Research #3: Feb 3 2008

By now, you should have your topic chosen and your working thesis written. Now is when you start writing more focused entries:

• Choose articles carefully, using credible sources from Galileo, Elibrary, etc. Every source you pick has potential to be one you use in your final paper.
• Write your post in relation to your thesis: How does the article support your thesis?
• Post your actual working thesis at the top of your post, so the class knows where you are going with your topic.
• When giving feedback to classmates, help them find weaknesses in their own thesis statements, arguments, and evaluation of issues. 

Comments

[Emma Battles]

Working Thesis: Although some people may argue that America is not ready to see it’s first African American President, Barack Obama should be elected because he will act as the catalyst that propels our country into a modern age.

This short report makes a powerful impact. When Michelle Obama – wife of Barack Obama – was confronted with questions about whether her biracial husband was “black enough” to appeal to African American voters, she dismissed the question as silly, stating, “I don’t think there is a person of color in this country that doesn’t struggle with what it means to be a part of your race versus what the majority thinks is right.”(1). The question was raised when it was noted that rival Hillary Clinton was polling well among black voters. Since then, however, Obama’s support from black voters has vastly increased (he took 78% of the black vote in the S.C. primary and 73% in the Florida primary). The question on my mind was this: What exactly does “black enough” mean? Or any “race enough”, for that matter. What does it mean to belong to a certain race, and what sort of responsibilities does that entail? Should black voters vote for Obama simply because he is black? Is that what everyone is expecting?

[Janelle Adams]

Working Thesis:Britain's unique form of government,that of constitutional monarchy, not only is politically beneficial, but also plays an integral role in the nation's identity and therefore should not be abolished.

My article of the week was unique in that it defends the British monarchy, while at the same time, predicts its imminent death. It begins: “The monarchy is Britain’s peculiar institution, at least in the sense that it is headed for abolition...” The author makes the claim that while the queen and the monarchy in general may be popular amongst the British people, the disdain of the journalists, reporters, and intellectuals will eventually be enough to bring about its end. Is this right? Should the criticism of the press have the power to destroy an institution that is such a huge part of a nation’s cultural identity? I think not. As the article points out, “it goes without saying that the new-found hatred of the monarchy has nothing to do with anything it actually inflicts upon the population.” One can only hope that the royal family will learn to use a little more discretion in order to decrease the disapproval of the media and ensure the preservation of England’s constitutional monarchy for generations to come.

[Janelle Adams]

Emma, you pose some great questions! In a perfect world, the question would not be whether Obama is "black enough" to win the election, but rather, whether he is the best fit for our country. Unfortunately, our world is not one of perfection! And as for the meaning of "black enough", it seems to me a question of whether he meets the stereotypes made of African Americans. I hate that this should be a deciding factor in the election. It would truly be a step forward if the country could only focus more on Obama's politics and less on his skin tone!

[Katie Keel]

Janelle I agree that the Monarchy plays a very important role in England's government and identity. The media should not have the power to overrule the monarchy just by what they write. What would the media focus on without the monarchy? The monarchy should watch their influence because they have such a great impact on England’s society. England would not be the same England without its monarchy to represent it.

[Tyler Griffin]

Working Thesis: Both sides in the Nature versus Nurte debate raise valid points, however it must be realized that human behavior is a result of both categories interacting together to form a single product.

My article this week is on the general topic of Nature versus Nurture. The article was written by Kimberley Powell who studies Genealogy. She describes both sides of the debate and what each term really means. According to Powell the debate between heredity and enviroment affecting one's behavior can be traced back to 13th century France. To begin with groups of people either thought that genetic predispositions shaped our behavioral patterns or the environment instead. It is now being realized through the understanding of the human genome that both sides are partly right. However, no one side has won a clear victory in the battle.

[Tyler Griffin]

Emma, your article this week is a quick reminder of how racialy lost our country is. Why does it matter if Barack Obama is black, white, yellow or purple? It is innapropriate to pose the question "is he black enough". If the members of our nation are more concerned with how light or dark a candidate's skin is rather than their position on taxes or the economy then what trivial contention will be raised next?

