Reflection on Papers 2 & 3.

     The process for writing the two papers felt significantly different. The ad analysis paper involved less research than the position paper. In the ad analysis paper I was required to analyze the components of a set of picture ads that had a product or concept in common. In analyzing the ads the majority of the information on the ads were primarily based on observations and themes found in common. In essence it was my opinion and interpretation of each ad. The paper required little if any outside opinion other than my own to be addressed.

     The ad analysis paper I felt was a great lead-in to the final position paper. The process of learning to create a bibliography for the ads used was a good preparation for learning to cite works in my position paper. I had to learn to keep track of my sources as opposed to absorbing the information and writing of my own stance/understanding of the subject. The ad analysis also helped prepare for the position paper in the sense that I was already learning to make an argument by making a claim or stating a position about what the ads were saying.               
   
     The third paper was more difficult for me than the previous 2 papers. This paper not only involved more research on the subject but also required me to more specifically consider the credibility of my sources. I also had to consider other opinions on the subject and address them. One of my biggest limitations was having to condense the information and focus the subject. In the beginning I found many different ways to tackle the subject and had a hard time focusing it to fit in a 1,200 -1,500 word paper. I did not feel I could cover all of the aspects I would have like to address to make the argument. Eventually I found a way to focus the paper and limited it to one aspect of the subject (teaching meditation in schools) having to do with managing stress. I feel the focus on the one aspect allowed for me to make an argument without having to get lost in the number of directions it could take and make for a better argument by not overloading the reader with information.

Developing Your Argument 11/24/15 (Was in drafts and not published.)

1.) What are you trying to change? (position)
2.) To whom are you writing? (audience)
3.) How do you appeal to their beliefs, values, etc? (pathos)
4.) Why should your audience believe you-who are you, and how can you best represent your persona as a writer? (ethos)
5.) What are at least 2 reasons the change should be made?
6.) Whats a good point that the other side makes about the issue? (concession - ethos)
7.) How would you answer that point? (rebuttal - ethos, logos, pathos)
8.) Is there another good point that can be made for the opposition? (concession - ethos)
9.) How would you answer that point? (rebuttal - ethos, logos, pathos)
10.) Who will benefit from this change- you? the audience? society? a well-deserving group?

1.)I am trying to change or suggest a change in the school curriculum for incorporating meditation in schools as a stress management and focus technique.

2.)The paper is being written to a general audience mostly adults whom may have children and/or educators of those children to make a change in school curriculum for incorporating stress and emotional response management into our education.

3.)The way in which I am appealing to the values of readers is by making the connections between the larger world in which they are incorporated in and the preparation we receive in our education for our roles in society and our life decisions.

4.)I use statistical information and studies done on the topic of incorporating meditation in schools to provide information to back up the logic made in my suggestion of adding the teaching of meditation in schools.

5.)The change should be made because it may have a positive impact in the preparation of future generations to create a better environment for at least in starting the local areas in which this curriculum is employed but also in essence the communities they may move into and over time help create a better world environment.

6.)One of the arguments against teaching meditation is school is the fear of religion in disguise.

7.)The religion in disguise argument is countered by a rebuttal argument about how the specific components of the process of meditation incorporates natural habits that are not exclusive to a religion and how one does not need to be indoctrinated or taught a specific religion or set of beliefs to learn and benefit from the process.

8.)Another being that kids may lose their sense of right and wrong by developing non-judgmental awareness.

9.)The counter arguments I provide are how developing non-judgmental awareness would actually enhance the child’s ability to discern between right and wrong by not making snap judgments base on false premises or preconceived notions.

10.)Students would benefit from this change. The world as a whole overtime because of the influences of the better environments we potentially create.

Final Draft Essay. Should meditation be added to our early educational curriculum ?

                                                                                                  

                  It can seem pretty hectic out there. The news is constantly reporting on conflicts that are currently plaguing the world about issues of violence with regards to religion, race and arguments over differences of opinion. Within in our own lives we may have to address things such as our time management in relation to work and our social activity. Decisions of things such as spending, housing, career, food, and clothing. Having to navigate through various social expectations and how we come across to one another is also something we may also feel we have to consider. In this way we are constantly having to manage our reactions and feelings so as to not negatively affect those in our environment in fear that we may evoke from them an undesired reaction or response. With these numerous responsibilities of our experience just managing our personal world can be pretty hectic. Is teaching meditation in school a way to alleviate this chaos?

            One of the primary ways of helping us navigate and prepare for the world and our varying “responsibilities” is our education. We have physical education in order to keep us active and allow our growing bodies the chance to get its exercise. We are taught mathematics in school, which may be used later in life for managing our spending, balancing a budget, or organization of varying projects. We are also taught how to read and write which can help us further our education by being able to understand and have various insights into the world through the words, thoughts and ideas of others expressed in literature. We even taught language and art as ways of helping us to learn to express ourselves more universally.

