"Really Rough Draft" of Position Essay

Main points for my Position Essay:

Forcing companies to raise wages is bad 
(From the viewpoint of a minimum wage worker)
     • It causes the wage/price spiral. Prices inevitably rise to compensate more money going towards wages
     • Employees will get cut in an effort to save money
     • It's even harder to get a job if you don't have a lot of experience or a full education (Especially teenagers)
     • It takes away the ability of the company to independently raise wages according to how the employees work. Which:
     • Further destroys the employees motivation to work hard and do a good job.

Examples? 
     • This happened at Boeing. (I think? Somewheres in Seattle) People got more money but they lost privileges and nobody gave tips. (Research more)

Why is it important, how can I appeal to reader's values?
     • It's important to know who these changes are really going to effect, and in what way. While it looks beneficial, it negatively effects the people at the bottom.

Other side of the argument: 
Does it do anything good?
(need to research more)                                                                                                          

Collaboration on Position Characteristics and Mediums

Collaboration with Kaori, Mason, and myself about differences we found in three approaches: (Movie trailer, independent articles, essay by Bob Herbert)
 1. Use of facts
 - A speech did not have very many hard facts
 - The mover trailer gave lots of facts
 - Herbert's essay contained dialog between himself and a professional
2. Good reason
 - Speech spoke of basic rights to all beings
 - Herbert talks of children and their need for better education
 - The video shows very excited/stressed people who the topic is obviously important to
3. Good Evidence
-  Speech cited many examples throughout history
-  Though it have a lot of information, the video didn't appear to have good sources
-   Articles had strong sources from studies, professors, etc.
2. Authoritative tone
 - Speech had "command" voice. It addressed the problem and offered a solution
 - The movie was fast paced and had many frames, kept the watcher attentive
 - Articles used good evidence and a firm stance to be authoritative

Conclusion:
There is some flexibility for how positions are presented in different mediums. Facts and reliable-sourced evidence is definitely a requirement in academic papers, whereas videos and internet articles have more freedom. Many of the characteristics were evident in all three mediums, and we found the most successful arguments had close to all of the characteristics.

Looking Closely at the Evergreen Movie Trailer

An aspect of the Evergreen documentary that I thought was meaningful was the short clips of people rallying in the Capital. They gathered on the Rotunda in the Capitol building and held up their signs. Comments turned to shouts and then even physical contact as the people got excited or concerned about the topic. To me this really caught the importance of the issue to the citizens of Washington.

Thinking about the Text

1. Bob Herbert argues that America's current public school system must vastly change to meet the needs of changing times. He discusses this with Professor Thomas Kane, and points to two places that would most easily make the biggest changes. The first was teacher quality. Herbert explains we should be making sure the teachers effectiveness in the classroom is looked at closely, and not just their credentials. The second area Herbert explained is looking at alternative school models. We can take ideas from schools that are set up differently and are more successful.

2. I would describe Herbert's tone as disappointed but also earnest. In the beginning he states, "There is no reason to celebrate these minuscule gains." To me he seems disappointed in where the American society as a whole is putting their focus. In the next sentence he says simply, "We need so much more." At the very end of his essay, he says it again: "They [American kids] need something better...." His persistence in the idea that we need more success and better results indicates to me he is earnest about this subject.

3. Herbert establishes the importance of his topic in the fifth and sixth paragraph. He explains how a four-year college degree is the minimum for living a middle-class life. His sixth paragraph goes on to say, "Over the next 20 or 30 years, when today's children are raising children of their own in an ever more technologically advanced and globalized society, the educational requirements will only grow more rigorous and unforgiving." First he points out the need for a good education in today's world. Any reader then feels the full weight and importance of this article when he states that the demanding need for education will only increase further.

4. Herbert is appealing directly to his reader's values in these two passages:
"The latest federal test results showed some improvement in public school math and reading scores, but there is no reason to celebrate these minuscule gains. We need so much more. A four-year college degree is now all but mandatory for building and sustaining a middle-class standard of living in the U.S.
"If American kids--all American kids, not just the children of the elite--are to have a fair chance at a rewarding life over the next several decades, we've got to give them a school system adequate to the times."

