SWA 23

Working Title: Outlawing of Cigarettes: Protecting America

Working Thesis: Cigarettes should be outlawed entirely in the United States due to their highly addictive and lethal qualities. 

I)              Description of Cigarettes

A)   Ingredients within cigarettes

-       Carcinogens

B)   What these ingredients do to the body

-       Cancer

-       Lung Disease

-       Cardiovascular problems, etc.

II)            Fatal effects of cigarettes

A)   Annual/ yearly death rates of smokers

-       Statistics

B)   Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke on non smokers

C)   Environmental Effects of Smoking Cigarettes

III)          Cigarettes compared to drugs and alcohol

A)   The outlawing of marijuana

B)   The difference between alcohol and cigarettes

-       Alcohol does not produce secondhand smoke

IV)          The possibility of outlawing cigarettes and how it would be done

A)   The current number of smokers

B)   How smoking restrictions have been done

C)   Influence of tobacco companies on laws

Conclusion: Outlawing cigarettes is an option that would be overwhelmingly positive, and would save millions of lives in generations to come. 

SWA 22

ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) is poisoning our environment. Cigarettes are known to be lethal, and the second hand smoke that smokers produce has serious risks for those around them. Marijuana, a substance whose natural compounds has never directly killed anyone, given them cancer, caused them lung or heart failure, or given them a myocardial infarction, is illegal. Cigarettes, which kill around 5.4 million people a year directly from their usage, are legal. I propose that cigarette production, ownership, and production should be illegal to save lives that would otherwise be taken as a result of smoking.

Working Thesis - Cigarettes should be outlawed entirely due to their highly addictive and lethal qualities. 

SWA 21

The issue of the essay is the Occupy movement. It's importance is explained. The author of this essay explains the prominence of the movement and the impact it has had across the world. The author also talks about the dramatic results that have come out of the movement, which includes the violence that has occurred during protests. The perspective are identifiable because they are clearly stated. They are "active protesters of the Occupy Movement, outside sympathizers of the movement that are not directly involved, Political figures that oppose the movement, and lastly, concerned citizens that are directly affected by the movement". The thesis gives great insight into the issue and leads into the paper concisely and effectively. The into summarized the movement and gave great facts and points that made me want to learn more about the movement, while the conclusion lead out with reiterating the 4 perspectives again and summing everything up. I think the essay is extremely effective. There was such a massive amount of research and facts that were in the paper that it made me confident that I was getting the correct information from someone who took the time to work on it. I don't know what I would suggest to the author because I thought it was a great essay. 

SWA 20

Nicole Smith

English 102

Mrs. Mikhaylova

Essay 3 Outline

Title: Smoking Restrictions: Pursuing Safety for the Masses

Thesis: Smoking restrictions improve the overall health of the masses and give smokers the incentive for cessation, without any negative fiscal impact on public establishments.

I.               The overall health risks from ETS establish absolute cause and need for widespread smoking bans.

A)   ETS is environmental tobacco smoke that causes many serious problems.

- Raises the risk for acute myocardial infarction (source)

- Sargent, Richard, Robert Shepard, and Stanton Glantz. "Reduced incidence of admissions for myocardial infarction associated with public smoking ban: before and after study." BMJ. N.p., 2004. Web. 29 Feb 2012.

B)   Cigarettes are point sources of air pollution

-       When smoking outside, the hot air makes the smoke descend back down onto people

-       Repace, James. "Tob Control 2000; 9:98 doi: 10.1136/tc.9.1.98 Debate Banning outdoor smoking is scientifically justifiable." Tobacco Control. 9.1 (2000): n. page. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

II.             Non smokers are negatively effected by ETS and prefer that smoking restrictions be enacted

A)   Non smokers are forced to tolerate ETS and it’s risks

- “Nonsmokers' SHS odor and irritation sensory thresholds were massively exceeded.”

B) A study at Berkley showed that the majority of people were happy with recently passed smoking restrictions

     

- Garg, T., N. Fradkin BA, and J. Moskowitz PhD. "Adoption of an outdoor residential hall smoking policy in a california public university: A case study.”. N.p., 2011. Web. 14 Mar 2012. <http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vach20>.

