Today's Progress

Today I was able to complete two paragraphs on the history of Official English and the fear of German taking over in the 18th century.

Drafting Plan for Monday, November 26, 2007

• For today I plan on finishing up explaining possible legislation for an Official English bill. I also will include some of my own arguments for the legislation along with some possible arguments against Official English.
  
• Today I was able to complete explaining the legislation for Official English. I did provide arguments for and against, but I would like to expand on arguments against because its one sided to arguments for right now.
• For my next writing session I will expand on arguments against. I will also begin on the history of Official English.
  

Thesis and Working Outline

Thesis
Although many argue that English as the Official Language means English only, that it will force all people into speaking only English, Official English will require the government to conduct its business in English. Learning English, if anything, benefits people more than it hurts them, they will earn more money, do better in school, and have more career options. Official English is a step in the right direction for everyone.

Working Outline

Intro
1. Explain Official English
2. Some History
3. Thesis

Main Points
1. English as Official Language is not "English Only"
2. Explain how official English works
3. Show proposed bills for Official English
4. Arguments against Official English
5. Arguments for Official English
6. My opinion

Revision Plan for Annotated Bibliography

For my revision of the annotated bibliography I plan to:

1. Organize my entries into categories and organize them alphabetically under those categories.

2. I will expand on my annotations, especially the one that I summarized in one sentence. I would also like to expand on the parts that I will use in my paper.

3. I will also expand on my introduction, explaining where the basis of my research came from, and some of my findings.

Annotated Bibliography

Mujica, Mauro E. (2003, July, 7). Official English legislation: myths and realities. Human Events, 59, Retrieved October 31, 2007, from http://proxy.elmhurst.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=10380206&site=ehost-live

This article explains five different myths about Official English Legislation that many people opposing it will often use as arguments. It debunks these myths and proves that these arguments are illegitimate. Mujica is the Chairman of U.S. ENGLISH, Inc. He is also an immigrant from Chile. The arguments he presents are accurate and show that Official English does not hurt immigrants. At the end of the article, is HR 997: English Language Unity Act of 2003. In my paper I will use the myths and Mujica's debunking of the myths to further my argument for Official English, and I will use the House Resolution presented to show how Official English legislation works.

Primary Sources

1. For my primary sources I can use my own personal experience with language as one primary source. I can also interview other people to find out their personal experiences with this topic. Also because I'm also looking into the legislation for making English the Official Language, I can look at official legislation for states that already have passed this, to see how an Official Language actually works, and what choosing an official language actually means.

2. I can interview people on campus to find out their personal experiences, I could also interview a foreign language teacher, to see their opinion on this topic. To find official language legislation I would need to search a government site to see how official language works in law.

Writer Role

Advocate in a Controversy. Here the writer shifts from an informative or evaluative purpose to a persuasive purpose; the paper now becomes a researched argument.

Should the United States make English its official language?

Background Research

In my research I have found that there are many opinions for English as the official language and against it. Some people for English as the official language are simply racist, believing that only English should be spoken, as it is superior. Other supports of it are rational, looking at it from a standpoint that it would make everything more efficient and easier if everyone spoke the same language. People against making English the official language believe that this kind of legislation would solve no problems and would contribute to nativism.

To further my research I need to find out exactly what would go into a bill to make English the official language, and what making English the official language really means. I also want to find out what creates a person's opinion on this topic.

Research Paper Sources

PBS Article: Official American English Only
http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/officialamerican/englishonly/


Making English the Official Language Would Benefit Minorities
http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C7%2529english%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1&currentPosition=2&userGroupName=chsd&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C7%29english%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010055223&docType=GSRC

Debate Over Bilingualism
http://library.cqpress.com.proxy.elmhurst.edu/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre1996011900&type=hitlist&num=0&#hit1

Purpose and Audience

Purpose
My purpose in writing this essay is to present my argument as to why English should be the official language of the U.S. to the reader. I want to explain why declaring English as the official language will allow everything to run more efficiently, make communication much easier, and explain the fact that this country was founded by English speakers and all of our historical documents are written in English. I also would like to propose a possible way to declare English as the official language and to teach the language to non-English speakers.

Audience
My audience could be politicians that are interested in this issue. My audience could also be just about anyone, with the fact that the vast majority of people have experienced another language being spoken, or had trouble understanding someone because they spoke another language, this essay could prove interesting to anyone.

Research Exploration

Part I: Exploration
1. Identify the issue or problem that you plan to focus on in your research project

I plan to focus on the issue of declaring English as the official language in the United States.

2. What is your personal connection to an interest in this topic?

I grew up in West Chicago, which has about a one-third Hispanic population, a majority of them Spanish speaking. It has caused me to find my stance on this issue and have an interest in this topic.

