P.269-284 Summary (late due to absence)

On page 269, the first chapter begins by discussing the many points of an argument being expressed and explaining how arguments work. There is a list written on page 271 that identifies possible purposes of an argument; "To understand, explore, inform, convince/persuade, make decisions, or make consensus." Arguments are always an element of any context. The chapter then goes on to correlate these points to well-known figures like Madonna and Martin Luther king Jr. This chapter closes with explaining how arguments are very central to our lives and how important it is to understand the rhetorical implications of each argument and be conscious of the audience at all times. The next chapter beginning on page 275 opens with analyzing simple aspects of arguments. Then, the section introduces three main points to an argument; Who is arguing/ and where are they coming from?, Whats's at stake?(what are the facts, how can the issue be identified, how much does it matter/why, and what actions should be taken as a result?) and what's the claim? This section closes with the point that it is important for a claim to be clear and arguable in all aspects, whether it is simply stated or not.

P. 70 Think About Your Writing (late due to absence)

I recently wrote an essay for my political science class, that explained the complexity of our country's tax agenda, and how we need to make a more efficient system. My motivation is clearly stated in the first sentence as I described the different levels of taxing and how involved they truly are. This also shows that I am aware of how this system operates and want to prevent any more negative development. By addressing this topic, I was able to clearly articulate my thoughts and position on this matter, relay it to my professor in a way that she would understand.

Reading Sources Critically (late due to absence)

1. Arguments?

He makes it clear that he is analyzing this argument from a white persons' perspective and continues to acknowledge this throughout the video

It's not the white people's business if the black people decide to use that word because it is not personally detrimental to their race

Mentions the double standard of black people to white people

Different contexts when spoken versus written; Aurally is recognized as assault-like

jokes from the 'family' are not offensive

2.  How persuasive is this argument?

His argument presents many valid points and he has personal experience from living in the south, so this strengthens his persona. He mentions comedians like Jeff Foxworthy and Jerry Seinfeld to emphasize his point that white people need to basically mind their own business. He mentions one rebuttal that the white people are trying to help black people reclaim the n-word by using it as a friendly nickname. H counteracts this by saying that there has always been a double standard for black people and white people need to stay out of it.

3. Stance?

He clearly is against using the n-word in any context.

4. Publisher?

Boston College is catholic, so they may have considered their religious values

5. Similar ideas in other works?

Large magazine companies have published many issues that discuss similar points thatTim made during his speech. Also, news broadcasters like Fox, CNN, etc. have brought in similar activists that coincide with Tim's beliefs.

6.  Support your own position?

I agree with the overall position of the argument.

7. Intended audience and purpose?

The intended audience is clearly young college kids and the purpose was to influence them to think about how they speak and how this particular word makes black people feel.

In Class Lab;Comparing blog posts

Both of our articles and Spriggs made their positions clear not only in the introduction but also in the conclusion. The writers of our articles determined the importance of the argument by invocating Paris attacks and 9/11, while Spriggs instead invoked what could happen. Our articles also explicitly state their positions when they explain how they believe that taking certain steps will help prevent terrorism. Spriggs used anecdotal evidence more than our articles, citing her families farmer friend. She also responded to varying views more often, such as how buying local can have negative environmental effects. All of them mentioned articles and statistics from other reputable news sources in order to support their stance, such as Spriggs citation of CNN. Spriggs first paragraph talks about how Americans can eat fruit that naturally would not be in season which by turn of causes consequences to local farms and the worldwide environment, our other articles acted similarly for their own stances, one of them claiming that lax gun control laws contribute to hundreds of deaths every year. Spriggs was also better at showing how things have changed over time, such as how the number of cows a farm milks has increased drastically from industrialized farms, something that other articles mostly neglected, instead focusing on more recent times. Sprigss also appealed to the values of the readers by citing how local farms create 10% more jobs than large ones, our articles appealed to the viewers values by mentioning the expensive toll of the Iraq and Afghanistan war, in terms of life and wealth.  The author of our articles also uses the ignorance of the general public concerning the word "terrorism" to springboard his own stance and condescension towards detractors in opinion to develop a tone of authority while Spriggs developed a tone of authority through proving her competence, not by capitalizing on condescension.

In Class Lab: "Incorporating Sources Effectively"

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

In an article on the Humane Society of the United States website, the author writes; "Too often, people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes cat's nails- the equivalent of having your fingernails trimmed. Sadly, this is far from the truth." (Quotation from an online article with no page numbers.)

https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Declawing-of-Domestic-Cats.aspx

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) website, a member of the association explains in detail points that owners of cats should be aware of and consider prior to scheduling the surgery. This includes information such as; how declawing a cat is not medically beneficial to the animal, the alternatives to surgery, explaining how scratching is a natural feline behavior, etc. (Paraphrase from an online article with no page numbers.)


http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Declawing-Reasons-Complications-Alternatives-ebook/dp/B00T1UPPPU

According to Jeane Holfve, DVM; "Unlike common belief that declawing is the removal of nails, it is actually the amputation of the bony tips of a cat's ten to eighteen toes"(4). In her book Thinking of Declawing?, Ekonen explains; "Based on my discoveries, it is my hope that readers gain knowledge about declawing, and in doing so, determine the merit of this operation and whether it is truly a harmless and good option for cat ownership"(4).

