Reflection on the blogging this semester.

This semester in our English Composition 122, we had to write blogs throughout the entire semester. The blogs were essentially stepping stones, where we applied ideas and concepts in a small way to what we were working on in our class. Each blog had something to do with a larger writing assignment, and they were equally helpful in applying the idea or concept. At first, I found the blogs to be ‘busy work’, but as I moved through the semester, I found them to be helpful, like they were a pseudo first draft. Personally, I hate writing multiple drafts, so I edit constantly as I write any assignment. Having to write these blogs has made me think deeper about the topic/idea/theme, and has helped increase the effectiveness of my writing.         

            When I went to write my final paper, I was able to pull not only from my previous three papers, but I was also able to pull from each of my blogs. In fact, I used some of the sources that I referenced in my blogs, and put those into my paper, because I felt like it added value to the message that I was trying to convey. I think that the best blog that I wrote was my blog on evaluating editorial articles. Previously, I hadn’t thought about editorial articles as a different branch of writing, but after learning about it, I might even consider that as something that I might like to do for a living. They are very brief, but also informative. In the ‘instant- gratification’ society that we live in today, getting a message across quickly is imperative, otherwise you run the risk of losing a bigger audience. The editorial article that I found was great, in fact I referenced it in my paper, and used it as a source.

            I would say that I probably wouldn’t want to add my BlogSpot to my resume, because I feel like it is almost too informal. If I wanted to display my work, I would probably choose some of my other research and argumentative papers to display my capabilities. I think that the blogs were a good idea, and I would recommend others to try and do the same when they are attempting to write papers for school or something similar. They help with brainstorming, especially when someone like myself doesn’t like to write multiple drafts. 

The importance of framing evidence and sources

Framing evidence and sources is important because it is a way that the author essentially guides the readers by showing them specific evidence in the text. The textbook, “Writing Arguments a Rhetoric with Readings” says: “…an arguer consciously selects evidence from a wide field of data and then frames these data through rhetorical strategies that emphasize some data, minimize others, and guide the reader’s response.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has various data regarding plastic waste, and how the oceanic ecosystem is affected. The EPA does a great job with framing evidence, facts, and sources that show the reader how much plastic waste has negatively affected the ocean. One of the first sections in their article on plastic waste incorporates facts that make their readers sympathetic to the EPA’s goal(s) that they are trying to accomplish. Then the EPA shows the reader how plastics are made, and how they are recycled. After that basic information, the article explains to the reader how to identify different plastics, and how those specific plastics should be recycled. Finally, they show markets for recovered plastics; which is how those plastics are converted into another usable product rather than just add to the accumulating waste.

When I did a Google search for framing sociology, I found one website that was helpful in understanding framing theory. It said: “Framing theory and the concept of framing bias suggests that how something is presented (the “frame”) influences the choices people make. This idea is important because it is contrary to the central concept of rational choice theory.  According to this theory, people always strive to make the most rational choices possible.” In other words, framing evidence should be done in a way that the readers will identify with statistics and evidence that is rational. So, a hypothetical example would be:

1.     This year, .06% of children will die by poisoning due to packaging labels not being explicit.

2.     This year, 2,506 children will die by poisoning due to packaging labels not being explicit.

If I were arguing for better labeling of hazardous materials, I would choose to use the actual number, rather than percent of child deaths, because it appears to be more to the reader. If I chose to use the percent of children, rather than the number, it wouldn’t convey the same message; that mislabeling is a big issue, and needs to be reformed. These types of examples can go either way, but the important part is that the author chooses to display the facts or data in a way that is more powerful to the reader. Framing is an important and imperative way to be effective in any argumentative writing.

Evaluation of Editorial Articles

     An editorial is an article that is written by an author for a news publication. Editorials follow the same pattern of other articles or pieces of writing which include an introduction, body, and conclusion. This type of writing appeals to Kairos, where the timing is an important aspect. Editorials are not lengthy, they normally consist of around 500 words. Sometimes editorials have a personal aspect, but do not include content written in first person. Editorials address an issue, and they attempt to; explain an issue, criticize an issue, persuade an audience, or praise an issue. There is somewhat of a structure that editorial pieces follow. The process, again, is similar to other works of writing; they address an issue, present opinions or facts, present opposing opinions or facts, use examples to gain credibility, and conclude. (http://www.geneseo.edu/~bennett/EdWrite.htm)

     The topic of oceanic plastic pollutants that I have been researching this semester, has been researched and written on for many years. An editorial piece that I found on that topic was posted by the New York Times’ website. “Notes From thePlasticene Epoch, From Ocean to Beach, Tons of Plastic Pollution” written by The Editorial Board, was posted on June 14, 2014.