3. What opinions do you already hold about this topic?

I already hold that English should be declared the official language, and that the government should sponsor English classes to teach non-English speakers English. I also believe that creating an official language and having everyone speak it would make our country much more efficient.

4. What knowledge do you already have about this topic? What are your main questions about this topic? What are you most curious about?

I already know that the United States does not have an official language. I also know that some people that oppose English as the official language believe that having people learn English will make them lose their culture. I want to know why they think this; I also want to know what countries have an official language, and which languages have been declared as official languages. I also would like to see other arguments against declaring English as the official language.

5. Within what scholarly discipline (such as history, biology, psychology) do you expect to do most of your research? How does this discipline approach or study this topic?

I think that this topic would fit into the disciplines of history and politics. History would work because it can show how language in the United States has changed. I also think that politics would work because this topic is also a very political one. The right side believes that English should be declared the official language and all citizens should speak it, while the left side believes that people should be allowed to speak whatever they want.

6. How could you research this topic outside the library (for example, through interviews and/or observations)?

I could do many interviews, of just anyone to see their particular stance. I could also take a quick survey of people and see what percent of people believe it should be the official language.

Part II: Focusing
Write an initial claim, or an open-ended question, to guide your research on this topic. Make it specific but exploratory. Remember that a good claim opens up an area of inquiry about a topic; a claim should invite evidence, support, and debate.

Why should English be chosen as the official language for the United States?

Research Questions

1. Should English be declared the official language of the United States?

2. Is rehabilitation of felony offenders possible? Desirable?

3. Affirmative Action: Equality or Reverse Discrimination?

Research Articles

Is HGH Hiding Steroid Use? by Bob Nightengale

http://proxy.elmhurst.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=J0E320512414507&site=ehost-live

Citation: Nightengale, B. (2007, September 12). Is HGH hiding steroid use?. USA Today, p. 1.

Baseball's Steroid Era by T.J. Quinn

http://proxy.elmhurst.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=25926716&site=ehost-live

Citation: Quinn, T.J. (2007, August). Baseball's steroid era. Men's Fitness, [23(6)], 128-132.

The Juice is Loose by Lou Schuler

http://proxy.elmhurst.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=16442731&site=ehost-live


Summary of Is HGH Hiding Steroid Use?

Major League Baseball players are finding a way to avoid positive steroid test by using human growth hormone. Gary Wadler of the World Anti-Doping Agency believes that athletes are using HGH, which there is no reliable test for, to hide their steroid use. Using HGH allows players to take lower levels of anabolic steroids, which means they may not be detected when tested. Players often use steroids during the offseason and then using HGH during the season, to maintain. MLB has banned the use of HGH and is helping fund a study to detect the drug.

Exercise #2 p. 132

One example of metacommentary I could add to my synthesis draft would be:

In “Computers and Technology,” Ohmann argues that epistemic games are crucial to training students to become ready for the workforce, while in “Who Needs Computers,” Stoll argues that computers are not fit for the classroom, and are ruining many methods of required teaching.

Another example of metacommentary I could add would be:

For example, in Full Spectrum Warrior, players can learn military strategy by experience, rather than by rote memorization, some critics believe this is more important than standard classroom learning.

Synthesis Paper Revision

Technology is perhaps the most important tool of our time. The vast majority of our population would not be able to make it through one day, let alone an hour without using a piece of technology. Whether it is a television, cell phone, or a computer, people would not make it. This technology has even made its way into the classroom, taking over most “normal” ways of teaching. Computers are replacing books, film, and even, to a degree, teachers. While items like email, and instant messaging, can be helpful, often time’s students resort only to email, and never actually talk to teachers. Many people even believe that with this technology, comes big corporate names, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, all large companies, that with the surge of technology, people argue that these companies are taking over the classroom. While other critics believe that, this use of technology and epistemic games in the classroom will benefit the student more than classic methods of teaching.

The use of these large corporations in the classrooms, takes some control from the teachers and school board, and gives it to these corporations. These corporations have control, because they control what we see and use through the technology. Many critics of putting technology in the classroom fear that with these large corporations present in classrooms will hurt students more than help them. Because these corporations can choose, what and how we learn it will replace perhaps the most important item of learning, the teacher. The reason that these corporations control what students learn, is because the large corporations like Microsoft and Google control our technology. Microsoft is the largest software manufacturer in the world, and with that power, they can do what they want with technology. Google is the largest search engine in the world, the can control what results a student gets when they make a search. With this kind of control, they can create students that are ready for the work force, only for one type of job, for example to work for Google or Microsoft. It does not leave many options for students. Many critics stay by the fact that the teacher is the most important tool for learning.