5.  I agree with this article in the sense of a need for education to continue America's development. The need for STEM education, for example, is on the rise: more and more fields are asking for these requirements. If we are to move forward as a country, we must move our education forward. However, I disagree with his idea that you need so much education to live a rewarding life. I suppose that depends your own view of what a rewarding life entails.

Looking at Someone Else's Position Article.

The piece of writing I chose to look at can be found here: http://www.salon.com/2014/10/03/why_do_internet_trolls_troll_they_might_be_sadists/

Her explicit opinion is stated in the second paragraph. Rothkopf states, "The studies...found that the trolls had personality traits that exactly lined up with what is known as the 'Dark Tetrad' of personality traits: sadism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism..."

Appropriate background information is given in the first paragraph, which explains her experience with trolls and help to define what an internet troll is.

Good reason and evidence for her stand is in the third and forth paragraphs when she explains the studies researchers conducted.

Rothkopf has an authoritative tone, citing studies and quoting their authors. This makes her point sound reasonable and logical.

She appeals to reader's values with her personal story, for even her benign articles have brought negative replies.

Response to Tim Wise's video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MnmmDiQSdA

Tim Wise's position is basically that the n-word belongs to black folk. It should not be used at all by white folk, no matter their situation or opinion, and they should not try to influence the way black folk use it. The way they use the word is "their conversation" and white folk should simply stay out of it. He reasons this with the way the white population has used it historically as a very denigrating word. He uses many analogies to further get his point across, one of my favorite bringing us back to childhood. "I can talk about my mama, by you sure as hell cannot talk about my mama." When someone from your family jokes and insults your family, usually you know they aren't hating on their own people. The n-word is similar to this. White folk aren't part of the black "family" and simply should not use it.
Wise's audience appears to be a college, but eventually became the world as it was posted on Youtube.

Two Questions about the Reading

Work in progress.....

Examining How a Position is Expressed

Music videos are most interesting to me. They make use of music, art, actions, and words all in one place, and usually in only a few minutes. One of my favorites is Nena's 99 Luftballons. Even though it is originally written in German, the translated words still take a stand. Nena supports her position by painting a colorful picture describing her sending 99 balloons into the atmosphere and watching a war-hungry world react.
In the video she is seen in a bleak place with lots of smoke. As she tells this story through song, it invites the listener to imagine such a world. The last verse leaves the listener in a scene of desolation. Viewers are moved to action, that they might help prevent such a thing.
If I were to revise it for a different audience I would consider who they were and why it's important to them. For example, it was later translated into English. Some of the words and the story was changed to appeal more to those listeners.
If I were to create it in a different medium, it would be vastly different. Let's take a blog post for example. I can't use music or video, so I would have to tell the story some other way.

99 Luftballons song in German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8
Literal translation of the song into English: http://german.about.com/library/blmus_nena99luftbE.htm
English version, 99 Red Balloons lyrics: http://german.about.com/library/blmus_nena99redb.htm

Taking a Position Every Day

Anytime I've had to take a stand on something:

• Deciding where my cross country team should run
• Comparing answers in my math class and deciding who's is correct
• Going to church instead of working
• Not listening to my brother's music when I drive
• Deciding what to eat for lunch
• Talking with my mom about my sister and what's best for her
• Choosing where to buy things and who to support by doing such

Every time someone around me takes a stand:
• People place signs on the road campaigning for politicians
• Friends wear t-shirts supporting their favorite celebrities, brands, etc.
• Radio show hosts deciding who to talk about or who's music to play
• Teammates argue about whether the sweatshirts we are getting should have hoods or not.

Narrative Draft

Circumstances, emotions, lives. They can all change in an instant. I have never felt this more powerfully than I did this summer.

