Final Exam: Self-Reflection! :)

Ashley Lewis

Instructor Thomas

English 102

3 May 2013

Reflection of English 102

            At the beginning of the semester, I was so excited to be coming back to Mrs. Thomas’ class as an English 102 student. I had Mrs. Thomas for English 101, so I already knew how the class worked, especially the technology aspect of it. I have always felt that I was a good writer and that my writing improved in English 101. But with English 102, I definitely had a lot more to learn and honestly, I still do. Over the course of the semester, I discovered my strengths in writing, my weaknesses in writing, and some helpful tips and activities that helped me along the way. Not only did these things help me in English 102, but they have prepared me for writing in my future classes, as I continue my education.

            In 101, we used technology quite a bit, but I think we used it even more in 102. We finally got to use Twitter, which was pretty cool! With Twitter, you can state an opinion about something that maybe you could not or would not want to say in a class discussion. Using Twitter to talk about the Presidential Inauguration was really fun because I was able to tweet about all the different aspects of the President’s speech and point out all examples of pathos, logos, and ethos. After doing that activity, it made writing my first essay a little easier since I had a better idea of what rhetorical appeal was. Also, making a Prezi about my fourth essay was pretty cool. I used Prezi for an essay in 101, so I already had an idea on how to use it. I wanted to use Prezi again because I really enjoy it and it is really easy to use. It is like a PowerPoint on steroids! With Prezi and other tools like it, I can make a visual of any paper I write, which is pretty neat.

            I have come to learn that when it comes to writing papers, I am very good about being concise. It has definitely improved over the course of four essays. Being concise is a huge advantage for me because some college students are not as good at it. Another thing I am very good at is MLA format. In English 101, it took me awhile to get the hang of it, but once I did, I became a pro at it. When it comes to MLA format, I am very anal and quite the perfectionist. I make sure that every little detail is correct and in the right order. Some people think I go a little overboard with it, but to me, it is the difference between an A and a B.

            Of course, my writing has its flaws too. Something I have struggled with since English 101 is adding more content and analysis to my essays. Every paper that I get back, Mrs. Thomas always tells me that I need more content, which is very true. I have noticed that for every essay that I have written in this course, I always have a good thought or idea. When I write about it though, I always skim the surface of it. I never go deeper than it should be. I always struggle getting to the minimum requirement of pages that the essay has to be. Honestly, struggling with adding more content and analysis to my essays stems from me not thinking critically. Thinking critically is a huge component in college and if I do not learn how soon, I will be at a disadvantage. Thinking critically is definitely something I still need to work on in the future and I am confident that I will master it.

            Over the course of the semester, we had several reading activities. Some I really liked; others, not so much. They Say, I Say was such a helpful book and I really enjoyed reading it. At first, I questioned how effective it was going to be. But once I got to the second essay, I found myself picking it up every five minutes to help me. They Say, I Say really helped me with the second essay because it was taking two contrasting articles (or at least mine was), discussing them, and then taking a side. The book had excellent transition phrases that can be applied to just about any essay to make it a lot better. I am definitely going to keep this book because I know it will be useful to me for any papers I have to write in my other classes.

            On the other hand, The Norton Field Guide to Writing did not really catch my attention as much. Some of the reading activities were helpful, but there were some that I honestly did not get. Most of the articles in that book are from experienced writers who know what they are talking about. For me, it was harder for me to understand those texts because of the subject matter the writers talked about. One piece in particular, I do not remember the title, but it was about teaching and TRAs. That text was so hard for me to read and focus on because there were so many facts and statistics being thrown at me. The piece probably would have made a lot more sense to me if I had known what the author was talking about. Now, I am not saying that I hated The Norton Field Guide to Writing altogether. There were a few pieces in it that helped me out. But for me, this book did not help me as much as They Say, I Say did.

            There were a few other things that also helped me when it came to writing papers this semester in English 102. I liked reading the student examples from previous years. Reading them helped give me ideas for my own papers. For my third and fourth essays, I found that a few student essays used headings to separate each thing they talked about into sections. So, I also used headings for my own papers and found that the headings made the organization of my paper so much better. I also liked posting my rough draft to my blog and letting my classmates read it and give me feedback. We all have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to writing, so I think giving each other feedback to help one another is a good thing. If there is something that I am lacking in my paper, my classmates can let me know and give me ideas on how to fix it. Lastly, the best thing that helped me when it came to writing papers was when I got to meet one-on-one with Mrs. Thomas. Any questions, problems, or concerns that I had about my paper, she would give me great advice and point me in the right direction. She would also make me feel really good about my papers, since I always doubt my work. Meeting with her for fifteen minutes or so was a really good way to have her undivided attention on my paper and help me fix whatever flaws there were.