While many critics are against the use of technology in the classroom, there are clear benefits to it. Epistemic games place students into real life situations, to get practice for their occupations that they would otherwise not have, until on the work force. This kind of practice will change the way a student thinks, because in a standard classroom they are just taught the standard facts, but with the practice these games offer, they will cause the student to think outside of merely what they are taught. This kind of practice allows the student’s mind to grow and expand to meet the demands of his occupation. Many students would rather learn through video games than through rote memorization and not taking. The truth is that epistemic games would benefit students more that “normal” classroom learning. While a student sits in a classroom, he stops thinking about what he is learning, daydreams, thinks about what he is doing after school, etc., resulting in the student not learning much at all. Whereas, if the student were to be enthralled in an epistemic game, they would learn more. They would learn more because of the fact they would be interested in what they are doing, they would not daydream or think about other things, video games require a players, or a student in this case, constant attention, thus removing the challenge of staying focused.

Putting more of this technology would immensely help students when they need to go to the work force. However, caution needs to be held to make sure that corporations do not take over the classroom. As long as corporate control can be kept from the classroom, then the epistemic games and internet will improve teaching methods vastly. The shift from classic methods of teaching, to a technological approach, is needed, but caution needs to be taken.

Synthesis Paper

Technology is perhaps the most important tool of our time. The vast majority of our population would not be able to make it through one day, let alone an hour without using a piece of technology. Whether it is a television, cell phone, or a computer, people would not make it. This technology has even made its way into the classroom, taking over most “normal” ways of teaching. Computers are replacing books, film, and even, to a degree, teachers. While items like email, and instant messaging, can be helpful, often time’s students resort only to email, and never actually talk to teachers. Many people even believe that with this technology, comes big corporate names, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, all large companies, that with the surge of technology, people argue that these companies are taking over the classroom.
The use of these large corporations in the classrooms, takes some control from the teachers and school board, and gives it to these corporations. These corporations have control, because they control what we see and use through the technology. Many critics of putting technology in the classroom fear that with these large corporations present in classrooms will hurt students more than help them. Because these corporations can choose what and how we learn it will replace perhaps the most important item of learning, the teacher. Many critics stay by the fact that the teacher is the most important tool for learning.
While many critics are against the use of technology in the classroom, there are clear benefits to it. Epistemic games place students into real life situations, to get practice for their occupations that they would otherwise not have, until on the work force. This kind of practice will change the way a student thinks, because in a standard classroom they are just taught the standard facts, but with the practice these games offer, they will cause the student to think outside of merely what they are taught. This kind of practice allows the student’s mind to grow and expand to meet the demands of his occupation.
Putting more of this technology would immensely help students when they need to go to the work force. However, caution needs to be held to make sure that corporations do not take over the classroom. As long as corporate control can be kept from the classroom, then the epistemic games and internet will improve teaching methods vastly. The shift from classic methods of teaching, to a more technological approach, is needed, but caution needs to be taken.

Synthesis Activity

Thesis: In our present times, technology has become such an important and reliable source; you can even look at the benefits of epistemic gaming with respect to learning, but has this technology surge caused a corporate control of our classrooms?
1. With all the technology use in our classrooms today, it has given these companies control of our classrooms by choosing what and how we learn.
2. Using technology in forms like Epistemic Games has allowed us to give students a new way of thinking and a broader view of life, it challenges them by placing them in a brand new environment and gives them realistic tasks.
3. If teachers were to implant more technology in the classrooms such as Epistemic games, it would not only be a new creative way of teaching of students, but it would also let teachers get involved in the world of gaming and technology that this new generation lives in. However we can’t give companies the ability to control the future of our children.

"Computers and Technology" Summary

In Richard Ohmann’s article, “Computers and Technology,” Ohmann describes how computers and technology are working their way into the classroom very quickly. These new technologies are replacing many things in the classroom such as textbooks, or even asking the teacher for help. Most students will now look up their question online or ask the teacher through email. Removing all contact with the teacher, except during the class hour. Most students do not find a use for any sort of reference book anymore, as all that information is available online, at it all can be found much quicker. While all these resources at the click of a mouse are very helpful and convenient, they can be very bad, as such resources make it simple to plagiarize. I definitely agree that the new technology being introduced to the classroom is making learning and researching much easier. Most students will not use a reference book from the library, unless required to. While it is good that the internet is revolutionizing learning, there is a lot of inaccurate information on the internet. While I believe that there should be tools used from technology, I do not think that they should replace teacher-student interaction. This is the most important part of learning, and it should not be replaced.

