Chapter 18

This chapter departs from the typical themes in this book. Rather than addressing sources or formatting we read about the design of our paper. The colors chosen for fonts and borders as well as the ability to add in charts and graphs can shift the reader towards your opinion. The first impression does not only apply to people but to your paper as well. The main pionts of design are detailed in the book. They include:
1. Balance- Distributing things evenly whither it is a paragraph or a flowchart gives your paper a nice symmetry.
2. Emphasis- Placing titles sand headlines in the ideal spot to catch the readers attention. Choosing distinct and bold colors and help catch their eye.
3. Placement- Keeping relevant elements close to each other makes it clear that they are related.
4. Repetition- Using elements such as titles, navigation menus not to mention numbering the pages gives your paper consistency.
5. Consistency- Use the same colors and fonts sizes for the same elements. All title's must be green or the main text is all the same font. These choices keep the paper looking organized and tidy. Similar colors and fonts keep the eyes flowing across the page.

Chapter 15

The chapter opens with a few introductory lines regarding hoe to adapt information from your sources into evidence for your paper. The book lists three ways for this to occur. Those methods can include:

1. A quote or summery of the information, which may need to be paraphrased to fit in with the paragraph.
2. Used as a statistic to reinforce a previous point.
3. An illustration or an audio clip can help to demonstrate a point.

The book goes on to demonstrate that for every type of point you try to make there is a format to suit the evidence. How you phrase your rebuttals is just as influential o the reader. If your opinion is written to strongly or too boldly then the reader will be able to sense your bias. Disagreeing with an opponent is expected as is civility.

The first method I listed can be used to introduce a point to the reader, a "hook" is another term used to describe it. It is used to pull the reader into your argument and convince them lean towards your point of view. A technique related to this subject is to contrast idea and evidence in order to demonstrate the strength of your point. Identifying scientists or respected authorities that agree with your point can lend credibility.

Always remember to identify your sources and never over quote. The reader wants to know your opinion on the topic not someone else's. Use quotes and statistics to refine and strengthen your point not make it for you.

Turing Annotations Into Literature Reviews- In Class Lab

 

“The actual risk of the violence today is that it will undermine democracy tomorrow.” This quote by S. O’Neil summarizes the overall effect the Mexican drug cartel is having on American Society. The history of Mexico is tied to three main categories including, drug trafficking, immigration, and law enforcement.

There have been many conversations on the topic of the drug cartel. An example includes “Bishops Urge new strategy in war against drug cartel “published by America: The National Catholic Weekly. This article argues for the rebuilding of Mexico in an emotionally powerful way by asking the Mexican Government “to treat the violence as a public health issue….” On a related note, William Booth’s article "More Nonmilitary Aid Sought for Drug War: Clinton Visits Mexico to Review Approach to Fighting Cartels." Published in The Washington Post in 2010,.outlines a meeting between U.S. Cabinet members and Mexican officials to discuss the Merida Initiative, a $1.4 Billion program against drug trafficking. They discussed non-militarized ways to help and investments designed to strengthen communities and dissuade young people from enlisting in Cartels. Another example comes rom Alfredo Corchado’s article “A fighting Chance” He shares the gruesome statistic  that there have been more deaths in the drug war along the Mexican border than there have been United States casualties in the Iraq war. Because of these issues, immigration rates have been rising.

Proof of rising immigration rates can be found in several sources including the Stafford Law Review where Alan D Bersin published “El Tercer Pais: Reinventing the U.S./Mexico Border.” Bersin articulates how Operation Gate Keeper into effect in the 90’s, and notes the border patrol had nearly doubled 1994.  He further indicates that INS inspectors have increased to in cooperation with U.S. Customs. In a similar source, Ted Brader,  Nicholas A.Valentino, and Elizabeth Suhay’s article “Anxiety, Group Cues, and Immigration Threat” Which appeared in The American Journal of Political Science looks at how the language of the power elite shapes mass opinion and response to immigration policy. They confirm the suspicion that public reaction to immigration costs depends largely upon the identity of the immigrants.

