Reflection on Open Letter Draft

In the following post, I will reflect on the peer feedback I received on the draft of my Open Letter, focusing on the bulleted list in the Student's Guide textbook.

Gosselin, Bret. "Peer Edit Picture" 7/13/2011 via flickr. Attribution-NonCommercia-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.

The two drafts I reviewed are linked below:

Morgan's Draft

Carter's Draft

Revision

Did you demonstrate an ability to think about your writing and yourself as a writer?

Though the feedback I received from my peers indicates that there are a few changes I need to make to my letter as a whole, I think I generally followed the prompt and adequately reflected on myself as a writer. What I need to work on now is my organization of the information I presented. 

Did you provide analysis of your experiences, writing assignments, or concepts you have learned?

I definitely think I could use work in this area. I felt I was getting lost in finding examples to provide. I was better at reflecting on the broad concept of myself as a writer and not the smaller details of hyperlinking to other sources.

Did you provide concrete examples from your own writing (either quotes from your writing or rich descriptions of your writing process)?

This is again related to my answer above. I provided a few quotes from my own work, but one of my concerns (which I asked my peers to consider when editing my draft) was that there weren't enough. When I go through my draft a second time, I will make sure to listen to their feedback on places where I could possibly add more.

Did you explain why you made certain choices and whether those choices were effective?

Yes; I spent a lot of time in my draft elaborating on the effectiveness of the skills that I mentioned. This is why I need to spend more time on providing examples. Reviewing the feedback I received, I still need to consider making changes in this regard; however, for the most part, I believe my draft is well-developed in this sense. 

Did you use specific terms and concepts related to writing and the writing process?

Yes; I made sure to mention genre and writing convention in my draft, as these were what I felt were emphasized most heavily in the course. I also mentioned time management and the writing process, which were underlying skills that I had learned throughout the course. I tried to avoid making my letter sound too technical in this category because I believe it will take away from its "semi-formal" nature. 

Draft of Open Letter

In the following post, I provide the link to the draft of my open letter as well as a a paragraph directed to my peers, who will be editing my letter.

Appelo, Jurgen "360-Degree Feedback" 11/23/2010 via flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

The link to my Open Letter can be found HERE.

To My Peers:

The main thing I'm concerned with in my draft is whether or not I've included enough citations to my own work. I was having a difficult time finding places to add in a reference to another blog post without it seeming totally random and uncalled for. I would also like to know whether or not my letter seemed to generally be headed in the right direction. Writing it, I felt I was drifting away from the purpose of the prompt, and I definitely don't want that to translate into my final product. Thank you! 

The drafts I edited are linked below:

Morgan's draft
Carter's draft

Reflecting More on My Writing Experiences

In the following post, I will further reflect on my writing experiences this semester by considering my past blogs, projects, and reviews throughout the course.

ibangfotografi "Nature Reflection" 4/8/2014 via flickr. CC0 Public Domain License.

1. What were the biggest challenges you faced this semester, overall?

My biggest challenge was in the "newness" of the projects and coursework. The blogposts were initially something that I struggled in, as they were entirely unfamiliar to me. The format of the projects was also unfamiliar to me. My experience in writing courses has been heavily focused on literary analyses. The emphasis on different genres and their conventions was very different and challenging to me. 

2. What did you learn this semester about your own time management, writing and editorial skills?

time management - Though I believe every college student's time management could use some improvement, I can definitely say I was successful in this aspect. I learned that procrastination is absolutely your worst enemy. No matter the circumstances, it will always be best to bid your time in the most productive manner.

writing skills - I wouldn't say my writing skills have changed; however, I can definitely say I learned a lot about writing skills in different genres. I learned about the conventions of public arguments, blog posts, QRGs, etc.

editorial skills - I've learned a lot about the complexity of the editing process. My past writing classes consisted mostly of in-class written assignments, meaning editing was never an option. This class placed a heavy emphasis on the editing process. 

3. What do you know about the concept of 'genre'? Explain how understanding this concept is central to being a more effective writing. 

Genre is something that must be considered in all written pieces. It is the first and foremost characteristic of a piece and helps to predict the conventions of the paper. Genre and its conventions help to differentiate between written pieces, which in turn helps to write and analyze in that genre. 

4. What skills from this course might you use and/or develop further in the next few years of college coursework?

I've found this course to be very helpful in terms of learning about technology. The course was very technologically based, as have been most of my other courses as well. The emphasis on different genres in our fields will also obviously be very helpful. Having researching arguments in my field, I am now well-versed in the academic writings within my aspiring career.

5. What was your most effective moment from this semester in 109H?

I would say my most effective moment was in our second project, on analyzing an argument in our field. Not only did I feel I had a more firm grasp on this project, I also enjoyed it more than the first. From the beginning I felt I was better able to succeed. In the drafting process, Kelly remarked that my draft was very well-put-together. This was my most effective moment in the course.

6. What was your least effective moment from this semester in 109H?

My least effective moment was 100% the QRG. In contrast to the Public Argument project, I was extremely uncertain about the parameters of this project. I credit part of this to the fact that my topic was extremely broad. I didn't have a solid foundation for success. There are multiple other faucets that negatively affected my grade, which I will discuss further in my final letter. This was my least effective moment from this semester in 109H.

Revisiting My Writing Process

In the following post, I will reflect on my writing process by revisiting my first two blog posts in this course, "My Writing Process" and "Calendar Reflection."

