable. The Marxist theory infers that it is from this kind of setting that the American dream should emerge. However, words like ‘grey land’ and ‘impenetrable’ show how farfetched this promised dream is for them. The novel through the character of Gatsby mirrors the American Dream, however Gatsby achieves it through the criminal activities which devalues the true significance of it.

This classic story is still relevant today, as are the Marxist ideas present in it, which ridicule those wealthier than us, while being fascinated with their lifestyles at the same time. Celebrity news and gossip intrigue us, as do rags-to-riches stories of entrepreneurs or successful people who have come from poverty, or a ‘tough life.’ ‘The Great Gatsby’ is truly a timeless tale, and the popularity of the recent movie rendition in 2013 is testament to this. People love beautiful, unattainable things – whether they be material or otherwise, and they love watching others go on a journey to reach their goals – moving up the ‘class system’ if you will, just as Gatsby did in the roaring jazz age of the 20’s. Coming up to a century later, it’s still exactly the same. Men, even 80 year old, sick and frail ones, ‘win’ young, gorgeous women simply by having fortunes, hard work doesn’t necessarily equal reward, and crime still pays. A Critique of Political Economy Vol 1. book 1 The Process of Production of Capital

Posted on

A Brief Beginning: Write a 500-word essay discussing the last time you tried to persuade someone to see an issue the way you do.  You should incorporate elements of the argument read in this week’s assigned chapters—selected issue, audience, claim, and timing.

A Brief Beginning: Write a 500-word essay discussing the last time you tried to persuade someone to see an issue the way you do.  You should incorporate elements of the argument read in this week’s assigned chapters—selected issue, audience, claim, and timing.
FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER—NAME, DATE/UNIT, (title centered, if you
have one), COURSE, PROFESSOR’S NAME.
PROOF CAREFULLY—PARAGRAPHING, CLEAR TOPIC SENTENCES AND
TRANSITIONS, USE OF GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION.
ENG 102 Unit One Page 2 of
2
DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN OVERUSING SPELL-CHECK; AND
GRAMMAR CHECK IS OFTEN WRONG

Posted on

Atticus Finch from the coming of age novel To Kill A Mockingbird is a good father

Atticus Finch from the coming of age novel To Kill A Mockingbird is a good father

Intro: hook, bridge, claim claim must include genre, author, and book title. Two body paragraphs that include two pieces of evidence and commentary. Then a argumentative paragraph arguing atticus a good father. One piece of evidence. Make a good smooth conclusion. Use- ; , : , and – all twice. Use parallel structure at least once.

Posted on

PSYC 3170 Persuasion and Facilitation

PSYC 3170
Persuasion and Facilitation
Individual Paper Assignment
 
This is a recommended procedure.  You do not have to follow it exactly,
I just think it will make it easier to do the paper.
 
Step 1 – Do a quick literature search for “neural imaging” or other neural scanning techniques (fMRI, PET scans) and a persuasion topic that interests you (Like deception or visual images.)  It does not have to be a topic we have already covered.  The trick will be to find the relevant neural imaging study.
Step 2– Once you have found a relevant imaging study (even if it is only somewhat related), use the book or any other resource to do backward citation chaining and find some early work in psychology where that topic was first discussed.
Step 3 – Use any type of citation method to try and find a find a relatively recent article about the same topic.  The neural imaging study or the book may also be able to help with this.  Use any relevant technique including either forward or backward citation chaining.
Step 4 – Put this all together in an analysis.  I would suggest that you describe what theorist came up with without the benefit of imaging.  Then present the imaging conclusions and finally present what is the current thinking in the field.  Your main objective is to see if the ideas in persuasion are integrated with other aspects of Psychology.  Then draw some conclusions about how the field should progress from here given what you learned.
Criteria

  1. Success will be based on your ability to pull the ideas from the different articles you have read and present them in a coherent way.
  2. A minimum of 3 references is required (1 neural imaging, 1 early, 1 current) but that is probably not sufficient. For example, it is extremely unlikely that you will not need to reference the text. Also when reviewing how this might relate to other things you know about psychology,  you need to properly reference sources outside of this course.
  3. The finished paper must be no more than 2500 words long. If it exceeds 2500 words, it will be marked down.  (Do not feel it necessary to deliver 2500 words, 1800 should be quite adequate.)
  4. The finished paper must be submitted electronically via the Dropbox. The Dropbox has a version of Turnitin incorporated into the submission.  You should be able to see your integrity score when you submit your paper. If you are an early completer, please let me know right away if you do NOT get an originality report when you submit.  You can submit more than once so if your originality report is high, you can revise and resubmit.
  5. All reference must be in proper APA format.
  6. The paper is due at 11:59 pm on the day of class in week 12. For this term that is Friday April 8th.
  7. Grades on late submissions will be reduced by 10% per day until the day of the final. At that point no more submission will be accepted.
Posted on

Virtual communication

Successful virtual communication requires thoughtful and efficient use of virtual communication tools. Part of the process of thoughtfully and efficiently using these tools is to consider the stakeholders with whom you will communicate, as well as how the communication tool may improve or damage relationships among those stakeholders.
Identify Stakeholders that are impacted by virtual communication in the workplace.
Explain different communication tools that are used in the virtual workplace.
Analyze each tool and how virtual communication tools may improve or damage relationships among identified stakeholders.
Compare and contrast the benefits and consequences of virtual communication on identified stakeholders.
Compose a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper that addresses the following:
Identifies stakeholders who are impacted by virtual communication in the workplace
Explains the different communication tools that are used in the virtual workplace
Analyzes each tool and how virtual communication tools may improve or damage relationships among identified stakeholders
Compares and contrasts the benefits and consequences of virtual communication on identified stakeholders
Format your assignment according to appropriate course level APA guidelines.