March 30, 2005
Health and Safty proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
What should be considered ADD?
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Just because a child talks wont sit still doesn't mean he or she has ADD
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
Any Parent, soon to be parent, Teachers School
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Border line cases-children that talk too much in class children that that do not sit still children
Non-members children that pose no problem in class
March 29, 2005
TopicProposalPaper 3_Materialism
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
The topic of my argument is, are Americans excessively materialistic?
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Materialistic people have excessive regard for worldly concerns. Most of the Americans give greatest value to worldly possessions and physical well being
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
It would be of great interest to most of the people because Americans are materialistic
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
March 28, 2005
Topic Proposal - Performance Enhancers
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
My topic will be about performance enhancing drugs (ped) in sports. I will try to define when PEDs are being abused and how fair/unfair they are.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
PEDs are a controversial topic. They affect people differently and give athletes (professional and amateur) advantages over people who don't use PEDs. Also, it is not fair since not everyone has access to the PEDs.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
My audience includes athletes and anyone involved in sports. They should care because the policies, rules, and controversy affects them in some manner.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Members: athletes who use PEDs, athletes who do not. Non-Members: people in the sports industry, coaches, management, etc. Border-Line: athletes who use PEDs and abuse them for competitive gain and/or dependent on them.
spanking a child is not child abuse
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
Spanking a child is not child abuse.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Abuse is X, and child abuse is Y, spanking a child is not X or Y, therefore, spanking a child is not child abuse.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
I think parents would like to know how the law describes child abuse, and if their discipline-style is within the limits of "abuse"
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
adderrall
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
My topic for the definition argument paper will be Adderall- a performance enhancing drug; I will be discussing its purpose vs. its abuse- a common trend among young adults.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Adderall is a performance enhancing drug used for concentration benefits. The use of adderall, especially in students and young adults has grown to be a popular option for better test scores as a result of increased awareness. However this drug, and other similar drugs has grown to be abused by students.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
The audience would consist of teenagers/ college students and the parents of teenagers and college students. Parents are always looking out for their children's safety; today's parents want the best for their kids. With greater competition between grades, SATs and college acceptances, and jobs in the workplace, students are always looking for a way to come out on the top in order to succeed in the future. This argument will be aimed towards this audience of young adults and their parents because this issue is held more important with these populations.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Obvious members of the performance enhancing drugs: steroids, concentration enhancing drugs such as ridalin, adderall, etc.
Non members might be:
Proposal topic
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
Body modification: an act of trendy, twenty-first century self-expression or a body mutilating health hazard, physical and mental?
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Body modification: an act of trendy, twenty-first century self-expression or a body mutilating health hazard, physical and mental?
Does making modification illegal break freedom from self-expression or is it
preventing a spreading health hazard
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
People with body modifications (split tongues, scarification, piercing etc...) who think of it as freedom for expression vs. doctors and such who think of it as an extreme health hazard.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
genetic enhancement of people and animals
ear piercing in children
forgien bodies put into a live body to save it (pacemakers)
Tomato
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
My topic of a definition argument will be what is considered a fruit.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
I will argue that a tomato is a fruit.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
The audience that would care about my case would be the consumers and the manufactures of a tomato. They would care because the prices of either a fruit or vegetable are different.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Fruit: grapes, strawberries, watermelon
Vegetable: carrots, celery, lettuce
Borderline: tomato
topic proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
When to force a mentally ill person to take their medication or be involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital. When a person is determined to be too mentally disabled or violent to decide for himself whether or not to take their medication.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
My paper will support the authorities right to force a mentally ill person to take their medication or be committed for 72 hrs. and be evaluated. The specific case is the New York legislation that many are trying to get passed that would bring about the forced medication taking for mentally ill people and the evaluation if they don't take it. I guess the category is the care of the mentally ill, and the criteria would be how mentally ill or violent does a person have to be to be forced to take their medication.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
I think people that had mentally ill relatives, and doctors, psychologists , and those involved in the care of the mentally ill. They would care about the claim because it directly affects their lives, and the lives of relatives and patients.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
I guess obvious members of the category of mentally ill people forced to take medication would be seriously violent offenders, and people unable to take care of themselves while non-members would be those with mental illness but would could still function in society, and borderline cases would be people with mild behavioral or understanding issues.
Stem cell Research
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
CLONING. Cloning is a process of genetically creating an identical human being from a sample DNA. People opposing the idea of cloning believe it is not ethical to artificially create a human being.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
A specific case was about cloning the sheep Dolly. The category is science trying to take over God?
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
My claim would cater the audience that keeps up with technology and believes that "A change is always necessary." They would care about the claim because it proves the technological, scientific and legal abilities of the new generation.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Members: Scientists, patients
Non members: Conservatives, highly religious people.
