Critiquing "The Monster That Is High School"

1. popular high school cliques-----embracing jocks and putting them in the starlight-----jocks making fun of outcasts-----outcasts are emotionally distressed-----outcasts defend themselves from insults-----outcasts lack of care-----Littleton massacre.
Daeha’s is somewhat persuasive in his argument.

2. Daeha Ko is very offended and upset that Klebold and Harris are called “the monsters next door”. I see Ko as being affected by the insults in the same way as Klebold and Harris. He feels connected with those two because he feels they have went through and lot of the same things. I don’t believe it creates sympathy for social outcasts in high school culture, but it does reveal some hidden emotional feelings that they have.

3. Daeha says that these shootings are contributed by the support and highlights of jock activities and the neglect of others. He also says that this was revenge of the nerds, “because teasing isn’t fun and games anymore.” Ko refutes that these shooting were caused by “monsters”, because these kids were made fun of continuously and finally got tired of it. He shows how he and others like him are insulted and his feelings and actions toward it.
I believe Daeha’s argument is a valuable contribution to the controversy because it gives a first person example of how these kids were treated, and the emotional distress they were probably feeling.

4. Kairos helps explain this argument because Ko writes this paper right after the Columbine incident, and is upset at the blame getting solely put on the two kids.
I think this argument gains some impact after the kairotic moment because it gives people time to think about what actually caused this terrible incident, rather than quickly finding someone to blame.

Class Discussion p.254-255 1-2

1. a) your decision to attend your present college
-you liked the programs they offered
-everybody in your family has gone there
-your parents want you to go there
-you got a scholarship there
-you and your best friend want to go to the same school
-you want to stay close to home

1 b) an important event in your life or your family (a job change, a major move, etc.)
-company losing money
-company sells out
-cuts in workers
-dad loses job

1 c) a personal opinion you hold that is not widely shared
-go to college
-live on my own
-start reading books
-make new friends
-I will live forever

2. a) why women’s fashion and beauty magazines are the most frequently purchased magazines in college bookstores
-more women attend college
-women love gossip and beauty tips
-guys don’t have a good magazine selection
-no other choices
2 b) why American students consistently score below Asian and European students in academic achievement
-more independent culture
-less worried about academics
-less strict parents
2 c) why the number of babies born out of wedlock has increased dramatically in the last thirty years
-different sexual mores
-irresponsible kids
-irresponsible parents
-less religion

Class Discussion p.246 1-2

1. a) invention of the automobile-----ability to travel farther-----redesign of cities
2. The invention of the automobile caused the redesign of cities because people were able to travel further.

1. b) invention of the automobile-----more freedom of young people-----changes in sexual mores
2. The invention of the automobile led to changes in sexual mores because more freedom was given to young people.

1. c) invention of the telephone-----could talk to distant friends and family-----loss of sense of community in neighborhoods
2. The invention of the telephone led to the loss of sense of community in neighborhoods because people could talk to distant friends and family.

1. d) origin of rap in black urban music scene-----desegregation of cities-----the popularity of rap spreads from urban black audiences to white middle-class youth culture.
2. The origin of rap in black urban music scene spread from urban black audiences to white middle-class youth culture because of the desegregation of cities.

1. e) development of way to prevent rejections in transplant operations-----people could live longer unhealthy lives-----liberalization of euthanasia laws
2. The development of ways to prevent rejections in transplant operations led to the liberalization of euthanasia laws because people could live longer unhealthy lives.

Scientific Testing on Animals

1. Who is your audience?
My audience will be all that are opposed to the scientific testing of animals.

2. How much does your audience know or care about your issue?
The audience knowledge will range from those that just think it is wrong to those are activists and protest with their specific reasons. The general audience will need to know reasons why the testing of animals is good. To get the attention of the audience I would need to show the major benefits is has on helping people.

3. What is your audience’s current attitude toward your issue?
The audience being addressed would be either skeptical or strongly opposed to the matter. The view of scientists and of people that have been helped by the testing of animals will be important to showing how it is beneficial.

4. What will be your audience’s likely objections to your argument?
The weaknesses that could be found would be the testing on animals that did not produce significant results. The audiences view on the subject would be completely different of mine or just deciding which side to choose. Those opposed will think it inhumane to allow animals to be tested on. My beliefs are that it is beneficial, and the oppositions will be that it is cruel.

5. Finally, what values, beliefs, or assumptions about the world do you and your audience share?
The beliefs that those opposed and I share would be the importance of the survival and well-being of mankind, and the belief that humans are superior to all other animals.

Hebrew Charter School

The main argument is whether this Hebrew Charter school can stay within the guidelines of the Church-State divide. Critics are skeptical on whether it is possible to teach Hebrew without touching on Judaism. If this is in fact not possible, it would be unconstitutional for the teaching of Hebrew. One other issue is that a charter school that receives public money, but is exempt from certain rules, and therefore subject to less oversight can prove problematic. On the other side of the argument, proponents are saying that this is not religious teaching. They are saying that there is a necessity to teach Hebrew, one reason being because 37% of parents identified Hebrew as their first language. Also, this school is no different from hundreds of schools around the country that have dual language programs.
On this issue I believe this school is within Constitutional guidelines, and is barely different from any other school in America. Any school is vulnerable to religious aspects.