Doug "Old News" 5/15/2010 via flickr. Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike 2.0 Generic License.

Reading "My Writing Process," I can generally say that my writing style and process has not been altered all that much through the course of the semester. I defined myself as a heavy reviser, which I would still say is true today. However, on that note, I also think that the definition of a heavy reviser has changed in the context of this course. As a majority of our projects were more heavily focused on structure and visuals (as with the QRG and my Public Argument), my heavy revision personality had to be adjusted. When I described my preference for heavy revising, it was in the context of the writing courses I had taken up to that point, which consisted largely of heavy writing assignments, etc. 

I say all this because my adjustments in relation to being a heavy reviser are connected with the time management habits I have developed in this course. I have had to bid my time very well to satisfy my heavy revising. The projects in this course were no small feats, and certainly couldn't be "put off." As such, I found that my time management and heavy revising process somewhat coincided. Much of my time management consisted of my spreading out time to revise my project. 

*               *                *

I can finally say I've become somewhat adapted to college life. That being said, I now hold a firm view of how my time management will look in the future, in reference to work, school and family. My process is definitely a very sequential, precarious sort of process. Though not perfectly, I kept to my "Calendar Reflection" considerably well. This calendar depicts my strategy in this semester and the future semesters. I found I was most productive by providing little chunks of time for each class, everyday. This ensured I never fell behind in any course, while focusing on another one.

My performance in this course suggests to me that I will be a very organized worker when it comes to my eventual employment in a professional field. Success for me means a clear organization of how my time needs to be dictated. I have very specific to-do lists in my mind with the beginning of everyday, which I believe will benefit me when it comes to working in the "real world."

Reflection on Project 3

In the following post, I reflect on my Project 3 Public Argument by answering the questions "Reflecting on Your Own Revision Process" from the Writing Public Lives textbook.

Donnelly, Tim "Time to Reflect" 8/3/2011 via flickr. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License.

Reflecting on Your Own Revision Process

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

The aspects that were most heavily revised in my draft were the varying aesthetics. More specifically, I added music, narration, and special effects to my video.

2. Point to global changes: how did you reconsider you thesis or organization? 

In revising my video, I reconsidered the type of argument I was trying to convey. In the editing process, I discovered that the direction I was going in wasn't what I had originally planned. I, overall, changed my voice and the overall tone of the video.

3. What led you to these changes? A reconsideration of audience? A shift in purpose?

Neither of the options listed by the book were the reasons I altered my video. As I was editing, my ideas and the argument itself started to change. I believe this is in part because of the footage itself. My video ended up being somewhat dark and ominous. This tone in turn evolved my overall argument.

4. How do these changes affect your credibility as an author?

The changes I made were successful in making the video appear, overall, more professional. This in turn will affect my credibility by increasing the reliability of my argument.

5. How will these changes better address the audience or venue?

The changes I made to my video will help to instill a sense of urgency to my audience. The more ominous and authoritative tone rhetorically helped to giver my argument an underlying sense of importance. 

6. Point to local changes: how did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

I realized very early on in the drafting process that my narration was too formal. The writing style of an essay is very different from that in a video. When I read aloud what my narration would be, I realized very quickly that it complicated the video, and took away from the overall rhetoric of the special effects.

7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose? 

This change will be very subtle. By simplifying my narration, I place an emphasis on the darkness of the video itself. This shift in focus will cause my audience to comprehend the seriousness of the subject.

8. Did you have to reconsider the conventions of the particular genre in which you are writing?

Yes, multiple times. When I found I was starting to confuse myself with my purpose, it was always helpful to remind myself of the conventions of my genre. Doing so reinforced the direction I needed to go with my argument. 

9. Finally, how does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer?

These questions remind me of how important it is to reanalyze your writing on various scales. For example, traditionally, I wouldn't have reviewed my draft and questioned myself about the "global changes" that could be made. I would have simply focused on the local conventions, attempting to improve grammar and professionalism. The emphasis on global changes greatly helped me in my editing process as most of my project involved global effects over local ones. 

Publishing Public Argument

In the following post, I provide the link to the final of my public argument. I also answer questions in relation to the quality of my argument.

Bohland, Alyssa "Screenshot of 'Circumcision in the Name of God'" 11/16/15 via iMovie.

The link to my final public argument can be found HERE.

1. Mark where you feel your target audience currently stands on the issue (before watching your argument):

←----------------------------------------------------|X--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

2. Mark where you feel your target audience should be (after they've watched your argument):

←--------------------X--------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

3. Check one of the argument types below for your public argument:

         _______ My public argument establishes an original pro position on an issue of debate.

         _______ My public argument establishes an original con position on an issue of debate.

         ___X__ My public argument clarifies the causes for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument proposes a solution for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument positively evaluates a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm supporting).

         _______ My public argument openly refutes a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm refuting).

4. Briefly explain how your public argument doesn’t simply restate information from other sources, but provides original context and insight into the situation:

Though the controversy of circumcision has been discussed in terms of medical dangers, no one has focused on the fact that circumcision itself comes from a very old and outdated religious tradition. My argument was original in context and insight in that it suggested that circumcision, discussed in medical terms today, must also be considered in religious context. It was not perpetrated for medical reasons 3500 years ago when the tradition started, so why should it be considered medically today? It is and has always been a religious practice. 

