Preparation outline and checklist

Speech Topic: Discuss the Spanish language and its influence on the world. Touch on its origins, where it is spoken, and its global and economic importance.

Purpose (speech goal): To explain the influence Spanish has on the world

Introduction: Spanish is the world's 3rd most spoken language, after Chinese and English. With more than 400 million Spanish speakers in the world and growing, its global and economic importance is undeniable.

First Main Point: The Spanish language originated in Spain and was carried to the Americas and other continents through Spanish conquest.

Second Main Point: Spanish is the official language in 21 countries and the second most-common language in the United States after English.

Third Main Point: The Spanish language is extending its global and economic reach yearly

Conclusion: The Spanish language has grown from its birth in Spain to the outreaches of the world. As the world 3rd most spoken language, its global and economic power will continue to grow and influence the world we live in.

Real world blunder - Week 14

This is an easy one. One of the latest blunders in the news was from President Obama on the Jay Leno show. He compared his low bowling score to that of someone from the special olympics.

Below is the youtube clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE0yAEvVsUo

When you hear a blunder like this it makes you wonder if the comment reflects the personal feelings of the person or was just based on jokes heard in our pop culture. Clearly this was a disrespectful comment towards anyone with special needs and I read an article that said the President apologized before the show aired. The question remains, "Does the President really feel this way or not?" You be the judge.

Gendered and unbiased language - Week 14

In my literature class last week, we were watching the film “Much ado about nothing” with Denzel Washington. At the end of the movie the teacher asked us what differences we noticed from the book and the movie. One of the students raised their hand and said, “I didn’t expect Don Pedro to be black.” This was a valid point in my opinion, but the teacher looked at the student in a shock and said, “The politically correct way to say that would be African American.” I’m not sure what the politically correct term is anymore since I’ve heard some people say Black American is more politically correct than African American. Either way I don’t think the student meant to offend anyone and we continued to talk about possible reasons that Don Pedro could be black. We came to the conclusion that Don Pedro demanded a prominent actor and Denzel Washington fit the role. We also talked about the fact that Don Pedro was from a part of Spain that was pre-dominantly inhabited by the Moors.

Real world advertisements - Week 14

Three good real world advertisements

1. Contains headlines that are not lengthy but get the point across. "Want great buys?" "Check these out" "Hot brands at hot prices"

The theme of the message is highlighted twice and sticks out to the reader. "Hot" (in bold) twice.

Reader understands what they are getting from the add. The "percentages off" by each item clearly explains this.

2. Important message "20,000 GIVEAWAY!" is in capital letters and shows the purpose of the advertisement.

The sentance "ENTER TO WIN ONE OF FOUR $5,000 ROOM MAKEOVERS!" is spaced out over three lines which breaks up the message.

3. Headline is broken into to motivational statements. The first "Go Green" states a benefit of buying, and the "Go Newegg" states the company who is offering this green benefit.

The advertisement is visually pleasing to look at. It contains small icons that are not too loud, but at the same time represent the theme of the ad (going green).

Two bad real world advertisements

1. Contains reversed type which makes it hard to read the headline "We are expanding!" since it's in front of two black shirts. The messages are hard to read because they are set agaisnt reversed colors.

Isn't visually pleasing and is too loud. Isn't attractive to all audiences and is very loud. Not professional.

2. The headline is not visually interesting. It is easily to read but as the article says, "If it's too safely legible, you mights as well just lay the type out like a textbook page.

Nothing in the advertisement makes the reader want to buy the item being featured. There's no flashy buttons to press or statements telling the reader how much they are going to save.

Week Twelve: Parallelism, Modifiers, and Research Papers

Comment from teachers “Real World Example”

In the real world example, it seemed to me that the writer was not trying to persuade the reader to join the group, but more inform them. By adding bullet points such as their website and contact number, it appears more as information or some type of awareness. This information could have easily been listed at the bottom of the flyer and the bullet points could have contained more persuasive and motivational information.

Original “Real World Example”

We will pay the Utah sales tax.

Plus, get six months interest free.

Plus, new lower pricing on our clearance items, including bedrooms.

Re-written “Real World Example”

We’ll pay the Utah sales tax, give you six months interest free, and extend you our new lower pricing on clearance items, including bedrooms.

Week 11 Assignments

The three main ideas I was able to gather from the text were the following:
1. The basis of everything we know, believe, and learn comes from the many research hours of others. Through technology, research is now being funneled into one large database where the whole world can benefit from the endless data that exists within. The book mentions that “Research is in fact the biggest industry.” If we are unable to use this large source of data we will be left behind in an ever expanding world.