Definition Topic-Proposal
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
Are we oppressing the people of Iraq and Afghanistan?
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Oppression would be defined by me as the taking away of rights, and forcing people to do what they don't want to.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
Most Americans according to this last presidential election have very strong feelings on the war. Some say we're imposing our will, and others call us saviors of the Arab people.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
members- taxation w/o representation, communist purges (Stalin)
non-members- worship as one chooses, say what you want, be what you want to be
borderline- America's influence in Iraq, state taxes, socialism
Topic Proposal (Stem Cells)
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
Is the use of stem cells in the same class as abortion? Why in particular are people of the Christian faith opposed to the use of stem cells? What is stem cell research? Does taking stem cells from a fetus demonstrate an act of killing? Is it moral? Is an embryo a person?
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Stem cell research is the next necessary step to further medical science today. Using stem cells from a fetus is not murder, and should be used in our society to find health solutions to diseases and sicknesses that still have not been solved. The definition of murder may fit using embryos stem cells in the bible, but this is not morally necessary.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
Anyone who is affected by an infliction that cannot be cured by today's health techniques would find this claim interesting. Also, anyone who is a strong supporter of the bible would find my claims to be blasphemy, and say that my definition of the use of murder is not true according to the bible.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Some obvious members of the category are people who have inflictions, or people who are friends or related to people with medical problem, and many doctors. Some non-members are members of the clergy, and strong supporters of the text of the bible. Some borderline cases might include Christians, who are not especially stuck to the text of the bible, and non-Christians.
http://www.godandscience.org/slideshow/stemcell.html
Physician assisted suicide
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
My topic is the physician assisted suicide and whether people have the right to use it in extreme situations. Physician assisted suicide is a technique used in Oregon that helps terminally ill patients end their lives so they can prevent too much pain.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Physician assisted suicide should be legal because making it illegal would break the 14th amendment.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
People who are interested in government involvement in their lives would find this case interesting.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Members: rights, "God's plan", 14th amendment, terminally ill
Non-members: depression cases
Borderline: physicians right to perform physician assisted suicide
eric proposal
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
The topic of my definition argument will be the controversy of if race car drivers are actually athletes or not. Some argue that race car drivers should not be considered athletes because the car does most of the work, while others believe that they should be considered athletes because it is a sport and takes lots of practice.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Race car drivers should not be considered athletes because the car does most of the work, anyone can learn how to race and be effective, and athletes usually have great bodies that allow them to be considered athletes.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim? Race car drivers and race car driver fans would care about this claim because they probably consider drivers athletes because of the skill involved in racing.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases. Obvious athletes are basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, and baseball players. Borderline cases are race car drivers, golfers, ping pong players, and bowlers. Non-members are coaches, fans, and sports analysts.
Topic III Proposal - Toll Freeways
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
The topic for my definition argument is toll freeways constructing in major Texas cities. Within the past ten years, toll freeways are being built to ease traffic congestion. With plans in the next decade of building more toll roads, it seems like the Texas Department of Transportation is putting less funds into building new freeways, and more into revitalizing old freeways.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
Toll road authorities in Texas cities have power to build unnecessary toll freeways in which will only put a financial burden to many residents in Texas.
Category: Toll Freeways
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
The general audience that will find my claim interesting is suburban Texas residents commuting to the city for work on a daily basis. They would care because the residents are taxpayers that include paying taxes to the Department of Transportation, and numerous residents pay toll road fees daily in order to go to work on a daily basis. Using the toll road puts a financial burden on many Texas families, and many state that there should be more funds added to build state highways instead of toll road authorities building toll freeways.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Obvious members: Any toll road users, toll road authority, and the Department of Transportation
Non-members: Residents using Texas highways and freeways
Borderline cases: Toll road authorities are independent and have too much power
Topic Proposal (second try)
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
How healthy are these fast food restaurants even with additions such as salads and fruits, or other foods that we normally find to be "healthy"?
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria.
The food offered to us by fast food chains isn't as healthy as the public believes
Category: Health and Nutrition
1. Expanded menus don't necessarily mean the problem is fixed
2. Even other food chains who claim to have healthier foods may not be entirely healthy themselves
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim?
Almost everyone has tried something from a fast food restaurant in their lives if they've lived in America. So this topic affects them all. Those who might find it controversial are the audience who tries to sell their "healthier" foods as well as those who have fallen victum to those words.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases.
Members: Burger King, McDonald's.... yada yada (members of the "not so healthy" club)
Border-line: Subways, or other Sandwich shops (members of the "healthy but at the same time contains some unhealthy elements" club)
Non-Members: Salad places? Grocery Stores
Celiac Sprue
Health & Safety: Topic Proposal
1. What will be the topic of your definition argument? Explain.
Celiac Sprue is a disease of the intestines. This is a fairly new disease that is argued whether it is actually a disease or just a food allergy.