5. Identify the specific rhetorical appeals you believe you've employed in your public argument below:

Ethical or credibility-establishing appeals

                    _____ Telling personal stories that establish a credible point-of-view

                    __X__ Referring to credible sources (established journalism, credentialed experts, etc.)

                    __X__ Employing carefully chosen key words or phrases that demonstrate you are credible (proper terminology, strong but clear vocabulary, etc.)

                    _____ Adopting a tone that is inviting and trustworthy rather than distancing or alienating

                    __X__ Arranging visual elements properly (not employing watermarked images, cropping images carefully, avoiding sloppy presentation)

                    _____ Establishing your own public image in an inviting way (using an appropriate images of yourself, if you appear on camera dressing in a warm or friendly or professional manner, appearing against a background that’s welcoming or credibility-establishing)

                    _____ Sharing any personal expertise you may possess about the subject (your identity as a student in your discipline affords you some authority here)

                    _____ Openly acknowledging counterarguments and refuting them intelligently

                    _____ Appealing openly to the values and beliefs shared by the audience (remember that the website/platform/YouTube channel your argument is designed for helps determine the kind of audience who will encounter your piece)

                    _____ Other: Just as a side note, I feel like these particular rhetorical strategies would have been least effective in my argument, which is why (as you can see), the fewest amount were employed. My voice was meant to push slightly into being "unethical." That is not to say, I was rude or mean; however, I was definitely attempting to sway my audience by appearing more demanding than "trustworthy."

Emotional appeals

                    _____ Telling personal stories that create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __X__ Telling emotionally compelling narratives drawn from history and/or the current culture

                    __X__ Employing the repetition of key words or phrases that create an appropriate emotional impact

                    __X__ Employing an appropriate level of formality for the subject matter (through appearance, formatting, style of language, etc.)

                    __X__ Appropriate use of humor for subject matter, platform/website, audience

                    __X__ Use of “shocking” statistics in order to underline a specific point

                    __X__ Use of imagery to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __X__ Employing an attractive color palette that sets an appropriate emotional tone (no clashing or ‘ugly’ colors, no overuse of too many variant colors, etc.)

                    __X__ Use of music to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Use of sound effects to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __X__ Employing an engaging and appropriate tone of voice for the debate

                    _____ Other: 

Logical or rational appeals

                    __X__ Using historical records from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    _____ Using statistics from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    _____ Using interviews from stakeholders that help affirm your stance or position

                    _____ Using expert opinions that help affirm your stance or position

                    __X__ Effective organization of elements, images, text, etc.

                    __X__ Clear transitions between different sections of the argument (by using title cards, interstitial music, voiceover, etc.)

                    __X__ Crafted sequencing of images/text/content in order to make linear arguments

                    __X__ Intentional emphasis on specific images/text/content in order to strengthen argument

                    __X__ Careful design of size/color relationships between objects to effectively direct the viewer’s attention/gaze (for visual arguments)

                    _____ Other: 

6. Below, provide us with working hyperlinks to THREE good examples of the genre you've chosen to write in:

BBC Documentaries

The Last Days of Anne Boleyn 

The Celts: Blood, Iron and Sacrifice

Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery

Reflection on Project 3 Draft

In the following, I will reflect on the feedback I received in reference to my Project 3 Draft.

Geralt "Feedback Men Talk Communication" 7/15/2015 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain License.

The two classmate reviews that I peer edited are linked below:

Jessica Jankowski - Architecture and Budget: Let's Not Break the Bank

Dylan Cotter - Dr. Strangelove 

Draft of My Public Argument 

1. Dylan peer-reviewed my rough draft. 

2. I found the feedback Dylan provided to be very helpful. Reading his draft, I recall that he himself is apt in the film-making industry. His suggestions were both centered around improving my argument and also in improving the quality of the video. For example, he suggested I move a particular title further ahead in the video to avoid losing my viewers. A theatrical suggestion he made (which I wholly agree with) was to alter the "effect" I used in subtitles, because it became annoying after a while. Watching my video over again, it really popped out at me and I definitely agree. 

3. I feel the area I need most improvement in is genre. My draft was a very, very rough depiction of what I want the final version to look like. Dylan (politely) used the term "annoying," which is definitely not what I want for my audience. 

I also need to improve the argumentation of my draft, which may include rearranging the format of my video, cutting out certain information, or making my voice more objective (as was suggested by Dylan). I will consider all of these as I move forward in the process.

4. Knowing that my draft was a very rough outline of what I wanted it to be, I feel much better after the progress I made this week. Speaking with Professor Bottai and having the week to work on improving my video really helped in the process. Already I feel that my draft has significantly improved from where it was last week; and with the input I received in the peer review, I believe I can make it even better. 

Draft of Public Argument

In the following post, I provide the link to the draft of my Public Argument.

Bohland, Alyssa. "Screenshot of 'Circumcision in Religion' Public Argument" 11/7/15 via iMovie.

I would very much like to apologize for my draft, and whoever has to suffer through watching it. I mention it at the beginning of my video, but I will repeat it here: Much of the footage I plan to include in the video, I didn't have enough time to record before this week's deadline. Additionally, you'll find that everything gets much more bleak toward the end of the video with blank screens and only words, etc. This is also because I was running out of time! I plan to focus most of my time next week on all the creative aspects of my video.

Also, I have yet to include a voice over, so my narration is what is represented by the text. Thank you for your patience with me, and good luck to you. 

The link to my draft can by found HERE.

