Blog Entry #7

After reading the argument essay against whether or not Arizona State University should make all books offered electronically or not, I can say that I do agree with this argument. For the most part everything that us students do is online, when it comes to schoolwork, everything is turned in, and completed online, so why aren’t more books offered online? When it comes to purchasing books I don’t think anyone will say it is their favorite thing to do, especially when a single book sometimes over $100.00. With more online books being offered it will cut down the cost that us students have to pay because online books are relatively cheaper than regular hard copy books. Another great point that was brought up was that the upcoming generations are used to learning electronically. In elementary schools now children are learning on iPad’s and Kindles, so when these children come to college they will be expecting to use mostly all things electronically. The reason why we are so used to using these hard cover books is because it is what we all grew up with. Something that could’ve been added to the argument is that students now a days are more interested in reading online than reading out of a hard cover book. It is the fact that most students time is consumed with being on the Internet or computer anyway that it’ll make reading that much easier for them being that they’re already on their computers.  The resistant audiences for this argument are people who are not technology savvy, or people who cannot afford to purchase a computer or a tablet so they have to sick to the old fashioned way of learning and read out of a hard cover book. The author of the essay does appeal to these aspects of pathos in both situations. For those who are not technology savvy, it was said that books could be offered not only all online but there also could be hard books for those who prefer that instead. This is a great option it is the best of both worlds, if student enjoy hard covers it is still available, but if students want a less expensive online version of that book, that is still an option as well. As for those who cannot afford expensive computers and tablets it was said that the university could supply the technology for them. Of course it would not be free, but the charges could just go towards their tuition or be charged on their student account. I would give the authors “ethos” a low rating only because I felt as if nothing really appealed to emotion, everything was pretty logical. I believe this is a good model for our proposal argument because it states his argument, and then states why he believes this is beneficial to students, gives the opposing viewpoint but also styed on topic all throughout the writing. In the essay it uses statistics as evidence. The author could’ve researched online in databases to get more research information.

Blog Entry #6

Blog Entry #5 discussed how technology is becoming so advanced that sooner than later Americans could potentially be out of jobs being that this incredible machinery will take over and there will be no need for human help anymore. If this were to occur many Americans would be out of jobs and the economy could be at an all time low. Some people may say this is a good thing, while others think differently. There are some possible alternatives that could be put into place so this does not happen. It is strange how technology is advancing so fast that we have come to this, why can’t technology just slow down or stop completely? There comes a point where enough is enough and I’m sure we have come to that point technology can be slowed down, it can be stopped so why doesn’t that just happen? Americans shouldn’t be worried about losing their jobs, not because they aren’t qualified enough but because technology is taking their spot. Better yet, technology should be produced to “help” these employees rather than take over their jobs completely. Technology can be made that would make the lives of these employees more simpler while still being on the job. There are many different ways to improve technology without have the country at risk for an economic downfall, forcing these Americans to be jobless. We need to ask ourselves what is more important, having Americans employed or having technology so advanced that it’ll do the job for us?

Blog Entry #5

This topic has been talked about for many years now, and the same questions have been asked, but the most concerning question to everyone is what would we do if technology became to advanced that certain job positions were no longer needed? This is a concern that many people have, as they should. With technology rapidly progressing this is really could potentially happen and many Americans across the nation, along with other countries could be in danger of losing their jobs. For example, doctors and construction workers are always in high demand, if certain machinery and robots were to take over these jobs, millions would be out of a job and not only is that bad for the people losing their jobs, but it is terrible for the economy. Many Americans would be out of jobs being that they have been replaced and they would have nowhere to go. The government will have to make more jobs for all of these Americans getting the boot. Looking at it right now, there are not that many more jobs he government could make to employee these Americans that will be losing their jobs. If anything they just shouldn’t make technology so advanced if there are this many consequences in doing so. The only people this would benefit are the engineers making all of this high tech technology.  They would spend so much time improving this technology and they are probably getting paid a high amount to do so. In the end, having technology so advanced can potentially be a negative thing. 

Blog Entry #2

Brittany Hughes

1/15/13

Carol O’Shea

After reading “The Connection Between Faith and Politics”, it is obvious that Barak Obama has used some rhetorical strategies throughout the entire text. One obvious rhetorical strategy that Obama used while writing the text was “Using Emotions to Sustain an Argument”. Any reader reading this passage can come to the conclusion that Obama is upset because faith and religion is being brought up during the election in a negative way. Obama states, “No matter how religious they may or may not be, people are tired of seeing faith used as a tool of attack. They don't want faith used to belittle or to divide”. This not only shows how Obama is upset about faith being used in a negative, but he also speaks for everyone else. Another Rhetorical strategy that was used was, “Using Emotion to Build Bridges”, this rhetorical strategy uses emotions to connect with the readers letting them know that you understand their experiences. Mr. Obama does this well by stating that he at first was not a true Christian. That he had to overcome some obstacles to get to where he is when it comes to his faith. “Christians who I worked with recognized themselves in me. They saw that I knew their Book and that I shared their values and sang their songs. But they sensed that a part of me that remained removed, detached, that I was an observer in their midst.” Although Obama was uncertain about his faith, sooner than later he found out where he belonged in the church. One rhetorical strategy that wasn’t used wisely was “Coming Clean about Motives”. Some questions could be aroused from this article questioning his motives. Obama doesn’t state whether or not he has specific motives, and he also does not come clean about not having any.

Blog Entry #1

Brittany Hughes

Carol O’Shea

1/15/13

Like many Americans today, Barack Obama was at first not a dedicated Christian. He had is doubts in the religion and did not want to go to church just to say that he went. After realizing that if he did not become apart of a stronger power a part of him would always be detached and missing.  By attending church it did not answer all of his unanswered questions, but in fact it did give Mr. Obama faith, something he had not had in awhile. While he ran for the Senate of Illinois Mr. Obamas faith was questioned. Mr. Keyes, Mr. Obamas opponent at the time questioned whether or not Obama was a true Christian being that he believed in certain life styles such as gay marriage, and that Mr. Obama believed in pro-choice when it came to women’s rights. Mr. Keyes did this to persuade people not to vote for Obama in the election, and did not succeed. Mr. Obama stated, “People are tired of seeing faith used as a tool of attack”, not everyone is going to have the exact same religious views and that is okay. Mr. Obama goes into detail about just because he does believe in pro-choice and gay marriage that does not mean that he is not Christian. Many conservative politicians blame their non-beliefs on their religion, but that doesn’t get the point across to everyone else who is of a different religion, or who is a non-believer all together. Instead of being prejudice towards each other just because someone does not have the same beliefs as one another, we should look further into it and see what similarities each other has and make it into a more positive experience for the Americans.