[Hannah King]

Many people question schools today whether or not they are more geared toward the auditory and sedentary learning styles of numerous girls and not the kinetic learning styles of most boys. In the article I read this week, scientific studies of the brain prove that males and females do indeed learn and think differently. In boys, more parts of the brain focus on movement while in girls, there is more use of words and emotion. This is one of the reasons why when tested to determine their best learning style, the majority of boys are hands- on learners. Although not all teaching is lectures and notes, a great amount of boys are suffering from so much time being spent in desks while listening to and watching the teacher. So, are schools really targeting mostly the learning styles of girls, and are many boys suffering because of this?

[Hannah King]

Sorry, I forgot my working thesis in my above quote...Working thesis: There is a link between gender and the potential success of students in schools today.

[Liz Ertle]

Working Thesis: Parents are expected do the best they can to provide for their children, and despite the often unfair sacrifices from both parties, it’s something that has to be dealt with and done frequently.

Barbara Whiting brings up the “Boston Nanny Murder Case” to point out the hazards of working out of the house with infant children. Her opinion is not one sided, making her different than most writers on this topic. Although she’s on the side of staying home with the children, she poses alternatives such as day cares with more watchful eyes looking out for children of caring parents. This option makes sense, because if there are more people looking over smaller numbers of children then the workers can watch out for the children as well as for each other. The other option Whiting mentions is video taping at home nannies, which is also called “Nanny Watch”. Unfortunately, when a parent watches a nanny take care of their child in the comfort of their own home, the parent is much more likely to be more critical of the small things. Several nannies get fired this way, making it a difficult situation for all parties.

[Hannah King]

I completely agree with Michelle Obama in saying that the question asked about whether Obama is "black enough" to win is extremely silly. It is sad how so much of the American popluation today focuses on a person's outward appearance more than their values and beliefs. It is even more unfortunate, and upsetting to me, that a primary reason of many votes for Obama are simply due to the color of his skin. I do not believe that the reason for voting for a candidate should be based on race, gender or age, but rather on what they stand for politically and what they intend to do to better our country.

[Krystyna Biassou]

Working Thesis: America’s unique views on gender roles are ever-changing and how they affect the children in the nation speak volumes about the parents who raise them.

Imagine if you were to enroll at Harrison without a gender. Yes, imagine if your teachers did not know whether to refer to you as a him or a her. I read an interesting article about a private school in Oakland where students were supported in their endeavors to be different. For example if little Johnny wanted to act as Sleeping Beauty in the school play, teachers at Park Day School would have no problem with it. I think that this article epitomizes the new liberal outlook on life. Americans are naturally protective of their children and when adults are ready to loosen to reins on their kids, we know that we have reached a milestone.

[Liz Ertle]

Hannah, that's a really good question. I never really thought about how unfair the system was to boys. On the other hand, though, there are hands on and visual girls, so to be fair I think school should target those types of learners as frequently as possible. It seems that they are trying, making requirements such that it's now necessary that we have one visual project a semester in all classes, but I'm not sure that this is enough. If the boys are suffering, there should definitely be something done to get more visual/hands on learning. It would probably make the school atmosphere better if the students actually felt like they were learning something as opposed to just going in to sit around.

[Krystyna Biassou]

Emma, I think that those questions are probably what the Obama campaign asks everyday. I know that there are Blacks that feel like they should vote for him just because he African American but I don think this is right. Vote for who in your heart has the best policy, or encompasses your beliefs. However, many could think that he does have their best interest at heart because he is Black. Do women vote for Hilary Clinton because she is a woman also? I am not sure if I can believe that this trend. White men have been presidents since the nation’s advent and I do remember their supporters being white men exclusively.

[Morgan Kayser]

WORKING THESIS: Mountaintop removal mining is destructive to the local economy, regional ecosystems and the community.

Mountaintop removal mining, which involves the explosion of the top half of a mountain in order to reach the valuable coal beneath it, has a long history of eradicating ecological balance in the Appalachians. This dangerous type of mining is used because it is cheaper and quicker than traditional mining. However, the long-term effects of dramatic topographic changes include flooding, human fatalities and wildlife threats. Local economies and communities can also be destroyed. The article I read this week outlines the wrongs of mountaintop removal, but discusses in depth the legal action against the mining. A 1977 law effectively forbade strip mining, a primitive form of mountaintop removal. However, as the mining technologies evolved, the law became outdated. A new and effective law has yet to be made. Several laws outlining restrictions and requirements for mining operations have been created to the joy of many environmentalists and citizens of Appalachia, but these laws are not being enforced. Obviously, stronger laws and strict enforcement is necessary to save the environment and economy of these areas.