It’s a pleasant day in early July. I'm driving home after walking through a park with my boyfriend. Sunshine sparkles through the thick, leafy oak trees that spread their branches over the road. I roll my window down and let the evening breeze play with the wisps of hair that have fallen out of my braids. The day was starting to end, but it had been the most beautiful, magical day, I couldn't help but turn the radio up and sing along.  

Even driving the familiar road home is fun. My summer has been perfect, and it’s not even half way through yet. Mechanically scanning the road up ahead, I notice a few cars are turning around. The abnormality of it breaks my thoughts. It must be a car crash. I begin thinking about alternate ways to get home: there’s a road that runs parallel to this one and I've always wondered if it would be faster.

I let myself coast to a turnaround point, and being much closer I realize people are standing around stunned. Help hasn't arrived yet.

Suddenly I am yanking the steering wheel to the right and pulling my car into someone’s driveway. The brake is hardly on before I jump out into the street. I find my way through spectator’s cars before coming upon the scene. I can’t help but just stop and stare.

A black car is upside down on the right side of the road, nestled into the ditch. The other car sits at an angle in the middle of the road, with the front end badly damaged. Glass and crumpled pieces of car were scattered all over the place. If that's how the vehicles fared, I wondered about their occupants. Numbly, I ask a man standing next to me if everyone was okay. The question felt childish. What I really wanted to know was if anyone was dead. Did we need to pull broken, battered, bleeding bodies out of these vehicles?

The man explained the driver of the upside-down car was the guy sitting on the shoulder of the road. He was shaking uncontrollably and I could tell he was trying to talk but he couldn't get much out. A woman was talking to him so I turned my attention to the battered Honda in the middle of the road. The front end was crushed enough that it had bent the passenger door. It wouldn’t open. A woman was trapped inside; her legs were pinned in the mess of metal and car.

Her window was rolled halfway down, she had probably been enjoying the breeze minutes before. The door was bent enough that the window had become dislodged. I grab the top of it with both hands and pull it out. I stand there for a second and wonder what to do with it. It dawns on me I just pulled a window out of a car with my bare hands. The woman groans and it tugs me out of my thoughts. I prop the window against some other wreckage and go to her.

Another man had come to see what he could do. It was obvious we couldn't do much to help this woman. So we talked to her. He put his hands on both sides of her head to stabilize her spine. I held her hand. Even her hand had bruises. She breathed quick, sharp breaths.

The man helping looked intimidating. He was a tall man with broad shoulders. If not for the compassion that filled his scarred face, I wouldn’t have expected him to be so gentle and calm. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Teresa.” Her voice was stained, thick with pain.

“How old are you Teresa?” We knew we needed to keep her conscious.

“Forty-two.”

“Where are you heading to Teresa?”

In between her breaths came something about a party, it was clear talking took a lot of effort. Someone came behind and asked how she was doing. The man turned and I heard him quietly say, “It looks bad.” My eyes wander down to where her legs disappear into the car. I can’t see how bad it is. Then I realize I don’t want to and look back at Teresa’s face. She had quieted down and her eyes didn't seem to be focusing on anything at all. The man sort of shook her to bring her back to us.

“Don’t… Don’t do that.” She moaned.  

“They’re almost here, alright? You’re doing so good, hang in there.” I don’t know what else to say. What can you say? I have no idea what it’s like to be going through pain like this. There’s nothing I can do alleviate it. My words seem useless compared to the struggle she is in.

            She started complaining about her hair. When the man had shaken her, some had fallen in front of her face. I gently brushed away a dark, wavy strand and tucked it behind her ear. In that moment she became so precious to me. This stranger. She became my relative, my best friend, my mother all at once.

            She seemed to be getting weaker. The way her breathing quieted, it was almost like she was giving up. “Stay with us Teresa.” The man wanted to see her freed as much as I did. Time isn’t going any faster. I keep looking towards the road, willing the paramedics to get here.

            And then we hear it. Sirens. Help is finally here. A fire truck parks so as to completely block the road, and men start pouring out. I realize I need to leave. I am only in the way now. I let go of Teresa’s hand and slowly back away. Yet I can’t help but stand on the sidelines and watch. The firemen moved with such purpose. They were hurried, but confident. Everything they did—shouting to each other, pulling out equipment—it was all done with perfect communication and teamwork.