            We are also taught about history in an effort to help us form an understanding of the past and learn from it to move on to help build the future. We are taught history so that we may learn from it and hope to not repeat our mistakes. The irony of that statement is that history still seems to repeat itself. We are in the 21^st Century and we still have wars, arguments about racism, and religion. All of these conflicts having been around in varying incarnations throughout history. It may be that we are still not being prepared for life in ways which would help us more effectively prevent these experiences from repeating themselves. Being quick to anger, not being able to think clearly, or respond well to stressing influences often contribute to the environmental factors which may eventually lead to some of these larger conflicts that take place.

            If education is the means by which we are meant to learn and be prepared for the world, perhaps it may be a good idea to incorporate forms of stress, anxiety, and emotional management into our formal education. Given the amount of stimulation available to us thanks to our growing technologies for communication and entertainment it can be easy to be overwhelmed with not only having to make decisions for our individual lives but being aware of everything else going on in the world. One idea that has been proposed is the idea of teaching meditation in schools. There are numerous amounts of benefits associated with meditation “such as decreased depression, improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety in general (Giovanni).” Proponents of the idea believe that having these tools for stress management and developing focus and control of our emotions at an early age can help make for a better functioning individual.

            The lack of a healthy stress response in and of itself is not a sole contributing factor to the conditions of the larger world issues but it does make a difference in our own individual lives. In an article interpreting the results of a survey about stress conducted by the American Psychological Association, Rebecca Clay states “Stress is up. Most Americans are suffering from moderate to high stress, with 44 percent reporting that their stress levels have increased over the past five years.” (Clay) The increase in stress not only affects our emotional state but our physical health as well. Stress is known to contribute to health concerns regarding the heart and weight gain. Incorporating meditation in our education early may be beneficial in preventing some of these health concerns. In an online Time Magazine article author Laura Blue reports on a study that says “researchers found a 48% reduction in the overall risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause among members of the meditation group compared to those from the health education group.”

            There are of a number of studies and research still being completed regarding the subject of the effects of meditation. The majority of the findings in the various studies point towards the benefits of introducing meditation. One particular study introduced the process of Transcendental Meditation with students from different public schools in 4 different states, for the purpose of “Reduced Psychological Distress in Racial and Ethnic Minority Students Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Program” (JOIP.) They wrote, “The results of this study indicated that practice of the Transcendental Meditation program is effective in reducing psychological distress in racial and ethnic minority secondary school students…there were no treatment-by-ethnicity interactions, indicating that the results were consistent across ethnic groups.”(JOIP) It would appear that the idea of including meditation as a part of our learning would be an asset to our current educational curriculum.

            There are concerns however about the realities of how it may actually have influence in our lives. Concerns that have been raised about teaching mediation in schools has to do with the fear of it being “religion in disguise.” (Decarr.) This concern stems from the fact that the most effective practice of meditation being employed in the majority of studies on its effects called mindfulness comes from ancient Buddhist practices. The concern however is not as warranted as it might seem. The practice of meditation involves developing habits of deep breathing, focusing attention and awareness. These habits are not mutually exclusive or tied to the Buddhist religion. The very act of observation is a component of mediation practices and yet has no ties to religion but is instead something that occurs naturally in the process of learning. The practice of meditation does not require one to learn or be indoctrinated by the Buddhist religion or teachings to learn and develop these skills.

            Another concern was raised by a school teacher from Vancouver, Canada named Tina Olsen. Olsen expressed some of the concerns raised about teaching meditation in school in a “critique of a social and emotional learning program called MindUP” which teaches meditation. (Wickelgren) Her concern was that,

                        “To teach a child to practice non-judgmental awareness is to risk interfering with the child’s ability to heed his sense of right and wrong. A child must make judgements to choose between right and wrong actions. When he acts in accordance with his sense of what is right, he grows in moral character, and develops greater self-control.” (qtd. in Wickelgren How Social and Emotional Learning Could Harm Our Kids)

It can be noted that often the arguments of issues regarding racism and religion stem from preconceived ideas and notions about particular races or beliefs. Teaching non-judgmental awareness could in some small ways alleviate and possibly prevent the escalation of arguments and incidents based on subjects of racism and religion. Through personal observation it can be said a number of unnecessary incidents can arise from the assumption of racism or negative religious connotation when in fact no such intentions exist within or are intended by the communicator. The non-judgmental awareness aspect of some forms of meditation can be a beneficial contributor to our human interactions. This being the case because often judgments made on false premises or assumptions are what initiate arguments or contention within an environment that may not have previously been conducive to such experiences.