[Morgan Kayser]

First of all, I'd like to say that all of the comments are very thoughtful and well-stated. All of the articles so far seem to support the thesis in some way.

Krystyna, I love the interesting points you brought up in your article. Gender roles in schools severely limit our opportunities. As for your thesis, you could tailor your it to be less wordy and more specific. Maybe you could take out the "ever-changing" part and change it to a less simplified version of: "America's unique views on gender roles have a (negative, positive or another adjective describing your opinion) effect on children in the nation because of (list reasons or ways children are affected)" That would really set up your essay well and give you clear-cut points to research.

[Austin Farmer]

Emma, I agree with you that it is ridiculous that the determining factor for Barack Obama may be how dark he is. It is almost laughable that if certain people are going to vote for Obama based on the fact that he is black, I wouldn't think they would be quite so picky on how "black" he is and simply be excited that he is one of the front runners in this campaign. I do wonder what exactly you mean about him being the catalyst for the modern age. On one hand I agree it would be a big step for American history, but what does this modern age awaiting have that our present age doesn't? Racism will forever be an issue, but I believe huge steps have been made and don't think Barack Obama would eliminate blind prejudice. And even if there was an awaiting modern age, the idea that Obama is the catalyst is placing a lot of emphasis on his race, which is the whole problem. Still, it is a legit thesis and argument that should be pursued.

[Austin Farmer]

Working Thesis: The cause of human behavior, though influenced by heredity and nature, is ultimately due to nurture and environmental influences.

The issue of nature versus nurture has long been disputed. What is it that makes us the way we are? The article I found explained the argument for both sides of the issue, providing evidence that genes may play a certain role, but also showing behavior can be conditioned. Harvard psychologist B. F. Skinner's experiment on pigeons was included, in which Skinner trained pigeons to do figure eights, dance, and play tennis. If I were a betting man, I would be willing to assume tennis ability is not a common gene among pigeons. One study found in New Scientist discovered that sense of humor is a learned trait that is influenced by family and culture, and was not previously determined by genes. Though genes do play a role in personality, seen through remarkably alike twins who were separated at birth then reunited, it is ultimately experiences and our surroundings that determine our behavior.

[Ebony Brwon]

Krystina, i would like to start off by saying thsat i believe with the right research and determination, your research paper will be amazing! i love the topic. I agree with you when you say that gender roles do hinder many people's opportunities and have since the begininng of time, it seems like. You seem really passionate about your topic, however; make sure when you are writing your paper, it is an argumentative paper and does not turn into an actual research paper, because as ive seen in your research, it might turn into that. As far as your thesis is concerned: maybe you can change it to, " America's gender roles are negatively affected by society's 'model' of a perfect woman or man because......." I dont really know exactly where your research has gone but based on that article response, thats all i could come up with. Just take that into consideration that you always have to take a side to the topic and follow the formula if you think that is easier.

[Peter Mosher]

Working thesis: While many people believe Mitt Romney no longer has a chance to beat John McCain for the Republican nomination, his current strategy will give him his best shot at catching up and passing McCain in the delegate count.

In order to maximize his chances of becoming the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney has kept his campaign strategy hidden from the media and other outside of his campaign. By keeping secret the information as to which states he will spend advertising dollars in, he will make it more difficult for his opponent John McCain to plan his own strategy. On Friday Mitt Romney finally announced that his campaign would go to Minneapolis, Chicago, and a number of other states before finishing up on his home turf in Boston. By focusing of key states with lots of delegates at stake, I believe his strategy gives him the best chance to strengthen support where he is already running strong and hopefully steal support from McCain in those states where he currently is not running well. The key to his campaign is to be seen in as many of these competitive states as is possible and to make that happen, he needs to spend a lot of money in these states and follow up with personal visits.

