In Class Free Write

In last night's reading I found it very interesting that style and word choice effect arguments that we make. I am a person who deals with a lot of things through e-mail because I am always go the go or always on the golf course where I can not talk on the phone. I have an iPhone so I can just pull it out and type an e-mail when necessary. I really like the idea that style and word choice has a lot to do with the state of arguments. To me, I like this because I spent a pretty large amount of time typing e-mails and text messages because I have to with what I do. I am a college student and I have to sometimes communicate my ideas and concerns with professors through e-mail at times. I think that this chapter will be very useful to our project because it tells students how to make arguments effectively.

I believe that this information will be beneficial because I now understand how to make arguments in different ways. Say I wanted to appeal ethically to my reader; I could write in a different manner than if I wanted to create excitement. I believe that having read this information I can see how it is definitely going to help. One other aspect of the chapter's reading that I believe will help me is the portion about how arguments are not just words. I already understood this but I believe that this section will help me and my group to make an effective argument with a political cartoon or something of that nature. I think that this chapter will help our group and I will most likely be referring to this reading for guidance throughout this project.

My job

Throughout this group project, I will be the head writer. The CWO if you will. My job will be tough but I feel like I am the right man for the job. Anyway, here's what my job entails. I will be the group member who does the actual writing when we meet. I am excited that I get to do this because I like writing and the other group members really do not want to do it. I guess that I am really the only one willing to be the head writer but I think it's a good job. When we meet I will be the one who listens and tries to put everyone's ideas into the paper. The only thing that I am concerned about is trying to satisfy all of my group members. What I mean by this is that I will have to try to get everyone's voice into the paper. After only one meeting with my group I feel like we will work well together. All of the group members seem like they will be committed to this project. They also seem like they are willing to work and function as a good group together. I am really looking forward to this project because I have had good experiences with other group projects where we were required to write a paper. I have recently finished my second group project that a paper is required for and I have had two good experiences. I believe that the way to conquer a project of this nature is to work together and always try to be diplomatic.

In Class Free Write

I have never really had a horrifying experience with group work. I have definitely beee in a few groups that needed to be disciplined from time to time. Although I do not think that this group will face my major problems, I am really concerned that we work as hard as I expect us to. I think that if we all make it to class everyday, we will obtain the grade and the success that we all want on this paper. I have worked with two of the three members of my group on other work in this class before and I like the way that they both get to class on time everyday. This have both read some of my writing and I have read some of their's. I do have one major concern which is agreeing on our topic and choice of primary texts. I know that this group is going to be diverse because there are three girls and me...I'm outnumber!

For an ideal group work situation, I would say that everyone has their own job while giving input into the other group member's work. Everyone should be here on time everyday, no exceptions! I think that if we assign each group member two or three jobs throughout the semester, this group assignment will go alot more smoothly than some of the other groups in this class. I also think that for this to be an ideal group situation, everyone in this group will have to be willing to meet outside of class if needed.

What are some of the different roles in the group?
I think that in this group we are going to need a group leader, a research team (two people), a leading writer, a gatekeeper, and a reporter. Group leaders are always necessary in group work because groups need guidance. The group leader should make schedules for the times in which we meet and should lead all discussion if needed. The research team is probably the most important part of the group because they will be finding information in which will be base our whole presentation and project on. The leading writer will be the one who explains and documents what our group is doing and where we are in the project. He or she will also write the final paper. The gatekeeper will be the one who will manage any problematic group members or situations that occur if our group begins to not function as we should. Finally, the reporter will document everything that we do everytime we meet.

In Class Free Write

Today we turned in our second essay and let me tell you, it has definitely changed my view of writing. This assignment was helpful as well as difficult for me. I really did not understand the assignment until about a week ago, five weeks into the assignment. I understood all of the Toulmin assignments but it took me a good while to grasp what I was supposed to be writing and analyzing in the final essay. Today I also read my very first posting that I did in this class and I believe that I am a changed writer. In my first posting, I could tell that I was self-conscious about what I was putting on my blog, now I could really care what I write or who reads it because they are my ideas and I think that they are great. The other writing that I have done in this class has been very beneficial to me in the sense that it has helped me realize that I am a pretty good writer, not great but pretty good. In my first posting, I also wrote about how I did not think that I was a good writer but this class has helped me either realize that I was or become a better writer. I really do not know which one. I now believe in my writing because I have had some good feedback from Amanda and some good feedback from my classmates. I also believe that I am now a better writer because I have learned to deal with the criticism from others about my writing.