Considering Visual Elements

In the following post, I will be considering the visual elements of my argument and how I will construct and incorporate them into my genre for Project 3.

Bohland, Alyssa. "Screenshot of 'Project 3 - Creating A Public Argument' iMovie'" 11/4/2015 via iMovie.

Creating Visual Salience

Image Selection

Is the feeling or tone that the image invokes appropriate to the visual-rhetorical tone of my argument? 

Since I am making a video, I intend to make every image I use relevant to the rhetoric I would use if I were writing an essay. My topic is also heavily oriented on personal/emotional traditions. My images will illicit emotional responses, while still keeping with an historic tone.


If the image is a graph or chart, does it clearly support a major point of my argument, or is it superfluous?

I hadn't consider using any graphs in a documentary, but I can see how it may be useful to show the popularity of circumcision over the years, assuming I can find that information. I think that would be very useful to my argument, and will see if I can incorporate it into my video.


If the visual image is used as a part of a video, does the information or images that come before and after it clearly connect to the image?

This will be very important with all of the images in my video. I want all the images to coherently flow from one to the other as well as the narration I will provide. I don't want there to seem like there were any awkward pauses.

Creating Visual Organization 

If you are designing an audiovisual text, such as a short film, are the scenes ordered clearly?

This is an extension of the question I answered above, about the relevance of single images. It is equally important to portray each "subcategory" of information coherently. I want the video on a small scale, considering individual elements, and a large scale, as a whole, to be effective.

Do too many visual images make your text busy or disorganized? If so, which images might you omit?

This is another question that I am concerned with. In the past when I've made video projects, I've watched them so many times in a row that, though I'm understanding the information, others might not. I want to make sure I don't show the images in too quick succession, not allowing my audience to spend enough time looking at it, or vice versa.

Creating Visual Impact

Do the different visual and textual elements come together persuasively as a whole, or are there elements that seem disconnected or out of place?

All these questions have been hard to answer as I have honestly not started my video yet; however, I feel this one also relates to the previous two questions. I want all the small elements/images to tie together to make one big, persuasively effective argument. Images are obviously very important to my argument and I plan on spending a lot of time organizing them coherently.

Looking back at your images, are they placed or sequenced in the most persuasive ways?

This is another aspect I need to consider very carefully. I have my outline planned as far as information goes, but translating that into a video will require me to be very careful with how I organize everything. I can think of videos that are persuasive, but I have never personally created one. I think this will be my most challenging obstacle.

Project 3 Outline

In the following post, I will be outlining my Project 3 documentary according to the Writing Public Lives textbook excerpts on introducing, developing, and concluding an argument.

Loo, John "Plotting Room" 10/14/2013 via flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

I have decided to do a short documentary as the genre for my argument. As such, my outline doesn't follow in the traditional sense of a hand-written argument. Just something to keep in mind =)

Introduction: Introducing Your Public Argument

Think About Your Situation or Kairos 

The book described this introductory technique as being a way to move your audience to thinking about a certain issue. As I have decided to construct a causal argument, this fits my project perfectly. I am not trying to sway or offend anyone's opinion, only enlighten them on a controversial issue.

Most documentary introductions are concise and to the point, a few seconds at the most just to acquaint the reader with the subject of the reader, without wasting too much time of trivialities. As such, I don't have any true construction of what my introduction will look like. I want it to visually stimulating with some "powerful" music to bestow a sense of importance on the topic.

Body: Developing Strong Supporting Paragraphs 

 Link to my Coggle if it is too hard to see in the blog format.

Bohland, Alyssa. "Screenshot of 'Project 3 Outline - Circumcision in Neonates' Coggle" 11/4/2015 via Coggle.

Conclusion: Concluding Strategies

Future of the Debate

I am not trying to drastically sway anyone's opinion in my argument. I will be referencing the past to describe the roots (causes) of a medical procedure and will then be question its relevance in modern society. I believe looking to the future in my conclusion is a good way to artistically tie together my argument. I will pose questions about whether this controversy will slowly fade away, or grow in importance, as medicine will also progress. 

As my genre is a documentary, I also want to incorporate some sort of dramatic recap and visual reminder of the importance for parents to consider this issue. Hopefully iMovie can help me with that! 

Reflection

Looking at my classmates' outlines was somewhat disconcerting for me. Both Isabel's and Morgan's outlines demonstrated a very well-thought-out plan of action. As I am creating a video and not a written piece (which is what I'm more acquainted with), I found that I couldn't really make as thorough of an outline. I believe videos are more creativity based, than structurally based. Beyond this, I also saw that the outlines made it very apparent which types of arguments we are creating. As I am creating a causal argument, I don't have the need for certain aspects that would be necessary in the other arguments. Overall, I hopeful that I will be able to adequately translate my argument into a video. 

Analyzing My Genre

In the following post, I will be analyzing my genre by answering the "Questions for Genre Analysis" provided in the Rules for Writers textbook.

LiteratureReviewHQ "I'm so clever" 1/10/2013 via flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Example Documentaries

Blood and Guts: A History of Surgery
Doctors' Diaries
Sick Around America
Psychopath
The Vaccine War

Social Context

Where is the genre typically set?

I found two prominent locations for the documentary genre. BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and PBS (Public Broadcasting System). Both are distinguished, credible sources for esteemed documentaries.

What is the subject of the genre? 

