Today in class the lecture was a review of Chapter 5: The Language of Argument . In Lit Circles students completed exercises: 5A, 5B and 5C. Homework is to complete Exercise 5D (pp. 1170118), 5E (119-120), A, B & C. Read pages 120-130.
We have passed the dates for the Wise essay. We will use a variation on Writing Assignment 10 (pp. 124-125) in WLTC for this assignment.
The term will come from the text: namely, "privilege." How does Wise define privilege in his memoir: White Like Me?
We will look at Essay Planning next week: Tuesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 10. this includes completing an Initial Planning Sheet and an outline. The essay will be due on Tuesday, March 15, the final draft with notes from the text and all cyber and group assignments on March 17 via Internet.
The freewrite
The freewrite, which only one student completed, was to look at pp. 72-74, distinguishing between arguments and explanations. If you did this freewrite, you can post it here.
Other Assignments
We also didn't get to review the signal phrases identified in Wise (homework) or the answers to WLTC Ex. 4A page 81-82. Read chapter 5. Pay attention to defining "abstract terms," of which "privilege" fits.
We might complete Writing Assignment 10 as a freewrite both Tuesday and Thursday. Students can practice with "privilege." The essays on pages 126-128 are also interesting.
Wise Questions for Further Thought: A Cyber-Assignment
Think about the following questions and respond here. I know, I didn't tell you abut this in advance (smile). Take your time, you can complete it over the next week, due Tuesday, March 8. Post here.
Food for thought
1. How is defining a term a way to clarify one's meaning? Is there an element of surprise involved when one does this? Give examples.
2. What surprise has Wise encountered along the journey to unpack the notion of "privilege" and how does that plays out in his life and by extension others like himself, whether they acknowledge it or not?
3. If a person refuses to acknowledge a verifiable fact, does its existence cease? What does Wise say about this?
4. Wise use of volatile words incite strong responses. One wonders how he gets away with it and why.
5. What does he say about this journey and the responses he has received and receives based on his choice to go places his peers often refuse? Why does he go there when he doesn't have to?
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Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
03 March 2011
Argument vs. Explanation Free Write
An argument is when a person gives reasons to explain why they reached their conclusion. The person is trying to convince people to see the validity of their statement. An argument is something that is debatable so a writer would have to choose a side. They would have to provide evidence to support their statement and persuade people to believe that they are right.
An explanation is when a person tries to clarify something that had occurred, to make it more understandable. In an explanation, people try to provide more information to make something clearer.
In the article, “Bush Remarks Roil Debate over Teaching of Evolution,” Elizabeth Bumiller seemed to present an explanation rather than an argument. She provides information to the audience, allowing people to understand the different sides of the issue. In the second article, “Of God and the Case for Unintelligent Design,” Lisa Fullam seemed to present an argument. She poses many questions and makes suggestions. She gives her opinion in the article and takes a side on the issue.
Melvin Pandey
ReplyDelete3/5/2011
Prof.Sabir
English-5
Argument and Explanation are two very different things. The primary goal of an argument is to show that some proposition/issue is true, while the primary goal of an explanation is to show why it is true or to explain the issue/proposition. In an Argument reason is the evidence to support the conclusion/proposition. However in explanation the conclusion is an accepted fact in many cases and the reason is the cause of a fact. In simple argument seems to answer the question: How do you know? While explanation: Why is that?
The first Article “Bush Remarks Roil Debate over Teaching of Evolution” is an explanation since it only seems to attempt to explain the situation and leave the reader to come up with his or her own conclusions, while the second article is clearly an argument meant to persuade the reader that Evolution is real. It goes in-depth, talking about different animals and how over time they have changed because of evolution.
Frena Zamudio
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
6 March 2011
Freewrite: Argument and Explanation
In an argument, one shows reasons for the conclusions in order to persuade the readers of your opinion. Premises, or facts to back up your point of view are very important in an argument, it is where the readers will base their answer, whether they believe in you or not, whether you convinced them to what you say or not. An argument is debatable, the writer has to choose a side and try his/her best to back it up with facts and ideas, in order to have more supporters and make people believe that their side is true.
In explanation, one clarifies why something has happened. It is answering the question why, usually the writer does not have to have premises to back up the statement. The explanation itself is already a proven fact. Unlike an argument, explanation is non-debatable, well most cases it is not. It is just one side, unless someone tries to argue with the writer’s explanation, then it will be an argument.