In Class Free-Write: My Primary Sources

My three primary source all fit together by way of how they pertain to Alex Rodriguez and the big mess that he has gotten himself into. Thinking a little more critically about this, they are all arguments as to why Rodriguez would use steroids or what he has done to his image now that he is a known steroid user. I think that many people would say that these three articles all make an argument for why a player with this kind of talent would do something to this magnitude. All three of these article also look at when and where he used steroids and why he might have felt the need to use performance-enhancing drugs.

These three sources are different because they all look at different aspects of Rodriguez' steroid use. The first two primarily look at what drove Rodriguez to use steroids while the third looks at the people and players around him that possibly made him want to try and continually use steroids. The first article is by far the most benefical source that I have obtained for my second essay in this class. This article stands above the latter two sources because it goes more in-depth, looking at the ins and outs of steroids and how Rodriguez handled the steroid allegations. The first article is different from the other two because it was published in a Sports Illustrated by authors and writers who are very skilled in the field of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

The warrents or unspoken values and assumptions of these three sources are: Rodriguez knowingly used steroids to gain an edge, Rodriguez was pressured into using these drugs, and that Rodriguez only used steroids while he was in Texas. I believe that all three of these warrents can really help me in my paper. I think that each of these warrents can create great arguments. The first warrent is one the would most likely seem very obvious to outsiders. I believe that there is more to this warrent. After reading and researching many articles, it is a valid arguement that Rodriguez did not know what he was putting in his body. Some people honestly believe Rodriguez when he said that he was simply too young to know better.

These three articles definitely show the basic model for arguments in America. All three of these articles make a point and attempt to prove it. These articles also attempt to disprove someone or a group of people. After reading and analyzing these three articles I now have a pretty good idea as to what the state of argument is in the United States. I now think that most arguments in the US are made through using evidence and primary examples to prove or disprove point. In the US, it is evident to me now that arguments have two or more than two sides. I now realize that a good argument is not only one-sided. In attempting to prove or disprove, I now think that a rebuttal is a great way to make an argument.

Unit 2 Proposal

For my Unit 2 proposal I am going to research and write about the Steroid Era in baseball. This is something that has always interested me because I come from a family who loves baseball and  Instead of looking at a just the Steroid Era as a whole, I am going to look at a few players and how they tie into the Steroid Era and how they tie into the records of baseball. For example, when exactly Barry Bonds began using steroid and how many home runs he hit during the time of his use. This raises a good question, what would his statistics looked like if he had never used steroids. Other players that I am going to research because they caused so much controversy are Roger Clemens and Miguel Tejada. Clemens reported lied to Congress about his steroid use and Tejada has already been indicted for lying to Congress about his use. I may also take a look at the Alex Rodriguez case but I believe that Rodriguez may not be a good topic of research because his use has surfaced so recently. The fact that his use has surfaced so recently leads me to believe that  there will be some sources that act whimsically in making judgments rather than gathering facts and statistics and writing reports with clear, thought-out research. I believe that researching this topic will be interesting because of how big the issue of steroids has gotten in baseball. I will look in baseball magazine, Sports Illustrated, and the Mitchell Report. This Mitchell Report is a paper written by a man named George Mitchell who has followed the issue of steroids since it first surfaced. In his paper he writes about specific players and their use of steroids. I believe that I will find a ton of great information in this paper because of how in-depth it goes. I am really looking forward to this because I am a baseball fan and would love to know the ins and outs of the Steroid Era in baseball.

3/3/09: Free Write

My main concern with this unit 2 topic is I do not understand the basis of a rhetorical analysis well enough to write an essay. This afternoon I am going to really crack down on what a rhetorical analysis is and then choose an essay topic. I think that I am going to choose something that has the do with a big issue in sports. Maybe I think choose the steroid era in sports or the boating accident that occured off of the coast of Florida with the two NFL players. I just need to get to a point where I fully understand this topic before I can actually begin to make a decision.

One thing that is not making me happy these days is my apartment and its management. There is early morning construction, cold water in the morning, and no cell phone service in my apartment. I can not wait until the end of school so I can move into the house that I am renting next semester. Not only does my apartment have all of these problems, it is over-priced and the management acts like it is not their position to help me out. At the going rate of this place, I should have a servant in my room.

You can not begin to think of how excited I am for spring break, I have been waiting on going on this fishing trip for months now. My dad and four other of his friends are heading down to Del Rio, Texas to go bass fishing at Lake Amistad. I love this area, it isn't exactly pretty but it is always fun.