Thursday, April 2 2009
January 10, 2009
Today’s Agenda
Last time we talked about the structure of our arguments, and we covered these topics:
Hertsgaard’s Thesis
Your Thesis
Your evidence, taken from your reading
The importance of telling the reader exactly how your evidence supports your argument
You homework was to e-mail me your revised draft, and you should have gotten that back from my by now. If you have not, see me after class. The final drafts of these documents will be due this Thursday.
This brings to the end of Unit Two.
Unit Three:
Today we are going to begin Unit Three – the final unit of this course and for this semester!
EH 124: RESEARCH ARGUMENT
This unit has several important goals, all of which will culminate in your creation of a compose a 4-6 page thesis-based argument on a topic of your choosing that incorporates 4-6 texts from a variety of sources.
Skills:
- Topic identification, development, and later revision
- Research methods (including skimming, note-taking and annotation)
- Discrimination amongst sources according to relevance and quality
- Incorporation and documentation of sources
I want to begin this unit by recapping the basic tools we have developed this semester to address rhetoric in writing. What are some of the major ideas we covered in Unit One? Unit Two?
In this unit, you will be choosing a topic for consideration. We are going to take the next five to ten minutes to come up with a subject that you think you know more about than anyone else in the room. We are NOT worried about PRO or CON arguments at this point. I simply want you to write about a subject that interests you and that you know something about.
Group Work
Class Discussion
What are some thesis statements we might come up with for an argument on this subject?
Where would we get information on these topics?
Writing: How do we argue in an academic environment?
Group Discussion
Class Discussion
You will need to have EVIDENCE from authored sources to back your argument up
Let’s look at chapter 16 (page 469)
Group work on the kinds of evidence that are acceptable in an academic argument.
Homework:
For Tuesday:
Finish the final draft of your argument on Hertsgaard. Submit via e-mail by the end of business.
For THURSDAY:
First, find and submit 15 sources for your paper in MLA format. The guidelines for doing this are on page 555 of your book. E-mail this to me.
Next,
2 page blog post that does the following. You have to 1) begin with a paragraph that introduces me to your subject and thesis, and then you must, in at least 5 separate well-developed paragraphs, introduce me 5 of the best of your 15 sources ( one source per paragraph). In each paragraph, you need to define the thesis for the source – the thesis should actually be quoted. Then, at the end, you need to write one paragraph on how you imagine that you will use these sources as you organize your argument. You must e-mail this to me and also bring a copy to class on Thursday.
[...] Thursday, April 2 [...]
Rachel Foster
Rhetoric & Comp. II
A Crowley
April 2, 2009
Cooking and Health
Cooking is a healthy alternative to going out to eat or popping something like a frozen dinner into the microwave. Cooking is a productive activity that everyone can take part in and can result is a less expensive and more nutritious lifestyle. Though cooking may require more time than a frozen dinner, it is well worth it in the end. And for those who view cooking as slaving away in the kitchen for hours upon end, that is rarely the case. More often than not a nutritious plentiful meal can be prepared in less than a half hour. The first step to improving your lifestyle by means of cooking is to learn how.
Many people have never actually cooked anything besides a bag of popcorn or a frozen dinner and are hesitant to try and start, especially if those types of meals are all they have known. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Total Nutrition Cooking by Larrian Gillespie is a great instructional book for those that want to start cooking. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Total Nutrition Cooking starts with the basics and keeps it simple. As Janet Helm from the Chigago Tribune says, “[the author] takes you by the hand to demystify today’s dietary guidelines and then inspires you to be a “nutritional cook” with quick and easy recipes.” This guide is a great first step to learning the basics about cooking and how to do so in a healthy manner.
Cooking shows seem to have introduced themselves into the television world faster than any other type of entertainment. In fact, there are channels dedicated only to cooking, such as the Food Network Channel. Not only is the Food Network on television, the network also has a magazine and website. On the website they have an area for “healthy cooking” and “[they’re] giving healthy updates to some of [our] favorite dishes, from salads to five-course meals.” Making it a habit to become more educated about cooking and nutrition is a great step to take towards improving one’s lifestyle through cooking.
