Before I launch into the assignment part of this blog, I'd like to take a moment and make it an actual blog.
When this class began and I found out there would be weekly blog entries, I was a little skeptical. This was simply because I had never made one before. Upon creating my blog and starting my first entry though, I found I liked it. This was a place where I could express myself, and I could do so a lot faster than in my journal. I enjoyed expressing my opinions and being passionate about something, such as my hometown. Those were good times.
But things have changed.
Blog assignments have gotten progressively more assignment-like, rather than blog-like. Naturally though, as students we comply with the requests of our teacher. Well, most of the time. In any case, I miss the old times, when the things we wrote applied to us as individuals rather than to our assignments. It's like there's no room for me in my own blog, not unless I take time out to make room, such as I'm doing now.
Well that felt good to write. And now for the assignment part.
For this blog I chose the article "Globalization and the Decline of the Welfare State in less-developed countries" by Nita Rudra. The research behind this article was ridiculously extensive, and certainly more than I was expecting. Somewhere in the vicinity of 95 sources were cited in the references section. I didn't get a good look at every single one for obvious reasons, but most of them that I checked were either from academic journals or government sources, or still others from UN and World Bank reports. From those sources I checked I can pretty easily infer that the information is very credible, given that it is backed by so many other professionals. I think that by using articles such as this one for my research, the information in my article will retain that same credibility. However, my research methods are not nearly as extensive as the particular example I used. I don't even want to think about using 95 sources at this level of scholarship.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Title Goes Here
Since the topic could be completely unrelated to our actual topic for our paper, I thought I'd find sources about the brain. So here we go.
The first source came from the Library of Congress. They have a Science Reference Services section made specifically for researchers. The particular source I chose was a literature guide intended for general readers, likely because it was so comprehensive. It covered brain divisions, anatomy, activities, and conditions of the brain. I consider it highly credible simply because it comes from the Library of Congress. Perhaps I should scrutinize more, but I think if I were actually researching I would do so.
The second source I found on the brain can be found on the "Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition" of EBSCO host. I figured this type of source would have some trouble finding articles on the brain because they are mostly reports on studies and therefore have more specific information. With that said, I chose an article on the brain's defense against cocaine. The authors of this article are Chandler L Judson and Peter W Kalivas. I consider this source pretty credible because it was originally published in nature, a credible journal, and was retrieved from EBSCO host.
For the least credible source, I turned to everyone's favorite place for general information, Wikipedia, thinking it would fit what I was looking for perfectly. So I went to Wikipedia, looked up the brain, and got an incredible wealth of information that would make you think it's a very credible source. However, given the obvious nature of Wikipedia and its lack of peer reviewing, I knew that its credibility could only go so far.
And that's that.
The first source came from the Library of Congress. They have a Science Reference Services section made specifically for researchers. The particular source I chose was a literature guide intended for general readers, likely because it was so comprehensive. It covered brain divisions, anatomy, activities, and conditions of the brain. I consider it highly credible simply because it comes from the Library of Congress. Perhaps I should scrutinize more, but I think if I were actually researching I would do so.
The second source I found on the brain can be found on the "Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition" of EBSCO host. I figured this type of source would have some trouble finding articles on the brain because they are mostly reports on studies and therefore have more specific information. With that said, I chose an article on the brain's defense against cocaine. The authors of this article are Chandler L Judson and Peter W Kalivas. I consider this source pretty credible because it was originally published in nature, a credible journal, and was retrieved from EBSCO host.
For the least credible source, I turned to everyone's favorite place for general information, Wikipedia, thinking it would fit what I was looking for perfectly. So I went to Wikipedia, looked up the brain, and got an incredible wealth of information that would make you think it's a very credible source. However, given the obvious nature of Wikipedia and its lack of peer reviewing, I knew that its credibility could only go so far.
And that's that.
Monday, October 13, 2008
A different kind of RA
*I chose the Bob Dole ad, "The Story" from the 1996 election series*
Bob Dole gets right to the point in this ad by getting at Americans' guilt, as well as their children. He tells Americans that they have a moral obligation to give their children a country with the same opportunity and values of the nation they themselves grew up in. Right away people's emotions start to stir, and they think, "Yeah! My kids deserve the best." Bringing up children makes this emotional appeal very effective in my opinion (although not effective enough obviously, given the outcome of the election), because the strong ties that parents have with their kids is a strong impetus for action.
After he's done telling Americans about their obligation to create the same, if not a better, America for their children, Bob Dole's life story begins.