     This article addressed the issue of plastic waste that is ending up in the ocean and on surrounding beaches. It mentioned a common misconception regarding “floating islands of trash”, but clarified that the ‘islands’ are “… more like vast, soupy concentrations of flotsam, some of it large, some tiny, all indigestible, sickening and killing fish, birds, whales and turtles.” They also went on to show the readers about the amount of trash that one organization removed from the ocean. “They collected 1,312 pounds of trash…” which included mostly plastic waste, and could have been prevented if more recycling programs had been implemented. 

     This article does a good job of making the issues of oceanic pollution relevant, as well as clarifying some misconceptions regarding the issue itself. This article was short, as many editorial articles are, but it was very effective. It appealed to Kairos, because it was urging the readers to become more involved in recycling programs, and it offered information about another cleanup that was going to be happening within the next month following the its publish date. 

The Importance of Incorporating Charts, Graphs, Breakout Boxes into Research Papers.

In an instant gratification society, getting information across to a lazy audience is pretty difficult. One effective way to get information to an audience is by incorporating visual aids such as;

·      Charts

·      Graphs (bar & line)

·      Breakout boxes

Many reputable websites, like news reporting websites, and even less-reputable ones such as DIY websites all incorporate visual aids. These aids can include a vast amount of information, from statistics, to directions on how to install a wall mount for a television. The use of these aids helps the reader get an idea of the topic that is discussed in the content of the material, or to help them further understand the content.

A great way to visually display any number of statistics is by incorporating bar graphs, pie charts, and line graphs. Generally, graphs “tell a story” which emphasizes a point that the author is trying to make. A visual display is very effective, and sometimes more memorable than pages of text. Chapter 9 of Writing Argument: A Rhetoric with Readings says: “With the availability of spreadsheet and presentation programs, today’s writers often create and import quantitative graphics into their documents. These visuals- such as tables, pie charts, and line or bar graphs- can have great rhetorical power by making numbers tell a story at a glance.”

Another great way that authors can visually appeal to an audience to get their main ideas across is by use of bullet points. Bullet points visually lay out the key points that the author is touching on, and because they are generally bold and outside the text body; they stand out. Many bloggers employ bulleted entries before their text, so that their readers can get an idea about what each section is about. Although effective, it allows for the readers to skim through the material, and possibly not read the contents, hence why it is important to include the main ideas when using bullet points.

One example of a breakout box was found on BBC News Business website. This article discusses the United Kingdom’s GDP growth, and uses a bar graph to illustrate fluctuations of growth and decline from 1990-2014. The graph shows that the UK had some declines in GPD briefly in the early 90’s, and again in the late 200’s, but overall their GDP has had positive growth. The bar graph is effective in showing the reader that the UK’s economy has been fairly positive over the past twenty or so years.

For my argumentative paper, which is about oceanic pollution, I could create and incorporate some type of visual tool such as a chart or graph. Throughout my previous research, I have found a lot of statistical data regarding pollution and how it effects the natural environment. I could use some of that data and then create a display, which will visually illustrate the damaging effects that pollution causes. I think that if I employ a visual aid, that my argument’s strength will only increase in its effectiveness.

When an author is writing an argumentative paper, it is important for them to use data or evidence to back up their claims. Their use evidence or data in their writing is important, and sometimes more effective when used in visual displays such as; graphs, charts, and breakout boxes.

Thesis Statements

A thesis statement is a very important aspect of any piece of writing. According to Purdue Owl the thesis statement should: “…be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.” It should also be noted that: “The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.” Without a thesis statement, the reader may be confused about what the author is attempting to convey to the audience, or which side of the argument that the author wants the audience to agree with. A strong thesis statement for an argumentative paper should include which topic is going to be covered, as well as which side the author is on.