            Overall, I strongly believe that I have learned a lot in English 102, but it has also taught me that I still have a lot to learn. I will take all of the skills and tips that I have learned this semester with me into all of my future classes and my career. Honestly, I am kind of sad to be leaving this class. I have been so lucky to have Mrs. Thomas for two semesters! I am going to be so lost when I do not have her as a teacher next year! She has taught me so much about writing and technology. Everything that I have learned in this course, I will definitely take with me for the rest of my life.    

           

Final Exam: Revised Essay!

***I chose to revise Essay 1: Rhetorical Analysis because it was one of the first essays I wrote in English 102 and it also was one of my favorites to write. I have learned a lot in the past few months that I felt could be helpful in revising this paper. I tweaked a few words here and there and added some sentences where I felt they were appropriate. I also deleted a few words and sentences to help make my paper better. I also added more analysis since that's what I was lacking the first time I wrote this essay.

Ashley Lewis

Instructor Thomas

English 102

01 February 2013

Angel:

A Look Inside the BCSPCA Video

            We have all seen the commercials for BCSPCA: images of abused animals with sad eyes, the song, “Angel,” playing in the background, and Sarah McLachlan pleading for donations that way animal cruelty can be stopped. Every time that commercial comes on our televisions, we automatically want to change the channel, but there is a part of us that wants to keep watching. We want to be able to jot down that phone number or web address so we can help the innocent animals. That is exactly what BCSPCA wants their audience to do. In this commercial, BCSPCA and Sarah McLachlan creatively use excellent metaphors, heart wrenching word choice, and heartbreaking sounds and images of abused animals, which lures the audience into donating money and stopping animal cruelty.

            BCSPCA’s overall goal in this commercial is to raise money and put an end to animal cruelty. Multiple times you hear Sarah McLachlan say to, “Call the number on your screen…with a monthly gift right now.” As heartbreaking as the commercial is, they are trying to raise money and BCSPCA makes sure to pound that into the audience’s head. By donating money to them, one less animal will be abused and that is exactly what we, as the audience, want. Also, during a majority of the commercial, the audience notices a phone number and web address at the bottom of the screen. BCSPCA does this that way it will be the last thing the audience remembers as soon as the commercial goes off. This sort of repetition of the phone number and web address is pounded into the audience’s head and makes it nearly impossible to forget to make a donation. Also, having their phone number and web address on the screen proves their credentials.

            BCSPCA appeals to the audience’s sense of knowledge by stating astonishing facts about animal abuse. At the very beginning of the video, a text pops up that reads, “Every single hour in BC, an animal is violently abused.” Most people are stunned by this fact. But by BCSPCA stating this, they are proving their credentials. A fact like this is something that BCSPCA knows and researches every day. It is their job to know facts such as this. Again, repetition is reflected since facts are stated and the phone number and web address repeatedly come up during the commercial. Also, the audience’s reaction to these facts evokes emotions in them, which is an example of pathos. With these emotions from the shock and anger, it makes the audience more willing to go out of their way to make a donation to BCSPCA.

            BCSPCA definitely gets their audience by pulling on their heartstrings. The first thing McLachlan asks the audience is, “Will you be an angel for a helpless animal?” McLachlan metaphorically calls the audience angels, which covers her request for money and flatters the audience at the same time. And of course, the audience wants to feel like angels by doing a good deed; donating money to BCSPCA makes the audience feel benevolent. Everyone wants to help the poor, innocent animals have a second chance at life. Another aspect that makes this commercial so powerful is McLachlan’s tone. Her tone is pleading, almost begging, for donations. At the end of the video, she pleads to her audience by saying, “Please call, right now.” She desperately wants her audience to help contribute, so she knows just what to say and how to say it to get her point across. 