Betty Crocker has been a name recognized in the cooking industry since the beginning, ironically enough though, ‘Betty Crocker” is a character that General Mills Company made up to personalize letters to their customers1. Soon enough her signature became a common symbol that people associated with cooking. General Mills even created a face to go with the name regardless of the fact that Mrs. Crocker was not a real person. Evidently it worked because to this day Betty Crocker cooking books are the most popular cooking books sold in America.
Following the “most common” or “most popular” methods to cooking is not always necessary though. Cooking and learning to cook is all one big experiment, but instead of being conducted in a lab, you can personalize your experiments and their results right in your own kitchen. Chatting with friends about recipes and cooking methods is another way to diversify your cooking and if you are up-to-date with technology, blogging these ideas and others on websites such as WordPress.com can be beneficial. Under alternative cooking entries, one blogger writes “The idea of cooking with the sun fascinates me,” as she refers to cooking with solar heat. I suggest visiting this site for more inspiring – and alternative – cooking methods.
If you don’t yet feel comfortable enough to go out on a limb when cooking, there are many traditional cooking books out there. In addition to Betty Crocker cooking books, there are ones for specific types of food. For example, Beth Hensperger has written an entire book just on bread recipes and techniques. She writes in the introduction to her book that “the process of baking your own bread is not only a scientific and experimental craft but a gastronomic experience that borders on the spiritual.” And that type of experience doesn’t just come from making bread, but can be found in virtually any kind of baking or cooking; after all it is your own, personalized experiment.
No one should feel intimidated when they think about cooking; feeling that way is the first, and possibly the only mistake you can make in regards to cooking. When cooking, there is no such thing as messing up because each “mistake” that a person makes while cooking, they learn from and understand the process better the next time. Cooking can also be educational in the fact that one can learn a lot about their health and nutrition through cooking. Knowing these things and understanding the process of cooking is something that has no negative consequences and is an activity that every person should try at least once!
1. http://www.answers.com/topic/betty-crocker
Emily Gala
4/8/09
Adam. Crowley
Argument: The Who
Everyone has their daily arguments that endure throughout the day. However, I have one specific argument I would like to introduce to you. This involves a band, not just any band, one the greatest band’s of all time. If you haven’t guessed yet: I am talking about no other than “The Who”. The Who has to be one of the most influential bands of all time. This rock band not only is the most influential, but also had the most impact on rock music.
If you are already stumped in what I have said, I mean that no one was quite like this phenomenal band. There inspiring, and quite unique. Not only do they have that uniqueness about them, they also have the talent to further them in being the most influential band of their time. “There’s a case to be made that they were (The Who) the most unsightly mob to emerge from the British invasion. The guitarist Pete Townshend was tall, thin as a rail, with a beak like an eagle- sullen Abe Lincoln in Union Jack wraps. The bassist, John Eintwistle, was a wooly bear, given to corpulence while still in his twenties. Keith Moon the drummer was a toddler-visaged anarchist, the kind of kid your parents discouraged from hanging around the yard. The singer, Roger Daltrey, had the mug, the posture and the demeanor of a budding thug.”
They were a truly “real” band. The Who was not fabricated in any way, they were in your face, and didn’t stop at anything. They did things at that time, which was never done before. “September 15, 1967 on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Who performed with quite a big ending by Keith Moon.” The Who truly had a “Rebel” image to their persona. They were loud and crude, and loved to break things on stage. They went through numerous of times spending hundreds of dollars on new equipment.
Behind The Who, was a great writer as well as musician. This was guitarist Pete Townshend. Pete wrote great songs that truly made the band one. Pete put together one of their greatest songs/albums of all time. “Tommy is a double album telling a loose story about a “deaf, dumb, and blind boy” who becomes the leader of a messianic movement; Tommy was the first musical to be billed overtly as a rock opera.” This was a new leap in the music industry. Others may have thought about it, however The Who made it happen.
