should all drugs be legalized? (argue: all drugs should be legalized on a federal level.) 

1) An online article titled "10 Years Ago Portugal Legalized All Drugs -- What Happened Next?", states that "drug use has plunged dramatically," when the rest of the world had originally predicted absolute disaster.

http://www.alternet.org/story/151635/ten_years_ago_portugal_legalized_all_drugs_--_what_happened_next

2) According to online magazine Urban75, prohibition is useless and only costs tax payers money.

http://www.urban75.com/Drugs/drugten.html

3) According to online magazine The Week, "prohibition enforcement also encourages infringements on civil liberties... and racial profiling...". They further state that racial profiling occurs "despite similar drug use rates."

http://theweek.com/articles/445005/why-all-drugs-should-legal-yes-even-heroin

Works Cited

Miron, Jeffery. "Why All Drugs Should Be Legal. (Yes, Even Heroin.)." Why All Drugs Should Be Legal. (Yes, Even Heroin.). The Week, 28 July 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

O'Neil, Tony. "Ten Years Ago Portugal Legalized All Drugs -- What Happened Next?" Alternet. The Fix, 14 July 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

"10 Reasons to Legalise All Drugs. Legalising and Declassifying Drugs." 10 Reasons to Legalise All Drugs. Legalising and Declassifying Drugs. Urban75, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.

Comparing Articles with Sprigg's

When we compared our articles with Spriggs’ essay we all noticed that they all relate in a clear and explicit position that they stood by the whole time. They all had responses to what other people had said about the subject. Some of the differences were that an essay by Sophia A. McClennon was that she made general assumptions of information and didn’t have much specific evidence to support her statements in attempting to argue her position. There was a “straw man” appeal in one part of her text. In an article by Sean McElwee, he took a position on abolishing the death penalty. He had good examples of both sides but had a strong opinion on abolishing the sentence because he feels it is unjust. He used statistics and facts to help him have a strong position and to help us see how he feels. He used a lot of compares/contrasts to other Countries and how there have been a number of people in prison being proven to be killed by the death sentence but they turn out to be innocent. We noticed that the essays that were most compelling were the ones that effectively utilized other sources of information other than their own opinions, and the ethos of these articles were better established by those who did “their homework”.

3rd paper topic ideas (argument paper)

• gun control
• legalization of marijuana
• mac vs. microsoft

In-class labS: How Things Mean/Reading sources Critically

Reading sources critically:

1. What arguments does the author make?

• He argued that no other race should say the N word at all and that if you are in any kind of group that has an offensive label then you are the only person that can say the offensive label, and if you are outside of the group then it is not your place to say it.

2.    How persuasive do you find the argument?

• There is historical evidence of the argument he expressed, like how the term was used back in the day and how degrading it was and how “white folk” shouldn’t call their friends the N-word loosely. There really isn’t any citations or links, it was just Tim Wise at what it seemed a conference. He was citing that there actually is history how the term was used and it was offensive and how he sees people throw the word around when it shouldn’t be.

3. What is the author’s stance?

• He does use multiple examples of different types of people, “Black folk”, Redneck and also about him being Jewish, he didn’t only talk about the N word. He did have a particular bias about no one using terms that are derogatory or offensive even if they think it may not be offensive, people of that certain group like being a redneck can call themselves and others that but not people that are not redneck is what he says. He is using only one viewpoint saying that terms calling people a certain name isn’t okay.

4. Does the publisher bring a certain stance to the work?

• He brought up Jeff Foxworthy and how really all he talks about when he is doing comedy is redneck jokes and it is okay for him to do that because he is from the South and he actually is a redneck and he calls himself one so it is okay, if a different comedian Jerry Seinfeld were to crack jokes publicly then it is not okay.

5. Do you recognize ideas you’ve run across in other sources?

• Yes white people cannot say the N word. It should be common sense not to use offensive words like that.

6. Does this source support or challenge your own position -or does it do both?

• This source would support our own positions, we do not say the N word, or any other derogatory words that we know would offend or make others feel bad.

7. What can you tell about the intended audience and purpose?

• The intended audience would most likely be anyone actually because he does not only talk white people or black people the main purpose is to inform everybody of how to not be racist and to watch what you say, don’t use offensive terms and all people need to be aware that people do get offended by what others say and not to say words about labeling people in an offensive way.

Symbols of Patriotism

• What do they suggest? How do they suggest it? Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?
• Eagle: the eagle has an outline of the US on it’s face and the US is covered by a picture of our flag. It suggests extreme patriotism just because it has 3 elements of our country that are core to our physical identity. This works on the viewer in various ways. It just screams America.
• Bulldog: The bulldog is a symbol of power for Great Britain. In this picture it’s in an English setting; a nice park on a lovely afternoon. It looks like he’s standing on the flag, so the whole thing reminds us of a protective guard dog, protecting the nation’s flag.
• Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: These three words date back to the founding of France as a nation. The fact that they are enshrined in a building shows just how deep and long-lasting the meaning that those words have on the French. The words will never go away.

Peace Sign Buttons

• What do they suggest? How do they suggest it? Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?
• Peace/Make Love Not War: There’s so much war in the world, these buttons suggest that we don’t need to keep fighting and that we can be happy with the Love and Peace that we have. They suggest that we have the power to change violent trends in our society. The circles of the button give the viewers a more complete feel, very inclusive.

Thesis: Both sets of pictures have powerful connotations to them although they represent two entirely different things.

Arguing a Position In Class Lab: Kayla, Laura, Charlotte p. 66

Ad 1:

• How does it appeal to you or why does it fail to appeal?
• Because even though some people do not stand for abortion or do not like it at all that is not what Planned Parenthood is about. It is for the importance of women to make their own choices about their own bodies and Planned Parenthood could be helping them even if individual people don’t agree.