PBS has documentaries covering a variety of topics, some historical in nature and others scientific. I found with BBC that a majority (or at least the majority that I looked at) were largely medical-based.

Who uses the genre?

I believe documentaries are fairly universal in nature. I have known of BBC and PBS long before this Project. I think documentaries are a quick way to inform the public about a sometimes lengthy topic.

When and why is the genre used? What purposes does the genre serve for the people who use it?

I can recall multiple times when I've had teachers utilize documentaries in class. They also air routinely on television. Documentaries serve to teach the audience of a valuable topic. Oftentimes, this genre condenses the information, teaching only what the audience will understand.

Rhetorical Patterns of the Genre

What type of content is usually included and excluded?

Documentaries often include visual stimulation to help interest the audience and solidify the facts that are being present. This genre excludes most conventions present in your average essay, attempting to add an element of excitement to learning.

What rhetorical appeals are used most often? Do you notice any patterns in the appeals to logos, pathos or ethos?

Documentaries rely largely on facts. However, they also try to indirectly sway viewers with interviews, experiences and emotional stories. All three rhetorical appeals are utilized.

How are the texts organized? Do they generally open in similar ways? Conclude in similar ways? What common parts do the samples share?

Documentaries generally start with a very informative introduction, to "ground" the audience. Though they can conclude in many ways, they often leave off by asking the audience a question, or alluding to the bigger picture. The samples are all very consistent with their conclusions, posing the audience with a question that refers to a more broad topic.

Do sentences in the genre share a certain style? Are they mostly active, passive, simple or complex? Is there an abundance or lack of questions, exclamation points, or semi-colons?

As documentaries are entirely narrative, the questions the text itself are irrelevant. However, the narration is oftentimes active in an attempt to rouse the audience to question or consider the topic at hand.

What type of word choice is used? Do many of the words fit in a particular category of jargon or slang? Is the overall effect of the word choice formal, informal, humorous, or academic?

The word choice is formal and intelligent, though not too complex for the audience to understand. The word choice will fit into the jargon/slang as the topic befits. The best way to describe the word choice would be semi-formally academic.

Analyze What those Patterns Reveal about the Social Context of the Genre

Who does the genre include and who does it exclude?

I think documentaries target a wide variety of audiences. Though I don't think a documentary on neuroscience would attract a world-renowned neuroscientist, I do think anyone even remotely curious on a topic will be interested in watching a documentary on that topic.

What roles for writers and readers does the genre encourage?

I'd say the biggest role the genre encourages is awareness. Documentaries don't often try to urge viewers to take action, etc. 

What values and beliefs are assumed about or encouraged from users of the genre?

Users of the genre assume the audience will have an interest in the topic they are addressing. As documentaries don't attempt to sway their audience's opinions, they don't assume any beliefs from their audience.

What content does the genre treat as most valuable? Least valuable?

Documentaries value facts and stories as a way to communicate information. Inversely, they do note value any way that portrays information bleakly, such as lengthy ideas and hard to understand topics/facts.

Reflection

The posts I read: Isabel's post    &    Kelly's post

Looking through my classmates' posts, I found that many are writing within related genres. Both Kelly and Isabel are utilizing genres in journal articles and oftentimes online. I also considered this as my genre, but settled on a documentary in most ways to "switch things up." I also really love, in addition to writing, creating video-related content. I'm excited for this project, and hope I can adequately portray the information from my topic into a video. However, it makes sense to me that most argumentative pieces of writing are found in journal articles. 

Considering Types

In the following post, I will be reflecting on the information provided in the "Five Basic Types of Public Argument" Box from the Rules for Writers textbook.

Hain, John "Conflict, Disagreement, Discussion" 10/29/2014 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain License.

Causal Argument 

I believe the best argument for my project would be the Causal Argument. The textbook description of this argument mentioned, "...[rebutting] or [contradicting] the arguments in favor of other causes." This is exactly what I have planned to do in my argument. I want to argue that circumcision has stemmed from ancient practices dictated by multiple religions, not medical facts; and, as such, its credibility in the modern world should be reconsidered. Because I am aiming to get my audience to "reconsider" and not actually change their minds about circumcision, I believe this would be the best form of argument for my project.

Evaluative Argument

Another possibility for my argument would be the Evaluative Argument. Though it's not what I originally planned, I can definitely see using this type of argument to evaluate the general effectiveness of circumcision in today's society while drawing on its religious history. The reason I am not entirely sold on this argument is because I can't think of a "single policy" that I would be arguing in favor for. 

Others

I don't see the other types of arguments working for my purposes. I do not favor either side of the circumcision debate, I simply favor the medical implications. As such, I don't think I could adequately make a Position Argument and Proposal Argument.

Reflection

Below are links to the two classmates' blogs I reflected on:

Kelly's -- My Rhetorical Action Plan & Considering Types

Nick's -- My Rhetorical Action Plan & Considering Types

I thought it was very interesting seeing which types/methods Kelly and Nick were considering. In Nick's blog, he seemed to be very well-equipped with any of the methods. This was very different from my topic, as I found the only true fit was in the causal argument. Kelly's blog was very similar to this, she had many possible routes, though seemed confident in one in particular. I would like to see if I can mold my argument into a few more of the argument types. Though I prefer causal and still think it will work best for my Project 3, I would like to explore the other available options.