III) Smoking bans do not have negative consciences as many may think, and actually improve the lives of smokers

A)   Smoking bans influence smokers to ban smoking in their own homes

-       Reuters, . "Public bans mean smokers also light up less at home." Fox News. Fox, 14 Feb 2012. Web. 21 Mar 2012. <http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/14/public-bans-mean-smokers-also-light-up-less-at-home/>.

B)   Smoking bans do not cause establishments with previously smoke filled environments to lose income

-       Goldstein and Sobel. "Environmental Tobacco Smoke Regulations Have Not Hurt Restaurant Sales in North Carolina." North Carolina Medical Journal. 59. (1998): 284-287. Web.

Conclusion- Smoking restrictions have proved to have an overall positive impact, and because of their success, should be more actively sought after and approved.

SWA 19

METCO-Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity
METCO is the longest continuously running voluntary school desegregation program in the country and a national model for the few other voluntary desegregation busing programs currently in existence



Franny and Zooey-  is a book by American author JD Salinger which comprises his short story "Franny" and novella Zooey.


This research illuminated the article by helping me better understand the examples the author was drawing his ideas from. Before I was completely confused and just glancing over terms that I didn't understand, and that took a lot away from the real meaning of the piece. But now that I know exactly what those terms mean, I feel like I can think much differently about the article. 
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Stave, Gregg, and George Jackson. "Effect of a Total Work-Site Smoking Ban." Journal of Occupational Medicine. N.p., 1991. Web. 14 Mar 2012. <http://journals.lww.com/joem/abstract/1991/08000/effect_of_a_total_work_site_smoking_ban_on.14.asp&xgt;.


This source talks about a survey that was done at Duke. The conclusion of the survey showed that the majority of people there did support the prohibition of smoking. Another conclusion was that the prohibition of smoking also led to an increase in cessation of smoking.


Garg, T., N. Fradkin BA, and J. Moskowitz PhD. "Adoption of an outdoor residential hall smoking policy in a california public university: A case study." . N.p., 2011. Web. 14 Mar 2012. <http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vach20>.



This source shows us a case study about a ban that was put on smoking in a residential hall in a California public university. It found that smoking was limited and the ban ultimately worked and was successful. 

SWA 18

1) The main point that Kang is trying to get across is that althought baseball is supposed to transcend racial boundaries, that is not really the case. Sterotypes and racism still exist in the world of sports. I think the arguement is very clear and effective. Kang's use of Ichiro is very relatable and makes it easy for the reader to understand. He uses his viewpoint of Ichiro as a fellow Asian, and how it makes him feel to get his point about racial lines and perspectives across.

2) If I were writing a paper, I would chose to do the social markers of Americanness. I would point out things that are seen by everyone and the things that are "stereotypical". I would use a foriegn perspective on Americanness because it it differs from an American's perspective on their own Americanness.

SWA 17

Goldstein and Sobel, . "Environmental Tobacco Smoke Regulations Have Not Hurt Restaurant Sales in North Carolina." North Carolina Medical Journal. 59. (1998): 284-287. Web.


- This source explains ETS and the results of ETS on the body. It discusses the legislation that came about after ETS research and discovery. The source then goes on to discuss the effects of banning smoking on the success of restaurant sales in North Carolina. The study shows that the banning had no negative effects on the financial success of restaurants in 5 NC counties. 


Rigotti and Pashos, . "No-Smoking Laws in the United States." JAMA. 266.22 (1991): n. page. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.


- This source explains the laws passed in each state. It talks about when and how they were passed, and the effects of the laws passing. This source includes charts and tables that show what cities and where passed laws. It also shows the places in which laws got passed (example- theatres, hospitals).

SWA 16

Repace, James. "Tob Control 2000;9:98 doi:10.1136/tc.9.1.98 Debate Banning outdoor smoking is scientifically justifiable." Tobacco Control. 9.1 (2000): n. page. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.


- This source explains the scientific side of cigarette smoking. It explains that the cigarettes are point sources of air pollution, and by smoking outside, the hot smoke cools fast. It then descends back down onto people in that area. This causes that local amount of air to be polluted and to be harmful for those in that air. "ETS" or environmental smoke can cause many health risks and if smokers were to be allowed to smoke outside in all public places if would irritate and hurt many people. 