As an audience, it is always a positive thing to get to know who is speaking to us. In this case it is even more crucial because we need to know why we should listen to this guy in the first place. So they put it all out there. He grew up in Kansas, learned wonderful values from his parents like hard-work, honesty, and responsibility. He served in the military, got seriously wounded, and had a miraculous comeback story to show, if for no other reason, that he is not a quitter. All of these sappy, nostalgic details appeal to and bolster Dole's credibility (and possibly authority) as an individual as well as an American. His audience now knows a little about him, and even more about his true-blue American values. I think this is more effective for the average Joe than the thinking individual, simply because it is so vague and gushy.
If it weren't obvious enough at this point that Bob Dole is an American "just like you," the narrator comes back in with the words "Like many Americans." He then elaborates on how life experience has given Dole a moral compass, and further emphasizes the principles and some of the goals he has for his presidency. By bringing up these goals I'm not sure if it nails a specific appeal, but it allows American voters to know what issues he is targeting, which I think is effective for letting voters identify with him.
The ad concludes with Dole explaining the importance of values: how they are what you stand for and sacrifice for. Thus, he wraps it up with another emotional appeal. Practically every single American can identify with the importance of values in our lives. Since they are so important, it is probably important for the man leading the country to have strong moral values. Now that I'm writing this it seems more like an appeal to logic than emotion, as if to say "Since Bob Dole has good moral values and values are so important, you should vote for him." Perhaps it just works both sides of the street, and does hit two different appeals.
Whatever the case, Bob Dole is chock full of values.
And apparently that's not all you need to win an election.
Bob Dole gets right to the point in this ad by getting at Americans' guilt, as well as their children. He tells Americans that they have a moral obligation to give their children a country with the same opportunity and values of the nation they themselves grew up in. Right away people's emotions start to stir, and they think, "Yeah! My kids deserve the best." Bringing up children makes this emotional appeal very effective in my opinion (although not effective enough obviously, given the outcome of the election), because the strong ties that parents have with their kids is a strong impetus for action.
After he's done telling Americans about their obligation to create the same, if not a better, America for their children, Bob Dole's life story begins.
As an audience, it is always a positive thing to get to know who is speaking to us. In this case it is even more crucial because we need to know why we should listen to this guy in the first place. So they put it all out there. He grew up in Kansas, learned wonderful values from his parents like hard-work, honesty, and responsibility. He served in the military, got seriously wounded, and had a miraculous comeback story to show, if for no other reason, that he is not a quitter. All of these sappy, nostalgic details appeal to and bolster Dole's credibility (and possibly authority) as an individual as well as an American. His audience now knows a little about him, and even more about his true-blue American values. I think this is more effective for the average Joe than the thinking individual, simply because it is so vague and gushy.
If it weren't obvious enough at this point that Bob Dole is an American "just like you," the narrator comes back in with the words "Like many Americans." He then elaborates on how life experience has given Dole a moral compass, and further emphasizes the principles and some of the goals he has for his presidency. By bringing up these goals I'm not sure if it nails a specific appeal, but it allows American voters to know what issues he is targeting, which I think is effective for letting voters identify with him.
The ad concludes with Dole explaining the importance of values: how they are what you stand for and sacrifice for. Thus, he wraps it up with another emotional appeal. Practically every single American can identify with the importance of values in our lives. Since they are so important, it is probably important for the man leading the country to have strong moral values. Now that I'm writing this it seems more like an appeal to logic than emotion, as if to say "Since Bob Dole has good moral values and values are so important, you should vote for him." Perhaps it just works both sides of the street, and does hit two different appeals.
Whatever the case, Bob Dole is chock full of values.
And apparently that's not all you need to win an election.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Oh i'll show you rhetoric
I don't know if Bishop H David Burton meant to fill his talk with rhetorical strategy. But with a talk all about how we as members are doing service around the world, the ethical and emotional appeals couldn't help but show their wonderful shining faces. Bishop Burton's talk, entitled And Who Is My Neighbor?, was an uplifting and heartwarming message about the positive effects that members of the church have made around the world. It also served as a reminder that all of us can do more to serve our neighbors, whether they share our faith or not.
Most of Bishop Burton's rhetorical "strategy," per se, was in examples of how members have served. Telling the story of church members helping the people of Lima, Peru, who had been rocked by an 8.0 earthquake can't help but evoke emotion within us. We love to hear about people helping people.
He used numbers and facts to bolster his authority, telling just how many earthquakes, wildfires, floods, famines, and other disasters (and in how many countries) church members and missionaries had provided aid for.
He further appealed to emotions by sharing the reactions from some individuals who had been helped. The reading of a note of appreciation to the LDS helpers in the San Diego area certainly found a place in my heart.
There were many more examples of assistance around the world that evoked emotion, but since they're along the same line I won't go into detail. It was inspiring to read back about humanitarian aid for tsunami victims, the working towards clean drinking water for all in Ethiopia, and efforts to eliminate measles.