"Hidden Intellectualism" Summary

In the article “Hidden Intellectualism,” Gerald Graff explains that many people know someone who is “incredibly street smart” but that person does not do well in school, but Graff argues that street smarts are just as important as school smarts. To many people this is seen as a waste, and that this person should spend more time on their school studies than things in sports or popular culture. But Graff argues that schools should take these street smarts and channel them into good academic work. Graff also believes that to be able to have students read literature such as George Orwell; we need to first have the students read things that interest them, encourage them to dive deep into whatever their reading, forming an opinion and arguing their point. Allowing students to do such reading, Graff believes will cause the student to naturally gravitate to more intellectual readings, as they will want to argue points and form opinions.
Graff finds that sports, which are normally thought of as less intellectual as school, to be more intellectual than school. The fact that sports are full of arguments, debates, problems for analysis, and intricate statistics, makes it more compelling and intellectual than school. Graff implies that street smarts are more important than school smarts because they are more real, they are things that can be used in the real world. But the problem is, street smarts and school smarts need to be coupled together to work well. If you only have one or the other, it will not work well. But in the end Graff would rather have the student who can write an argument about a magazine article or something the student enjoys, and that it can be done well, than a student who writes an argument over Hamlet that has no real opinion either way.

Two Summaries of "Don't Blame the Eater"

Summary 1
In David Zinczenko’s article, “Don’t Blame the Eater,” Zinczenko argues that, while fast food restaurants, which are cheap and plentiful, but are unhealthy for the nation’s youth, there is no other option that is healthier and as cheap and convenient as fast food restaurants. I on the other hand tend to disagree. It is very easy to find healthier options that are just as inexpensive as fast food restaurants. It is very easy to walk into your neighborhood Jewel or Super Target and buy a pre-made turkey sandwich and an apple for about the same price as a fast food meal. These grocery stores are just as plentiful as the unhealthy fast food restaurants, and are just as easy to purchase food from. The foods bought from these grocery stores also have the nutrition facts printed right on them, so the consumer always knows what he is eating.

Summary 2
In David Zinczenko’s article, “Don’t Blame the Eater,” Zinczenko blames fast food companies for causing obesity in many youths around the nation. The fast food restaurants, which are the only option for many of today’s youths, are causing obesity. These fast food restaurants are the only option for youths whose parents are often at work during the day, so they fall victim to the trap of delicious, cheap, and convenient meals offered at the fast food restaurants. The problem is that most of these youths do not know the dangers of eating such meals on a regular basis, such as obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes. The main problem is that the fast food companies are only there to make money, they do not care what happens to its consumers, and they know that people will continue to purchase their meals because it is cheap and fast. If people were truly educated about the nutrition of the meals, it might turn some consumers away looking for the healthier options

I agree with Zinczenko’s argument that fast food companies are causing obesity in many of today’s youths, but I do not believe that the lawsuits held against them will prove effective. Taking money away from a multi-billion dollar company is not going to have much of an effect, especially when looking at the amount of money these companies throw around on advertising. I feel that the only way to get these companies to change policies is to get the Food and Drug Administration involved. The FDA, which is a company that regulates food, dietary and many other parts of everyday life can easily instill policies upon these fast food companies that will require nutrition facts to be included on packaging in a simple manner, or to make them serve healthier options too. I do not feel that merely placing a lawsuit against a company with so much money will cause them to change anything.

Comparison of Summaries
In my first summary, I completely disagree with everything that Zinczenko says. While he argues that while fast food companies are unhealthy and cause obesity in many of today’s youths, they are really the only option that is cheap and convenient. The only parts that I summarize in my essay are the ones that I disagree with, because I felt it would be inefficient to write anything else from his article, because it is not relevant to my summary.

In my second summary, I agree with much of what Zinczenko says in his article, but I disagree with his solution to the problem. Because I agree with what he says, I summarize the vast majority of the article, unlike in my previous summary in which I only summarize with which I disagree with. I felt that because I agree with it all, it is all relevant to my summary and belongs in it. In addition, in my second summary, I disagree with a part of his article, where I explain why I disagree and what I think is the best solution to the problem.

While both these summaries summarize the same article, they are very different in their execution., In which one agrees completely but changes the solution, and one disagrees completely

They Say/I Say Example 1

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070906/EDITORIAL/109060010/1013

In this article the author is showing what "They Say," in this case, Hillary Clinton's promise to not cut Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age, or privatize the taxpayer funded Social Security system. The author continues to explain what will happen if this promise were to happen. The author shows that if this were to happen, over a 75 year horizon, Social Security would have an obligation of $15.6 trillion dollars in present day dollars. So what the author is getting at is that if Hillary Clinton was able to carry out this promise, people under 35 will most likely not see any Social Security money.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-bomber_thurssep06,1,6510396.story?coll=chi_breaking_500

The above article, about the six nuclear warheads that flew over the US, only shows what the author says, because of the fact that they do not know exactly how the warheads were allowed to fly within the US.