The word choice used in this commercial also plays a strong role in why it gets to the audience’s heart. One particular sentence used in the commercial was worded like this: “Every day, innocent animals are abused, beaten, and neglected; and they’re crying out for help.” The words abused, beaten, and neglected appeals to the audience’s sense of melancholy and rage. No sane person wants to hear about a poor animal being beaten or neglected. Hearing words like that hurts the audience’s heart and at the same time, makes them want to hunt down all the abusers and do terrible things to them. For me, it hurts to watch this commercial because it makes me want to scoop up all of the animals and bring them home with me. But that is exactly the kind of reaction BCSPCA is trying to get out of their audience. If the audience is riled up enough, they will want to call in, donate money, and put a stop to animal abuse.

The strongest element, I would say, are the sounds in the BCSPCA commercial. As Sarah McLachlan’s song, “Angel,” plays in the background, images of helpless animals appear on the television screen. Some of the lyrics played in the commercial go like this:

            In the arms of the angel,
Fly away from here,
From this dark cold hotel room,
And the endlessness that you fear,
You are pulled from the wreckage,
Of your silent reverie…

BCSPCA knew exactly what they were thinking when they chose this song for their commercial. The lyrics perfectly describe what is happening with the abused animal. When the audience reaches out and donates to BCSPCA, they are pulling animals from whatever wreckage they are in and they will be in the audience’s arms, receiving love and comfort. The audience wants to feel like they have given an animal a second chance at life. The soundtrack alone makes the commercial what it is. Without the song, the commercial would not evoke as much emotion in the audience.

Seeing images of abused animals evokes sadness and rage in the audience. For some audience members, the images may even be a little offensive. Images of animals with a missing eye, three legs, or gashes on their bodies are so graphic, but that is the point BCSPCA is trying to make. Animal abuse is offensive, heartbreaking, and outraging. So, in showing those images, it makes the audience want to call in more than ever. 

            BCSPCA does an amazing job at achieving their purpose with their commercial. The images, sounds, metaphors, and word choice all contribute to make a powerful public service. When creating this commercial, BCSPCA knew exactly what elements needed to go into it to create rhetorical appeal for their audience. Millions of people donate to BCSPCA all the time, which is what they want. Of course, animal abuse is still an ongoing problem, but at least with commercials like this, light is being shed on it and things are being done to stop it.

 

 

 

Works Cited

McLachlan, Sarah. Angel. Surfacing, 1997. MP3.

Ragefc. “Sarah McLachlan Animal Cruelty Video.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube,           03 Oct. 2006. Web. 28 Jan. 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

ABA in Mainstream Schools Digital Project! :)

Essay 4 Self Reflection! :)

1.       What were your biggest challenges in researching and writing your Proposal?

 

The biggest challenge for me was trying to find good library sources that went along with my proposal. I only had one or two that came from Essay 3 and a majority of my sources were from the web. I found that I had an easier time finding web sources than sources from the library. Once I had my conference with Mrs. Thomas, she helped me find a few more library sources that were extremely helpful. I think my problem was using the right keywords when typing them into the databases. If you don’t know what key words to type in, most likely, you won’t get as many good hits.

 

 

 

 2.      What do you feel is the best element of your final proposal?

The best element of my proposal, I say, would have to be the research. Even though I struggled with finding the sources I needed, once I had them, I had no problem putting them into my paper. I had plenty of sources to go by and all the research definitely beefed up my paper! Another good thing about my proposal was the story in the beginning about Ethan. That story definitely gave my paper some pathos.

 

 

3.      What do you feel is the weakest element of your final proposal?

The weakest element of my paper would have to be the proposal itself. I’m worried that maybe I contradicted myself in the thesis or the overall proposal just doesn’t make sense. Apparently ABA is either done at home or in a special clinic, I was not sure if it made sense to have it in schools. It sounds like a pretty good idea though. So hopefully, my proposal makes sense to others!

 

 

4.      What could you have done differently to improve your overall performance with both the Literature Review and the Proposal?

One huge thing I could have done differently was choose a topic that I’m passionate about. Don’t get me wrong, I love the topic about autism in mainstream schools. It’s such an interesting topic that does not get enough attention. But after a while, I found myself losing interest in the whole thing. Maybe that’s because I struggled with research, but maybe if I was more passionate about the topic I chose, things would be different. I was having a hard time choosing a topic in the first place, that once I did find the autism topic, I sort of just settled with it. But I definitely don’t regret choosing the autism topic. I learned a lot of interesting things about the subject!

 

 

 

Essay 4 Rough Draft!

***SORRY, STILL NOT FINISHED! NEEDS LOTS OF WORK!!!***

Ashley Lewis

Instructor Thomas

English 102

22 April 2013

Can This Work?