Rhetoric has the power to be used for good or evil, and in this case it was definitely used for good.
Most of Bishop Burton's rhetorical "strategy," per se, was in examples of how members have served. Telling the story of church members helping the people of Lima, Peru, who had been rocked by an 8.0 earthquake can't help but evoke emotion within us. We love to hear about people helping people.
He used numbers and facts to bolster his authority, telling just how many earthquakes, wildfires, floods, famines, and other disasters (and in how many countries) church members and missionaries had provided aid for.
He further appealed to emotions by sharing the reactions from some individuals who had been helped. The reading of a note of appreciation to the LDS helpers in the San Diego area certainly found a place in my heart.
There were many more examples of assistance around the world that evoked emotion, but since they're along the same line I won't go into detail. It was inspiring to read back about humanitarian aid for tsunami victims, the working towards clean drinking water for all in Ethiopia, and efforts to eliminate measles.
Rhetoric has the power to be used for good or evil, and in this case it was definitely used for good.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Seriously. This is Better
You work hard. You put in long hours at your desk, coming up with lesson plans, dealing with University policies and administration. You burn the midnight oil grading papers, and maybe even writing them. You earn your paycheck, that much is obvious. With that said, you don't want to go about spending your hard-earned money on something that won't sustain value. You want something you can look at, smile to yourself and say, "I'm glad I bought that."
Thus, I recommend to you a Cutco cutlery set.
Right away you must be thinking, "A knife? Why on earth would I want to by a knife?" But you won't regret your purchase when you feel the ease of use and the convenience of not having to work hard to prepare a meal. Cutco uses an edge on many of their knives that is entirely unique among all other knives.
I could bore you with the incomparable construction details, but instead why not try one and see what you think? After all, the company offers 15 days completely risk free so you can try it out and see what you think. If you don't, no problem, there's a complete refund waiting for you. But if you're like most people, you will love it and want to keep it. You'll use it everyday for years, and love it all the while. And pretend that 8 years down the road you're using a knife and something goes wrong with it. This doesn't happen often, but in the case that it does, there's no reason to worry. Send it back to the company, and they will replace it for you for free. This wonderful policy is called the Forever Guarantee, and unlike many companies' "Lifetime Guarantees," this guarantee really does last forever. Since the company has been around since 1949, they have the authority to say they really stand behind their claim. Cutco does not claim their product is completely without flaws, but they guarantee that you will never have to pay to replace or fix any problem that is their fault. The Forever Guarantee makes any Cutco product into something that can be handed down from generation to generation. Can you think of any other company that can say that?
Finally, there is a lot of talk today about foreign labor, how jobs are being taken from America and, more importantly, how children are being made to work in inhumane conditions to make products so huge multinational corporations can maximize profits. Cutco does none of that. Every knife Cutco makes is handcrafted in the United States. This implies two very important truths. First, in buying Cutco you are supporting American, non-child labor. Second, you know that the product you are buying is made with pride and care and extremely high-quality.
It may seem silly to some to invest in a knife set, but remember: you use knives every single day. No other everyday household item offers the value of Cutco, and no other cutlery company offers the quality. So give Cutco a try. If you're like millions of others across the nation, you'll love it right away, and for the rest of your life.
Thus, I recommend to you a Cutco cutlery set.
Right away you must be thinking, "A knife? Why on earth would I want to by a knife?" But you won't regret your purchase when you feel the ease of use and the convenience of not having to work hard to prepare a meal. Cutco uses an edge on many of their knives that is entirely unique among all other knives.
I could bore you with the incomparable construction details, but instead why not try one and see what you think? After all, the company offers 15 days completely risk free so you can try it out and see what you think. If you don't, no problem, there's a complete refund waiting for you. But if you're like most people, you will love it and want to keep it. You'll use it everyday for years, and love it all the while. And pretend that 8 years down the road you're using a knife and something goes wrong with it. This doesn't happen often, but in the case that it does, there's no reason to worry. Send it back to the company, and they will replace it for you for free. This wonderful policy is called the Forever Guarantee, and unlike many companies' "Lifetime Guarantees," this guarantee really does last forever. Since the company has been around since 1949, they have the authority to say they really stand behind their claim. Cutco does not claim their product is completely without flaws, but they guarantee that you will never have to pay to replace or fix any problem that is their fault. The Forever Guarantee makes any Cutco product into something that can be handed down from generation to generation. Can you think of any other company that can say that?
Finally, there is a lot of talk today about foreign labor, how jobs are being taken from America and, more importantly, how children are being made to work in inhumane conditions to make products so huge multinational corporations can maximize profits. Cutco does none of that. Every knife Cutco makes is handcrafted in the United States. This implies two very important truths. First, in buying Cutco you are supporting American, non-child labor. Second, you know that the product you are buying is made with pride and care and extremely high-quality.