“The Who reigned across the decades as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.” The four of them, as a whole, had this explosion of energy and anarchic wit. They were truly above their time. They made other bands out there; wish they could be as brilliant as these guys. As time went on, they evolved as well from mod to punk rock to rock opera. This band has been and done that. The Who will still remain the most influential band of all times.
Although they have grown, and pasted on they will continue to stride on. There music is still played today. People can still relate, and sing along to these rock classics. No one will forget what this band has done. The Who had something about them, which no one else had. “The Who may no longer have the voice of the generation but its echo, grown faint yet not all together lacking in glory.”
Jessica Munson
Rhetoric and Comp. II
A. Crowley
04-08-09
Understanding Anxiety
Everyone experiences stress sometime throughout their life, and along with stress comes anxiety. Anxiety is a normal response in times of stress. However, when anxiety becomes excessive dread of everyday experiences, then it has become a paralyzing disorder. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, there are five different major types of anxiety disorders; Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health show that this disease affects about forty million adults age eighteen and older. It is also the most common psychiatric illness that affects both children and adults. With the right treatment and support from friends and family, it is possible to overcome the disorder and live a normal, happy life.
Anxiety disorders impair a person’s life with fear, uncertainty, excessive worry and tension. They can develop from a wide variety of factors which include genetics, life events, brain chemistry, and personality. “These disorders run in families,” Dr. Charney, director of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the National Institute of Mental Health, explains. So if a parent has an anxiety disorder, the chance of their children having one of these conditions is higher. That may be due to the genes they’ve inherited, but Dr. Charney points out, “The environment that a child is brought up in may be important, too. Ultimately, it’s probably an interaction between genetic predisposition and environment.” If a child is brought up in a broken and unstable home then that child is more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder compared to a child that is brought up in a stable and nurturing home.
Along with fear and uncertainty, anxiety has many physical as well as psychological symptoms. A person suffering from anxiety may experience muscle tension, aches, soreness, stomach problems, nausea, and diarrhea. They can also expect jumpiness, unsteadiness, edginess and restlessness. Falling asleep and staying asleep may become an issue. Since anxiety is a constant thing, people may tire more easily than they normally would. Psychological side effects include irritability, feelings of dread, inability to control anxious thoughts, inability to relax, difficulty concentrating, fear of losing control, and fear of being rejected. “People vary greatly in their proneness to experience anxiety. Some experience anxiety symptoms with minimal provocation, whereas others become anxious only under the most stressful circumstances,” Taylor (9). All of these symptoms depend on the intensity of the disorder and the situation.
With the proper treatment, many people can lead normal, fulfilling lives. Treatment depends on the type of anxiety disorder, the symptoms, and the patient’s preference. Medications that are prescribed to treat anxiety disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. “The medications keep the illness at a stable level while the person receives psychotherapy,” declares the National Institute of Mental Health.
Most commonly, children with these diseases experience fear about situations in the future, perfectionism, excessive self-criticism, fear of making mistakes, and feelings of blame for any disaster that takes place. Noted by the National Mental Health Information Center, treatment for children and adolescents includes cognitive-behavioral treatment, relaxation techniques, family therapy, parent training, and medication. “Although the diagnosis may change over time, children with anxiety disorders tend to retain an anxiety syndrome or mood disorder, often developing new anxiety disorders,” concluded Michelle Craske (42). Children dealing with anxiety need constant reassurance from their peers and guardians about things such as self image.
Anxiety Management includes using techniques such as taking slow, deep breaths, relaxation, positive thinking, and thought control. Relaxation therapies assist with relieving muscle tension, improving a person’s mood, and reducing anxiety. Psychotherapy includes talking with a trained mental health professional to discover what caused the disorder and how to deal with its symptoms. According to James Gardner and Arthur Bell, “the intent of psychotherapy is to help the patient discover the solution for themselves” (200).