            One fireman sees another bystander taking pictures and asks him to leave the area. I know I must leave too. But I wanted to see them free Teresa. I wanted to see her okay.

The same guy tells another woman to step back. She is in tears and would hardly listen to him. “Did you know her?” I asked.

“That’s my daughter and son-in-law!” The almost panic in her voiced begged the unjust question, why them?

Again, I didn't know what to say. I lamely tried to comfort her and told her that her daughter was strong and the firemen knew what they were doing.  She continued to cry.

I realize it isn't my battle. I should leave. The man who talked to Teresa with me was already walking away. I catch up with him and shake his hand. “Thank you.”
He barely let me finish before saying, “Oh, you too! What’s your name?”

“Lydia.”

“I’m Steve. Yeah, I just saw the whole thing happen right in front of me. I used to be a volunteer fireman so the training kind of kicked in.”

We said goodbye and headed our separate ways. I drove the rest of the way home in silence. 

Three months later I still wonder if Teresa recovered completely. If she even remembers me or Steve. But I have realized how dear life is, even that of a complete stranger. We all have our differences, our disagreements, our opinions. But each and every life is important, something to be treasured. And we have small opportunities everyday to show love and help each other out. 

Possible Topics for Narrative Essay

My first topic idea would be when I stopped at a car crash and helped before paramedics arrived.

1. The event is clearly identified. It’s very easy for me to remember exactly where cars were and what people looked like.

2. The setting can also be clearly described. This happened in the evening of July 5^th, 2014 on Central Valley road in Silverdale.  

3. Vivid details: Because it was a powerful event for me, I still remember a lot of details and think I can bring those out to make the story come alive and also be intense.

4. Who’s telling the story? It would be from my own point of view.

5. Why does the story matter? It shows how even though people can be complete strangers, we can still work together and help each other.   

My second idea could be about when my friend got second degree burns from opening his radiator cap after his car overheated.

2. When and where did it happen? A Sunday afternoon, I could describe where he was, where I was, and then onto being in the emergency room.

3. What makes it come alive? I would have lots of details and direct quotations that would pull you into the story.

4. Who’s telling the story? It would be from my point of view

5. Why is it important? You meet all sorts of challenges in life and it’s important to have a good attitude and remember that a difficulty “Ain’t nothing but a thing.”

Kids in Peru

1. The event: My missions team performed a skit for kids, and then gave a few of them water and took pictures with them.

2. The setting: at a random park in Cajamarca, Peru.

3. Vivid details: describing the kids, the difficulties of different languages, and their excitement could bring the story alive.

4. The story would be from my own point of view.

5. Why is the story important? Even though we could barely communicate, the kids had so much excitement and love for us. Our differences didn't matter. What if more people had the attitudes of these kids?

Comparing Narratives in Different Media

There are a lot of different types of narratives we come across every day. Some of the most interesting narratives I have found are printed in Reader’s Digest magazines. Another fascinating form is just from a friend telling me in passing.

Even the same story told these two ways—one printed and one spoken—could end up vastly different. When spoken, a narrative can take wild turns according to the whims of the teller. Each time it is told, it comes out differently. Many factors can change the course of the story, such as who is listening and how recent it was. Personal emotions and the importance of the narrative also create variation.

A narrative written to be printed in a magazine is different in that it is very thought out. An author thinks carefully about which facts to present and personal anecdotes to use. They might focus simply on which adjectives and verbs to use to convey the right meaning and feeling. A narrative here is most likely revised several times before being considered ready.

Each medium has its own purposes and pleasures. Sometimes the straight forward, solid reading of a story is more preferable, but a friend’s random interjections and emotional outbursts can also be all the fun of hearing a narrative. 

Thoughts on Our Collaboration

Did my group collaborate effectively? I think the term “effective” is a little subjective. Okay, we got the job done. But there is room for some improvement in how we worked together. I’ll go through part of a list of tips presented in Everyone’s an Author, and apply them to what my own group did.