It may seem silly to some to invest in a knife set, but remember: you use knives every single day. No other everyday household item offers the value of Cutco, and no other cutlery company offers the quality. So give Cutco a try. If you're like millions of others across the nation, you'll love it right away, and for the rest of your life.
Monday, September 22, 2008
You Down with B-Town?
“Welcome to Bothell, for a day or a lifetime.” A friendly sign reading those exact words greets you as you drive in to the place I am proud to call home. Who wouldn’t want a warm welcome such as that?
And that’s just the beginning of why Bothell is such a wonderful place to live.
Bothell is a smallish city north of
Besides the astounding beauty and the connection with nature, there is a great sense of community in Bothell, especially during high school football season. Thousands from the city will gather on Friday nights at Pop Keeney field to watch the Cougars play. Stores in downtown show their Cougar pride, in addition to the many houses throughout the community with specially made signs indicating that a player lives there, or maybe just that they support the program. It is a wonderful thing to see that the community is just as supportive of the team as the student body itself.
But here I am getting nostalgic. You can’t transfer memories, so I won’t try to, but Friday nights are something to experience.
Even if you aren’t a Cougar fan, and are just visiting for a long or short time, you will be welcomed with open arms. That’s great thing about Bothell: it’s large enough to be a city, but still retains the feeling of a town.
If you’re into living in beautiful places filled with friendly people and fun things to do, give Bothell a try. It worked for me for 15 years.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Probably the greatest thing in the world... at BYU
I think it would be impossible to not love a resource as useful as the BYU bookstore. You just cannot beat the convenience of only having to go to one place to get everything you need for college. Getting books there is a breeze. Everything is well-categorized, and if by some chance the Bookstore does not have what you need on the shelf, they can order it for you. That, to me, shows that they are really looking out for the students. It's not a "tough luck" situation, they've got your back the whole way.
Adding on to the incredible ease of buying at the Bookstore is the checkout. Everyone there is friendly, and even when the line is long, the cashiers work hard to make sure you get through as quickly as possible. They are also very willing to help with any issues you may have, and they thoroughly explain their wonderful buy-back policy and return policy, just so there isn't any confusion.
Finally, the Bookstore's prices are completely reasonable as well. After all, they are a business, and besides the price that the publisher charges the store there are lots of overhead costs and employee wages to pay, so books are going to be expensive. When you put it all into perspective, the prices of books at the bookstore make sense.
The Bookstore is a wonderful place for buying books, and so much more, at the right price, and with all the convenience and support one could ask for.
See you next time
Sunday, September 7, 2008
BYU is great, except...
I do like BYU, don't get me wrong, I like it a lot. But even the Lord's university has some issues. I'll be picking at one in particular that really grinds my gears. The Bookstore. It's not the store itself. As an establishment, it provides everything students will need, has helpful staff, and is convenient to buy from. That is, if you happen to have several hundred dollars laying around.
Fact: books are expensive. Fact: the BYU Bookstore is a business. Fact: the goal of a business is to make money. So what does BYU do? They give you your book list late so that you have less time to look for books online and wait for them to ship. If you're short on time, you're stuck, and you'll have to buy from the bookstore. So what if they're charging a lot for the book? They have it, and you need it. Just basic supply and demand principles that perhaps they have fixed a bit to work in their favor.
And some people just buy from the bookstore by choice, not knowing that they are paying way more than they need to. To be fair, BYU is the cheapest 4 year university for tuition this side of.. anywhere, so I don't have much to complain about compared to many of my friends. But honestly, BYU's goal is to make education affordable to everyone, isn't it?
I don't like whining usually, and since this whole thing is one large glass of whine, I think I'll stop. Some things are just the way they are, but for every will, there's a way. I know I didn't pay full price for books.
See you next time
Fact: books are expensive. Fact: the BYU Bookstore is a business. Fact: the goal of a business is to make money. So what does BYU do? They give you your book list late so that you have less time to look for books online and wait for them to ship. If you're short on time, you're stuck, and you'll have to buy from the bookstore. So what if they're charging a lot for the book? They have it, and you need it. Just basic supply and demand principles that perhaps they have fixed a bit to work in their favor.
And some people just buy from the bookstore by choice, not knowing that they are paying way more than they need to. To be fair, BYU is the cheapest 4 year university for tuition this side of.. anywhere, so I don't have much to complain about compared to many of my friends. But honestly, BYU's goal is to make education affordable to everyone, isn't it?
I don't like whining usually, and since this whole thing is one large glass of whine, I think I'll stop. Some things are just the way they are, but for every will, there's a way. I know I didn't pay full price for books.
See you next time
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