Anyone that is suffering from this disorder should take it upon themselves to educate themselves about the disease that is interfering with their ever day lives. Anxiety disorders are a common disease, and with the right treatment it is possible to overcome it but if it is ignored and left untreated then it will just progress and get worse. My objective is to provide my reader with useful information that they will hopefully find to useful knowledge to have. One reason I chose this particular topic is because I have loved ones that have some form of anxiety and I know what it is like to be around that and have to deal with it on a daily basis. It is important to fully understand the disorder in order to relate to those who have it.
Bethany Nadeau
Rhetoric & Comp. II
A. Crowley
8 April 2008
Electric Drum Kits
Electric drums are a fairly new invention of our time that many drummers have not yet grown accustomed to using. As in any advance in technology, not every change is readily accepted. Though acoustic drums have a certain presence that cannot be outdone by a computer, electric kits have many positive qualities that make them very suitable for certain atmospheres. They are quite versatile and have many features that acoustic sets just do not have. When it comes to playing in front of a small or informal crowd, electric drum kits are certainly the way to go.
There are several online articles about the benefits of owning an electric drum set. One such article, written by Davis Douglass, states that, “As [electric drum] technology improves, there have been an increasing number of sets available in all price ranges and benefits,” (Douglass 1). This article focuses more specifically on the benefits of sounds and volume when it comes to playing an electric set. When it comes to sounds, the possibilities are endless. In reference to sound, the pads are virtually silent without an amp being present, making it less of a disturbance to others when practicing.
Another article, written by Rob Berry, discusses the benefits of having the electric programming of an electronic drum kit. He touches on other advantage as well, making comparisons between the electric and acoustic set. “Electric sets are different in many ways (from acoustic sets) which are better and worse,” (Berry 1). In his article, he also touches on a few setbacks produced by electric sets. Cost has always been an issue. While a decent acoustic set can be purchased for about seven hundred dollars, a decent electric set will be in the thousands.
A piece written by Thaddeus Johnson delves into the aspect of sound. Can electric drums really sound like an acoustic set? Johnson answers this question throughout his piece stating, “The setup of the [electric] set resembles that of an acoustic drum kit and with some attachments of cords, it will sound like you are playing an acoustic set,” (Johnson 1). He goes on to explain how the “brain” of the electric set is programmed with actual acoustic drum samples. Each module contains specific information for the set, producing acoustic-like sounds when each pad is triggered. These sounds can be altered to almost anything by the user’s bidding.
Another author named Tom Kelly touches on the aspects of noise levels and space. He states, “Besides the helpful noise reduction during practice, [electric drums] also take up much less space than a traditional drum set does,” (Kelly 1). Kelly argues that electric drums are highly beneficial when it comes to lowering the noise level so that neighbors, or even family members, will not be disturbed by practicing. Unlike an acoustic set, an electric set can be played using headphones, eliminating virtually all sound except for the subtle tapping of the rubber pads. He also explains how little space electronic drums take up compared to an acoustic set.
Finally, the author James Steele addresses several advantages of owning an electric drum kit, including their efficacy in a small “gig” setting. “In many ways [electric drums] can be much better and add more variety to your drum sessions then your old style acoustic drum can,” (Steele 1). He also explains how they can be most useful in recording sessions since they do not require drum microphones. They can be recorded simply from the sound board rather than from a variety of microphones. This means less equipment being used, less sound mixing, less expensive. You can even record rhythms directly to your own computer.
All of this information can easily be inserted in my paper discussing the advantages of using an electric drum set for small performances. The various benefits such as sound variations, programming, volume, space and versatility all play a major role in making electric drums superior to the customary acoustic set in such settings. My piece may start out with the simpler argument that electric sets are much more compact and thus easier to transport. I would then move into less obvious benefits such as the sound programming and the strains on the music system as a whole. Each one of these sources can easily produce a great amount of helpful information to support my thesis.