• Find ways of recognizing everyone.

We didn’t do this formally. When we divvied up the tasks we pretty much chose something that interested us. If we had been doing a larger project, there would definitely be benefits in talking about what we are good at, and then dividing up the tasks.

• Listen carefully to each other.

This is something I think we could work on a bit more. We kind of jumped into our first tasks without fully listening to the other people. It ended up working out fine, but there was some confusion later. If this were a more time-pressed project, being careful to listen to each other first would help keep things moving.

• Establish ground rules.

Because this was a short assignment, our group didn’t need to make rules. We did talk about the responsibilities of each person, which included answering particular questions. That way we “divided and conquered.”

• Make an effort to develop trust and group identity.

Our group got along great; in the beginning of the project we shared a person example of when we had helped change something. We learned more about each other and I think that helped build group identity.

• Get organized.

Again, because we had a small project, the need for organization wasn’t great. We could have done better by writing down who was doing what. In a bigger project with more detailed and complex tasks, it would waste time having to plan things out from square one every time someone forgot.

There are many other tips included in the book, but I think they apply to more complex situations and would be repetitive here. In conclusion, my team got work done. We just need to refine that process a little so that next time it runs smoother and the output is of a higher quality.

Changing the World

Three historical examples in which a small group of citizens have changed the world:

• Jesus and his twelve disciples
• Founding fathers got together and wrote the Declaration of Independence
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his team

Similarities between the three: 
Each arose and either risked or gave their lives to make positive changes in the world. It was never easy, and required hard work and dedication. But the benefits have lasted past each of their lives, and have continued for generations.

When have I worked with others to bring about some sort of change?
• Cleaned up the Poulsbo waterfront with my cadet squadron after 3rd of July and Viking Fest

The Declaration of Independence

Genre:

1. The specific Genre for this piece is a manifesto.

2. It took a congress of 36 men to unanimously vote on the independence for the United States of America.

3. The tone of the piece was one of firm finality, and respectful ways of explaining why they were breaking away.

4. At the time the declaration was handwritten with signatures at the bottom of everyone agreeing to the terms of the document.

Audience:

1. The declaration was written to the king of Britain, all British citizens, and the world.

2. The Founders didn't have much in common with their audience. With the king, they were similar in that they were leading a country. The founders were similar with British citizens as fellow human beings with unalienable rights.

3. What was the Founders relationship with their audience?

At the time they were colonies of Britain, and subordinates to the King.

They didn't really have a relationship with the rest of the world, except that they were connected by concerns for independence.

4. Back in 1776 the best medium was the written form they chose. It was printed and distributed, and then also read in public places.

5. What did they want their audience to do?

The founders wanted to be considered separate from Britain and be able to do all things which independent states do.

6. They assume their audience was interested. If you were a King and your colonies sent you a declaration of their independence, you might be a little interested. It's not something that happens everyday, so the rest of the world would also be interested in why this was happening.

7. How much does the audience know about the topic?

In my opinion, the British kind of knew what was going on. But the document clearly laid forth everything so there would be absolutely no confusion. This also helped the rest of the world, who might not have been informed.

8. Will the audience expect a particular genre?

Yes. They would not have expected the declaration in a review or a poem.

Purpose:

1. Their motivation for writing was that the people of the US were being taxed and oppressed by the British government.

2. Their primary goal was to become a united country separate from Britain.

3. The goals were very serious so they had to make the document in a serious and firm manner, while still using formal speech.

Stance:

1. There was an objective point of view, stating that Britain had overstepped their bounds. It has an aggravated tone.

2. The Founders wanted to be seen by their audience as capable men and wholly devoted to the matter.

3. They wanted to be firm in the cases they brought forth.

4. Their stance and tone was met with some surprise. It was a bold proclaim. Some people were angry, others celebrated.

Context:

1. What else has been said about this topic, and how does that affect what you will say?

There were many letters and representatives sent to Britain, and this did effect the declaration, especially: "In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.”