Sargent, Richard, Robert Shepard, and Stanton Glantz. "Reduced incidence of admissions for myocardial infarction associated with public smoking ban: before and after study." BMJ. N.p., 2004. Web. 29 Feb 2012. <http://www.bmj.com/content/328/7446/977.abstract>.


- This source includes a study done about the effects of secondhand smoke. "Secondhand smoke increases the risk of myocardial infarction". The study looked at the relation between smoke free work places and other public places to the occurrences of hospital admissions for this health issue. 

SWA 15

Once I started researching the other topics, I decided that I only wanted to begin research on one topic because I feel so passionately about it, I believe it will be easy to write about, and I can easily find enough information on it. I am sure about this topic and don't want to waste valuable time researching other topics. I went ahead and did some research on other topics anyways, but I didn't do much because I will not be pursuing them.

Banning Smoking - the probability and possibility of banning smoking in public places ex) campuses, parks, etc, and the laws that already exist, will exist, and should exist to make this happen

Potential Sources

- http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/296/14/1778.short

- http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/9/1/95.extract
(ethics behind tobacco control)

- http://heinonlinebackup.com/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/gwlr75&section=25
(smoking in bars and restaurants)

- http://www.bmj.com/content/321/7257/333.short
(ethics behind tobacco control)

- http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)60691-6/fulltext
(success in Europe of public smoking ban)

Banning Contraceptives

- http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/usthomlj2&div=30&id=&page=

Nuclear Weapons

- http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=6691788

SWA 13

1)   Smoking Banning – Banning smoking in public places altogether. Example – this campus. It’s controversial because of the smokers that are in public places. I think smoking should be banned in ALL public places. I would research what laws/bans they currently have and where the laws are headed.

2)   Health Care Reform – Having socialized medicine in America. It’s controversial because some people don’t want to pay for other people’s medical care. I think health care reform is needed, but I don’t think there’s any good way to do it. I would research the proposed plan and other plans.

3)   Senior Care – How elders are treated in homes and what should be done about it. It’s controversial because it’s costly and not well known. I would research what is being done and what could be done. 

SWA 12

1)   Healthy eating improves the lives of students.

-       Better food choices makes the children happier and less sick.

-       Enhances their appreciation for farmers, the community and the land.

2)   Edible education helps students embrace responsibility by teaching them how to develop their own food.

-       Helps students learn about sharing

-       Enhances connection with themselves and their peers.

-       Helps them to believe in themselves

-       Connection to community is key

-       Helps us embrace our status as an American

-       Through edible education we develop the values of society.

Question 1) Walter’s says that food can be used to teach these values by helping kids learn that “farmers depend on the land; we depend on farmers; and our nation depends on all of us.”

Question 2) She makes this link by giving the example of the Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin. Yes more evidence would help her argument because it was only one school.

Question 3) I’m not sure about the whole state, but in my county we had terrible food and they wouldn’t consider edible education.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay 2 Paragraph

Nicole Smith

English 102

Mrs. Mikhaylova

In “The Pleasures of Eating”, Berry’s use of vocabulary enhances the persuasive argument. Berry’s word choice is strong and draws close attention to the topic of unhealthy food and unconcerned consumers. Berry uses many negative words when describing consumers. He says that the patrons of the food industry are “uncritical, passive and dependent.” Berry generalizes the group of people he considers to be consumers to make the names he calls them more relevant to the reader. Berry also uses long lists of these strong words that call even more attention to the point. In a single sentence, Berry uses 12 descriptive terms to describe food that the audience typically eats. These words are visual and powerful, and do not directly fit with what healthy and normal food would be described as. 

Rhetorical Analysis Essay 2 Outline

Nicole Smith

English 102

Mrs. Mikhaylova

Rhetorical Essay #2 Outline

Title: Powerful Vocabulary and Comparisons in “The Pleasures of Eating”

Thesis: In “The Pleasures of Eating” by Wendell Berry, the use of strong terminology and vivid comparisons effectively persuades the audience to reevaluate and rediscover their knowledge of food.

