February Mid-Winter Recess Assignemnt

Task: Complete Reading your Independent Study and list something controversial about your novel and why it is controversial. Then complete your writing logs.

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My partner and I chose to read Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. A controversial topic would be the title itself, Catch-22:

Catch-22 is the title of the book and a controversial topic. To define what catch-22 is, it is a no-win situation for one person and a complete win for another. As it pertains to the book, Yossarin, the protagonist, is stuck in catch-22. He is a bombardier for the Americans in World War II and does not want to fly anymore. Now there is a rule, which states that you must fly a certain amount of missions before you are released from the service. However, Yossarin’s colonel keeps raising the required number of missions needed in order for an officer to be released from the service. The only other way to stay out of the sky is to be declared “crazy.” Unfortunately for the officer, this is where catch-22 comes into play. If you admit to being crazy, and are proven so, then you are not allowed to fly in the sky. However if you are able to admit to being crazy, then the government (the colonel) states you had to have some reasonable thought to come to this realization, which proves that you are not crazy at all. This is catch-22 and it keeps all the men in the sky.

Now catch-22 is extremely controversial. While the officers and the public might find catch-22 extremely unfair and unreasonable, the government and higher officials see no problem with catch-22. The officer’s argument against catch-22 would probably be something along the lines of “catch-22 is in favor of the government.” The government’s argument would probably be, “rules are rules.” The unfortunate part about this, and why catch-22 is controversial, is that you cannot prove any side wrong as they both have valid arguments.

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My reading logs are available here.

2/13/09 - Classwork

Aim: What do you think are the essential elements of the art of persuasion?
Do Now: Complete the following sentence:
File Sharing is a controversial topic and I am in favor of it because it encourages the sharing of information. The only way we can grow is if we share knowledge and information. We come to school where teachers share their information with us, and yet that is not a crime? In fact it is illegal to not come to school. Why then is it illegal to share information through the internet?

Task for Group 1 - Group 1: This activity can be used to teach the beginning stages of argument to high school or college level English composition classes. Students use their writing skills to describe how their group's Product is a better buy than another group's Product, while the other group describes how its Product A is a better buy than Product B. Students use examples of price, advertising appeal, ease of consumption, appearance, dangers, nutrition facts, feel, smell, and taste to support their topic. Students will also identify the objective and the subjective of their Products.
Tell the students that they need to imagine that there are only two different brands of these Products in the world -- the ones being discussed. Tell them that their Product is the best value, and it is their job to come up with as many "logical" reasons why their Product is the best value. Tell them not to consider that the other group is working on doing the same project for another brand. Rather, have them just focus on the question, "Why is my Product the best value?" Encourage them to work together to make a list of the top 10 points for why their Product is the best. The Two groups will highlight three best reasons for why their Product is the best by crossing out the other seven reasons. Then each group will compare and contrast their list.
Write one to two paragraphs reflecting on how you could have made a better argument, and why you think you did a better job than the other team using the vocabulary terms subjective and objective.

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Our Debate: Macs Vs. PCs
Who we are defending: Macs
Top Ten Reasons why a Mac is better than a PC

1. Based off of Unix, an open-source system that had been tested over many years to absolute perfection.
2. The movie industry utilizes Apple machines, as they are the most efficient when it comes to editing media.
3. They have the best and most efficient design. (In other words, they have a sleek design)
4. Apple hardware incorporates hardware and software precautions in order to prevent data loss and hardware failure.
5. The Mac OS X operating system is not prone to any and all windows viruses.
6. The hardware was designed to work with the Mac OS X operating system. This increases efficiency and overall operation of the machine.
7. When you purchase a PC, most of the time there are a lot of software installed that you do not need/will not use as they are trials. When you purchase a Mac, you get iLife, which is the full version of software that you will actually use.
8. Apple was the first company to include webcams in their laptops.*****
9. With the newer intel based Macs, you can run both Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X. With PCs, you can only run Windows and other Open Source operating systems.
10. At the Apple Store, the technicians behind the Genius bar are certified by Apple to fix your machine. They know what they are doing with the machine and can properly fix it. With a PC, there are so many computer repair shops and so many different types of PCs, you never know if the technician is certified and whether he knows what he is doing.