[Ebony Brwon]

Working Thesis:Although many statistics prove legal immigration has decreased the United States' supply of labor, wages and even created social instability within the minorities, legal immigration should be permitted because it would be a great way for the United Styes to improve its relationship with other countries in addition to the the country economically gaining from it.

My article relates to my thesis statement because the author focuses on why there is a shortage of labor for native born americans, for example: Maybe americans have become smarter and taken up jobs in higher places. Could this be why there are not many native orn people, statistically speaking, throughout the manual labor force? The author also focuses on the how the primary 'losers' in this country are those who do not have a highschool diploma to get the jobs that they want. The author wonders why americans blame immigrants for 'stealing' their jobs, however; they dont even have the highschool diploma to even qualify to get the jobs. So, whose fault is that? Although the article is obviously, pragmatic, the author still poses many questions and responses that made me think more about my topic, and further helped me in writing my thesis statement.

[Abby O'Reilly]

Emma, I thought you mentioned some very strong points in your article. The questions posed were well thought out and showed that you really were passionate about your thesis. I agree with the fact that Obama should not be elected based on the color of his skin. Unfortunately, not all people will be able to see past this issue. I feel that the president should be elected based on how well he/she will be able to represent our country. I like the fact that your thesis provides a strong viewpoint from your perspective along with stating an opposing viewpoint.

[Austin Booth]

Working Thesis: Our country's current form of taxation and economic managment is both outdated and abused, and there are new and better plans to rectify it.

My article is about senate vote to spend $14 billion on extra unenployment checks to jobless people. They claim it is a better way to help the country out of a recession than printing tax rebate checks. In the past week, filing applicants for unemployment benefits went from 69,000 to 375,000. That many people will now recieve extra money for not working. With an economic recession, how is paying people not to work the best way to fix our economy? The answer: it is not. It is just a way for senators to appease their constituates and have themselves reelected. With our current system, they can spend $14 billion, which will come out of taxpayer's pockets, to buy votes from nonworkers. Sounds like a terrible system, and one that needs to be fixed.

[Abby O'Reilly]

Working Thesis: The culture in which we live has detrimental and negative effects on individuals pertaining to their physical and mental health.

My article discusses the country in which we live having a negative effect on the physical and mental health of individuals. Many people are constantly reminded from the media and sports world that there is only one look. When we look through magazines there is one body image dominantly portrayed. This emotionally affects individuals causing them to live unhealthy lifestyles. Living in a country where the media continually discusses the body, body fitness, slimness and diets, certain risks develop sometimes resulting in eating disorders. The author of this article relates our culture to other cultures and applies a direct relationship to the significant decrease in eating disorders in countries where body image is not over advertised. I feel that our culture does have a major effect on the way individuals see themselves which cause many of the problems they live with. In order to improve this issue there needs to be less focus on how we should look and more of a focus on the uniqueness each individual holds.

[Austin Booth]

I think Austin Farmer's article poses an interesting debate. The question of nature vs. nurture is a long standing debate among psychologists, and has great depth. In his article, Asutin talks about the conditioning of pidgeons and how they were nurtured to learn various talents. I think he is correct, and how you grow up affects you much more than any genetic influences. Somenoe's parents, although having similar genetic makeups as the parents do, will learn and act much like them due to conditioning, with positive and negative enforcment. I think the fact that wild animals learning to play tennis proves that.

[Katie Alger]

Working Thesis: Cloning should not be used in human food production because it is unethical, unnatural, and may have unknown future health hazards.

Cloning has been a heavily debated topic since the first successful cloning of a sheep named Dolly. People are concerned about the ethics and morals of cloning along with the safety of their food. My article this week discusses some of the negative aspects of cloning. Even though the FDA recently approved the safety of meat and milk from cloned animals, the European Food Safety Authority still has some doubts about cloning. Studies have shown that cloned animals have a higher rate of disease and have more health problems including increased weight, respiratory problems, enlarged livers, and kidney abnormalities. These increased health risks have made people wonder what sort of health problems eating meat or drinking milk from cloned animals will have in the future. European groups are asking for further research on cloning and assurances on animal welfare, product tracking, public acceptability, and steps to preserve domesticated breeds before the European Food Safety Authority makes any decisions regarding cloning.