            I decided to expand on the plastic bag ban, by connecting it to worldwide pollution. My stance was that if local communities acted to reduce their waste, that those actions would cause a positive worldwide reaction. My previous paper included data from numerous sources that attempted to convey the level of devastation that plastic waste has on the natural environment. For my thesis statement, I want to attempt to show what the paper is about, as well as show the audience that I am for a plastic bag ban because I believe that it will contribute positively to the plastic pollution problem.

            My first thesis statement could look something like this: The local plastic bag bans that are being enacted across the U.S. are a positive step towards reducing waste and preventing further plastic pollution. My second thesis statement could look like this: Oceanic wildlife are being severely impacted by plastic waste, therefore policies such as the plastic bag ban are imperative to reduce pollution on a local and worldwide scale. Both of these thesis statements capture what the paper will include, as well as convey to the reader what my stance is on the plastic bag bans.

The Toulmin Method/ Schema for Arguments

The Toulmin Method is another method to conduct a proposal argument. Toulmin rejected previous methods of argument that had been placed, and started his own method that was based upon the courtroom model. The model that he based his method upon was somewhat different from the logical order that a courtroom. 

The model itself follows six steps that help the author be more convincing to the audience. The first step is the claim, which is a statement that you are asking the audience to accept. An example of the claim would be; “You should vote”. 

The second step is having grounds, or the facts supporting your claim. An example of grounds would be; “Young people make up a majority of the voting population.” 

The third step in the Toulmin method is having a warrant, or something that links data to the claim and making it legitimate. It is important to show its relevancy, whether it be explicit or implicit. The question you ask with the method is; why do the grounds make my claim true? An example of the warrant would be; “If young people make up a majority of the voting population, then we must all vote so we have a ‘voice’ in the Government, and make the changes we want to see.” 

The fourth step in the Toulmin method is to present backing, or support for the argument, which answers different questions. An example would be; “Voting booths are located at numerous locations throughout your town or city, and open during most of the day to accommodate your busy schedule.”               The fifth step is to have a qualifier, which includes words like ‘most’, ‘usually’, ‘always’ or ‘sometimes’. An example of a qualifier is; “Most young people don’t see the importance of voting because they view their votes as insignificant, but every vote always counts in an election.” 

The final step is to always be aware of your audiences’ potential rebuttals. A rebuttal to the ‘voting’ claim would be; “An individual vote doesn’t really matter because the overall choice is determined upon that State’s majority vote, and the State’s vote is only worth so many points when compared to the whole sum of points available in an election.” The Toulmin method is very helpful, in that it lays out the structure that the author should use when executing a proposal argument to be most effective.

Chapter 14 Summary and an Example of a Proposal Argument.

            Proposal arguments are the most common form of arguments that we encounter on a regular basis. We encounter them in both a casual atmosphere and a business atmosphere. Chapter fourteen taught us how to understand how a proposal argument works by outlining how to find an issue, and how to develop different way to execute the argument to make it as effective as possible. Throughout the chapter, it demonstrated that our audience is key when developing a proposal argument. The main goal is to convince the audience that a problem exists, and that the problem should be addressed. The audience will naturally have a level of distrust, as well as a sense of conservatism. It is difficult to predict the future, so it is important to evaluate any consequences that may occur when attempting to provide a solution for the problem that you are addressing. In order to develop a proposal argument, after convincing the audience of the problem, you must show specifics of your proposal. After providing specifics, you then must show justification for your solution to be enacted. 

         In proposal arguments, an effective way to present your issue is by using advocacy posters or advertisements. Visual proposals are very common and are seen frequently throughout our daily lives. You can see proposal arguments everywhere. if you look on light poles, or bulletin boards on campus, or even on television commercials, there you will see a proposal argument. There is an organization that is working on a project called Project Aware, and the posters that they have are very effective because they are simple, and at the same time, they are shocking. The first poster on the web page shows a picture of a dead fish with the words "waves of waste" around the fish, and surrounding the fish and words are countless empty water bottles with other dead fish floating around. The smaller text says: "Plastic waste is overtaking our oceans today. 90% of marine debris is made up of plastics.", and on the bottom it says: "Educate yourselves about dumping pollutants into ocean waters. Learn more at ProjectAware.org". This advocacy poster first grabs the audience's attention, educates them, and finally shows them where they can go to seek further information. I believe it is effective because it makes the audience believe that there is an issue, and then prompts the audience to take some form of action. This is an example of how one small poster can convey a serious issue and create a change at the same time.