As a general note, I also found the various ways in which we were applying our arguments to Project 3 interesting. Kelly and Nick seem very confident in their topics, whereas I shifted to a different aspect of my topic from what I discussed in Project 1 and 2. I will be interested to read all of our final products.

My Rhetorical Action Plan

In the following post, I will present my plan for Project 3 by answering the "Developing a Rhetorical Action Plan" questions in the Rules for Writers textbook.

Geralt "Business Idea Planning" 3/28/2015 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain License.

Audience 

I am going to try and persuade my audience to reconsider the implications of circumcision in the world of modern medicine.

Knowledge - My audience's knowledge on circumcision in neonates comes from tradition. As such, their predisposition is to support circumcision merely because it has been a routine practice since the ancient world. This is something that I will be focusing on heavily in my argument. 

Values - My audience holds religious values and, as such, place a lot of importance in what religion dictates in terms of circumcision. On another note, however, they also value the safety of their child. 

Standards of Argument - Medical facts are always beneficial in an argument trying to discredit a medical procedure. I, however, attempting to add something new to the controversy, am going to piece together the religious background of the controversy, and analyze it on an historical context. As such, I will have to translate and condense the historical information I present into an easily understood format.

Visual Elements - As I can't get too graphic with my topic, I believe that in order to tastefully incorporate visual images, I will have to take from ancient paintings. I also plan to make the presentation of my argument aesthetically pleasing, whatever form I decide to present it in. 

Purpose - I will be challenging a long-held tradition. As such, my purpose is to raise awareness in my audience. I do not want to force their opinion to change, rather, I wan't them to be aware of all the necessary information for them to make an intelligent and informed decision on the circumcision of their child. 

Genre

1. Scholarly Journals -- Articles

All of the research I've done for the past two projects has consisted entirely of scholarly articles. As such, I am considering first and foremost of writing in this genre. 

Two examples of the scholarly genre are linked here:

From the Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases -- Circumcision 

From The Objective Standard -- Circumcision in America

Function - This genre enables me to communicate historical, religious and medical facts without the political controversy that might be associated with other genres. It's intended to reach a at least somewhat medically advanced audience. The topic will be taken seriously in this genre.

Setting - This genre would (as seen above) be in a medical/renowned journal of some sort. This could theoretical be anywhere.

Rhetorical Appeals - As I haven chosen to argue against circumcision and religion, I will have to be very persuasive. I plan on incorporating all of the rhetorical appeals, focusing heavily on pathos and logos. With ethos, I can question the ethics of circumcision, etc.

Visual Elements - In the many scholarly articles I looked at, there were oftentimes charts and graphs to make data more understandable. I would like to somehow incorporate such graphs in my argument.

Style - The style will definitely be formal.


2. Documentaries 

I'm not sure this would exactly fulfill the requirements of the project, but I believe a documentary would adequately portray the information/argument I am focusing on. I plan to focus on the religious and historical roots/background of circumcision. Documentaries often accomplish similar goals.

Two examples of the documentary genre are linked here:
BBC documentary -- Circumcise Me?
Michael Schaap documentary -- Mom, Why Did You Circumcise Me?

Function - Documentaries provide historical background to an argument. My plan is to utilize the historical and religious background of circumcision to discredit as a modern practice.

Setting - Documentaries are produced by filmmaking companies. BBC (mentioned above) is a very popular source for documentaries.

Rhetorical Appeals - I think documentaries, in large part, convey information through ethos. Visually, documentaries provide more than just words to illicit certain responses from the audience.

Visual Elements - Documentaries are 100% visual. Every element would be visual, and equally as important as the narration.

Style - I believe this genre would need to be academic. Documentaries don't always narrate in the most formal, advanced sentences, but they are always extremely informative.

Positive Reactions 

1. Realization that the practice of circumcision may have fallen out of style in the modern world.
2. Consideration of the ethical implications of circumcision.
3. Consideration of the medical implications of circumcision.

Negative Rebuttals

1. Religion is an important part of some people's lives, medical evidence against it will not change people's faith. 

          -I'm not sure there's a way to refute this point. My defense, rather, would be that I am not trying to impose on someone's religions, but just open their eyes to religion in the modern world.

2. Not enough medical evidence has discredited circumcision completely yet.

          -Yes, but many studies are in the process of doing so.

3. In terms of ethics: Circumcision becomes more painful the longer someone waits, which is what will happen if it's not performed at birth.

          -Yes, but pain is not a good rebuttal when it comes to altering a child's life forever with one decision. 

Analyzing Purpose

In the following post, I will provide answers to the Rules for Writers' "Thinking through the Purpose of Your Public Argument" questions in the form a coggle cluster.

Bohland, Alyssa, "Screenshot of 'Analyzing Purpose Coggle'" 10/27/15 via Coggle.

My coggle, pictured above, maps out my argument while focusing, as well, on the purpose of my argument. I made the decision to center my argument on the concept that religion is no longer a viable justification for circumcision given the practice of modern medicine.

The link to my coggle (if it's hard to see) can also be found HERE.

Analyzing Context

In the following post, I will be considering the context of my argument by answering the "Reading the Context of Your Public Debate" questions in the Rules for Writers textbook.

Plourde, Mathieu "Contexts" 2/9/2013 via flickr. Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

Reading the Context of Your Public Debate

What are the key perspectives or schools of thought on the debate that you are studying?

The schools of thought are fairly simple in my controversy. Though there are many deeper levels of the controversy, the main groups are either for or against circumcision in neonates. 

