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Blog Archive
About Me
- Dr. Nikki Usher
- Hi. I'm a professor at George Washington's School of Media and Public Affairs. I'm interested in what this class has to say, but can we build a community with so many different interests?
Topic: Use of the word “Retard” as slang
ReplyDeleteThesis: Despite modern efforts to redefine the meaning of the word “retard,” historical contexts and casual use of the term have led to an inadequate view of the people it refers to, causing a misconception of what it means to be mentally retarded. I am going to try and persuade you not to use the word “retard” as a form of slang in your everyday language because it is offensive to the people it actually describes.
Main Points:
-The historical meaning of the word “retard” and related terms used to be purely medical in nature.
-Because of it's historical background as well as it's adoption as a form of slang in the 1960s, the there is much confusion today associated with the word “retard.”
-Using the word “retard” as slang degrades the people it refers to, and so you should make a point not to use it in a derogatory way.
Sources:
Edgerton, R. B. (1979). Mental retardation. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP.
Silverstein, S. (1994). What about me? Growing up with a developmentally disabled sibling. New York, NY: Plenum.
Topic: Nature vs Nurture. 'Nurture' affects development
ReplyDeleteThesis: This is a highly contested debate and I am going to convince you that it is Nurture, and not Nature, that affects childhood development.
Main points:
-WHAT- human behavior can be conditioned.
- HOW- dominant role of parents and peers on development. More than generally assumed.
- PROOF- identical twins separated and take different paths despite identical genetic make-up
Sources
Lombardo, Lauren. (2005) Nature versus Nurture. Bucknell, PA: Bucknell UP.
Heller, Daniel. (1998). Nature vs. Nurture. The English Journal. 87(3). 104.
Topic: "Call to Action Speech" - Ticketmaster is a evil company.
ReplyDeleteThesis: Ticketmaster is a monopoly that is hurting artists, fans, and independent promoters. I am here today to tell you can take action to stop that.
Main Points:
1) What ticketmaster is doing currently that is taking advantage of fans.
2) Why you should listen to me and join my side and support my belief
3) How you can stop contributing to Ticketmaster's domination by doing some simple things.
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/mergers/2010/03/meese-and-richman-have-a-recent-paper-analyzing-the-competitive-effects-of-the-pending-ticketmaster-live-nation-merger-a-car.html
Anna Davis, Corporate Communications. http://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/academics/communications/research/vol1no2/EJFall10_Full.pdf#page=122.
Topic: Four Lokos
ReplyDeleteThesis: Although Four Lokos have become a very popular drink on college campuses, we should stop drinking them.
Main Points:
- I will explain what Four Lokos are.
- Four Lokos have serious health risks.
- They may become illegal in the near future.
Citations:
Guey, Lynn & Sandell, Clayton. (2010, October 20). Doctors: Alcohol-Caffeine Drinks Pose Health Risk to College-Age Fans. ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/high-alcohol-high-caffeine-drinks-pose-health-danger/story?id=11928034&page=1
Goodnough, Abby. (2010, October 27). Doctors Point to Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks' Dangers. The New York Times, p. 12. Retrieved from http://www.lexisnexis.com.libproxy.usc.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/?
Specific Topic: Octopi versus squids
ReplyDeleteThesis statement: Despite some similarities, octopi are better than squids in both physiology and their relationships with humans.
Main points:
1. Similarities
a. Physiological
i. both have 8 limbs
ii. both have a sharp beak in the middle to tear the flesh off their prey
b. Relation with humans
i. both used as monsters in mythology (Kraken) and literature (Lovecraft’s Cthulu)
ii. still present in some movies today (POTC)
2. Differences (and how octopi are better)
a. Physiological
i. Shape of head
1. octopi: round/bulbous
a. more aesthetically pleasing
2. squid: triangular with two fins and two more tentacles
ii. Bones
1. octopi: no bones
a. allows them to squeeze through tight places easily
2. squid: one flexible bone on a vertical axis
a. what is the point of this bone? It impedes squeezing into anywhere and you don’t need support in water
b. Relation with humans
i. ability to harm/kill
1. Ocotpi: usually only slightly paralyze people but one species, the Australian blue ringed octopus can kill humans in a minute.
2. Squid: none can kill a human in one minute.
ii. as pets
1. Octopi: some octopi have suckers that do not secrete paralyzing poisons so you could have one as a cuddly pet.
2. squid: all squids have hooks/claws in their tentacles so you can’t fondle one for fun, and consequently, there is no point to having one as a pet.
3. Counterarguments and Rebuttal
a. Physiological
i. Squids can grow up to 20 meters but octopi can only grow to 5 meters.
1. rebuttal: size does not necessarily equate to usefulness. The squid’s greater length impedes its speed. Squids can propel only at moderate speeds when compared to octopi.
ii. squids live longer than octopi
1. rebuttal: they live longer because they’re lazy—they mate in a group orgy and leave the eggs on the ocean floor while octopi will have a loving romance with one other octopi. The female will guard the eggs until they hatch and then die near the new babies so that they will have food immediately.
b. Relation with humans
i. squids are easier to catch for use as food or dissection for undergraduate biology labs
1. rebuttal: squids are easier to catch because they’re stupid. They can be caught simply by “jigging,” a process where a shiny object is jerked around in the ocean because they are attracted to light and quick movement. Octopi require finesse to be caught—you have to release traps that resemble the material they use for shelter. This isn’t a strength.
ii. Nomenclature: the plural of squid is squids and is easy to derive
1. rebuttal: you short change yourself cognitive effort by conjugating squid to its plural form. The plural forms of octopus are octopi or octopodes.