2. The only time constraint they had was that the sooner they separated, the less they would be oppressed.

3. Because they had such a huge audience and the document held such importance, they really didn't have much freedom as writers.

Medium and Design:

1. For the purpose of claiming independence from another country, The United States used print.

2. Traditional conventions were used because it was basically a formal letter of resignation. It had to be paragraph by paragraph with no room for creative structure.

3. The look most appropriate to their rhetorical situation was serious, stern, and powerful.

4. They didn’t need to include visuals.

5. They didn’t have audio or video. 

My Definition of Rhetoric

Rhetoric is writing and speaking in such a way as to persuade or cause effect. Being able to do this requires that you think rhetorically. What does this involve?

Thinking rhetorically means thinking both broad and deeply. Like turning a diamond, you turn the subject from one angle to the next, examining its every side. It means expanding your thoughts and ideas to think outside yourself and your own opinions. Ask yourself questions about other’s viewpoints; consider what points their arguments make. Also ask questions about your own perspective. Why do you hold this opinion? Critically think about why you stand where you do, and what prompted you to begin holding this view.

Acting rhetorically includes activities such as gathering information, researching, and finding other’s works on the subject. Engaging with and listening to others is also an important element. Being able to speak and write effectively requires action on your part.

For example, if someone wants to sway a representative’s vote on a certain bill, they will not simply walk in and state their own opinion. They will most likely research the subject and present all sorts of facts and information supporting their stand. Passionate people especially will talk to others to hear similar opinions and gather personal stories. Before they present anything, they will think and act rhetorically about the subject.

All this is necessary to produce rhetoric. Persuading your listeners begins with transforming their thinking. That will encourage change which then prompts action. This end goal is only possible by first thinking rhetorically.  

Genre Fun

Three things I need my friend to do to prepare for my party, written three different ways.                  

Please bring these things to help decorate:
• Flowers
• Mason Jars
• Ribbon
• White Christmas lights? (Don't worry if you can't find them)    


I also need waffles made from this recipe: (Please double so we have enough to feed everyone!)
Ingredients:
2 Cups of Bisquick mix
1 1/3 Cup of milk
2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 Egg
1/2 Banana (diced into small pieces)
Whisk together the milk, eggs and vegetable oil. Then slowly add in the Bisquick. Once batter is smooth, gently stir in the banana. Cook in waffle griddle for about two minutes, or until golden brown.
Makes: Four 8 inch waffles. Serve with Nutella and whipped cream.


And lastly, with all these things I need,
One is easily overwhelmed indeed.
But the most important thing of all,
You cannot buy even at the mall.
Not a single store could ever sell,
This great thing I am about to tell.
It is better than a sunny day,
And always chases the blues away.
It buys supplies and makes waffles too,
Yes, that's right; most of all I need you!



What did I learn from this exercise?
Writing is used in many different ways, all the time. Each different genre of writing has a particular purpose.
Writing poems, making them rhyme, and making all the lines have the same amount of syllables, just to say your friend is invited, is quite difficult. While writing has its pleasures, it also has its purposes. It's much more time-efficient to use the correct genre to get your point across. That's why I am using prose right now instead of writing this into a song. (Maybe next time...)

                                     

Is Everyone an Author?

Everyone is an author. To be completely honest, only part of me agrees with this statement; the other part of me is pulling back, not willing to fully accept it. To me, the word author has always held so much more weight. It’s not just a noun, it’s a title. Something that isn't merely given, but earned through hard work and careful refinement of skills.

When I was much younger I wanted to be an author when I grew up. I even read a book about how one of my favorites had started their writing career. If you had told me then I could become one by updating my Facebook status, I probably would have been a little put out.
             Looking more closely at what the word itself means, I realize my interpretation of it is much different. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an author as “a person who has written something...” In this light then, anyone who can write can be an author. For example, Twitter’s 232 million monthly active users, and Facebook’s reported average of 665 million active users, assuming they wrote something at some point, are all authors. 

So sure, everyone’s an author. But if everyone is something, does being that something have much meaning?