What are the major points of contention or major disagreements among these perspectives?

The major points of contention are as follows: Is it ethical to circumcise an infant according to the will of his parents? Does circumcision truly aid in preventing sicknesses such as HIV and aids? Is religion really a good justification in today's society?

What are the possible points of agreement, or the possible common ground between these perspectives?

The common ground is providing for the neonate. Circumcision hasn't yet been fully discredited, so its continuance isn't truly harmful. The question is whether it is ethical to perform such a life-altering procedure on an infant who cannot make the decision for themselves. 

What are the ideological differences, if any, between the perspectives?

The main difference in ideologies is in the form of religion - more specifically, religion vs. medicine. Circumcision for centuries has been a mandate of religion (multiple different religions). As god(s) were the highest form of power, sickness was seen in terms of fate/karma and not medicine. Science today contradicts this view.

What specific action do their perspectives or texts ask their audience to take?

At the very least, these perspectives (moreso that against circumcision) ask that their audience be aware that there must be a change in thinking with modern medicine and age-old practices. More emphatic pieces (like the one I analyzed in Project 2) urge their audience to action, sometimes in verbose ways. 

What perspectives are useful in supporting your own arguments about the issue? Why did you choose these?

Both medical and historical perspectives will be best in supporting my argument. I chose to argue against circumcision, in large part because I have a good idea in how I could format such an argument (in all reality, I have no opinions on circumcision). Pointing out the flaws that have come from religious/historical thinking and then supporting this with medical facts, I believe I can pose a very argument against circumcision in neonates.

What perspectives do you think will be the greatest threat to your argument? Why so?

Medical perspectives can be equally beneficial and harmful to my argument. Plenty evidence still exists supporting circumcision. My goal will be to either discredit this by providing counter-evidence, or use a method that dismisses this evidence altogether.

Reflection

In my reflection, I read Morgan and Isabel's posts.

I found both Morgan and Isabel's answers to the questions very interesting. Morgan and I, though we have a similar topic in that they both involve the well-being of children, had very different approaches to the argument. She emphasized the fact that personal experience seems to one of the best sources of information in her argument. With my argument on circumcision, personal experience isn't really a viable source as the age at which most males are circumcised in one that they can not remember. It will be interesting to see how both our arguments develop.

In Isabel's blog, she mentioned how she was going to use her own personal experience to bring a new light to her argument. I think this will be very beneficial for her in his Project, as I am already struggling with the idea of how I'm going to bring something new to the argument considering I am no professional and also have no experience with circumcision.

Audience and Genre

In the following post, I will be suggesting possible audience's for my research. Additionally, I will provide the sources/genres of writing in which I would communicate my argument to these readers.

Henry "Lost Tourist" 9/4/2008 via flickr. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License.

Group 1 - Government Officials

This might outwardly be a strange audience considering my topic (the ethics of circumcision in neonate males); however, I believe it is relevant. As circumcision in neonates gains more attention and more accusations are posed against it, internationally, governments are going to have to consider whether they will step in to impose any regulations. Doctors can make suggestions, but only laws can truly influence the controversy.

Places to Publish Research 

     Bill Proposition 
          Examples: Implementing a $0.05 deposit on cigarette butts
                                  Bill of Rights
**Note: I definitely don't think this is the best option for our intents and purposes in this Project as bills are relatively short; however, I decided to include it because I thought it was a viable step in figuring out how I would successfully communicate my research to the government.

     Government Hearings
          Examples: Ethics Committee Hearing H.Con.Res.113
                                  Ethics Committee Hearing H. Rept. 113 - 487

Genre

The genre of any government based piece of literature will be intelligent and composed of facts only. The article I analyzed in Project 2 was lacking in this aspect. The government is mostly unconcerned with personal opinions when it comes to making laws and bills. For this reason, all the examples provided above are concise and to the point, befitting the genre. 

Group 2 - Doctors

Doctors are a very important audience in any controversies in the medical field. Neonatal doctors perform countless circumcision daily, routinely and (in most cases) with hardly any consideration of unethics. As experienced doctors have enforced and encouraged the practice for years, they will be interested in knowing why it is being questioned, and if that doubt is liable. Doctors may be a very hard group to convince. 

Places to Publish

     Medical Journals - ELSEVIER

          Examples: Who is on the medical team? Shifting the boundaries of belonging on the ICU

                                      Toward a multidimensional understanding of culture for health interventions

     Dissertations 

           Examples: Violence of Behavior Patterns Towards Ritual Circumcision

                                      Male Circumcision in the United States...

Genre

Similar to the conventions of government writings, writing for doctors must also be very intelligent and soundly presented. I believe there can be a slight amount of opinion infused in your writing though. Part of a doctor's credibility comes from their experience. As such, it is important to reference these experiences in doctoral writing. 

Extended Annotated Bibliography

In the following post, I provide the link to my extended bibliography for Project 3 topic.

Duret-Lutz, Alexandre. "Bibliography" 12/11/2006 via flickr. Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

The link to my extended annotated bibliography can be found HERE.

I provide both the annotations and the descriptions as to why I selected the six sources beneath each annotation, respectively.

Narrowing My Focus

In the following post, I will elaborate on a select few of the questions I presented in my previous post, emphasizing why I find they are important to know in the context of my selected controversy.

ClkerFreeVectorImages "Forum Question Answer" 10/22/2012 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain License.