Works Cited


DVM Holfve, Jean. Thinking of Declawing? 1st ed.
         New York: LNREkonen, 2015. print


" Declawing of Domestic Cats." Declawing of Domestic Cats. AVMA, 20 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.


"Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than a Manicure." RSS. Humane Society of the United States, 11 June 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Rough draft position paper

Declawing Cats

Cats. Loveable, furry friends who roam their owner’s houses as their own domain. Cat owners would do anything to make their feline comfortable and out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, many cat lovers have unknowingly subjected their cats to a painful procedure that has become a ‘quick fix’ to scratching; declawing. This procedure can not only cause phantom pains post-procedure, but the cat has to re-learn how to walk, due to its altered balance. Furthermore, scratching is a natural behavior that can be used as an alternative to declawing. Claws are the cat’s first line of defense as well, so while a cat may be strictly indoor, if the animal were to ever escape outdoors it would have no way of defending itself.

This method of scratch prevention is much more involved than most people think. Many believe the misconception that declawing is simple; like trimming human toenails. According to an article online written by Dr. Drew Weigner, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and past president of the Academy of Feline Medicine; “There are several different techniques, but they all involve one thing. You have to remove the claw, and you have to remove the little piece of bone that the claw grows from. If you don’t, the claw will try to grow back… The way cats are normally declawed, there’s an instrument with a sliding blade, almost like a guillotine, and it cuts a straight line through the joint between that little piece of bone and the next piece of bone, which is much bigger.” Essentially, it’s like cutting off the first part of the toe to prevent further claw growth.

While declawing is a sure way of preventing unwanted scratching, what cost is it to the cat? There are many complications that can occur during or post- surgery. The main issue being pain after the procedure. In an article written on All Feline Hospital’s website; “If not enough pain control was utilized with the procedure, the cat can actually develop a hypersensitivity of the nerves in the toes that can result in a lifetime of acute pain every time your cat puts weight on their paws.  This can result in cats holding their paws up every time they sit down from chronic pain.  Sometimes this hypersensitivity can be reversed with certain combinations of medications, but not always. In people, after an amputation, they can commonly experience phantom pain, where they feel pain in the limb that has been removed.  While we can't really ask cats if they feel this, each declaw is a toe amputation, so there is a very high likelihood that they also experience this phantom pain.” Imagine yourself being put through a surgery that cuts off the tips of your bones in your fingers, and being in so much pain that you cannot express clearly to anyone. It’s a horrifying thought to imagine yourself, let alone an animal go through that pain. Yet another drawback of declawing to the cat is that it must re-learn to walk. Since a part of their paw has been removed, they have to adapt how to evenly distribute their weight.

Cat scratching can be a natural way of displaying affection, marking territory or simply for exercise. Using the cat’s natural instinct to scratch to the owner’s advantage by providing a positive outlet for them to scratch on is a happy alternative for both the cat and the owner. These routes are also more cost-friendly methods to prevent scratching as opposed to surgery. Scratching posts, cardboard pads, and cat condos are all ways for the cat to exercise its needs without destroying furniture. Another way to prevent scratching on furniture is to put caps on the cat’s claws that allow them to exercise the motions of scratching without the sharpness of the claws. Using unpleasant scents like orange or vinegar sprays to deter felines away from areas that are not suitable for scratching or using good smelling odors like catnip to encourage the cat to scratch in a specific area are also easy options for cat-owners.

In conclusion, another important factor to consider with the consequences of declawing is that claws are the cat’s main way of defending itself. If the cat for some reason gets lost outside, there are many dangers that could threaten a cat’s life, and a cat without claws being outside has far more risk of encountering a danger and not being able to walk away from it. It doesn’t matter where the owner lives, there are always dangers outdoors for cats in general, and for a cat without claws, the odds of the lost cat surviving are much smaller than those with intact claws. 

So while the method of declawing is the only permanent fix to unwanted scratching, the risks of complications overwhelmingly outweigh the ending benefit. Forcing the cat to change its weight distribution to maintain simple balance due to removal of important bone. Taking this natural instinct to scratch away from a cat is simply cruel when there are so many more natural and cost effective ways to prevent scratching. Taking away the feline’s defense mechanism is also a secondary consequence that would be robbed from the cat. With all of these points described, would you choose to declaw your cat?

P.69 Video response (late due to absence)

The "Yes, We Can." video'd medium definitely incites an emotional response as Obama's speech is created into music by popular people (music artists, actors) not only because it's saying the future of america will be great with this man as president, but the people signing represent all different backgrounds that people can easily relate to through music. Another important aspect of this video is the imaging. The video highlight specific elements that they want the audience to remember using text. For example, the repetition of the video's title as it is mentioned throughout the speech/song (Yes, we can.) is in bold lettering and appears next to Obama, making the viewer correlate the positive campaign slogan to the future of America if they vote Obama in for President. The video uses the visual text again at the end when it says "vote" and the word morphs into "vote", suggesting that voting for Obama strengthens hope for a greater America.