The first article, “Bush Remarks Roil Debate over Teaching of Evolution” is answering the question, why does President Bush think it is important that the theory of intelligent design should be taught in schools? So basically, it is an explanation, the authors explains to the readers Bush’s point of view about the topic. For the second article, “Of God and the Case for Unintelligent Design”, the author, Lisa Fullam is trying to persuade the readers about how debatable the theory of intelligent design is She used questions to make readers think which side is better, if intelligent design should be taught in schools or not? So it is more of an argument than explanation.
Andrea Giang
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
04 March 2011
Cyber Assignment
1. Defining a term is a way to clarify one’s meaning by how it allows the audience to understand exactly what the writer means. Sometimes a term might have more than one meaning. By defining the term, the writer tells the audience specifically what he or she meant by the word. I think that even though defining a word makes it clear what the writer meant, there can still be an element of surprise. An example of this can be found in law and politics. Even though terms are clearly defined, the context can still be manipulated. People can choose terms to make them sound more favorable. For instance, they can choose terms like “tax relief” instead of “tax cut.”
2. The surprise that Wise encountered on his journey that addresses the notion of “privilege” involves the police and education. Wise noticed that there were times when it was obvious he was doing illegal activities like underage drinking and doing drugs. However, even though the police should have known, they did not charge him with anything. Other times, Wise was pulled over while driving his rundown car. But after the cops pulled him over, they let him off. Another instance of privilege is found in education. Wise mentions that the white students and the black students were always separated. Even if a black student does very well, he or she would be put into the remedial track. All the white students end up getting into enrichment programs. Whether or not people acknowledge the presence of privilege, it is there. Privilege allows certain people to have advantages that are not available to other people. And whether or not we recognize the presence of privilege, it helps us along the way, making it easier for us to move up the social ladder.
3. If a person refuses to acknowledge a verifiable fact, it still exists. A fact remains a fact even if someone does not believe it. A fact is something that can be verified to see if it is true by going to other sources that would give you the same information. According to Wise, “facts are insufficient when the person with whom you share those facts is so dug in as to have a real and persistent need to ignore them” (Wise 110). The fact still exists, but they are not helpful if the person you are talking to refuses to recognize that it is there.
4. Wise’s use of volatile words is done on purpose to get people’s attention and to make them think. By using words that would incite strong responses, he insures that he gets the audience’s attention to the issues that are at hand. Wise gets away with his use of volatile words because he makes a valid point. He addresses issues that not many people have given much thought to or believe that the issues exist only in the past.
5. Wise urges people to take action. He chronicled his journey to teach people that white privilege does exist in our society. He wants people to realize that white privilege does not just exist in the past but also in the present. Wise has received many skeptical responses about whether white privilege exists and about reverse racism. He believes that the fight against racism and against white privilege requires that people take a step and do things that might not be comfortable for them. Wise challenges his audience to take a stand against the social system that is in place and make a difference by accepting their flaws and working to rectify the issues that are present in society today.
Sandahl von Sydow
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 7, 2011
To define a term is to give it a solid meaning. For example, the word “orange” is rather ambiguous. In this case, it could either mean a fruit, or a color. If we were to define our interpretation of “orange” as a color, we would cease to think about “orange” as a fruit. At least until otherwise defined.
The surprise Wise comes upon throughout his book usually comes from the white folks he tries to educate about the injustice of racism. Wise is trying to perform an intervention on white culture, and for the most part, the majority is not taking it very well. Many white people are in denial about the issues he brings up. Some move on, some do not. I see it as an addict trying to stick with a twelve step program.
Just because a person denies reality, it does not mean that reality did not happen. History, as written by the dominant culture, would like us to believe otherwise. For instance the Texas Board of Education has voted on measures that would rewrite history to be more white and more Christian. Just because they do this, it does not mean that reality did not happen.
Wise purposefully uses volatile words to get his points across. The denial experienced by his audience is so strong, that he relies on his language to convey his message as bluntly as possible. He is deliberate and methodical, and knows exactly who his audience is.
His journey has seen both success and failure. Some of his listeners take his words to heart. Others refuse to acknowledge that he might know what he's talking about, and even walk in the other direction. Yes, he is in the majority culture and may not need to do what he does because of it. However, he does what he does because he feels that privilege on the backs of, and even to the exclusion of others is wrong.
Dennis Foley
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 7th 2011
Food for thought:
Defining a term can give a better understanding of the meaning. If your audience is not experts on the subject then you will need to define expert terms that they have never seen.
The surprise that Wise encounters is the magnitude of ingrained white privilege. He notices many benefits that whites receive in society. Also he finds that it exists ingrained in present issues as it did in the past.
A fact will still exist even if a person refuses to believe it. Wise contemplates that although these facts still may exist they may be an unsubstantial form of argument to people who are “dug in” and refuse to believe them.