Important Questions

Have any men spoken out about their own circumcision, having been unsatisfied with the decision they were unable to make?

My previous research didn't lead me to any sources from men who were personally against the practice of circumcision. Without evidence from this group, the argument is completely invalid. Circumcision may be unnecessary, but it is not necessarily harmful. A firsthand account from a man is the only way to resolve this issue.

What justifications do religions give for circumcision? Do they have any convincing health factors of their own?

I think this question is both viable and interesting. The main motivation for circumcision throughout history has always been religion. I am curious to know exactly why religion so heavily supported and enforced circumcision of neonates. Do they have any health benefits of their own? Or is it only a suspicion related to preconceived notion? This will help to answer the question of whether circumcision itself was even started with any explicit purposes 

Are other cultures (apart from America) starting to question circumcision in the modern world?

This question is in large part to define the scope of the controversy. Is this something that is only important in first world countries? Knowing this answer would help to confirm who the true audience is, and moreso, whether there really is a controversy at all, or if it's simply a slight unsettlement in the traditionally way of thinking about circumcision. 

Questions About Controversy

In the following post, I will be analyzing questions I still have about my topic. These questions will help me in beginning to craft my argument for Project 3.

OpenClipartVectors "Number 3" 10/22/2013 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain License.

I've decided to center my public argument for Project 3 on the controversy I utilized in Project 2: The controversy of performing circumcisions on neonate males. 

Who

Who is speaking on behalf of the infants? Meaning: Are there any parents speaking against circumcision, rather than only doctors?

Are there any females concerned with this issues, or only males as befits the topic?

Have any circumicsed men since spoken out about there own circumcision, having been unsatisfied with the decision they were unable to make?

What 

What are the most explicit endangerments to the health of a circumcised neonate?

What justification do religions give for circumcision? Anything health related, or all suspicion?

What evidence exists for the supposed health risks? Enough to be significant?

When

Is circumcision really still relevant in such a technologically advanced society?

Do the same original justifications of the past still exist today for circumcision?

When did circumcision become a ubiquitous procedure in first-world countries?

Where

In what group exactly did the question of whether circumcision is necessary unfold? Meaning: Are previously circumcised men responsible for the debate, or just doctors in general?

Are other cultures (apart from American) starting to question circumcision in the context of modern-medicine?

Are there any other mediums that participate in this controversy, besides doctors that is? Are religions speaking out?

How

As this is a relatively new controversy, how does it appear it will develop in the future?

How has it developed in a sense of time? Has this been "in the works" for a long time, or is it just now spiking people's interests?

How do both sides plan on enforcing their opinion? Will they turn to different mediums, as this is mostly present in scholarly articles?

Reflection on Project 2

In the following post, I will reflect on the process of writing my Rhetorical Analysis utilizing the "Reflecting on Your Own Revision Process" from the Writing Public Lives reading.

Geralt. "Thinking Light Bulb" 2/21/2015 via pixabay. CC0 Public Domain License.

Reflecting on Your Own Revision Process

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

The most heavily revised portion of my paper was the introduction and conclusion, in large part because the blog post indicated that we should through out our old ones.


2. Point to global changes: how did you reconsider your thesis or organization?

I reconsidered and reorganized my thesis to more thoroughly embody the purpose of the project. I did not change the organization of the paper as I felt it was in accordance with the Project 2 Purpose. However, my introduction in general was lacking in this aspect.


3. What led you to these changes? A reconsideration of audience? A shift in purpose?

My changes were a result of both reconsidering the audience and shifting my purpose. I, overall, needed to step back and readjust the broader scope of the project. In focusing so heavily on the article itself, I forgot about the main purpose of the project.


4. How do these changes affect your credibility as an author?

In the context of the project, this increases my credibility as (with my changes) I was able to actually accomplish the purpose of the project. For example, if I had turned in my rough draft without any of the changes, I would have completely failed to complete my professor's wish - to write an article on how someone in my field constructs an argument, etc.


5. How will these changes better address the audience or venue?

These changes better tuned my paper to the audience (new students in my field). This is also related to what I said above in number 4.


6. Point to local changes: how did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

I really didn't change anything in terms of how I actually wrote the paper. I have a writing style that (I hope) works for me, and I don't really feel the need to change it in most cases. I did listen to those who edited my paper as far as sentences that didn't seem to fit or make sense.


7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose?

Generally speaking, the structural and stylistic changes will hopefully help my audience to understand everything better, not just the purpose, innately through the fact that everything transitions well and is easy to read.


8. Did you have to reconsider the conventions of the particular genre in which you are writing?

No. I have been writing essays like this all through high school. I was very well-versed in the genre. One new addition, however, was our intense focus on the Rhetorical Situation itself.


9. Finally, how does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer? 

One thing I really did learn was to make 100% sure you understand your purpose when you start writing. That sounds like a really trivial thing, but I definitely strayed from the Project 2 purpose here and there. I understood the conventions of what we were writing, but didn't translate them well into who we were writing for.

Reflection

I read Morgan and Kelly's reflection blog posts. 

We seemed to unanimously agree that we all learned to focus more on the beginning stages of writing  in any project. In this project particular, that meant ensuring that we understood the purpose of the project and who we were writing for. Kelly and I both agreed that (8) we understood the conventions of writing a Rhetorical Analysis, but got lost in the translation of those conventions into Project 2. I related very well to what Kelly and Morgan said in their reflections on the Project 2 process.