            In every moment of our education we are being prepared for the experiences we will have in life. Our ability to cope and adapt to the world will be an essential part of our success in our experiences. Incorporating beneficial practices such as meditation into our education would be an valuable tool for helping us in our interaction in the world. In effect reducing and managing our stress not only benefits ourselves but those whom we interact with. We do this by not unduly placing our burdens on others because we have the tools to manage ourselves. We have the tools to find ways to bring back the peace and enjoyment in our lives because we can more effectively manage our responses.In this way we can potentially prevent and reduce the violence that takes place in our local communities and potentially moving into the larger world around us. The evidence suggests at least the idea is worth considering.

Revised Rough Draft

                                                                                                                   

Teaching stress management and focus in school through meditation?

           

            It can seem pretty hectic out there. The news is constantly reporting on conflicts that are currently plaguing the world about issues of violence with regards to religion, race and arguments over differences of opinion. Within in our own lives we may have to address things such as our time management in relation to work and our social activity. Decisions of things such as spending, housing, career, food, and clothing. Having to navigate through various social expectations and how we come across to one another is also something we may also feel we have to consider. In this way we are constantly having to manage our reactions and feelings so as to not negatively affect those in our environment in fear that we may evoke from them an undesired reaction or response. With these numerous responsibilities of our experience just managing our personal world can be pretty hectic. 

            One of the primary ways of helping us navigate and prepare for the world and our varying “responsibilities” is our education. We have physical education in order to keep us active and allow our growing bodies the chance to get its exercise. We are taught mathematics in school, which may be used later in life for managing our spending, balancing a budget, or organization of varying projects. We are also taught how to read and write which can help us further our education by being able to understand and have various insights into the world through the words, thoughts and ideas of others expressed in literature. We even taught language and art as ways of helping us to learn to express ourselves more universally.

            We are also taught about history in an effort to help us form an understanding of the past and learn from it to move on to help build the future. I recall being told by a teacher in Junior High School “We are taught history so that we may learn from it and hope to not repeat our mistakes.”  The irony of that statement is that history still seems to repeat itself. We are in the 21^st Century and we still have wars, arguments about racism, and religion. All of these conflicts having been around in varying incarnations throughout history. Being quick to anger, not being able to think clearly, or respond well to stressing influences often contribute to the environmental factors which may eventually lead to some of the larger conflicts that take place.

            If education is the means by which we are meant to learn and be prepared for the world, perhaps it may be a good idea to incorporate forms of stress, anxiety, and emotional management into our formal education. Given the amount of stimulation available to us thanks to our growing technologies for communication and entertainment it can be easy to be overwhelmed with not only having to make decisions for our individual lives but being aware of everything else going on in the world. One idea that has been proposed is the idea of teaching meditation in schools. There are numerous amounts of benefits associated with meditation “such as decreased depression, improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety in general (Giovanni).” Proponents of the idea believe that having these tools for stress management and developing focus and control of our emotions at an early age can help make for a better functioning individual.

            The lack of a healthy stress response in and of itself is not a sole contributing factor to the conditions of the larger world issues but it does make a difference in our own individual lives. In an article interpreting the results of a survey about stress conducted by the American Psychological Association, Rebecca Clay states “Stress is up. Most Americans are suffering from moderate to high stress, with 44 percent reporting that their stress levels have increased over the past five years.” (Clay) The increase in stress not only affects our emotional state but our physical health as well. Stress is known to contribute to health concerns regarding the heart and weight gain. Incorporating meditation in our education early may be beneficial in preventing some of these health concerns. In an online Time Magazine article author Laura Blue reports on a study that says “researchers found a 48% reduction in the overall risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from any cause among members of the meditation group compared to those from the health education group.”

            There are of a number of studies and research still being completed regarding the subject of the effects of meditation. The majority of the findings in the various studies point towards the benefits of introducing meditation. One particular study introduced the process of Transcendental Meditation with students from different public schools in 4 different states, for the purpose of “Reduced Psychological Distress in Racial and Ethnic Minority Students Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Program” (JOIP.) They wrote, “The results of this study indicated that practice of the Transcendental Meditation program is effective in reducing psychological distress in racial and ethnic minority secondary school students…there were no treatment-by-ethnicity interactions, indicating that the results were consistent across ethnic groups.”(JOIP) It would appear that the idea of including meditation as a part of our learning would be an asset to our current educational curriculum.