Autism in Mainstream Schools

            Before five year old autistic Ethan started going to school, he had a hard time coping with the world around him. He hated being in large crowds since they made him uneasy. Ethan would cover his ears, shriek at the top of his lungs, and throw himself down onto the floor. Ethan’s mother had no idea what to do for him or how to control his behavior. That was until he started to attend school and going to the program known as “ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis).” ABA was used in a classroom curriculum to teach children who were on the Autism spectrum.

            For little Ethan, life became much easier for him once he entered the program. Of course, in the beginning, the teachers struggled with Ethan at first, trying to get him to learn and become used to the new environment. But, with the teachers’ constant care, affection, and determination, they were able to make a breakthrough with him. By the end of the school year, he was able to demand things that he wanted with no problem, he could point out different items and call them by their names, and he was able to be around large groups of people without having a meltdown. In fact, he loved being part of the community known as his classroom.

            Ethan’s story is just one success story because of this special program. For many other children, if this program was brought to schools all around the country, they would also have their own success story. Autistic children need and deserve proper education and socialization with their peers in mainstream schools. My proposal to this issue is to recreate the same program that Ethan attended for other children to work on their behavior, motor, reading, and speech skills within schools.

What is ABA and the history of it?

            ABA, which is shortened for “Applied Behavior Analysis,” is used especially for autistic children. According to Louise Holden, writer for The Irish Times, ABA is an intervention which largely employs one-on-one language and skill development between children and a qualified ABA specialist. ABA specialists help autistic children to work on their speech skills, motor skills, and behavioral skills, which benefits them in the long run for their future. This program is helpful for autistic children because once they master the skills they need, they will be able to function in a mainstream school and be successful.

Originally, ABA stemmed from PaTTAN, which is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. PaTTAN works with families and schools to support programs to improve student learning and success (What is PaTTAN?). In 2008, a case study of this program was composed and documented over the course of a school year. As you watch the mini documentary, you can see all of the positive changes in all of the children (ABA Autism Classroom Case Study 2008). Another case study was conducted in 2012 and the outcomes were just as miraculous as the one done back in 2008. This program has not been around for a long time, but it is already proving to be effective for autistic children.

Who should push for this program?

            The people who should really push for this program to be put into effect are the special education teachers. They are the ones that spend eight or so hours a day, five days a week with the autistic children, teaching them what they need to know. Special education teachers play a significant role in preparing autistic children for the future. And it all starts by what the teachers teach them and how they teach them. At the end of the day, not only is this program rewarding for the children, but it is also rewarding for the teachers, since they feel like they have made a difference in a child’s life. According to Dr. Temple Grandin, assistant professor at Colorado State University, it is very important to have good teachers for autistic children. She writes, “Good teachers helped me to achieve success. I was able to overcome autism because I had good teachers.” With the help of caring teachers who want to see children go far in life and this program, it will definitely turn out to be a very positive outcome for everyone involved.

Working Thesis and Outline for Essay 4! (:

Working Thesis

Autistic children need and deserve proper education and socialization with their peers in mainstream schools. My proposal to this issue is to create special programs for children that work on their behavior, motor, reading, and speech skills within schools.

Outline

1.       Introduction

a.       Tell a story that relates to issue. (?)

b.      Give my proposal.

2.       Who should put this proposal into motion?

a.       Explain why parents should put this into motion.

b.      Say what they should do and how they should get it done.

3.       History of the issue

a.       Include how long this solution has been used.

b.      What other places are using it.

c.       What other methods are being used.

d.      Do they work or not?

4.       How will putting this proposal into motion benefit children?

a.       Explain the benefits of this action.

5.       What do the critics say about this proposal?

a.       How they feel about it.

b.      Why it wouldn’t work, in their view.

c.       Knock down their opinions with my own.

6.       Conclusion

a.       Overview of what I discussed.

b.      Come full circle.

 

 

 

Prospectus for Essay 4!

Autistic children tend to be towards the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to having a good, well-rounded education in a mainstream school. They lack proper education and socialization from others, which is putting them at a huge disadvantage. In order for them to succeed, they need to feel included and wanted, but still gain something in the process.  This is why a program that allows kids to learn what they need to know, while feeling including with their peers needs to be created. This is the type of idea I will be proposing in this paper. Some evidence I will use for this proposal is a majority of what I gathered for Essay 3.