Our Final Three Reasons why Macs are better than PCs

• Based off of Unix, an open-source system that had been tested over many years to absolute perfection.
• The Mac OS X operating system is not prone to any and all windows viruses.
• With the newer intel based Macs, you can run both Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X. With PCs, you can only run Windows and other Open Source operating systems legally and at full potential.

Opposing Debate Team:
Argument one was subjective
Argument two was subjective and false
Argument three was subjective

In the end, I feel as though our group’s argument could have been much stronger if we had official documents to fall back on. Although it is true that the Mac OS X operating system is based off of Unix, if we could have had some documentation that stated this, we would have a clear objective statement that has no counter argument. In addition to this, if we had documents stating how well Unix is as an operating system, we would have had the upper hand. Other than this, however, I feel as though our group’s argument was quite strong. Our three reasons as to why Apple computers were a better than PCs were all objective statements. Sure we added some subjective words in there, but that is to be expected.

As for why we did a better job than Kowsar’s team, I felt that all of his reasons as to why PCs were better were subjective. If you want to make a strong argument for or against something, you need to start your argument with straight facts. In addition to this, his team’s second reason as to why PCs were better was false. If you want to have a strong argument, you cannot have any false statements.

2/11/09 - Classwork

Aim: What do you think are the essential elements of the art of persuasion?
Do Now: Complete the following sentence: I once used ________ statement/evidence to convince someone from making a [good] decision.

I once used a subjective statement to convince someone from making a [good] decision.

Task for Group 2: Students will review local newspaper and highlight the objective and subjective. Decide if the article is bias, then write a complaint (1-2 paragraphs) to the newspaper’s editor-in-chief discussing their use of prejudice in the article. After you have completed the complaint, exchange your paper with your peers and proof read using Proof Reader’s Marks Sheet, and give the reader a score using Essay Rubric.

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Title of Article – Car-Drag Horror Along 3 Highways
To whom it may concern,

After reading this article in Thursday’s edition of your paper, I feel that Joe Mollica, John Doyle and Adam Nichols are completely bias towards the victim. I will admit that he/she was in a bad situation, but it wasn’t Manuel Lituma’s fault completely. As you state in the article, “The bizarre tragedy began just after 6 A.M. when the victim was stuck by an SUV as he dashed across 108th Street and 51st Avenue.” Therefore, clearly, the driv er is not at fault. If the pedestrian had not ran across the street, then he would not have been “horribly killed in a gruesome accident.”

I am appalled at the fact that you make the victim seem so innocent with your gruesome, objective statements. How can you say it was a gruesome accident if the victim did not have the chance to speak. It might have been a perfect ride, but it was the head trauma that killed him. I am also angered by the fact that you state other pedestrians, pointing out the man under the car, as being horrified. You do not have the right to state this as you do not have any quotes from such pedestrians. I hope you fix these issues in later editions.

-Stanley Switalski

2/10/09 - Classwork

Task: Have students write advertisements for their favorite food. Instruct them to first write an advertisement based solely on facts. Next have them develop an advertisement to persuade others to buy the food. Discuss the difference in word choice, appearance, etc. of both advertisements. You must identify the objective as well as subjective words.

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Pizza

Objective Facts

• Tomato Sauce
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Hot food
• You can have any type of topping
• Crispy
• Different Styles
• Italian
• Different sizes

Subjective Statements

• Tastes good
• Smells incredible

For our advertisement, objective statements are bold and italicized. Subjective statements are underlined.