He can get away with saying most anything as long as its not slander. Using such volatile language could diminish your target audience. However he chooses an intelligent way to use volatile words in a substantial in depth argument this will keep his audience reading and interested.
Wise often feels outnumbered. He has received some responses that are angry, hopeful, humorous. He goes there because he believes that because he's outnumbered that he must do what he can.
Darin Lago
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 7, 2011
WLTC Exercise 3F – Argumentative vs. Explanatory
In this exercise I’m supposed to define which of the two articles is either an explanation or an argument. An explanation is to explain something or explain an opinion, while an argument is a persuasion based upon a conclusion.
Both of the articles are about the teachings of evolution in public schools and how intelligent design should be taught alongside as another theory. Intelligent design is the theory of divine creation of the universe through God. The first article is an explanation about how the former President Bush wants to include this theory and his reasoning’s. It also explains what might be behind this theory as for example it states that Mr. Bush is being supported by Christians over this debate.
The Second article is clearly an argumentative writing as it bashes the “intelligent design” and gives examples for why there are plenty of things in nature that were not created intelligently. Even in the headline it says “Unintelligent Design” which proves this writer is against the intelligent design theory and supportive of evolution with flaws.
Darin Lago
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 7, 2011
Cyber Assignment
1. Many terms can be vague to the general audience and defining a term is a way readers can understand the meaning. There is an element of surprise involved in this because more abstract terms can be misinterpreted which may need more concrete examples or specificity. An example is how we interpret or misinterpret the meanings about the books or articles we read. We are quick to judge if clarification is not present.
2. The surprise that Wise has encountered is that “privilege” works everywhere and works with anything. He noticed that because of being “white privileged”, he didn’t have to worry about certain aspects of life that say a black person would. Some examples are how he wasn’t afraid as a black person would be in being caught by the cops for doing illegal activities, or how he was able to get away with the mishaps he did in college. He realized that because of this “privilege” he was given priority over others in education and life. This “privilege” gives an unfair advantage and delivers more stress on the less fortunate.
3. A verifiable fact does not cease to exist if a person refuses to acknowledge it. It remains a fact regardless, and remains as disbelief or denial to the person refusing the verifiable fact. Wise says it is difficult to give verifiable facts when one strongly believes against it because they have incased themselves in a wall of their own pride and beliefs.
4. Wise is able to get away with using volatile words because he is trying to make point. He uses them to describe exactly how he feels and exactly how this nation is. This nation isn’t fairyland and he is depicting the reality about the issue at hand through the use of volatile words.
5. Time Wise took us through the journey about how he noticed how “privilege” played a part in his everyday life from childhood to present. He is trying the issue that “white privilege” is very real and still occurs in the twenty-first century. He has received responses about whether this “white privilege” is real or if there is still a problem, and the reason he raises this issue is to encourage everyone to make a change even if it is uncomfortable.
Dylan Young
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 8 2011
Argument Vs. Explanation
An Argument is a presentation of how to came to your conclusions so that you may convince someone of your point of view. An Explanation is when you bring clarity to why something has happened without personal opinion.
Article one entitled "Bush Remakes Roil Debate over Teaching of Evolution" was an explanation. The writers style is in the 3rd person which leaves his own opinion out of the writings. This gives the reader a chance to put the information being read into their own views and opinions without an conflicting view. He uses words that leave room for assumption such as "appeared to" and explains the actions that were taken during the meeting stating sides and facts, leaving both sides to appear equal in the events that happened.
Article two starts out with a strong liberal approach to the Bush topic. The language used is more sarcastic and a conclusion on the situation can be seen in 3rd sentence.The writer uses strong language and makes lots of claims using examples after each to back it up. Reading the article "puts you in your seat" as the writer fills the reading with examples and persuasive language.
Dylan Young
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
March 8 2011
1.Defining a term is a way of giving a reader your own view of whats being said. This view is only as strong as the evidence behind the term used through the term. Many terms can relate to multiple thoughts and ideas so the more precise the term, the clearer the definition of it will be. For example school can be seen as a broad term with a wide variety of meanings while university narrows down the ways the term can be used.
2.Wise runs into many things in life that unpack white privilege in his world. Even the beginning of the book starts with his memories of school where he encounters white privilege at an early age by getting an important role in a play over ethnic and colored people because he is white. This notion is not recognized by anyone else because the age it happened at is an age too early for those involved to understand the true meaning of.
3. Even when people don't acknowledge a variable fact it is still relevant in the world. Wise uses white privilege as the biggest example of this. Although most people ignore its existence in our society it is still recognized by those it affects (especially those who are affected negatively by it). The ignorance towards the matter only keeps it from being completely abolished from society.