            There are concerns however about the realities of how it may actually have influence in our lives. Concerns that have been raised about teaching mediation in schools has to do with the fear of it being “religion in disguise.” (Decarr.) This concern stems from the fact that the most effective practice of meditation being employed in the majority of studies on its effects called mindfulness comes from ancient Buddhist practices. The concern however is not as warranted as it might seem. The practice of meditation involves developing habits of deep breathing, focusing attention and awareness. These habits are not mutually exclusive or tied to the Buddhist religion. The very act of observation is a component of mediation practices and yet has no ties to religion but is instead something that occurs naturally in the process of learning. The practice of meditation does not require one to learn or be indoctrinated by the Buddhist religion or teachings to learn and develop these skills.

            Another concern was raised by a school teacher from Vancouver, Canada named Tina Olsen. Olsen expressed some of the concerns raised about teaching meditation in school in a “critique of a social and emotional learning program called MindUP” which teaches meditation. (Wickelgren) Her concern was that,

                        “To teach a child to practice non-judgmental awareness is to risk interfering with the child’s ability to heed his sense of right and wrong. A child must make judgements to choose between right and wrong actions. When he acts in accordance with his sense of what is right, he grows in moral character, and develops greater self-control.” (qtd. in Wickelgren How Social and Emotional Learning Could Harm Our Kids)

It can be noted that often the arguments of issues regarding racism and religion stem from preconceived ideas and notions about particular races or beliefs. Teaching non-judgmental awareness could in some small ways alleviate and possibly prevent the escalation of arguments and incidents based on subjects of racism and religion. Through personal observation it can be said a number of unnecessary incidents can arise from the assumption of racism or negative religious connotation when in fact no such intentions exist within or are intended by the communicator. The non-judgmental awareness aspect of some forms of meditation can be a beneficial contributor to our human interactions. This being the case because often judgments made on false premises or assumptions are what initiate arguments or contention within an environment that may not have previously been conducive to such experiences.

            In every moment of our education we are being prepared for the experiences we will have in life. Our ability to cope and adapt to the world will be an essential part of our success in our experiences. Incorporating beneficial practices such as meditation into our education would be an valuable tool for helping us in our interaction in the world. In effect reducing and managing our stress not only benefits ourselves but those whom we interact with. We do this by not unduly placing our burdens on others because we have the tools to manage ourselves. We have the tools to find ways to bring back the peace and enjoyment in our lives because we can more effectively manage our responses.  The evidence suggests at least the idea is worth considering.

Analyzing an Argument in Class Lab

Justin Bonus's Paper 

What is the claim?

The main point of the essay is that Universal Healthcare is a good idea. The Thesis is stated clearly in the last sentence of the introductory paragraph. “..It is now time for health care to become universal.”

What Support does the writer offer for the claim?

The author makes point that of how successful the systems of Universal Healthcare has been in other countries. The author also makes the point of how governmental involvement in other aspects of our health and safety such as firefighting and policing programs were decided to be necessary for all regardless of financial status and the same principals should apply to healthcare.

How evenhandedly does the writer present the issue?

The author addresses the arguments made against Universal Healthcare and responds to those concerns with more information about the subjects of concern that may not be taken into account by those arguing against it. The author acknowledged the arguments and responded reasonably. The author avoids sweeping generalizations and gives specific information.

What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?

The author makes use of information given by the World Health Organization, the American Medical Student Association, United States Census Bureau, Statista (a statistics website), and other resources to provide outside and accurate information regarding the issue. He uses the statistical information to help argue regarding the costs of healthcare. Etc.

How does the writer address you as the reader?

The writer gives a good lead into the topic and assumes basic knowledge of the reader. The reader does not need to be knowledgeable about the topic to be able to understand the argument that was given. The quote in the beginning was a great lead into the paper for the subject.

Elizabeth Stallings's Paper

What is the claim?

The author makes the claim that it would be better and more beneficial to not declaw cats.

What Support does the writer offer for the claim?

The Author makes the point that it is not necessarily in the best interest of the pet. “Claws are the cat’s first line of defense…” The author also points out that the procedure can affect the cat in various ways such as the need to relearn its balance and phantom pains after the procedure.

How evenhandedly does the writer present the issue?

The Author presents the issue effectively fairly making an valid point about how it effects the cats. There are possibly a few counterarguments that can be noted or addressed such as to how someone may still get hurt without their cat being declawed etc. Without acknowledging it directly she does address it in some way by offering an alternative to the procedure.

What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?

The Author uses information from outside sources such as A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She also includes information from an article on All Feline Hospital’s website.

How does the writer address you as the reader?

She assumes no knowledge on the reader’s part and gives appropriate information regarding the subject that allows the reader to understand her argument. The reader is not necessarily directly included, however given the subject if the reader is a cat owner they do feel included.