At Mama Mia Pizza, we have all the toppings that there are, from extra cheese to anchovies. You can have any size pizza you want, from our small pan pizza to an extra large pie. All of our ingredients are 100% natural. Our pizza is covered with homemade tomato sauce and the freshest mozzarella cheese. Stop by for our Two for Tuesdays special where you get two slices of pizza for the price of one.

(Part of the Visual Advertisement) Eating our pizza is the best experience you can have. We have all the toppings that there are, from extra cheese to anchovies. You can have any size pizza you want, from our small pan pizza to an extra large pie. All of our ingredients are 100% natural and good for your health. Our pizza has a crispy crust, covered with homemade tomato sauce and the freshest mozzarella cheese. Stop by for our Two for Tuesdays special where you get two crispy, hot slices for the price of one.

Discuss the difference in word choice, appearance, etc. of both advertisements.

In our visual advertisement, we utilized a delicious looking slice of pizza to attract our audience. In addition, we made sure to use an Italian name for our pizza as the public might be looking for that link. To appeal to the public’s senses, we had ensured that sensory-based statements were in red ink or bolded. Finally, our objective statements tried to make people feel good about eating pizza, while our subjective statements try to make our pizza seem appealing.

In our factual radio advertisement, we ensured only to use objective statements about our pizza. By describing what we use in our pizza, in addition to the end result of our pizza, we had no subjective statements what-so-ever. We also used an offer in order to bring in the business.

2/9/09 - Media: Objective or Subjective

Task: Brainstorm with students the different media that they use to make decisions in their daily lives. The list may include such things as telemarketing, advertisements, consumer reports, personal recommendations by friends or family, newspaper and television reporting, etc. Discuss how lack of objective knowledge can hinder good decision-making.

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How many hours of our lives are spent exposed to some form of influential media? I can guarantee you more than you might think. Sometimes we voluntarily read things, such as advertisements and the news, and other times we are influenced by family, friends and telemarketers who try to make us believe something is “the best thing ever made.” However, there are also some forms of media that try to strike a nerve deep down within you, emotionally moving you to believe everything and anything. Other times, media can be so influential and so subliminal that you might not even remember the advertisement until you need something related to the advertisement. Although I may read these same advertisements or listen to my friend’s opinions, I never let their views influence my life or my decisions. Everyone is bound to be bias, having their own views, which are sometimes based on false “objective” statements. This is why I would rather create my own opinions based on the media that I view.

While a commercial might state that you can save up to $300 dollars by switching to Geico, I say how so? While an advertisement states that I can get a free sample of Focus Factor for just giving them a call, I ask why are they doing this? If a person comes into the commercial appraising the success of a product, I ask whether they were an actual user of the product or a paid endorser to make the product look good. In general, advertisements, telemarketers and recommendations from friends are family are the least influential in my decision-making. Often times this form of media is purposely trying to make it appear as though their product is the best. However, this is all subjective. Who knows what the advertisement for Geico is covering up? There are hundreds of other car insurance companies out there, and yet Geico is the only one with whom I can save $300 dollars? Sounds unreasonable to me.

The only influential media that I will listen to is the news and reports from well-respected establishments. At least once a day I log onto Digg.com and Engadget.com in order to get my fill of the latest technology news. I would not trust any other website for my facts as I know no other website is as informative and objective. As for my world news source, I only listen and watch the BBC news network as I feel it is the most objective and un-bias news source that I can find. They are not regulated by any concerns of the local news stations and have been established as one of the best and most reliable news source. Through these forms of media, I base my opinions of world matters and various purchases.

However, I feel as though I am fortunate. I know better than to believe every word that an advertisement states. When a person lacks objective knowledge and awareness, they easily believe everything the media throws at them. This is extremely dangerous as it completely ruins their decision-making. When completely believing what an advertisement or person states, you close out your mind to any other influence. So while a new drug prescription might look great on the ad, through subjective statements, and your friend, who works for the drug company, uses it all the time, you ignore studies that state this drug may cause cancer. By believing in subjective media, your decision-making is narrow-minded as you are only ignoring objective truth.