4. I believe Wise gets away with his strong use of language only because he is discussing a widely ignored topic. Although he uses strong language, the means in which he uses them have a bold and true definition behind them making them true to most. His argument style of writing has strong evidence therefore it is almost impossibly to dispute what he is talking about.
5. Wise uses this book to speak out about a topic he feels shapes the way his life is and has become. He brings up a topic that is looked down upon in our society and tries to bring it to the attention of our society. He receives much criticism but has strong arguments to support himself and his writing. Therefore he is a strong voice in the topic of white privilege.
David Kovalevskij
ReplyDeleteProfessor Wanda Sabir
English 5
March 8, 2011
Food For Thought
1. I believe that defining a term is clarifying ones meaning, because it gives new knowledge to a person. There is definitely a surprise involved when a person didn’t know what exactly the term meant before. For example when someone is explaining to you about how something works and if they use a term you don’t understand you might not understand what they are saying. Once that term is clarified everything becomes clear. Or question number 4, it never made sense to me until I looked up the definition of volatile.
2. In Wises examples of privilege in our society, wise has definitely noticed that much of discrimination against minorities goes unnoticed by the majority. Even when something is noticed it is denied, because white people don’t want to believe that racism is still a big factor in our society today. Many times whites know they have the upper hand in the society, but no one wants to come out and say it.
3. Just because a person refuses to believe in a verified fact, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Since the fact can be verified it means it does exist. Wise in his chapter “Denial” gives many examples about how racism goes unnoticed in our society, just because whites refuse to believe it. Whites sometimes know that if they weren’t white they wouldn’t get the same chance in our society that they get. Yet since it is said that everyone should and does have equal rights and opportunities many facts are denied.
4. Wises use of volatile words makes it clear that racism does exist in the world today. I believe that he wouldn’t be in the same standing that he is today in our society if what he has written about wasn’t true. Most people who read Wise’s book agree with most of his arguments and facts.
5. Wises journey has opened many people eyes like myself. Some of the things Wise is trying to teach us about I have noticed as well. Yet there are also many facts that I have never thought about, but now that it was brought up in wises book I have realized that it is very true. I believe Wise has went everywhere in his book, because he already started going somewhere. It was necessary to talk about everything, just because if he didn’t no one would.
Ricarda Sawatzki
ReplyDeleteProfessor Sabir
English 5
06 March 2011
1. Defining a term as a writer for the audience is important because the writer lets his audience know his understanding of the term he is going to talk about. Terms can sometimes have a broad meaning and the writer might interpret a term different than somebody else, due to his or her experiences and intentions to use the specific term in his writing. There can be a surprising element while looking at a definition of a term. The reader might think he knows for example the meaning of the term “white privilege”, however the author Tim Wise surprised me as a reader how much different aspects there are to this single the term. He reflects on the term “white privilege” from different angles because of his experiences.
2. In his book Wise presents multiple examples that show how he benefited in his life from “white privileges.” Wise reflects on his college time when he was involved in illegal activities such as drug abuse or underage drinking. However, the police knew that during his fraternity party’s alcohol had been served or the smell of marijuana was obvious, but the police never charged him or broke it up. The reason why the students did not get charged was because they are white and live in a “nice white middle class” neighborhood. Wise notices that if he would not have been white, the police would have charged him. It becomes clear that Wise clearly benefited from his whiteness. Otherwise he would be looking back on a criminal record with charges. White privilege allows white people to have advantages that people of color do not have in a lot of cases. With this example Wise demonstrated how the notion “privilege” involved the law.
3. A fact will still be a fact even though a person refuses to acknowledge it. A fact is an information that can be verified through evidence and testing. By denying a fact a person basically denies the truth. Wise mentions that the denial can be come from people that do not know better or more likely are scared of the consequences, and therefore think they are better off by shutting out the reality of today’s still existing injustice.
4. Throughout his book Wise uses volatile language to incite strong responses. Every author has an intention when he or she writes. Wise writes about a very controversial issue and through his words he expresses his viewpoint to the reader without confusion. Volatile words get the readers attention and make sure at the same time that Wises believes will make the reader thought-provoked. This way of writing is a good strategy for the issue of the white privilege, which seems not to be referred as a current issue.
5. Wise deals in his book with a very controversial topic therefore he receives positive but also negative responses. As a white person the reader might ask him- or herself: Why does the issue matter to Wise since he is white and benefits from the system too? But he believes let him resist against this unfair system of injustices. For Wise white privileges are a current issue that needs white people to stop denying it.