Lesson #11

1) On your blog, write about your experience summarizing the reading (500 words)



And what an experience it has been! Finding electronic articles for my research paper was a no-brainer, it was very easy. However, since I do not have access to a significant library, finding a non-electronic source proved to be a little more difficult. I browsed through my mother's stash of magazines and none of them related to my research topic (which, by the way, has to do with the effect of the media on its female viewers). I then went "house-hopping" and asked for up-to-date magazines related to my research topic. I finally came across a magazine that had a relevant article. The article did not necessarily agree with my thesis, however, inadvertently, it did support it. I’ve learned that when I’m looking for a particular article to support my thesis, I don’t need to find an article that agrees with me. Opposing views can prove my point just as well. All one needs is an open mind and perseverance. I suppose as these research papers continue, I'll keep running into road blocks and hang ups, but I'll learn how to trouble-shoot that way.
Next year I will not be living in a bush village, I’ll be living in a city where there are several public libraries (and a few private ones). I’m looking forward to all of the tangible research I’ll be able to do there. I’ve only been inside a real library once, and it was a very small one, but it was still a very nice one. Some day I would love to walk inside of a HUGE library and spend an entire day under a pile of books.
So many times I’ve been hung up on writers-block with my head in my hands. My high school teacher tells me just to keep writing. He says as long as I’m writing something I’m not wasting time, so I’ve learned to write whatever pops into my head and it’s really helping me to overcome the helpless feeling of writers-block. It feels awful to be sitting and staring at a blank screen when the deadline clock is ticking away. But I guess that’s part of the adrenalin of writing, isn’t it? Most of us seem to perform better under pressure.
I can definitely say that I’m better at summarizing and annotating articles than I was at the beginning of this course. I’ve learned different ways to approach writing-pieces, such as reading as a believer and a doubter. And I never thought it possible to read and reread the same articles over and over again as much as I have been, but it really does help and it improves my writing. I’m still learning the fine art of it, but it I keep at it than one day I’ll be good at it.

One thing that is confusing me a bit about this particular assignment is my instructor is asking for summaries with a works cited page and copies of the annotated articles. Are summaries and annotations the same thing? If anyone could help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Lesson #10

You have plenty to write about at this point. The subject of the jounal entry on your blog for this lesson is one of your choosing. The entry should be at least 250 words.


Wow, I've learned quite a bit from F111X, and I'm sure the toughest lessons are yet to come. Since I come from an area of limited research sources, I'm having some difficulty finding non electronic, up-to-date sources that back up my claim. I'm going to ask around for some magazines that depict the latest fashion, maybe I'll find some support from those, but it seems like a fashion magazine would oppose my thesis. Which, by the way, my thesis is that the media is having a negative impact on the body image of its viewers.
Most females that the media uses are either very in shape, toned, and sculpted, or they are ridiculously thin. And what I mean by ridiculously thin is that they're so skinny they're unhealthy. All we have to do is mingle with the general population to see that the media isn't promoting the average joe. Somewhere I read that only eight out of a hundred girls have a chance at becoming a model, and only one in a hundred has are capable of being a super-model. Pretty skewed huh?
Models used to be larger than the average person because in the early 1900's only the wealthy could afford to be overweight. More money=more food=more fat. People who were thinner obviously had to work hard to feed themselves and in the process burned off a lot of what they ate. Now the figures have completely switched (no pun intended). Models are incredibly thin and 65% of the population is overweight.
I don't think that these issues are anything that the government should regulate, I like the way The Tale of Despareaux puts it, "You might as well make flies illegal, or sweat, or Monday morning..." I think that these issues are ones that need to be dealt with individually, the people need to step up to the plate (or maybe some need to step away from it)and focus on a healthy way of living, rather than trying to be thin or splurging on food.

Lesson #9

Journal

On your blog, respond to and elaborate on the following prompts:

*
What else do I still need to do? (50 words)
*
What do I need outside help with? (50-100 words)
*
Why am I feeling threatened by this research paper? (50-200 words)


1) I still have a ways to go before I'm finished with this course. The next several lessons will be aimed at writing an effective research and argument paper. I've filled out a calendar that shows me what I need to do and when. I'm still creating effective visual arguments and need to write a rough draft, second draft, and final draft of the research paper. I also need to write a summary of Class in America - 2003. So much work to be done...but I like being challenged, this class has been really good for me.
2) I need outside help with this research paper because it needs to be pretty in depth and Assignment #13 requires me to get outside help on it. Where I live, the local library is half class room and half library. The room is about 300 feet squared and contains mostly books from the 70's and 80's, my village doesn't have a large, up to date library. So I will definitely need outside help tracking down applicable books and magazines for my research topic.
3) I feel threatened by this research paper because it needs to be substantially larger than papers written in the previous lessons, it needs a variety of sources, visual elements are being introduced, and I'm still struggling with MLA format and Works Citing. So, I need to make sure I'm going about this process with tedious care and paying very careful attention.What's scaring me the most is the lack of sources available to me because of where I live.

WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bella. "Beauty Bye: 25 Percent of Beauty Ads Fake!" Fab Sugar UK. 29 Mar. 2010. 7 Apr. 2010. http://www.fabsugar.co.uk/25-Percent-Beauty-Ads-Fake-7930023 >

Coontz, Stephanie. “What We Really Miss About the 1950s.” Rereading America. 7th ed. Ed. Colombo, Cullen, Lisle. Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2007. 31-47.

Fox, Kate. "Mirror, mirror." SIRC. 1996. 12 Apr. 2010.http://www.sirc.org/publik/mirror.html >

Gibbons, Sheila. “Teen Magazines Send Girls All The Wrong Messages.” We.News. 29 Oct. 2003. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.womensenews.org/story/uncovering-gender/031029/teen-magazines-send-girls-all-the-wrong-messages >

Goodchild, Sophie. “Dying To Be Thin.” AlterNet. 22 Nov. 2006. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.alternet.org/story/44526/ >

Hellmich, Nanci. “Do Thin Models Warp Girls’ Body Image?” USA Today. 26 Sept. 2006. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-09-25-thin-models_x.htm >

Hutton, Deborah. Vogue: Complete Beauty. New York: Harmony Books, 1985 >

Jennifer L. Derenne, M.D. and Eugene V. Beresin, M.D. "Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders." June. 2006. May 10. 2010.
< http://ap.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/30/3/257 >

Kilbourne, Jean. “Beauty…and the Beast of Advertising.” Center for Media Literacy. 2007. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article40.html >

Lowen, Linda. "Women as Sex Objects - Influenced By Sexy Images, Men See Women as Objects." Ask.com. Feb. 23. 2009. 8 Apr. 2010. http://womensissues.about.com/od/intheworkplace/a/MenObjects.htm >

Nauert, Rick. “Media Can Damage Self-Image.” Psych Central. 27 Oct. 2006. 25 Mar. 2010. http://psychcentral.com/news/2006/10/27/media-can-damage-self-image/362.html >

Stasi, Linda. Simply Beautiful. New York: St. Martin’s/Marek, 1983

Webster, Irina. “Media and Influence on Body Image.” Ezine Articles. 6 Sept. 2006. 25 Mar. 2010 http://ezinearticles.com/?Media-And-Influence-On-Women-Body-Image&id=720646 >

Witmen, Denise. "How does the media effect body image in teens?" About.com. 7 Apr. 2010. http://parentingteens.about.com/od/bodyimage/f/media_bodyimage.htm >

"Influence of Media Images Upon Body Esteem." Missouri Western. May 19. 2003. Apr. 12. 2010. http://clearinghouse.missouriwestern.edu/manuscripts/413.php >

"Advertising: It's Everywhere." Media Awareness Network. May 10. 2010.
< http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/marketing/advertising_everywhere.cfm >

"Media is feulling eating disorders, say psychiatrists." BBC. 22 Feb. 2010. 11 May 2010.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8528443.stm >

"Will Kate Moss Eat Her Words?" CBSNews. 11 May. 2010.
< http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/19/entertainment/main5712294.shtml >

"Eating Disorder Statistics." Marisol. 11 May. 2010.
< http://www.mirasol.net/eating-disorders/information/eating-disorder-statistics.php >

Lesson #8

Journal

Respond to each of the prompts below.

1. Preview, read, and annotate a package of food. What is its strongest argument? Why? Would its packaging prompt you to buy it again? Why?

2. Read any article pertaining to your research topic that contains a visual element (a graphic). Explain why the visual is effective or ineffective in swaying your view on the topic. Make it interesting for the reader who does not already know your thesis.