Bethany Beaulieu
A. Crowley
Rhetoric & Composition
April 8th 2009
Healthy Teeth
A smile can lead to a first impression. It has the capabilities to determine what kind of person you are. There are a variety of ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Healthy, clean, and strong teeth are not only viewed as a positive necessity in our society, but also they are important for our overall health. “Your teeth vary in shape and size depending on their position within your mouth. These differences allow the teeth to do many different jobs. Teeth help us to chew and digest food. They help us to talk, and to pronounce different sounds clearly. Finally, teeth help to give our face its shape” (www.BritishDentalFoundation.org)
The teeth in your mouth are important in doing different jobs. The different types of teeth are in the mouth are called incisors, canine, premolars, and molars. Each have specific traits to enhance eating different kinds of food. “The Incisors are the teeth in the very front. They’re the sharpest teeth, built to cut food and shaped to shovel the food inward. The Canine teeth are in the corners of your mouth. Because they’re meant for grasping and tearing food, they have very long roots. Premolars are located just behind your Canine teeth. Premolars have a more flat chewing surface because they’re meant for crushing food. The Molars are the last teeth towards the back of your mouth. Molars are much bigger than the Premolars and have bigger, flatter chewing surfaces because their job is to chew and grind the food into smaller pieces”(www.healthyteeth.org). It is important to keep them strong in order to continue to eat food.
The outside or covering of the teeth is called enamel, which is extremely hard because it is composed of a lot of calcium and durable mineral salts. The enamel however, can be broken down. It can be caused by what we eat, how well we take care of our teeth, how often we visit our dentist and whether fluoride is present in our water and toothpaste. Tooth decay are also called cavities. It is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria and sugars that constantly covers teeth. The acids from the plaque eat away at the enamel. “Cavities are most likely to develop in pits on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, in between teeth, and near the gum line. Cavities are very serious. Left untreated, a cavity can destroy your tooth and kill the delicate nerves at its center, which may result in an abscess, an area of infection at the root tip. Once an abscess forms, it can only be treated with a root canal, surgery or by extracting the tooth.”(www.colgate.com)
“Brushing is the most effective way of removing plaque.” (www.bupo.co.uk.) It is important to brush our teeth at least twice a day. “Fluoride combats tooth decay in two ways. It is incorporated into the structure of developing teeth when it is ingested and also works when it comes in contact with the surface of the teeth. Fluoride prevents the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving, or demineralizing, tooth enamel, the hard and shiny substance that protects the teeth. Fluoride also allows teeth damaged by acid to repair, or remineralize, themselves. Fluoride cannot repair cavities, but it can reverse low levels of tooth decay and thus prevent new cavities from forming” (www.kidshealth.org).
Teeth are important. A healthy smile can help with ones confidence. It is easy to maintain a healthy mouth. Brushing your teeth, flossing, and using fluoride are all important factors. “ In addition to brushing and flossing, a healthful diet protects teeth from decay and keeps the gums healthy” (www.world.dental.org). Healthy, clean, and strong teeth are not only viewed as a positive necessity in our society, but also they are important for our overall health.
I plan to use my sources to help back up what I want readers to understand. I want readers to understand that it is important to take care of their teeth because it is such an important part of every day life. I believe we need our teeth to be strong and healthy. I want to create an argument with logos-based evidence. The majority of my sources are from dental associations. These reliable sources will help give a positive impact influencing readers to agree or form their own opinion with my thesis.
Kevin Adams
April 6, 2009
Professor Crowley
Green Technologies
My subject of choice will be on the topic of green technologies and the environmental impacts and benefits. The green technologies I will be talking about and discussing have to do with renewable energy for the most part. Some of the sub topics I will engage in are alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. I will also discuss environmental issues that occur with each alternative energy source. Along with those sub categories, I will talk about the short-term and long-term benefits of “going green” as well other techniques, products, procedures and so on are switching to environmentally friendly way of doing things. My thesis is as follows; pursuing green technologies will have major environmental improvements while ensuring a sustainable future.