                My target audience will either be teachers or parents. I have not quite decided which I want it to be, but I feel like both of them would be great choices. I would choose teachers because they are the ones that teach the children and spend eight or so hours a day with them. So, it is important for teachers to be caring, compassionate, firm, and on top of their game. I would choose parents because anything that happens with their child’s education goes through them. So, if they wanted a new program to be created for their kids, they could rally together and pitch the idea to whoever is in charge. As for rhetorical appeal, my goal is to try to use all three of them (pathos, logos, and ethos). With pathos, I could tell a story about an autistic child’s journey and how he/she has succeeded since. For logos, I can stress the overall message, which is the proposal for a new program for autistic children. Lastly, for ethos, I can cite from different sources and note their credentials.

Essay 3 Rough Draft! :)

Ashley Lewis

Instructor Thomas

English 102

29 March 2013

Autism in Mainstream Schools

            Back in December, our nation was shaken to the core over the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. According to Aurélie Paré, writer of “Do you know what ‘autism’ is?” it turns out Adam Lanza, the man responsible for the shooting, had a form of autism. My point is not to say because he is autistic that is why the shooting happened, but maybe the incident occurred because of how his years in grade school were handled. No one knows what his experience in school was like, if he socialized with other kids his own age, or if he was even in school with other children. For autistic children, it is important for them to be in mainstream schools and be included with all the other children. In order for autistic children to get the best education possible, special classes or programs need to be created that will be beneficial for the children, parents, and teachers.

Why does having a good teacher matter?

            Autistic children tend to seem like they are in their own world and have specific routines that make them happy. If someone takes that away from them, they become very upset (Paré). Dr. Temple Grandin, assistant professor at Colorado State University, says that it is very important to have good teachers for autistic children. She knows this on a first-hand experience because she is autistic herself. She believes that autistic children need to have a structured day and have teachers who will be firm, but gentle with them. Dr. Grandin writes, “Good teachers helped me to achieve success. I was able to overcome autism because I had good teachers.” She is saying that without the help of teachers who care about the child’s well-being and future, then life will be very hard for that child as he or she grows up.

            In a YouTube video entitled, “ABA Autism Classroom Case Study 2008,” it documents autistic children in a school setting over the course of a year. The teachers were very hands-on with the children and worked with them on their speech, motor skills, and behavior. Deanna Conner, one of the special education teachers in the video, described times where she would fight with David, one of the children, to sit down for about forty to forty-five minutes a day. If Deanna were to get irritated with David and give up on him, no progress would be made. Since Deanna continued to be there not only for David, but all the other children, she was able to make great changes in them. Deanna is a perfect example of what a good teacher should be.

How are the parents affected?

            All parents want to see their children do well and be in a good environment when they are at school. They only have their child’s best interest at heart. Some parents will do whatever they have to to make sure their child gets the proper education that they need and deserve. Mila Koumpilova, writer of the article, “St. Paul schools' effort to streamline autism program has parents worried,” reports that in Minnesota, parents are rallying against a change the school board wants to put in motion. Sometime next year, smaller programs will be used for students at neighboring schools. The school board thinks that doing this will help ease the children into mainstream schools, but parents do not agree with this move. They are worried about the transition, since autistic children do not like to be moved out of an environment they are used to.

            According to Stacey Chia, writer of the article, “Personal help for special needs kids; parents hire shadow teachers to help their kids cope in mainstream schools,” parents have even used a shadow teacher, who goes from class to class and helps regulate behavior, for their children. A shadow teacher could be a therapist, child-minder, or a parent. Some parents, if they can afford it, hire shadow teachers for their children. One mother, who wanted to be known as Ms. Chan, was having trouble with her son, who would run out of the classroom when he was presented with something he did not want to do. His occupational therapist suggested hiring a shadow teacher and Ms. Chan feels that it is working. She said, “"It's only more successful when there's intervention as he acts out, rather than talking to him at the end of the day" (Chia).

            There are even celebrities that raise awareness about autism for their own children. Jenny McCarthy is a big advocate for autism, since her son, Evan, is autistic. In an interview with Jeffrey Kluger, who is a writer for TIME magazine, McCarthy and Kluger discussed different topics having to do with autism. When he asked her what the best prognosis for a child with autism is, she answered, “For a seriously autistic kid, the best prognosis might be getting into a mainstream school without being too much of a shadow.” In other words, she believes in autistic children going to mainstream schools and being in classrooms with other children, but parents need to keep their distance, that way a child can function in a classroom without having their parents hovering overhead.