3. Is your thesis weak? Hacker can help you figure out what is wrong with your thesis. Is it too broad or too narrow in focus? is it grounded or too speculative to be researched? For practice recognizing good thesis statements, go to http://www.dianahacker.com. Choose student sites, click on the icon representing our textbook, click on Writing Exercises. You can click Cancel when the login prompt appears. Complete the 10 Thesis Exercises, click Score, save the page, and attach it to lesson for 10 extra lesson points. BE SURE to mention the extra credit points in the message box on the transmittal page when you attach the Thesis Exercise. [According to my calculation there should be 24 separate entries in your blog by now.

1) I am currently looking at a container of shake mix. The label goes like this:

Nature's Plus. The Energy Supplements
Vegetarian
FRUITEIN
High Protein Energy Shake
BANANA ORANGE CREME
Incredibly Delicious

The can is an attractive orange, yellow, and white one with pictures of oranges and bananas decorating it. When I first opened it there was a little certificate inside saying:

Your Guarantee of Quality
~
From an Independent FDA Approved Testing Laboratory

It's supposed to be a healthy energy shake full of protein to sustain you and help you lose weight along the way. On the side is a logo saying Healthy Heart and above that is another logo saying Non-GMO (Natural Soy). There are only 99 calories per serving, and it only takes one or two servings to feel full.
I think that it's strongest argument is that it is a healthy shake, healthy for your digestive system, heart, metabolism, and mind.

2) My thesis is that the media has a negative effect on the body image of its viewers. Every time a "regular sized person" looks at a fashion magazine, watches a TV add or movie, they feel dissatisfied with themselves. On the link below there are plenty of visual images backing up the statistics that are listed. I think the images are effective because they show what the media shows, but the pictures are shown in a different light so to speak, they're pretty "weighty" once they're taken into perspective.

http://momgrind.com/2009/01/28/women-body-image/


3) I do believe I have a strong thesis that I will be able to do research on and back up with what I find.

Lesson #7

On your blog, respond to all of the prompts below:

• Who is the audience for your essay? What is the thesis of essay?
• Can the audience be swayed by your claim and reasons? Why or why not?
• What value do your sources have to your audience?

Read another student's blog. Indicate whose you read. Did you make any comments on that blog?

1) My audience (other than my professor) is an undecided one. I presented more facts supporting my thesis rather than listing and refuting the opposition's position on my topic.

2) I think that the audience could be swayed by my claim and reasons, assuming that they have the same underlying values as I do. If we have no common values than the argument is worthless.

3) I think my audience would value my sources because some of the appear on the news (such as CBS).

I read Katie Baldwin's blog and have been following it for a few weeks. I left a comment saying I enjoyed her writings and thought they were well done. She seems like a nice person.

Lesson 5

Respond to either photo of President Bush on p. 145 of Writing Arguments by telling what the argument is. Write a thesis statement for the photograph's argument. How did you figure out the claim being made?





On page 145 of Writing Arguments there are two pictures of President Bush. One is a picture of him clearing brush from a Texas ranch, and the other is one of him greeting a crowd. I will respond to the one of him in Figure 9.2.


The argument being made is that President Bush isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty. In the picture he's wearing a dirty and stained t-shirt and jeans, and he's wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses to protect him from the sun. His hands are gloved because what he's carrying has the potential to hurt him. The set of his mouth gives the impression that the physical labor is difficult. The thesis of this picture is that President Bush is human and is a hard worker.


It seems that we forget that famous people are still human. They brush their teeth, they need at least 8 hours of sleep, they have "blonde moments" (and I'm allowed to say that because I am a blonde, so don't take offense if you're blonde), and like the picture states, they can perform difficult tasks.





Find another graphic, commercial, or video to analyze. Report on the argument being made. Attach a copy of the graphic element or explain how to find or view the graphic. Write a strong thesis statement for this argument.



In this photo, an anorexic is looking at her reflection in the mirror. The girl is quite thin, in fact she's malnourished and her bones are protruding, and yet she still sees herself as overweight. The picture may seem silly, but unfortunately it's not an uncommon conception.
Recent statistics show that

• Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents.
  
• 40 – 60% of high school girls diet.
  
• 50% of girls between the ages of 13 and 15 believe they are overweight.
  
• 80% of 13 year old girls have dieted.
  
• 40% of 9 year old girls dieted.
  

The thesis for this photo is that anorexics have a skewed image of themselves. Instead of seeing themselves as unique and beautiful, when they look in the mirror they see something they hate. People should focus more on being healthy than being thin. That's not to say that trying to lose weight is always a bad thing, being too heavy puts a lot of stress on the heart and joints. But people who are trying to lose weight should look at a reasonable, healthy weight level, and should develop a health plan including proper nutrition and excercise.