The first few sources that I will use will begin to develop my topic and give a solid base of knowledge about the green world. My first source I will accompany to will be the online source from Home Power, describing “all the basic concepts needed to know about renewable energy such as solar, wind, and hydro.” I will briefly touch on each of these before I use my second source to flow into the next section of my paper.
My second source combines with a few other sources, but I will use the Greencommunitiesonline.org to describe some of the facts and benefits of “going green” and making the switch to green energy use. I will also use a couple other sources mentioning the environmental benefits and impacts from converting to green power and living. Along with some quick facts about climate change and Greenhouse Gas emissions, this paragraph or so will describe the benefits.
The next few ideas I will talk about will be about the concepts revolving around “going green” and what needs to happen in order to get our planet on the right track towards sustainability. I will talk about the article in Home Power written by Justine Sanchez to give an example about residential applications of solar power systems. I may describe Penney and Brown’s article in Solar Today to offer an example of how electric transportation has the capability of sweeping the nation and even the planet. By using these examples I will offer examples of what is being done to solve our worldwide energy crisis and dependence on oil and coal which produce Greenhouse Gases. This will obviously tie back into my thesis statement of how green technologies will have significant environmental benefits.
The second part of my thesis is about sustainability which one source I have is very interesting. A book I found about how the planet can become sustainable through green technologies, conservation, and even economically. One particular section that Jeffrey Hollender writes is called “Changing the Nature of Commerce” and this selection is about the economical aspect of renewable resources. The author describes the economic benefits through switching our energy consumption to renewable energy sources. This selection backs up my statement for the future of our world and the sustainability by taking up green technologies.
The order of information in my paper will be crucial I believe, and that is why I need to get the basic knowledge about renewable energy sources and other green ways of living. This will give the reader something to think about as to what is available on the market and how they can change the way they live for the best, not to mention healthier. After I get all the basics about my topic out of the way, I will begin to talk about the benefits of “going green” which will include environmental, economical, and sustainability. I will use examples as I stated like solutions for transportation, housing, and even green living. With everything I talk about, I will tie my thesis into the end so the reader is constantly retrieving the message I am trying to portray.
Tyla Crocker
The French Are Pleasant To Americans
Crowley
April 8, 2009
“The French Are Pleasant To Americans”
Many people believe that the French dislike Americans and are rude to them. When one hears about someone going to France, people tend to make a comment such as, “Watch out, the French are awful rude and mean,” but this is a usually a myth. Most of the French like American tourists and treat them very well. I know this because I visited France for nine days my senior year of high school and throughout my journey there I never once encountered a mean Frenchman or Frenchwoman. Instead, the French were very helpful and most spoke language themselves. One cause to the myths of the French hating Americans could be that maybe they once did, but as time went on they became more hospitable.
In an online posting on the site “Helium,” the post was about whether or not the French were hospitable to Americans? Cheryl Antier, an author to the post believes that the French are very hospitable and enjoy Americans. She said, “France is a country where hospitality, and a genuine concern for one’s guests and making sure they’re comfortable, has become almost an art form – and this includes their hospitality towards American tourists” (1). Antier explains that the French do not want to be seen as disrespectful and want to show pride in their country. One of the many reasons I believe that the French are hospitable towards Americans is this: History in France goes back thousands of years, so an event that happened 50 to a hundred years ago seem
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like yesterday – which includes World War II…” (1). By showing this pride for their history, they are nice to Americans and other tourists because they want to share their history. The French are nice and really do treat Americans tourists well.
Bob Jamieson from ABC news did an article on the French being kind to Americans, he believes that the French try and polite and generous to Americans because they are trying to woo them. Jamieson explains why the French are trying to woo Americans, he says “…it is at the heart of a wide-ranging campaign by French officials to win back American tourists and their dollars so important to France’s economy…Recent posters on display in Paris depict Mona Lisa, one of the Louvre’s most famous possessions, with a small alteration: her mysterious smile is underlined by another, much like the “”smiley face”” ubiquitous in America” (1). Jamieson’s view is similar to Antier’s view in that the French want to display their history, but Jamieson shows that the main reason the French are so kind is because they want the American tourism to help their economy.