I have always understood the importance of research and the great contribution by researchers to make this information possible. What I learned from this idea was the fact that we need to adapt to the way research is being distributed to be competitive these days.

2. It is important to make a good argument, but not the typical argument one is used to. Your argument must pre-conceive the questions that will be asked beforehand. By writing in this format you are not forcing your argument on the reader, but helping the reader understand the truths you are trying to convey.

This idea put into perspective how important it is to think both as a writer and a reader. In many of my papers I try and force my arguments on the reader and don’t focus on how to actually convince them. By trying to answer the questions from a reader’s perspective, it gives me a new way to convey my arguments.

3. Creating a plan or outline is a vital part of writing a research paper. In some way or form you have to write a first draft and however this is done, it needs to be organized in a manner that will benefit the reader. Some of the books suggestions before creating a first draft were:
A. Know who the readers are and why they care about your problem
B. Know the reasons supporting your evidence or claim
C. Know the questions and objections that your readers are likely to raise

I’ve always know that a plan or an outline was important, but I sometimes don’t do it. This idea helped me understand what I need to know before I even begin an outline so that I am able to write one effectively.

Possesive Practice Questions:

1. homes’ of my sons-in laws
2. rivers’ of Arkansas
3. house of Jim and Joan
4. research of the Ph.D.’s
5. advertising of McGraw-Hill, Inc.
6. estimate of Fred the electrician
7. idea of anyone else
8. depositions’ of the witnesses
9. the upper level of the airport
10. the daughter of one of my friends

1. The tree surgeon could not save the white spruces’ limb.
2. The user’s manual for the new software package was so confusing that most consumers returned it to the company.
3. Windows intuitive commands make it easy for users to move from one application to another.
4. I will be in Hawaii on Mother’s Day, in New Mexico on April Fool’s Day, and in California on Veteran’s Day.
5. Grover Cleveland was the people’s choice.
6. Each participant filled out the Readers Comment Form.
7. Now that he has his bachelor’s degree, he plans to get his masters, and possibly his doctorate.
8. The National Secretaries Conference will be held in Houston this year.
9. For appearance sake, the feuding vice presidents kept their differences to themselves during the monthly staff meeting.
10. My brother’s-in-law idea was to have the family reunion at the spa.
11. We have been invited to a holiday party at the Roth’s.
12. The telephone company’s president’s idea was to offer discount rates to seniors.

Integrating Sources into a Paper

Section 1
The knowledge in your writing never stands alone. You need sources to support your arguments. There are two types of sources:
-Primary sources – functions as un-interpreted data that doesn’t discuss or analyze your subject
-Secondary sources – discusses your subject and makes claims about it which you may accept or challenge.
Documenting your sources makes your argument stronger. It‘s also an obligation, a service, and an advantage. It suggest to your reader that you are a trustworthy analyst who acknowledges others opinions in your search for truth
Section 2
There are three basic principles to integrating sources into your paper:
-Use sources as concisely as possible. When possible summarize the source being used so your thinking isn’t crowded. This can be accomplished by paraphrasing or quoting.
- Make sure your reader knows the difference between when you are talking and when you are citing someone else.
-Point out how each source you use has a direct correlation to your argument. You can do this by mentioning the nature or professional status of your source.
Rules of quoting:
-Quote only what you need or is really striking.
-Construct your sentence so the quotations integrate smoothly.
-Announce quotations in the words preceding it.
-Make sure your announcing verb is neutral.
Section 3
When to cite:
-When you use factual data.
-When you use two or more words in a row.
-When you summarize thoughts formulated by somebody else.
-When mentioning an aspect of someone else’s work.
When not to cite:
-When source and page locations are obvious.
-When using common knowledge.
-When using phrases of everyday speech.
-When using ideas from a conversation with another person.
There are several ways of citing information. These are sequential notes, in-text citing, and coding.
They may also be times where you will need to acknowledge uncited sources such as those from teachers, friends, or class discussions.
Section 4
Plagiarism is considered an act of lying, cheating, and stealing. It entails one stealing information, ideas, and words as your own without acknowledging the source.
It can entail:
-An uncited information or data source
-An uncited idea
-A verbatim phrase that’s not quoted
- An uncited structure or organizing strategy
Don’t do it.
There are many other ways of misusing sources which include misinterpreting evidence, improper collaboration, dual or overlapping submission, and abetting plagiarism.
Online sources must be fully disclosed when referencing ideas and material.
There are disciplinary consequences for plagiarism and it is considered of a serious nature.
Section 5
There are many styles of acknowledging sources in your paper. If you cannot find a method of disclosing specific sources refer to the different styles listed in section 4.1