I.               Wendell’s use of vocabulary enhances the persuasive argument.

A)   The word choice

Ex) “uncritical, passive, dependent”

Ex) “strained, blended, prettified, and sanitized”

B)   The long lists of strong words

Ex) last line on 323

Ex) “farming, animal husbandry, horticulture, and gardening”

II.             Wendell’s use of comparisons/examples enhances the persuasive argument.

A)   What type of comparisons (negative)

Ex) “industrial sex”

Ex) “virgin purity”

Ex) “make up on actors”

B)   Where the comparisons are

Ex) grouped close together

Ex) many in same paragraph

Ex) bottom of page 323

III.           Conclusion point

A) Berry’s argument was effective in this piece because of the placement and choice of comparisons and vocabulary.

SWA 9

The central claim of the first article is that because farmers who use factory farming methods do not raise their livestock naturally, the quality of their product goes down. Also, the inhumane methods that factory farmers use is morally wrong, because livestock are not treated with respect and dignity. The author assumes that, because the audience most likely respects that livestock should not be harmed as they grow up, the audience values the livestock's right to not be treated cruelly. Also, the livestock deserve to be able to eat a diet of healthy food that only has beneficial effects on an animal's body, because the audience most likely assumes that livestock graze on natural grass and insects.

SWA 8

1) Scully builds and supports his case by emphasizing that humans should treat animals with respect and dignity. This is how animals were treated in the past and this appeals to the conservative cause because it is a key aspect of conservative values. One of the key aspects of conservative values is that traditions are followed because traditions are the most reliable course of action since we know them well.

2) Scully means that because animals don't have the same ability to reason and level of moral judgement it is the human race's obligation to treat these animals with respect. The respect we give them should be based off our own morality. If we don't treat them with respect, we are treating them as our property. I agree with him because animals need to be treated with respect and kindness.

Scully doesn't specifically address these aspects specifically. He does somewhat represent them, but he does it more generally. I can't really pick out a specific place in which he does this. He points at that a Smithfields Foods executive told him, "They love it." It's all "for their own good."

SWA 6

            Everyday, the lives of American’s are consumed by the constant presence of advertisements. Although they are prevalent, these advertisements are rarely given more than a passing glance. When looking closely at an advertisement, the intentions and projected audience of the product become clear. The advertisements are specifically designed to fit the projected audience’s values in order to effectively sell the product. In my advertisements for lipstick, one ad specifically aims to sell to the glamorous, classy woman, while the second ad sells to a much more average and normal woman.  

SWA 5

Both of my ads were published in the February 2012 issue of Seventeen Magazine. Typical topics that are covered in this magazine are fashion, beauty, fitness, and relationships. Although the title of the magazine is "seventeen", I am 18 years old and I still receive the magazine. I think the magazine has a very wide range of audience from ages 13 to about 30. It's definitely a magazine aimed toward females. All of the relationship advice is geared toward females, and the ads do not advertise any male products. Other products that are normally sold in this magazine are acne medicine and skin care products, all types of make up, clothes, nail polish, shampoo, deodorant, tampons, etc. Based on these things, the publisher assumes that it's readers highly value their physical appearances, and how they appear to the outside world.

SWA 4

Topic Worksheet

1.     I’m analyzing tampon advertisements. These advertisements were found online, but they were both originally placed into magazines.

2.     The audiences for my ads are both very different. For my first ad with just the large white print, the audience intended for younger girls. It doesn’t focus on what type of younger girl, but just targets the teenage girl in general. The second ad targets much more active girls with a wider age range.

3.     Ad 1  -      Made up primarily of large white words

-        Shows the image of a girl driving successfully away in a convertible

-        Includes a statistic

-       Has mostly natural colors (blues, blacks, browns, whites)

-       Small display of tampon boxes in corner

   

              Ad 2    -     Pretty tan brunette girl in white work out clothes

            -     Pink box of tampons

            -     Pink and black words at the bottom

            -     Gray background

            -     Girl is in a forearm stand

       4. I chose these two because they send very differently messages about why you  

should buy the product, when they’re selling the exact same thing. I guess the first ad just shows girl power and is just getting the readers attention, and the second ad is showing how the product allows you to be athletic and amazing. A value that is shown in the first ad is freedom and having fun being a girl, and the second ad shows that a period wont hold you back from what you’re doing with this product. 

