Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Our project

Topic: Animal Abuse
Thesis:Currently the government does not do enough to protect the animals from environmental destruction, physical abuse, the entertainment or clothing industries, thus more affirmative action needs to be taken.

Grace, Brittany, Lauren, and Athanassios

intro
-history
-different types

benefits
-homosexual can have children
-can give infertile mothers babies
-can carry the genes of the parents

ethical issues
-religion
-surrogate mother wanting to keep baby
-"baby-selling"
-to save a marriage
-disposal/use of unused embryos

conclusion

thesis: surrogate motherhood allows couples who naturally cannot have a baby, to have their own biological child, although there are moral arguments, the benefits out way the ethical problems.

Reality TV and Its Negative Effect on Viewers

Reality TV shows are not as real as they seem, and therefore, have negative effects on their viewers.  Reality TV shows affect viewers' self-image and social behavior.

Kristen Mayer, Ashley Williams, Megan Williams, and Leanna Craft

Project Group/Thesis

Our group is Evan Duggar, Anna-Layne Kinsey, and Brandon Schneider

Topic: Pro-Life/Abortion

Thesis: The right to life should not be optional.  Abortion is an unethical practice that should be abolished because of the psychological damage caused to those involved, the viability of life, and the controversial reasons behind the decisions.

Surrogate Motherhood

Grace Schmidt
Brittany Moore
Lauren Carter
Athanassios Paraskevas 

Group Project Thesis

Topic: Global Warming and its Affect on the Environment

Thesis: Overflowing landfills and the emissions that their gases create has caused the ever going threat of global warming. The federal government should intervene and hold tighter restrictions on America's recycling and waste habits in order to decrease the problem of global warming and protesting the environment as a whole.

Thesis Marshall, Ben, Summer

Energy efficient practices such as water, solar, wind, recycling, and other lifestyle practices are beneficial to the global environment because they rely on renewable resources. 

Multimedia Topic

Topic: Why America should send aid to the Invisable Children in Africa.
Thesis: Every citizen that has the ability to help stop the abduction, exhortation, and massacre of children in Africa has the responsibility to help.-Drenna Boyd, Sarah Rochester, Rachael Warren

Monday, April 6, 2009

multimedia project topic

Topic: Collin, Marc, Jock, and Andrea are going to do our multimedia project on hazing in college fraternities.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Outline...sorry a little late....

Outline

Video game rating system
How it is set up
Who decides what rating the game gets
History of violence in video games
Past
Present
How video game violence can be negative
Young kids exposure to violence
Bad themes
How video game violence does not have an effect

Attempts to ban violent video games
California’s attempts
Other ways to control video game violence

Conclusion

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Research Outline

Sorry this is so late, my computer hasn't been working.

Thesis: In our culture today teenagers are inundated by the mass media with pictures, videos, and advertisements of perfect body images and what our society deems attractive.  This influx of information can cause the youth of our society to strive for unrealistic body expectations, which can be dangerous when great lengths are taken to achieve them such as, but not limited to, anorexia, bulimia, plastic surgery, and other harmful methods.

I. Introduction
a. Hook: I have yet to find the perfect image or show that I want to use as an example but I thought that in my hook i would either start off with a statistic or an explaination of the image or show in a creative way.
b. thesis
c. briefly explain my main points- anorexia and bulimia

II. Different types of media
a. briefly talk about all the types of media and how they affect teenagers
1. TV
2. Magazines

III. What society defines as the "perfect body"
a. Portrayal in magazines and shows.
b. statistics on weight and images and etc.

IV. The extent that Teenagers take to become the "perfect" imgae
a. briefly describe anorexia
b. briefly describe bulemia
c. reasons that teenagers develop these problems

V. Conclusion
a. revisit the main points
b. conclusion

Conclusion: Over the past couple of years media has really begun put a stressor on the importance of looking good to succeed in life. Magazine covers, images on TV, and even articles you read are all about how to lose weight, how to make your face more beautiful, or how to change your body so that you can become this perfect person. The media does not show the true person and the extent that teenagers now are taking to become this perfect person is a big problem. Media has caused teenagers to strive for unrealistic expectation and can lead to serious issues such a bulimia, anorexia, and even the want of plastic surgery. 

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Outline

Topic: The differences between the education system in the United States and the education system in Britain.

Thesis: Because studies in Britain are generally more narrowly focused and in depth than studies in the United States, which tend to cover more subject areas and don’t go into as much detail, the structure of Britain’s education system is preferable to that of the United States.

Goal:

In this paper, I want to convince the reader that the education system in the United States can be improved. I will do this by comparing the United States’ education system to Britain’s. I will also provide suggestions as to how this can be done.

Outline:

1) Provide statistics to show which states in the US have education departments that are below standards.

a) Which states have school systems that are not in need of improvement?

b) Which states have school systems that are in need of improvement?

2) Compare/contrast secondary education drop out rates in Britain vs. the United States

a) Show statistics for drop out rates in Britain

b) Show statistics for drop out rates in the United States

c) Compare

3) Compare/contrast education requirements in Britain vs. the United States

a) List education requirements in Britain

b) List education requirements in the United States

c) Compare

4) Compare/contrast course curriculums in Britain vs. the United States

a) Provide rough course curriculum in Britain

b) Provide rough course curriculum in the United States

c) Compare

5) Compare/contrast government funding for grades K-12 and for post-secondary education in both countries

a) Where does funding come from for grades K-12 in Britain?

b) Where does funding come from for grades K-12 in the United States?

c) Where does post-secondary education come from in Britain?

d) Where does post-secondary education come from in the United States?

e) Compare

6) Compare/contrast overall job openings for someone from Britain vs. someone from the United States

a) How many available job opportunities are there for high school graduates in Britain?

b) How many available job opportunities are there for high school graduates in the United States?

c) How many available job opportunities are there for college graduates in Britain?

d) How many available job opportunities are there for college graduates in the United States?

e) Compare

Outline

I. History of Women's Rights and Abortion
A. Views held by early leaders
B. Beginnings of feminism
C. 1970's pro-choice movement

II. Process of Abortion
A. Different methods explained
B. Pro-life perspective
C. Pro-choice perspective

III. History of Liberalism
A. Beginnings-liberty, equality, and human rights
B. Views on violence: war and the death penalty
C. Views toward the disadvantaged: poverty and unemployment
D. Pro-choice tradition and pro-life movements

Conclusion: Pro-life advocacy being considered a conservative viewpoint is a result of a complex history of abortion, liberalism, and women's rights, but being pro-choice is inconsistent with other liberal stances on human rights and equality. The view persists because of the inertia of partisan politics, but recent movements suggest it may shift direction in the future.

The outline is not very detailed because this topic will require a lot of research that I have only just begun. I guess I haven't explained it well, so what I am trying to say with this paper is that being pro-life should not label a person as right-wing, republican, or a religious fanatic. Really, I don't think abortion is a right-left issue at all, but that is the system we have. So I'm trying to argue against abortion from a different direction than what is normally seen, in order promote a closer examination of the issue itself, rather than a continuation of the usual divisive arguments.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Outline

Rachael Warren
Candace Wiley
English 103
Introduction: Your neighbors have several families living in the house with them. There are four cars in the driveway, and you never see the same people driving the same one twice. There are frequently kids from the house sent out to mow the lawn of the elderly widow down the street, often they stay and talk with her. You’ve seen some of the women bringing food to the sick on the block, and once a man helped you fix your truck. Your other neighbors are Christians. They wave at you every morning when they get the paper, and you can set your clock by their punctuality to church on Sundays. If the church started out as the first set of neighbors, what caused them to evolve into the second neighbors? Throughout its history, the Christian church has changed in response to pressures of the times and current issues and may have compromised its influence.
1. Description of the early church
a. Theology according to the Bible (New Testament)
b. The place of the early church in society using archeological evidence
c. Outside testaments to the presence of the church such as laws written to control their activities
2. Different Periods of Change within the Christian Church
a. The power role of the Church during the Medieval period
b. Issues within the church that spawned the Reformation
i. Through the eyes of those present at the time- John Wesley, John Calvin, etc
ii. A modern-day analysis of the reformation and the consequences to the church
c. Morality drive period in the United States marked by heavy influence of the church in national laws and awareness campaigns
d. The modern presence of the church
i. What programs/charities the church supports
ii. The public face of the church
iii. Statistics of church enrollment and involvement within the country
3. Comparison of the Early Church to the Modern Christian Church
a. The theology of the church
b. The interaction of the church with the government
c. The structure of the church
4. Conclusion: The modern Christian church has evolved to keep track with the world it serves. Some of those changes have crippled its ministry, while others have allowed the church to grow.

Outline

Outline
Introduction
All around the world, especially in lesser-developed countries, children are recruited and kidnapped to be used in armed conflicts. The reasons are vast, from the need to fill quotas in rebel forces to children not having enough food in their own homes. Child soldiers are exploited in the worst possible ways, and made to perform tasks that are beyond the maturity level of the young adults. Children are robbed in multiple ways, of their childhood, their families, their homelands, and their peace of mind. Despite numerous organizations around the globe working every day in places such as DR Congo and Uganda to help children affected by the warfare, the reintegration process is complex and demanding for children who have experienced such traumatic events in their short lifetime. The sources of trauma are multiple and complex, and the solution and path to recovery will be a long one
 What a child soldier is
o Who-what types of children
• Both boys and girls
o Where- examples of countries
• Uganda, DR Congo, Cambodia
o Why- why children are taken
• They are easier to brainwash, cheaper, etc.
 What is being done
o International Criminal Court
• Specific cases
o Convention on the Rights of the child
• What countries haven’t signed it (US)
o NGO work- UNICEF, etc.
• Reintegration
 Why ending the Violence is so difficult
o Regional practices
• Don’t want back dangerous children
o Not enough transparency in organizations
• Don’t trust organizations that want to help them
 Conclusion
 The issue of child soldiers is as deep and complex as the human mind that is torn apart by those who take the children. The situation has been being deepening over multiple generations, so even though this disturbing issue cannot be solved in a day, there is a solution to the problem of child soldiers. This is not something the children have brought upon themselves. They should not be punished for the evil ways of the world around them. With continued support from non-government organizations such as UNICEF, Amnesty International, and The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, as well as everyday citizens, the vicious cycle can be ended. The efforts of the organizations involved should be recognized and renewed with more efficient resources, energy, and fervor. Though the issue in itself is dismal, in the words of the “Invisible Children” Campaign “every war has an end.” With dedication of the global community, the victims can be redeemed of their atrocious past.

Outline

I. Introduction

    A. Attention Getter: I haven't decided what it will be yet, however, it will be a statistic that makes the reader stop and think and then want to continue to read my paper.

    B. Thesis: Currently America is facing financial hardships that at the present seem to be taking devastating tolls on the country from an economic standpoint, but with the legalization of marijuana America could help close the gap to achieving economic security.

II. Current Economic position of the United States

    1. National Debt
    2. Bailouts
    3. Relative condition of our economy

III. Current Solutions to ending the Crisis

    1. Economic Stimulus
    2. More in depth look at government reasoning in bailouts

IV. Proposition to Weed as a cash crop

    1. Taxation on weed

V. Taxation

      A. Intro to taxation

    1. Government Revenue and the money they could appropriate from taxing production and sale of marijuana

VI. Weed as a cash crop.

    1. Past history of being a cash crop
    2. Easy means of production
    3. Low cost of production
    4. Why America would be well situated to grow Marijuana
    5. Comparative Statistics of cash crops

VII. Current Medicinal Marijuana program

    1. How it works
    2. Regulations
    3. Success and Failures

VIII. Benefits from the revenue created from taxing marijuana

    1. Could be used to help create more economic stimulus plans
    2. Decrease in Unemployment
    3. Raise GDP
    4. Help put a slight dent in the National Debt
    5. Overall effect on the economy

IX. Conclusion

Outline

Socialized Medicine

INTRODUCTION: Two Types
A. Single Payer National Health Insurance
1. Definition
2. Government’s Role
3. Right vs. Privilege Issue
B. National Health Service
1. Definition
2. Private vs. Public Issue
3. Government’s Role

I. Canada’s NHI System
A. Effects on Physicians
1. Subservient to Government
2. Choice of Patients
a. Who to See
b. Determination of level of illness
B. Effects on Medicine Availability
1. Government Control
2. Gates
C. Effects on Technology & Equipment
1. Government Delineation
2. Availability
3. Surgeries
4. Waiting Lists
D. Effects on Care
1. Public Health
a. Definition
b. Prevention vs. Preventative Medicine
2. Rights
3. Longer admission & fewer beds
E. Overall Problems with Public Health

II. The United Kingdom’s NHS System
A. Effects on Physicians
1. Public
a. No incentive
b. Pay per patient
2. Private
B. Effects on Medicine Availability
1. Limited drugs
2. Not providing expensive drugs
C. Effects on Technology & Equipment
1. Misplacement of funds
2. Access to equipment
D. Effects on Care
1. Fewer specialists
2. Unnecessary care
E. Overall Problems with Public Health

III. Alternatives
A. USA’s present administration
B. Other proposed programs by AHA
C. Obama’s proposed program

CONCLUSION: State my opinion on the two types of socialized medicine & what alternative I believe would be the best

Ashley Williams

Outline

 

Thesis: As millions of Americans observe, a seemingly continuous surge of sports icons continue being questioned and prosecuted for their alleged usage of anabolic steroids. The damaging effects of these iconic athletes poor judgment, reaches much further than their careers and respected organizations, but also convey destructive and often lifetime effects onto the nations youth.

 

1. Introduction

a. Prevalence in Professional sports

b. Reasons for taking steroids.

c. Thesis

 

2. History of steroids

a. Types of steroids

b. First known use of steroids

c. When laws against steroids were implemented

 

3. Health factors/ side effects

a. Damaging effects that steroid use can have on an individual’s health.

b. Short and long term effects.

 

4. Prevalence in sports

a. Names of famous athletes who have been caught or suspected of steroid use.

b. The variety of sports it is used in.

c. Regulations that sports leagues have on steroids.

d. Statistics on usage

 

5. Laws and regulations against the usage of steroids.

a. National laws.

b. Regulation in sports

 

6. Effects on youth

a. Children who idolize sports stars who abuse steroids

b. The public’s view of steroids

c. The number of high school students who abuse steroids

 

7. Ways to prevent steroid use

a. Current laws

b. Banning those who choose to use

c. Testing in sports leagues

d. Jail time for athletes who abuse steroids

 

8. Conclusion

a. Restate thesis

b. Discuss the need for banning steroid

c. Optimistic look towards sports without steroid abuse

Drew Weinbrecht

Outline

Anna-Layne Kinsey
Candace Wiley
English 103
27 February, 2009

I. Introduction:
A. Discuss how Vanity Fair magazine portrays women, and how that portrayal affects the average American woman.
B. Give a few broad examples
C. Thesis: The magazine's, Vanity Fair, portrayal of women affects the average American woman. This portrayal gives women a false sense of beauty and drives women to have a low self esteem, have major surgeries, and go on diets.

II. The portrayal of women in Vanity Fair magazine
A. Give some examples of how Vanity Fair feels like a woman should look like.
B. Give at least 3 images from Vanity Fair that support my argument.

III. Low Self Esteem
A. Use statistics that show that women have a low self esteem and that their low self esteem is due to the false portrayal of beauty.
1. Use a personally testimony of a woman who has a low self esteem due to the portrayal of women in Vanity Fair magazine.
B. Not only do some women face low self esteem, but some go even further and drive themselves into depression.
1. Get some depression statistics.

IV. Having major surgeries
A. Give examples of women having plastic surgery to enhance their features.
1. Have statistics on how many women per year have any type of plastic surgery, and if possible show how many women were not recommended by their doctor to have plastic surgery for medical reasons, but rather just because the patient wanted to change her looks, or enhance her features.
B. Give examples of women having surgeries such as tummy tucks, liposuction, skin removal or any other kind of weight altering surgery.
1. Give statistics on these surgeries that are similar to the same kind of statistics that I have for plastic surgery.

V. Going on diets
A. The extreme diets that women go on to lose weight.
1. Give examples of types of diets and how they affect the body.
B. Show how Vanity Fair encourages dieting
1. Give quotes from Vanity Fair on dieting.

VI. Conclusion
A. Restate my main points. Show that I have indeed proven my argument.
B. Have a strong closing sentence.

Outline

I.Introduction
A. Attention-seeker: A brief story about my experience with ogran donation.
B. Thesis
C. Introduce Main Points

II.Statisics
A. How many people are on the waiting list.
B. How many people are registered to be organ donors.
C. How many people actually donate per year (live and cadaver).

III. Top Myths
A. Myth 1: If I agree to donate my organs, the ER staff won't work as hard to save my life.
1. Fact
2. Explanation
B. Myth 2: Organ donation is against my religion.
1. Fact
2. Explanation
C. Myth 3: I want to have an open-casket funeral. That can't happen if I donated tissues or organs.
1. Fact
2. Explanation
D. Myth 4: My family will be charged if I donate my organs.
1. Fact
2. Explanation
E. Myth 5: Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There's no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who've waited the longest or are the neediest.
1. Fact
2. Explanation

IV. Opt-in Systems
A. Defintion
B. How myths effect opt-in and opt-out systems

V. Explain how to donate
A. The process
B. How to make sure your wishes are carried out once someone decides to be a donor.

VI. Conclusion
A. Review Main Points
B. Restate Thesis