Topic: Musical films of the 1960s and 1970s encompass essential values to live by, and should be a part of everyone’s childhood upbringing (specifically The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and Fiddler on the Roof).
ReplyDeleteThesis statement: While some individuals may argue that musicals sugar-coat real life,by presenting an unrealistic/flowery portrait of the world which ultimately leaves viewers ill-equipped to deal with life's everyday hardships. Musicals of the 1960s and 1970s are reflective of a more wholesome era in Hollywood, during which filmmakers portrayed valuable life lessons. Musicals of the 1960s and 1970s should be a part of everyone's childhood.
Main Points:
1. So many "kids'" movies over the past decade have failed to impart any worthwhile values on viewers
i. These movies (whose only historical significance will be their incredible flops at the box office) are a waste of time, money, and energy.
ii. Fail to withstand the test of time.
2. Sound of Music: “climb every mountain ‘til you find your dream”
i. Fraulein Maria’s character embodies the concept of stepping outside of the stereotypical mold/what’s expected of her in order to pursue her dreams. A lesson in perseverance.
ii. Movie acclaim, awards, and timeless nature.
3. Fiddler on the Roof: Tevye allows his daughters to marry the men they love, straying from the traditional Jewish marriage route.
i. A lesson in tolerance and making sacrifices for the ones you love.
ii. Movie acclaim, awards, and timelessness.
4. My Fair Lady: (An adaptation of Pygmalion) The transformation of Professor Higgins from Eliza’s cold, unkind tutor to a caring mentor, represents the importance of human affection.
i. A lesson in the capacity to love, and the importance of human connections.
ii. Movie acclaim, awards, and timelessness
Citations:
Lerner, A. J. (1956). ”’Pygmalion’ and My Fair Lady’”. Bulletin (Shaw Society of America) 1(10). Penn State University Press. pp. 4-7 http://www.jstor.org/stable/40681399
McLeer, A. (2002). “Practical Perfection? The Nanny Negotiates Gender, Class, and Family Contradictions in 1960s Popular Culture”. NWSA Journal 14(2). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 80-101. Retrieved Nov. 11th 2010. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4316893
Wolitz, S. (1988). “The Americanization of Tevye or Boarding the Jewish ‘Mayflower’“
American Quarterly 40(4) The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 514-536. Retrieved Nov. 11th 2010. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2713000
I'm so sorry, somehow your e-mail to me about my first topic got lost in the shuffle.
ReplyDeleteMy revised topic is:
Plastic Bag usage
Thesis: Today I'm going to talk to you about why we as a society need to stop using plastic bags in our day to day purchases and why we need to switch to reusable Eco-friendly bags.
Main Points:
1. The negative impacts of plastic bags on the environment.
2. The negative impacts of plastic bags on wild-life.
3. The benefits of switching from plastic to reusable bags.
Sources:
Klemeš,J."Sustainability in the process industry: integration and optimization." McGraw-Hill.2011.
Smith,C."Global challenges in responsible business." Cambridge University Press,2010.
Speech Topic
ReplyDeleteMy third speech, a persuasive speech, will focus on why the BCS system should remain in college football.
Main Points:
1.) Maintains Tradition
2.) Rewards More Teams
3.) Playoff would create more problems
My sources will include ESPN articles, news reports etc.
The United States should adopt the British (and European) culture of taking a gap year after high school.
ReplyDelete1) You learn more about yourself, gaining maturity and understanding of the world.
2) You have more time to figure out what you want to do with your life. Can explore options, experiment with new things, subjects, studies, cultures without the pressure of school.
3) Revitalized while away from studies. Regain the curious and engaged mindset
4) Counterargument: Students should go to University right after high school. Looked at negatively to wait a year before going. Lose momentum.
a. One reason gap year isn’t popular is because it has the negative connotation so not as many people do it, so those that do are singled out.
b. If you go into it with the intention to learn from you time, not just mess around, you’ll be revitalized, not slowed down.
Topic: The role of nurses has surpassed the role general physicians in health care.
ReplyDeleteThesis: Nurse practitioners have taken one of the most important roles in health care, as the best patient care providers.
Main points:
I. Information on nursing and counter-argument
a. A brief description of the evolution of nursing in US
b. Counter-argument: nurses are secondary to doctors, with far less education and training, making them inferior caretakers
II. Why nurses RULE
a. Nurses spend more face time with patients than doctors do
b. Patients report higher level of satisfaction from their interactions with nurses, largely due to the fact that nursing emphasizes a strength based approach to treatment and nurses have more critical cultural competence skills as a result of constant patient interaction
c. Patient care also involves the input of family members, many of which highly value the efforts of nurses
d. Nurses have similarly reported health outcomes compared to doctors
sources:
http://www.bmj.com/content/324/7341/819.full
http://www.bmj.com/content/320/7241/1048.abstract?ijkey=1f13df68778089eedc03b9e6d87c3c7382eec489&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/283/1/59?ijkey=1b1e230967bd154ee24d41e725c380a92e295bc2&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha