Monday, Nov 6

 

Let’s brainstorm: What controversy would we like to study?

• What is a public controversy? A disagreement or dispute that is debated publicly and has significant consequences for people other than those involved.
• Expectations? One singular moment (ex: Watergate) or a broader topic that is outgoing and widely discussed (death penalty) [A controversy versus a controversial topic]
• Possible topics
  • Death penalty (specific instance)
  • Tiktok hearing for internet surveillance
  • Detainees rights (Guantanamo Bay)
  • Court cases
    • District of Columbia v Heller (gun control)
    • Miranda v Arizona (Miranda rights)
    • Hamdan v Rumsfeld (Detainee rights)
    • Engel v. Vitale (freedom of religion)
  • Honorlock privacy/academic issues (went to court last year)
• Let’s try to pick something!
  • Worried about finding enough information for more recent topics
  • Court cases will be easy to research
  • We’ll do the controversy around District of Columbia v Heller (gun control)
    • Quick summary
    • Controversy around ‘individual-right’ vs ‘collective-right’
    • Party issues to discuss, individual judges opinions
    • The first case to address the meaning of the 2nd amendment
      • Britannica
• What should we include in the video? 
  • Summary, Controversy, Implications/effects, Discussion of modern gun control

 

Wednesday, Nov 8

Let’s split up the research. Eden on Summary, Jesa on Controversy, Rhianna on Significance/Implications, Connor on Modern Discussion/Effects.

Eden researched the case and its history. She talked about how the case came to be and what sides were taken throughout. Jesa researched the reason the case was so controversial and what kinds of precedents it set or changed for America and gun laws. Rhianna researched the significance of the case in subsequent gun law decisions. Connor researched the current opinions on gun control and why it might still be so controversial. We gathered around 3 pages of information to put towards writing the script.

 

Friday, Nov 10

 

Research continued into each of the topics. We also took time to focus on Stasis Theory and finding connections between the different points we want to make. We discussed the current debate and why people want gun control versus why people are so focused on keeping their individual right to guns. We also talked more in depth about the implications on today’s society that this specific case had, when it comes to school shootings and other major gun violence occurrences.

Topic: The Increased Prominence of Abortion on the Upcoming Elections

 

Purpose: To emphasize the polarization of this issue within society and how its portrayal in the media carries on its relevance into the political elections.

 

Thesis: The overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused an increased focus on abortion rights in current politics, especially in the upcoming elections. 

 

Introduction: So recently I clicked on a video on YouTube and of course an ad popped up. This ad was campaigning for a candidate in the upcoming election and what stood out to me was the narrator constantly bringing up the word abortion. Then the next day I clicked on another video and once again I got a different political ad also pertaining to the issue of abortion. I kept watching to see if other issues were being highlighted in the one to one and a half minute video, but in both cases, abortion was the main topic. 

 

Body

 

• Main Point: The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to an increase in activism in people in an attempt to gain the attention of political figures through the power of the people. 
  • Many groups for the legalization of abortion have formed marches and protests to get their voice heard to the people and the government
  • There has been an increase in voter mobilization in order to get the newer voter generation and those who choose not to vote to be fueled by the decision to take a stand and make their voice heard.
  • People may also start lobbying and advocating for their side of the issue to reach people from an emotional standpoint as to why they feel their side is valid.
• Main Point: Abortion is a continuous battle between the two major political parties each trying to get their view present and legalized.
  • Republicans are more against the legalization of abortions.
  • They are generally considered to be more religious, specifically christians, where an abortion goes against the commandments, the principle rules of christianity and other religions.
  • Democrats on the other hand are generally pro-choice.
  • They have been seen advocating for women’s rights for many years and have continued to show support for abortion rights after the overturning of the case occurred. 
• Main Point: The media plays a significant role in the ongoing debate over abortion as it is able to reach and cause people to think on the issue and their feelings about it
  • Many types of media platforms highlight their stance on abortion. This could be through a video or post. 
  • These tend to highlight the “extremist” views of the other side as wrong for society in order to gather attention and support for their side.
  • Media is able to take on various platforms and can be seen throughout social media and television ads. 
  • Its ability to reach a large audience plays a role in the continuous battle on the general view of the topic within society as it can motivate people to feel strongly about these issues and then vote for what they feel. 

 

Conclusion: Abortion will continue to be a topic seen throughout society as there is an ability to come to agreement for the issue between either side. This will lead to an uncertainty to where this specific women’s right stands

Slides:

 

• Picture of the Supreme Court 
• Images of different protests and marches against the overturning
• Statistics that help display the proportion of society that feels for either side
• Images of certain frames of the political ads

 

Sources:

 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/27/politics/americas-new-reality-abortion-political-divides/index.html

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/chuck-todd-biden-abortion-are-ballot-question-matters-rcna122789

 

https://time.com/6225504/democrats-abortion-economy-midterms/

• What was the most helpful feedback you received in the peer review workshops?

The most helpful feedback I received was on the organization and transitions that have to be improved. This is crucial for allowing a reader to be able to follow what you are saying and comprehend the information well.  

• What were the most interesting discoveries you made as you researched your topic? 

I already had a good understanding of the shift, but I never took the time to specifically look into specific candidates’ campaigns and how they came across on this issue. It was interesting to see a variety of feelings, though most aligned with each other, as they do not always follow the main opinions that the Republican party has on abortion.

• What is the significance of the paradigm shift you explored? In other words, what do you feel is most important point for your reader to take away from your paper?  

The significance behind the shift is that the availability of abortion and whether it is a legalized practice is a major issue to women around. Women are uncertain about their options currently to get an abortion for any personal reason due to the conflicting sides. Since the power is up to the state, many women are left feeling unheard and therefore annoyed at the state of the government. 

• How has this project helped you develop as a writer?

 

This project has allowed me to strengthen my research skills and incorporate various sources into one piece of writing. It has allowed me to become more in-depth with my writing to pass on a message. Overall, the practice of writing a long and informative piece allows me to grow as a writer.

1. Identify your chosen focus for the emerging ideas project. Indicate the boundaries of your intended focus as clearly as possible. What is the story that you seek to tell? As you now envision it, how long of a time period is covered by the expected focus – several centuries, just the last decade? Remember that the story should end in the present day (unless we’ve talked about a specific alternative topic).

 The shift I am focusing on is the women’s suffrage movement. I seek to tell the story about the journey taken from a period where women had no voice or representation to men and how they stood up and fought for voting equality. The story of their fight spans several centuries with the issue only being resolved in the previous century. 

2. Why is this specific shift significant enough to merit your close investigation and the attention of your audiences? Why does this shift need to be explored and understood?

The moment women got their right to vote was a significant shift in American society as it allowed an entire majority of people to have equal rights to men in this scenario. It allowed women to begin to have a say in what they want the direction of the country to be in along with allowing women to start to defy gender roles. This is an important shift in the country as before this shift occurred, women did not have much power compared to men and were supposed to be traditionally at home. With this event, it displayed women taking a stand and fighting for the rights they should have initially had. This message continues to stand today as women still try to fight for equality in the workplace with equal pay and slowly society will hopefully begin to provide equality to women in the many aspects of life.

3. Your essay will make an analytical claim about the shift. One way to determine the claim of your emerging ideas essay may be to look at the points of contention (areas of disagreement) in how scholars, pundits, and journalists discuss your topic. 

Some people may look at this specific shift and view the broader picture of gender equality. People might discuss the topic as being a shift in women’s rights overall rather than being focused on the right to vote. The right to vote for women can also be seen as progress within society as well rather than a fight specifically related to women’s suffrage.

Thesis: The poem “The New Colossus” written by 1883 that is embedded on the Statue of Liberty conveys the meaning of the statue through its ability to frame the United States as a place of opportunity and prosperity. 

 

 

Topic Sentence 1: The poem represents the commonplace of freedom and opportunity that the United States has to offer through inviting all types of people to the country.

Evidence:

• https://www.nps.gov/stli/learn/historyculture/colossus.htm
  • Poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
  • “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
    I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
  • It is calling for all people to come and the statue is basically welcoming them with open arms.
  • The statue is a compassionate figure to those who might be lost and unable to find themselves in the world.

 

Topic sentence 2: The poem emphasizes the meaning behind the Statue of Liberty monument as a symbol of American values. 

Evidence:

• https://www.statueofliberty.org/statue-of-liberty/overview-history/ 
  • The Statue of Liberty represents a symbol of freedom, equality, and peace within the United States. It invites in new immigrants and displays the United States as a land of opportunities. 
  • The torch of the statue serves as a symbol of Enlightenment and showing the way to liberty for all.

 

Topic Sentence 3 :The historical context behind the monument promotes peace and equality, which aligns with the poem’s significance. 

Evidence:

• https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/audio-recordings/poetry-of-america/item/poetry-00001033/alicia-ostriker-emma-lazarus/ 
  • Written in 1902, the poem has continued to be a symbol for the American people. It provides hope and a chance for prosperity in a challenging world. 
  • The Statue of Liberty was given by France as a symbol of their friendship to demonstrate their alliance during the American Revolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I did a decent job overall, however I did notice some points where I could have improved. I thought my introduction and main points were decent, however I could have included some key words in order to differentiate between the different main points. I also thought my conclusion was not as concise or strong as I would have liked it to be. I thought the overall presentation of the speech was good as I maintained good eye contact, though there were times that I glanced at the board, even though it did not relate to what I was saying during that time. I did not realize how long the small the pauses I took as I could not figure out the right wording of what  wanted to say. This led to a slight repetition of what I was saying. I think for the future I need to practice a little more. I thought I was solid for the most part, but I felt a slight off towards the end, which practicing can help fix.

 

1. Opening

• Covid-19, the pandemic, social isolation, and finally masks. A small piece of fabric held by two strings that is supposed to cover our mouth and nose while around others. Masks became popular and essential parts of our daily lives over the past couple of years. Between the government mandates and our own awareness for the health of all of us, masks became the popular item seen throughout the pandemic, and still occasionally in the present day. A mask frames the civic by displaying the concept of community by the involvement of all of society that chooses to abide by what it stands for in relation to others. 

 

1. Body

 

1. Wearing a mask represents a person’s care for others and the overall benefit of society.

 

• Wearing a mask will barely protect you from catching an illness if you are around someone who is maskless and sick. Wearing a mask is not one-sided, rather it takes all of us wearing one in order to not become sick. 
• The obligations it conveys is that we are all a part of a community and the decisions we make can affect others when it comes to airborne illnesses spreading. Therefore by wearing a mask, it represents our belonging to a community as we care and respect others’ healths. 
• Wearing a mask shows our support for healthcare professionals who constantly put others over their own lives. We continue to remember the important people who helped move us out of the pandemic as it took society as a whole. 

 

1. The decision to wear a mask reflects on the political ideologies within society. 

 

• When masks started to become a mandatory obligation when going out in public, there was a vocal group of people who were against wearing one. Most of the people fall under the conservatism ideology, while the democratic ideology was seen to be more supportive of the masks. Though there was a small percentage of those who identify as Democrats who did not feel the need to wear one.
• Some people believe that wearing a mask infringes on their right to personal freedom. The aligning of masks versus no masks with different political ideologies, further divides the nation as a whole during a time when we needed to work together in order to push the pandemic behind us. 

 

1. The impact that masks have left in a non-crucial time following the pandemic on society has brought upon an alternative way of keeping others safe.

 

• In the present day, masks are still around, just not widely used. Masks are no longer mandatory in many public places, even some medical spaces. Society is evolving and becoming better, however masks now represent a way to avoid getting others sick while still trying to continue daily life for the common sicknesses. 

 

III. Conclusion

 

1. Overall, masks have been a daily part of our lives for the past couple of years and by wearing one during the global health crisis, it symbolizes our responsibility as a member of society. It allows us to protect others, while protecting ourselves, all while giving recognition to the notable people who continued to work carelessly to improve the state of being during a time of uncertainty. 

 

1. Masks will continue to stay around us, even if it is not physically with us, but as a symbol of the memorable pandemic we had to endure.

 

(stock photo)

     A mask represents our care to others in a community by taking the extra step to protect any illness that we might have or carry from spreading to others. This displays our want to protect others from getting sick, especially those who are high-risk for certain viruses. 

     Although in the past couple years with the rise of Covid-19 and masks being mandatory in main public facilities, it is now optional. There are several people who choose to wear one when they are sick, or just as a precaution to others if they are carrying an illness. 

     Wearing a mask is not one-sided, rather it takes all of us wearing one in order to not become sick. By participating and wearing a mask, we can all attempt to protect others from getting sick and causing the virus to pass. The obligations it conveys is that we are all a part of a community and the decisions we make can affect others when it comes to airborne illnesses spreading. Therefore by wearing a mask, it represents our belonging to a community as we care and respect others’ healths. 

     The artifact works to motivate change within society as a whole in order to stop the spread of an illness from affecting others.Without using a mask and going out into public to continue your daily life, you put others at risk if you are sick. 

     With Covid-19 in the past, people were the most contagious when they were not displaying symptoms. Covid has shown to be a deadly virus that has taken the life of many who have underlying illnesses, or in some cases were people who were healthy. 

     This artifact can be used by anyone in public or in private areas as well. Location is crucial in relation to masks as a contagious illness can easily spread to many people in a short period of time if a sick person were to go into a public place without a facial covering. 

     The mask is a normality within society in the past couple of years, but it is still used around in the present day occasionally. General population people who are sick, or others in general may use a mask to stop a sickness from spreading. This benefits the entirety of society as it better protects others from getting sick. Masks were and still are essential when dealing with a sickness, especially with the severity of COVID-19, as there were a significant number of cases of severe hospitalizations or even death.

     Masks are still around, however they are not as widely used. As the number of COVID cases went down, the masks disappeared as well. There are still a fraction of people who still use masks, whether it is to shield an illness they are facing, or those who feel the need to wear one for their own reasons. 

     Therefore, a mask as an artifact symbolizes the respect and concern that a person has for the betterment of society as by wearing one, they show responsibility and awareness to others if they are sick.