Reading Proposal

The nature of humanity has many complicated traits, the choice of honesty or it’s opposite is one of them. The issue is not simple but it revolves around the many difficult situations that require the choice to lie or tell the truth. The data that needs to be gathered involves honesty, more specifically; on it’s importance over dishonesty. Dishonesty carries a damage to all relationships that is hard to overcome and carries a heavy price. Hopefully sources can be found that will help navigate the maze of honesty. After all the word itself may have a definition written in black and white but implementing it in day-to-day life is tricky. The limited research already completed includes a foray into several scientific journals. An attempt has also been made to research first person accounts for perspective. This is complicated because legitimate scientific circles verify so few of these. Considerably more research needs to be done over the next two weeks. A bibliography will need to include these sources, especially the ones that are quoted in the paper. The writing process is straight foreword. The arguments are written as evidence is found to support them, occasionally they need to be rewritten if the arguments are flawed.

Chapter 16

The chapters leading up to this have detailed the more analytical side of writing. Now the chapter delves into what the author calls, "writing with style". Even before they explain the process they warn you yet again to pay attention to the conversation you are entering. In other words, you are writing for the reader. You have to tailor you arguments and occasionally soften your words. If they run away screaming then your cleverly drafted point about big business and climate change is not going to get across. Another issue to remember is the reading level off your target audience. A scientific analysis of the evolutionary process of the Tyrannosaurus Rex will put your 3rd grade science class to sleep. If your finished product is hard to understand and full of word that belong only in a thesaurus then they are more then likely to put it down. I have done so on more then one occasion to reach for the latest novel about the end of the world as we know it. Brevity is recommend but without excluding necessary details and evidence. It won't matter if your paper is short and sweet if if leaves out important sources. Alternating "Active" and "Passive"voices is a wise decision. It changes the tone of the paper and keeps it interesting. Active specifies the person, thing, or event that completes the action. Passive involves a simpler approach with less detail, without explaining to the reader who or what sank the metaphorical boat. You are also advised to stay with your original stance on the issue you are writing about. The formality of the words can have a great effect, tailor your phrasing to your reader based on age, gender and lifestyle. That ties in you the prevailing theme, write for the reader.  Segueing smoothly from one paragraph to the next, or even form one point to another, has a great effect on the piece. Because of this never underestimate the power of a well written transition.

Chapter 12

After the thesis statement is written, no matter what style of writing you are attempting, it is critical to support the statement. A thesis without evidence is worthless as a position statement. The thesis statement usually holds several reasons to support your stance on the issue. These reasons are the basis of all the supporting paragraph in the paper. At least that is how I structure my papers. Each reason placed in my thesis statements has their own specific paragraph to detail their supporting evidence. The book describes the different types of evidence needed.

1. Reflective Documents (blogs/academic essays)- expect focus on a specific subject.
2. Informative Documents (reports, essays and articles)- Expect help in understanding an issue.
3. Analytical Documents (newspaper articles)- Expect a straightforward and logical presentation of the information.
4. Evaluative Documents (movie/media reviews and progress reports)- Expect a reasonable judgment based an a set of pre-selected criteria.
5. Argumentative Documents (argumentative essays, opinion columns, and blogs)- Expect a set of reasons for accepting your argument.

After evidence is selected to fit the situations listed above the choice must be made on how to appeal to the specific type of reader that the paper will be aimed at. You can appeal to authority, to a set of values, or to a character. Logic is also a trait to be considered when writing.

A recommendation is made in the final paragraphs to question and analyze your work to make sure their are no faults in your judgement.

Chapter 11

The premise of this chapters opening statement is that a position statement has already been formed. A position statement is the initial response to your research question after the first phase of information gathering. The use of the position statement to sift through possible sources and steer the search in a more roused direction is clear. The purpose of the position statement now seems to involve the thesis statement. According the the book the position statement an be used to review the meaning that you are trying to convey through your thesis. Reviewing the position statement is recommend because it can hold the position that you held on your chosen issue when it was written. Your stance on the issue may have changed while reviewing sources so a glance at your notes is seen as a wise course. There is a call to take a look at how your purpose may have changed. An particularly influential source or piece of information may have changed your stance on the issue you choose. The reader still remains relevant, and the book asks you to keep their opinions in mind as you continue. Several pages follow which describe how to draft a thesis statement.

There is a need expressed to find the most relevant information/sources that are linked to your issue. After this done a free write to help draft a thesis can help to isolate important phrases and key words. After one sentence is written keep writing. Having more then one draft available can help, phrasing a sentence now way as apposed to another can help shape a paragraph.