In a study done by Lloyd de Vries that was published by CBS news, Lloyd also found that the French are very generous and enjoy Americans. Over his study, he discovered characteristics as to why the French actually like American tourists, he said, “They like that American tourists have a sense of humor, a ‘”good attitude,”’ and that we love to eat French food. The thing they dislike most about American tourists is not our ‘”arrogance”’ (29 percent), not our language (21 percent), but our opposition to smoking (50 percent). This is from a people who go directly from the teething ring to the cigarette” (1). Most of the French do like Americans and that they don’t mind our language. Many believed that the French were mainly
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disrespectful to the American tourists because they couldn’t speak French, but as Vries found, that isn’t true. In my visit to France, many, if not all of the French people that I met, actually spoke a lot of English and didn’t mind speaking it. This illustrates how the French actually try to be helpful to American tourists.
One of the reasons the French are polite and courteous is because they remember how the United States was on their side in World War II. It wasn’t until I visited France that I saw the Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy, France. Not only was the cemetery peaceful and beautiful, but it is well maintained. The cemetery is quite large, 172.5 acres and shows that the French are fond of Americans. CBS news did a story featuring a seventy-five year old French woman named Bernadette Mouchel. She explained that she likes Americans and respects them, mostly due because Americans had helped get rid of Nazis where she lived. She appreciates Americans and “those boys who died” (1). Mouchel is one of the many French who don’t despise Americans and is actually thankful for them.
The French and American tourists do have a good relationship and it is just a misconception that they don’t. An unknown person, wrote on the Metblog site as to why the French are misconstrued as rude. They believe it is because the French don’t always smile, but it isn’t that they don’t like American tourists, it is just that that isn’t the French’s culture to always smile. They author says, “French don’t smile as often or readily as Americans, this does not mean that they are unfriendly, this is a cultural difference. If you smile and it’s not for a specific reason you don’t look serious… A French person will not smile at you unless they find you humorous or are flirting with you. Similarly, if you smile for no apparent reason, you may be
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perceived as insincere, naive, patronizing, or foolish” (1). The French are perceived to be mean but the reality is that they enjoy American tourists, it just isn’t their culture to always smile.
In my argument I will use my sources to prove my claim that the French are polite and do like American tourists. By using a quote from each of my sources in everyone of my paragraphs, I will be supporting by claim by using evidentiary support. Evidentiary support is needed because readers will not agree with my argument if I just explain to them my own thoughts, I must explain others thoughts on the matter as well. I will also bring a view that disagrees with my argument, so people don’t get upset by my argument and feel like I am telling them that what I think is the only way and only view. By using my sources I will be able to make a strong argument.
Matthew Nash
Rhetoric & Comp II
A. Crowley
April 8th, 2009
The game of basketball was invented in the United States and as far as its history goes, it has always been an American driven sport. Basketball’s finesse and strength are perfectly balanced throughout and the use of both is necessary to become great. Its popularity has spread throughout the world, where now America isn’t its most popular country. At first this was fine and didn’t create any problems, as long as the popularity stayed the same in the USA and its popularity worldwide continued to increase, but for several years it began to decline. It was a make or break time for the NBA and its superstars and teams responded with totally changing how the game was played. The San Antonio Spurs started it early in the 21st century, and then came the Detroit pistons, and lastly the Celtics of the 2007-2008 season. The focus of teamwork and defense in the NBA has saved it from becoming the cellar sport of the 4 major American sports; football, baseball, hockey, and basketball.
Defense was never something that was consistently played in the NBA. Player would take plays off or save their energy for the offensive side of the ball. This was until a team in the early 21st century completely changed the way that NBA executives thought. The San Antonio Spurs, being lead by head coach Gregg Poppovich, created a style of play has changed the culture of the NBA. L. Jon Wertheim wrote an article in Sports Illustrated in which he described the reasons for success for the spurs. He states, “The Spurs’ way of course, has an X’s-and-O’s component. It relies heavily on defense and spacing and opportunities created by power forward Duncan and top-shelf point guard Tony Parker.” (Wertheim) This system has made them the winningest NBA team in the 21st century and they have been the base of many other NBA teams who strive to build a system just like theirs.