It’s all about the children

            In the end, the ones who stand to gain or lose the most are the autistic children. They are the ones that go through the day to day struggle of being autistic in a mainstream school. So it is important that the children are comfortable and learning in their environment. In an article written in The Toronto Star, Streetsville Secondary School has a program for high-functioning autistic teenagers that is proving very effective. The program is called Room 150, a safe place to work out frustrations, calm down, relax, eat lunch, and learn to socialize, or write a test away from the distractions of a regular classroom (The Toronto Star). Programs like this are excellent for autistic children because if they do not deal well with big crowds well, they can wait in the program’s classroom for class change, then go to their class. The teachers of this program look out for the kids, make sure their academic schedule is not too stressful, and make sure that when exam week comes around, that the kids only have one a day.

            In the video, “ABA Autism Classroom Case Study 2008,” not only were the teachers viewed, but a majority of it was about the children in the class. The video showed each child’s journey and their progress from fall to spring. Three children that really stood out were Ethan, David, and Alexander. For Ethan, when he first came to the class, he hated crowded rooms. He would cover his ears, scream at the top of his lungs, and throw himself down onto the floor. By spring, he was a different child. He was no longer bothered by huge crowds and much more involved in the community. David was a handful when he first arrived to the class. He was the child that fought with special education teacher over sitting down for forty to forty-five minutes a day. He would also get very frustrated when he did not know the answer to a question. Towards the end of the year, his communication and his socialization with others improved dramatically. Lastly, Alexander came to the class having a hard time with his speech. He only knew a few sounds and could not pronounce any words. By the end of the school year, he was able to read off short sentences for his teachers. For those three boys, they have made amazing progress and the same thing goes for autistic children everywhere.

            For autistic children to be able to succeed in life, it is very important for them to have a good education and still be a part of mainstream school, with caring teachers and supportive parents on the sidelines cheering them on. A program like one from the YouTube video could be created, a program like Room 150 could be created, or maybe, we could allow shadow teachers to go around with autistic children, to make sure they are doing well. Overall, whatever plan that we come up with should be brought to the table soon, to ensure the success of autistic children everywhere. We need to do everything in our power to make sure that our autistic children do their best and prevent another Sandy Hook tragedy from occurring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

           

        Works Cited

Chia, Stacey. “Personal help for special needs kids; Parents hire shadow teachers to help their       kids cope in mainstream schools.” The Straits Times (Singapore) (1 Mar. 2013): n. pag. LexisNexis Academic. University of South Carolina Upstate. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

classEmediaLLC. “ABA Autism Classroom Case Study 2008.” Online video clip. YouTube, 16    Aug. 2011. Web. 3 Mar. 2013.

Grandin, Temple. “Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism.” Indiana Institute on        Disability and Community. Indiana University: Bloomington. Dec. 2002. Web. 7 Mar.      2013.

Kluger, Jeffrey. “Jenny McCarthy on Autism and Vaccines.” TIME 01 Apr. 2009: 1. Web. 07       Mar. 2013.

Koumpilova, Mila. “St. Paul schools' effort to streamline autism program has parents worried.”     St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota) (2 Feb. 2013): n. pag. LexisNexis Academic.        University of South Carolina Upstate. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

Paré, Aurélie. “Do you know what ‘autism’ is?” The Times & Transcript (New Brunswick) (19      Jan. 2013): F7. LexisNexis Academic. University of South Carolina Upstate. Web. 25         Feb. 2013.

“Welcome to Room 150; A first-of-its-kind program at Streetsville school helps high-functioning             autistic teens succeed.” The Toronto Star (13 Nov. 2012): A4. LexisNexis Academic.          University of South Carolina Upstate. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.

Introduction and Working Thesis for Essay 3! :)

Ashley Lewis

Instructor Thomas

English 102

29 March 2013

Autism in Mainstream Schools

            Back in December, our nation was shaken to the core over the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. According to Aurélie Paré, writer of “Do you know what ‘autism’ is?” it turns out Adam Lanza, the man responsible for the shooting, had a form of autism. My point is not to say because he is autistic that is why the shooting happened, but maybe the incident occurred because of how his years in grade school were handled. No one knows what his experience in school was like, if he socialized with other kids his own age, or if he was even in school with other children. For autistic children, it is important for them to be in mainstream schools and be included with all the other children. In order for autistic children to get the best education possible, school boards need to come up with special classes or programs that will be beneficial for the children, parents, and teachers.