• What kinds of words, images or sounds does it use as support for its position?
• This ad uses words like “fight, choices and mores” to show that people are fighting to get rid of a group who supports women when they really have no other choice in their mind and go to planned parenthood when they need help. Using these words help support its position because they state that the fight against planned parenthood is not about abortion because abortion is not everything that planned parenthood is about, the fight is really about women’s own sexual choices and their own mores.
• If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?
• If I were someone that is against planned parenthood I would not talk about women’s own sexual choices and mores, I would just bring up the abortions because that is what most people that are against planned parenthood are actually against, they are not against women having their own choices but the fact that women choose to have abortions.

• If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?
• I would make this a short video with a young woman saying this exact sentence and looking straight at the camera. She would continue on and talk about how women’s sexual choices and mores are subject to change depending on the person. She would make it clear that there are no ‘right’ sexual choices or mores. That those kinds of questions (what is sexually correct and incorrect?) are complicated depending on the individual who is asking. She would make it further clear that no one in the world should have the right to tell women what is correct and incorrect to do with their bodies.

Ad 2:

• How does it appeal to your or why does it fail to appeal?
• Because the wording is so cut and dry. They stand with Planned Parenthood. The position they took is one in support of the organization.
• What kinds of words, images. or sounds does it use as support for its position?
• The words “I stand with Planned Parenthood” are in a speech bubble, making the statement personal to the reader. It makes it so that it is as if YOU are the person who stands with Planned Parenthood. The hashtag links the support of Planned Parenthood to something bigger; social media. The hashtag lets people know that the stance with Planned Parenthood is more of a movement than anything else.
• If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?
• If I were going to revise it for an audience that did not support Planned Parenthood I would add the words ‘DO NOT’ after ‘I’.
• If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?
• If it was a poster or a billboard or a sign on the street I would make the background not bright pink, but a metalic, reflective surface so that when the viewer looked at the speech bubble, their face would be reflected right next to the words. So that it looks like the speech bubble is coming out of their mouths.

Ad 3:

• How does it appeal to you or why does it fail to appeal?
• In the ad below, Planned Parenthood has taken a story of a real woman and her journey, and how they helped her along the way. It appeals in a real, raw way that can be related to others, because it is purely true.
• What kinds of words, images, or sounds does it use as support for its position?
• It uses words such as “save” and “life” in the same sentence, which itself gets your attention. The image of this lady and her expression shows the power of Planned Parenthood and how they were able to help her. If this were a digital or video ad, it could use clips of her in her everyday life, and how this journey has beneficially helped her.
• If you were going to revise it for a different audience, what would you do?
• It depends on the audience directed, but if for example an audience that didn’t   support Planned Parenthood, I would have a different story for this ad, one that more people can relate to.  
• If you were going to create it in another medium, how would it be different?
• With this ad being from a true story, this could easily be changed to a video or commercialized ad. This woman could explain her story and how Planned Parenthood helped her, with her own words, her own emotions, and her own story.

Bibliography

“Planned Parenthood.” Advertisement. Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood. 5 Nov. 2015. Print.

Arguing a Position p. 62 Response

I've taken a position on

• the presidential election
• whether marijuana should be legal or not in all states
• whether my hair look good or not
• whether my outfit is good or not
• the tv shows that I like or dislike
• the movies that I like or dislike
• if men and women should be equal in all aspects of life 
• what MLS team I want to win: Sounders FC
• what football team I want to win: Seahawks

People around me take positions on:

• the presidential election
• whether they will walk, drive or bike to work
• whether they like the people they associate themselves with or not (friends)
• who will win the world series
• who to pick for a Fantasy Football team
• whether to practice nonviolence or not 
• whether it's gentlemanly or oppressive to pay for a meal/open the car door/open doors...etc 

Ad Presentation - Media Violence (Laura, Kayla, Sarah, Elia)

http://www.jameswon.ca/node/9

Summary: The ad we chose shows a young boy and a doll, with a knife stabbed into it.This advertisement combines two extremes: disturbing violence and pictures of children. This portrays the negative effects of a stereotypically ‘innocent’ individual like a child being corrupted by violent imagery in media and TV. Showing these two kinds of images side by side contrasts something so negative and something so innocent in a way that incites feelings of protection and fear for young children in the viewer.

Paraphrase: When children are exposed to violent media, they can become violent themselves.

Quote: “Well over a 1000 studies...point overwhelmingly to a causal connection between media violence and aggressive behavior in some children”

1. James Won is the creator of the ad.
2. It is intended for parents and guardians to see how violent media effects children and how it isn’t harmless like they might think to show children frightening movies at a young age. Children don’t know right from wrong, and with the ability to see movies with violence and negative aspects, it gives some children a false portrayal on how citizens should act, what is appropriate, and what is not.
3. We can tell that this ad is intended for parents because it involves children and toys and how something as accessible as violence on TV can be a “gateway” for them to do violent acts.
4. The purpose is to warn parents that violent TV and movies can really affect their children from a young age, and that changing the way violent media is viewed can change their attitude towards the violent TV that children have access to.
5. James Won works towards the purpose with powerful imagery and a knowledgeable quote that draws a scientific line between what they are trying to prove and what they’re trying to get people to believe.
6. Red and black jagged writing gives the ad a very ‘dangerous’ kind of feel. They use images of small children and children's toys mixed with very violent images to destroy this idea of innocence within them.
7. As a group, these ads try to change the general public's attitude and realization towards media violence to one that is not so casual with it because in our society, they’d argue at least, that media violence leads to greater numbers of children with overly aggressive behavior.