The rebirth of team basketball and a focus on the defensive end was really noticed when the Detroit Pistons, who had no superstars on their roster, beat the Los Angeles Lakers, who were going for their fourth straight World Championship and encompassed a team of four future hall of famers. In his article Chris Broussard states, “The National Basketball Association has new kings, and for the first time in 25 years, there is not a superstar among them. The Detroit Pistons, the essence of teamwork, the essence of grit, manhandled the built-to-win, built-to-gloat Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on Tuesday night, winning, 100-87.”(Broussard) This win shocked the world and was the start to a new NBA. Teams could no longer try and just outscore you to win a championship; it required a balance of teamwork and defense, which were both a staple of the league in its most popular days.
During the 2007-2008 the Atlanta Hawks were a team full of youthful prospects with no veteran leadership. Without proper leadership in the NBA it usually leads to unfulfilled potential of players. Whether it’s their own personal skills or the amount of wins a team can get. In their case it was both. However a midseason trade transformed them completely. In February of 2008 the Atlanta Hawks trade for point guard Mike Bibby, which was a much needed asset on their team. Even more needed than a point guard was a team leader for the young Hawk’s team. In an article written in January of 2009, Chris Mannix states, “And he has been a steadying influence in the locker room. ‘It’s about getting everyone focused on winning,’ says Bibby.”(Mannix) Many younger players come into the league with intentions of getting their own scoring, but with the help of Mike Bibby the Atlanta Hawks now have a team that can compete with any team in the league.
Team players coming out of the NBA draft are hard to come by. It usually takes a few years for a player to develop into their skills and use them successfully to help their teammates. This however was not the case for young superstar Brandon Roy. His team first attitude has not only changed the style of the Portland Trailblazers but has also helped the franchise, who had always struggled with poor decision makers on and off the court. In an article by Ian Thomsen, he states, “Few younger stars have had a more profound effect on their franchises than Roy. At week’s end Portland was drawing an average of 20,543 fans at home… That’s a huge turnaround from 2005-2006, where the team brought in 15,049 fans per game.” (Thomsen) The emergence of team basketball has begun to save an NBA corporation where sales were beginning to take a drop. By changing the way the players and teams played the game, it changed the entire face of the NBA and has begun to either create or bring back several more fans.
Some people argue that one player can bring a team to greatness. This however is not true. Although one player can take a team from below average to good, one player cannot bring a team to greatness by their self. This year there has been an ongoing battle for being the best player in the NBA between Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade. Although their skill levels are all very close, the reason that many experts see Bryant and James above Wade is due to their team’s success. In an article written by Phil Taylor, he writes about the emergence of Dwayne Wade but does not use the teams winning percentage to help compare them, which is necessary is choosing the best basketball player. He states, “Sure, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have their teams atop the standings, but what Dwayne Wade has done is no less impressive: single-handedly lift the Heat into playoff contention.” (Taylor) Although it is impressive what Dwayne Wade has done throughout the season, the reason that he is putting up the number that he is, is due to him going for his own stats, and then going for team wins. This is where Bryant and James excel because they get very impressive stats, while still driving their teams to excellence.
Each of my sources are very valuable in writing my argument. I have included sources about the two teams that introduced team first and defensive basketball to the new era of the NBA. These will help me show the importance of these concepts and help me create a better argument because I can prove that the systems work. Then I will use the article on the necessity of a focus on winning. This has now become a staple of the NBA and is necessary. Also I will use the article on Brandon Roy to show how this new type of basketball has, and will again, save franchises and the NBA. Finally I will use the article on Dwayne Wade to show how teamwork is much more needed, then personal stats.
[...] Thursday, April 2 [...]