 

 

My Topic for Essay 3! (:

The topic that I chose for this essay is autism. More specifically, autistic children in schools and how they are being served. I chose this topic because of my brother, who had special needs. Even though he did not have autism, I feel that autism and cerebral palsy (which was what he had) are closely connected. My brother did not go to school, so I’m not too sure about how a class for special needs children works. It will be interesting for me to learn about how schools are serving children with autism and other special needs. I do not know a lot about this topic, but I do know that there are some schools, like Pauline Glenn Springs Elementary and Dorman High School, that have separate classes for children with special needs. There a few times where they can go in a regular class and be a part of a normal class setting, but for the most part, they seem to be in their own class. I am excited to learn more about how different schools serve to autistic children.

When it comes to stakeholders in this topic, I believe that they are the autistic children, their parents, the teachers, and the school board. The way I see it is the autistic children are the main core of this topic, the parents are the ones who send their children to school, so they want to know if they are safe, comfortable, and learning, the teachers are the ones who teach the children, and the school board is the one who makes all of the decisions when it comes the special classes for children with special needs. I thought government might be one, but I am not too sure about that one. My research question…well, I have not thought too much about it. Maybe something like, “How do schools serve autistic children?” I may have to think a little more in depth for my research question (research questions have never really been a strong suit for me). As for sources, I have about four of them, but I have not gone through them to see if they are reliable enough for this topic and paper. I may have to go and find some more resources for my paper. So far, I have had a bit of trouble finding sources on the library database. But I am going to get those issues cleared up as soon as I can.

Essay 2 Rough Draft! :)

Ashley Lewis

Instructor Thomas

English 102

25 February 2013                                                               

Should He Be Forgiven?

            In the article, “Riding High,” written by Brian Palmer, he states, “In 2010, cyclists failed 1.19 percent of the doping tests administered by the World Anti-Doping Agency.” In recent news, Lance Armstrong was found guilty of doping and has been stripped of every title he unfairly earned. Jonathan Biles, writer of the article, “OP-ED: Lance Armstrong’s true accomplishments are off the bicycle,” makes the argument that even though Armstrong doped to win, we should forgive him because of all his contributions to cancer research. On the other hand, Rick Reilly, a columnist for ESPN, argues that Armstrong was in the wrong and that Reilly is not ready to forgive him and no one else should either. Both men make great points about Armstrong, but they disagree on whether or not we should forgive him. I believe Reilly has the stronger argument because he knew Armstrong on a personal level, unlike Biles, who is writing from the outside looking in.

            Jonathan Biles, author of the article, “Lance Armstrong’s true accomplishments are off the bicycle,” believes that we should forgive Armstrong because of everything he has accomplished with his charity, Livestrong, which is for cancer research. Biles even goes on to state, “Armstrong has been heavily scrutinized and vilified for his drug use and elaborate cover-up, but his charitable contributions should outweigh these negatives.” He lists percentages and money that was raised through Livestrong, which do in fact match up, according to Charity Navigator. He gives links to the different websites that he used to get his information, so what he has stated is definitely believable and provable. But, the entire article is just an excuse to get us to look away from the fact that Lance Armstrong lied about doping to win. Biles is using the fallacy called red herring, since he is focusing on Armstrong’s charitable contributions to draw our attention away from the bigger issue. By focusing on Armstrong’s contributions to cancer research, Biles overlooks the deeper problem of the fact that Armstrong lied to countless people for many years. No person should be able to get away with such a heinous thing, no matter what good he has done for cancer research.

            Rick Reilly, author of the article, “It's all about the lies,” reminds us that Lance Armstrong lied about doping to win for fourteen years. Reilly is outraged that he was made to look like an idiot after all of the times he defended Armstrong. Reilly even explains about all of the times that he questioned Armstrong about the allegations and he would furiously defend himself. He knew Armstrong on a personal level and stuck by his side for fourteen years. When it came to defending him, Reilly himself writes, “Wrote it, tweeted it: "He's clean." Put it in columns, said it on radio, said it on TV. Staked my reputation on it.” His point is that he did everything he could to convince anyone who had doubts that Armstrong was innocent. But, it came back and slapped him in the face. In an interview with ESPN, Reilly repeats a lot of what he said in his article, which makes him very believable. I agree that Reilly is right because what Armstrong did was wrong and he has every right to be angry. Reilly put everything on the line, so Armstrong could look like the good guy.