In the end, there are many forms of media that influence our daily decisions. Fortunately, it is up to us to interpret the subjective information that the media provides us. Instead of listening to advertisements and recommendations, believing everything they say, I go out and research the information for myself by using well-established resources. I can only wonder what my daily decisions would be if I believed the subjective information provided in the media that we are exposed to today. I can only assume that my decision-making would be extremely poor, as I could not base those decisions on any facts. Objective media is readily available to all of us. It is our responsibility to see through the subjective haze.

2/9/09 - Classwork

Aim: What do you think is the differences between a subjective and an objective statement or point of view?
Do Now: Think about 9/11, now write a fact about this topic, then write an opinion about the same topic.

On September 11th, 2001, there was an attack on the US in various places utilizing planes.
I believe that it was the darkest day in US history.

Subjective: Something questionable. Depends on your viewpoint.
Objective: A generally true statement. Something that is set in stone.

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Newspaper Name: New York Post
Date: 2/9/09
Article Title: FDNY Disability Pay Cause for Alarm
Article Page: 6

Subjective Statements	Objective Statements
“We should crack down on abuses. Obviously we have a budget problem.” “There’s a lot of fat to trim in the New York City budget.” “Looking to beat up on teachers, firefighters and cops is the wrong place to look.”	“More than seven in 10 firefighters have been retiring on disability pensions, costing cash-strapped New York nearly $1 Billion a year.” “Total FDNY retirement payments have skyrocketed to a projected $913 million for fiscal year 2009 and $973 million in 2010.”

2/5/09 - Classwork

Do Now:Define Controversial. Can you think of a controversial topic? What makes that topic controversial? What do the terms pro and con mean?

Controversial – A highly debatable topic or idea that no one side can prove the other 100% wrong.

The most controversial topic, that I find interesting, would be file piracy. This topic is so controversial because of the fact that, while others see it as beneficial, others see it as stealing property. When I say beneficial, I mean in the sense that it encourages the idea of spreading information. Whenever we come to class, we are encouraging the spreading of information. Whenever we tell stories or talk, we are sharing information. What is so wrong about sharing computer data and information for others personal gain? However, no one side can prove the other wrong as there is a rebuttal to this argument.

A pro would be a positive side to the controversial topic. However not everyone might believe that the statement is indeed a pro. In this case, they might find that statement a con, a negative side to the controversial topic.

Controversial (adj.) – Provoking strong disagreement or disapproval on a contentious topic, eg. In public debate. Enjoying or habitually engaging in controversy.
Pro, For, in favor of, all for, in support of – An argument in favor of a proposal or position. A person or side in a debate argument, or campaign that is in favor of a proposal or proposition.
Con, Against, not in favor of – To tell somebody something untrue or misleading; dishonest ploy/trick.

2/3/09 - Classwork

Do Now: Complete the following sentence:

When compared to my friend Forid’s HS School, ITHS is incredibly better. We have better staff and a better education here at ITHS than could ever be found at BTHS.

Write a paragraph on the following topic: Page must be dated and rewrite topic to the top of the page. Please keep in your notebook to be transferred to your individual portfolios. Describe your performance in high school this far. Include any factors that have influenced your school performance, either negatively or positively. What are your future goals? What do you want to become? What area of study (in college) most interests you and why?

Ever since the 9th grade, I have always been driven to do well. However, there were no huge factors that have influenced my school performance. I just comprehend that I need to do well in school in order to have a successful future. Speaking about my future, I plan to become a successful engineer at Apple. In order to do so, I hope to attend a prestigious institution, preferably MIT, so that I am prepared for the real world. There I would study Computer Engineering and maybe take a minor in Computer Science or Networking and System Administration. While working as an engineer at Apple, I plan to attend graduate school at MIT as well in order to further my education.