2. Write a first-pass definition thesis that your paper will support. The claim must identify a choice of a specific case, a category and at least two or three preliminary criteria. Celiac Sprue is a disease characterized by mal-absorption resulting from inflammatory injury to the mucosa of the small intestine after the ingestion of wheat gluten or related rye and barley proteins.
3. Describe an audience that would find your claim interesting or controversial. Why would they care about your claim? Since this disease have been discovered, people are diagnosed with it daily. Many restaurants are having to make new menus or alter how they prepare food.
4. List some items that are obvious members of the category, some that are non-members, and some borderline cases. Members - cancer, HIV, diabetes, Non-members - lactose intolerant
March 27, 2005
March 23, 2005
March 22, 2005
Definition Criteria
After reading Chapter 9 from Everything's an Argument, briefly discuss what criteria you might use to define the italicized terms in the following controversial claims of definition. Feel free to focus on just one or two of them.
1. Burning the nation's flag is a hate crime.
2. College sports programs have become big business.
3. Plagiarism can be an act of civil disobedience.
4. Satanism is a religion properly protected by the first amendment.
5. Beer is a health food.
6. Campaign contributions are acts of free speech.
March 21, 2005
March 16, 2005
March 11, 2005
Sex and Music - extremely rough draft
You might need a box of those green pens for this one
March 10, 2005
March 03, 2005
James's Topic Proposal
1. What is your topic and how does it relate to the overall theme of trends and culture?
Since the beginning of music, sex has always been a symbol and used throughout to express and also sell records. As of late, the trend continues to exist, except times have changed, and artists have adjusted to these times.
2. What is the main controversy? Who are the participants in the debate?
When do these artists go too far? Certain aspects of the sex-selling and sex symbolism is not only a bad influence to the future of our country and our world, but also gives false images and faulty mindsets to those who view and listen to the music.
3. Please list all the causes/effects you intend to explore in your essay. Obviously, you might come up with other causes/effects based on your research, but it is useful to know what you have to start with.
In order to sell records, artists "bare" it all
In the 50's, due to the nation-wide mindset, sex played a huge role in early stages of rock and roll
In a time of censorship, artists thrive to rebel and push the limits
People want to see it, therefore people show it, simply put
4. What approach will you be using? Please explain if you plan to combine approaches.
By providing many examples and basic effects should be sufficient. The problem would be to narrow down the choices, because there are so many. I'll probably include statistics like the rise in record sales, public appearances and public reactions, and just newspaper articles covering artist's ideas and mentalities.
5. What information will you be looking for as you start researching the topic?
General opinion of the artists and their fans. Statistical plots of record sales after certain events. And just man examples which play a role in the way sex is exposed and used in the musical entertainment world today.
March 02, 2005
UT Libraries: Research
Below is a list of some online resources that will be useful in your research for the Trends & Culture essay. This is not an exhaustive list, but it offers a few starting points. All of the resources can be reached through the UT Libraries website at http://www.lib.utexas.edu, where you can also search the library catalog for print materials that the libraries own.
Reference Sources
- CQ Researcher - weekly background articles on current issues. (subscription database)
- UT Library Statistics and Demographics Guide - a portal for statistical resources. You can find it by going to the library site, selecting 'Reference Sites' from the Research Tools menu, then selecting 'Statistics and Demographics' from the sidebar.
Databases
- Academic Search Premier - journal and magazine articles from many disciplines.
- Expanded Academic ASAP - journal and magazine articles from many disciplines.
- InfoTrac Custom Newspapers - recent articles from newspapers.
March 01, 2005
Online dating craze
1. What is your topic and how does it relate to the overall theme of trends and culture?
Online dating craze. Related to the growing trend of internet affecting all spheres of our life. It is becoming a common part of society (some conservative ones too). Provides the user with a lot of choices to pick from. You can narrow it down to exactly what you are looking for.
2. What is the main controversy? Who are the participants in the debate?
Is it really trustworthy? Can not really rely on something that is just posted online. No guarantee that the information is all correct. The participants in the debate are people who have had some bad experiences, conservatives for whom internet is not the best option to pick a life partner.
3. Please list all the causes/effects you intend to explore in your essay. Obviously, you might come up with other causes/effects based on your research, but it is useful to know what you have to start with.
The effects of such a trend are that people are relying on it a lot. Some people out there don't feel the need to socialize because they get so "hooked up" to online stuff like this. The advertising industry is getting a lot of business with such a service. People engage in other stuff such as online sex and porn as a result of this.
4. What approach will you be using? Please explain if you plan to combine approaches.
I plan to use cause/ affect approach discussing various effects of such a craze.
5. What information will you be looking for as you start researching the topic?
I plan to look at how successful has online dating proven to be. Is it still going to continue to be this famous in near future?