            In sum, then, both men make very excellent points in their articles. But Reilly’s argument was more moving to me. No matter what amazing things Lance Armstrong has contributed to cancer, as Biles pointed out, it does not change the fact that Armstrong lied for many years to countless people. He embarrassed our country and has shown little remorse for it. Armstrong should not be forgiven so easily. As Reilly said perfectly, “Give me 14 years, maybe.”

 

Works Cited

Biles, Jonathan. “OP-ED: Lance Armstrong’s true accomplishments are off the bicycle.”   Pasadena City College Courier. 23 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

ESPN. “Rick Reilly Reacts to Lance Armstrong’s Interview.” Online video clip. YouTube, 17       Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Palmer, Brian. “Riding High: Why is there so much more doping in professional cycling than in    any other sports?” Slate. 15 Jun. 2012. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

Reilly, Rick. “It’s all about the lies.” ESPN. 17 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.

           

 

           

           

           

           

           

           

Summary of Lance Armstrong Articles! :)

“OP-ED: Lance Armstrong’s true accomplishments are off the bicycle” by Jonathan Biles

 In this article, Jonathan Biles is a supporter of Armstrong, even though he took performance enhancing drugs to win all of his races. Biles feels that Armstrong should be forgiven because of all the charity work he has done through Livestrong Foundation.  The foundation has raised $470 million for cancer research. This foundation is especially important since Armstrong is a cancer survivor himself. The author closes his article by saying Armstrong is only a man riding a bike and that he should be forgiven for all of the money and support he has raised for cancer.

 

“It's all about the lies” by Rick Reilly

 In this article, Rick Reilly is outraged with Armstrong about the doping. He says that Armstrong should not be forgiven so quickly. Reilly was made to look like a fool because of all of Armstrong’s lies. He recounts many conversations he had with Armstrong about doping and he would shoot each one down. And Reilly would continue to defend Armstrong, saying that he was not doping to win all of his races. Reilly is not ready to forgive him yet, even closing his article by saying, “Give me 14 years, maybe.”

Essay 1 Self Reflection! (:

1.       How would you tell the story of your thinking and writing process? Complete these sentences: “When I first began this assignment, I thought…..” and “AS I did some thinking, writing and research my ideas changed and I thought…”

When I first began this assignment, I thought, “Oh my God! I have no idea how I’m going to do this! I don’t even know where to start! Stress load, here I come!” As I did some thinking, writing and research my ideas changed and I thought, “Well, I suppose this isn’t SO bad, but it’s still stressful.

 

2.      How did you choose a text to analyze for this assignment?  What criteria did you use when selecting it?

Oh man, I had NO IDEA what text I wanted to use. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to find one. For whatever reason, I knew I wanted to do a video. So, I jumped on YouTube and just started searching. I came across the Sarah McLachlan BCSPCA Animal Cruelty video and I thought, “This is perfect! There’s SO much rhetorical appeal in this video.”

 

3.      What was the most difficult problem you faced while writing? How did you go about trying to solve it?

The most difficult problem I faced while writing was actually writing the paper. The ideas just weren’t coming to me. So, I stepped away for a while that way I could gather my thoughts. Once I came back to the computer, I made some progress with writing the paper.

 

4.      Whose advice did you seek while drafting, revising and editing? What advice did you take and what did you ignore? Why?

I took Mrs. Thomas’ advice, of course! She always knows what’s good and what needs to be fixed. I always try to take most of her advice because I know in the end, it will help me get the best grade possible. I also took Elizabeth’s advice, since we worked together for the peer response. Her advice helped me a lot too.

 

5.      What do you feel are the strongest points of this essay?  What are the weakest elements and how could you improve them?

I feel that my strongest points of my essay were my intro paragraph and the parts where I talked about pathos. My intro paragraph had a pretty strong hook to lure the audience in and my thesis statement (for once!) was very clear and direct. The parts where I talked pathos were strong because it was very easy to pinpoint the emotional appeal in the video. So, it was very easy to write about. The weakest points of this paper were the paragraphs about ethos and logos. Even though I knew what the ethos and logos of the video were, I had trouble trying to explain them in the paper. I could improve them by asking for advice about how to write ethos and logos.

 

6.      What will you do differently on the next essay assignment?

For the next essay, I will definitely ask more questions and take more advice. I always get embarrassed asking for advice, but it really does help improve my writing.