SWA 3

            The article I decided to discuss is “Our Prison System”.  This article explains the cruelty that occurs in prison. There are many extremely negative aspects to the prison system. One of the biggest problems is the amount of people we have incarcerated that seems to be way to large. Other problems include the effects of isolation, and sexual and physical assault. I think one of the most important issues that was discussed in this article is the spread of HIV in prisons. If criminals will rape another prisoner in jail, then they will most likely rape someone outside of prison. If these people are contracting HIV in prison, it’s terrible to imagine how many innocent victims are going to get it outside of prison. I feel like this article says that basically, as a country, we’re very blind to the different world that lies within a prison fence. This article made me think a lot. By comparing our prison system to China, it evokes a feeling of nationalism that really helps get the point across.

            The photo that I chose to talk about is figure 2.4 on page 28 in Chapter 2. In this image, a robot machine is shown folding a bed. The quote reads “anti immigration nation: hotels fund robots to replace migrant housekeepers”. I chose this picture because I think it really makes a good point. Instead of giving jobs to real people who are in poverty, we are so concerned with immigrant labor issues that we would rather pay money to make robots do their jobs. I think this picture really shows how ridiculous and caught up in this issue some Americans are. Although there are many illegal immigrants, they do the jobs that many Americans would not do anyways. I think the satirical humor in the picture further emphasizes how silly the hype about the situation really can be. If we could genuinely end illegal immigration, and send all the illegal immigrants back to their home countries, we would then have to figure out what to do in the industries that were run by these immigrants and in the mean time, who knows what could happen. I think there are far more pressing issues in this country, such as the prison problem, the economy, and the environment, and all of those make the illegal immigration issues seem miniscule. 

SWA 2

I think this passage is more relatable than "Is Google Making Us Stupid". The same reasons I didn't like the Google passage are the reasons I like "Get Smarter". I definitely agree with "Get Smarter". The technologies we have today are enhancing our intelligence. Although we may be ADD because of it, it doesn't mean that's necessarily bad. I believe we are better multi-taskers, and that we are respond more quickly to changes in our environments. I think that being so easily inundated in a text or work can be just as negative as getting distracted can be. Since our inability to fully focus coincides with our advancements in technology, the ability to completely focus coincides with the lack of advancement. From that statement I think it is easy to see that, although we are easily distracted, we are also living in ease with rapid information flow. This allows us to lead happy, healthy and productive lives with all the luxuries of the modern era.

SWA 1

Nicole Smith

Professor Mikhaylova

English 102, Section 111

10 January 2012

SWA #1

Experiences in Writing: Choice vs. Assignment

            Ever since I began writing papers, I’ve had many varied experiences in the writing process.  At many times, I have hated my writing experience and had a hard time completing the paper. The papers that seemed the most relentless to me were the ones where the topics were assigned. When I was given a choice on a topic, the papers were easier to complete and more enjoyable. My best writing experience was when I was given an open-ended assignment where I was able to write about something I’m passionate about.

            My best writing experience was my Senior Mastery paper for my final project as a senior in high school. For this assignment, I had to research a topic throughout the entire year, teach a class on it, and present it to a panel of judges. I also had to write a large research paper on it. This assignment took a lot of work, and a lot of research, but I loved it. It was so good because I was able to present anything I wanted. I chose a very abstract concept, and it made the writing process very interested. My paper was titled The Ascetic Appeal of Live Dance vs. Dance in Film. This research was so interesting because there was no information that was directly related to my topic. I had to combine most of my information from a large diversity of sources. I changed my viewpoint several times throughout the paper every time I came across a different source. I think this paper was so exciting because I was so interested in the topic, and because I felt like it would be insightful and refreshing to the reader.

            My worst writing experience was in English 101 when I had to write a review paper on Paradise Lost. The main reason it was so bad was because I had an awfully hard time reading the book. Writing a review on a book that is extremely difficult to understand is terrible. Also, I felt that the topics my teacher gave me were hard to write about and confusing. I did not enjoy the writing experience at all and I’m lucky that I even got a paper written. I ultimately received a decent grade on the paper, but only because I struggled to do my absolute best on it.

            I think that papers are not the best past time in general. Most people would prefer to be doing other things with their spare time than writing papers. Besides this, I have had somewhat enjoyable experiences writing a few papers. Papers in which I’ve been able to openly chose the topic have been much more tolerable than assigned papers. The papers that I’ve been able to write on my own have had the most impact on me due to the valuable information I learned while researching them. I hope to have more papers like that in the future.