Needed more discussions...

I thought the concept of what a good definition was in chapter 2 needed further discussion because there can be many different ways people view a good definition as rather than just the way the book states it. There are some people who I personally know that are really strict on what good definitions are. Good definitions do not just consist of words but there can be good definitions of statements and sayings that people say. For example, when I was having lunch with my boyfriend the other day I told him, "oh my new roommate for next year is really rich." He replied by saying, "what's your definition of rich?". I replied back by saying that, "well both of her parents own businesses." My boyfriend replied back to me saying, "that doesn't necessarily mean that she is rich, you should rethink what a good definition is for being rich." After having that conversation with him I thought about how the book had a concept that was talking about good definitions and I realized that it was not thoroughly discussed. 

What I learned this semester...

Throughout this whole semester of the course I have been able to learn many different new things. I overall thought that the class was interesting and fun being the fact that it was an online class. Although the class did not get to hear lectures weekly, it was helpful for me to learn that I could learn concepts from this course by myself. Taking Comm 41 helped me multitask and what not. What I am used to is going to classes weekly and listening to whatever the professors say so it was a good way for me to find other ways of learning. Being the fact that this was my first online class I was able to gain and learn a lot from the teacher. I learned to communicate with people in the class through email, phone, etc. I gained better communication skills from the class. I also learned to balance my homework and turn it in on time since there was always time limits to the homework and I admired that whole part of the class a lot.

Chapter 14...

As I was reading chapter 14 the main topic that the chapter mentions that caught my eye the most was generalizing, which is pretty much the actual main topic of the chapter. I thought the information the book gave about generalizing was interesting because the examples were very helpful and did not bore me at all. What the book mentioned is that, "sometimes we use the word for the whole argument." I never actually knew that generalization was used for the whole argument, I always thought that a generalization was only used at the very end of an essay. I am so glad that I read through this part of the book because one it is the most important topic of the chapter and two because I would have kept thinking that a generalization was really used at the conclusion of an essay. I would probably be using my generalizations at the end of my essays still if I did not see that.

mission critical website

As for the mission critical website I found the fact that the order the website put the different topics in was fantastic. It was easy for me to navigate through the website. Not only did it help to navigate through the website, but I also thought that it was interesting. The different types of topics caught my eye a lot because I was never able to find this type of information in the textbook. My favorite section was the appeals. Although we did learn about the different types of appeals in the textbook, I still thought the website used a better technique to understand these appeals. I also found the 40 fallacy review exercises to be helpful because without it I would probably forget what a fallacy was or even how to recognize a fallacy without have to use a textbook. The fallacies that were used in the exercises helped me a lot so hopefully it helped the whole class.

what i found interesting....

The part that i found to be the most interesting and helpful section in chapter 15 was the topic of causes and effects. I enjoyed the examples that the book used because it helped me understand what causes and effects exactly are. I also liked the fact that there were questions about the examples as well because it helped me understand the examples too. In chapter 15 i also enjoyed the fact that there were illustrations in the book that could help me and probably the whole class understand what the topics were in this chapter. I liked how the chapter offered so many examples about causes and effects because not everyone is very clear on what causes and effects are used for. The chapter helps people gain a better understanding about that certain topic. When the chapter covered how to look for the cause it amazed me a lot because it is obviously important to know what a cause and effect is and yet it is also important to learn how exactly you can look for the cause and that is why I thought it was very important and interesting.

cause and effect website

When I was going over the cause and effect website and exercises I found the two rules to remember in dealing with causation to be useful because it is important for everyone to know with different types of real life situations. I learned a lot from the two rules especially the second rule when it was stated that even a strong correlation is insufficient to prove causation. In a way at first I did not really understand what it meant, but after re reading it I slowly began to understand the significance of it and how important it is for us to know about. As for the exercises on the cause and effect website I found the fact that the answers to the exercise were on the bottom of the page. I am not saying that I just looked and the answers and answered them, but it was helpful because with every wrong answer I had I was able to see why I got it wrong in the first place.

What i found interesting...

One of the concepts in Chapter 10 that I found to be very interesting was the appeal to pity. As I mentioned in my earlier post before this one I said that the appeal to pity was the appeal to emotion that was the most striking to me. Not only was it the most striking appeal to me but it was the most interesting concept that I learned in the whole chapter. I found it to be very interesting because I realized that so many people use that appeal without even knowing it. Although it seems to be a bad appeal, it is very true. Doing something for someone just because you feel sorry for them is not a very polite thing to do. I would say doing that would make you fake. It is not fair for the people that do not know that you are only doing this just because you feel sorry for them and that you do not even want to do it. Overall, I learned a lot from this appeal and I am very happy that the chapter brought the concept up because now everyone can pay close attention to people who use appeal to pity in their everyday lives.

pg. 195 #1, 2, 3, 6.

1. Write a bad argument in favor of affirmative action whose only premises appeal to pity.

Jake and Kate’s house has recently burned down leaving them with nothing right now. When their family found out that their house burned down, each family member of theirs decided to put on a garage sale to some how raise money for them. Since their house burned down they lost a majority of their things including their money.

2. Find an advertisement that uses apple polishing. Is it a good argument?

It is a good argument because the advertisement about quick trim is telling us is convincing people that if you use it you will have 14 days to have a slimmer body. It may however be true, depending on how you decide to use it but I view it as a good argument.

http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/2010/01/special-quick-trim-discount-fo.php

3. Find an advertisement that uses an appeal to fear. Is it a good argument?

It is a good argument because in the advertisement they are promoting that if you go on freecreditreport.com you can get a free copy of your credit report in that same year. The advertisement also mentions that if you use their website you will be able to see if someone has been hacking into your credit card which is a good thing for people because you may really never know if your credit card has been hacked or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMXv0__CYSU

6. Give an example of an appeal to spite that invokes what someone believes. (Hint: Look at political speeches.) Is it a good argument? 

Janey: Hey, Jennie. Want to grab lunch with Kate and I?

Jennie: Yeah sure that sounds like fun.

Jennie: (Texting Sabrina that she is going to grab lunch with Kate and Janey.)

Sabrina: (Texts Jennie back and says Kate and Janey were saying bad things about you the other day.)

It is not a good argument because it is not even an argument in the first place. However, we can turn it into an argument by including the text messages between Jennie and Sabrina. There would have to be a premise to make it an argument and the perfect premise would be, “You should not hang out with people who have talked about you behind your back.”

Appeal to emotion

The idea of an appeal to emotion is that it is an argument that is a premise that basically says that you should believe or do something just because you feel a certain way. The type of appeal to emotion that strikes me the most is appeal to pity. Appeal to pity means that you are doing something just because you feel sorry for someone. The appeal strikes me the most out of all the other appeals because it is the type of appeal that a lot of people in our world use today. Even in small cases, people are still using the appeal to pity when they do not even know it. Sometimes big organizations even use it as well. Some organizations like Greek organizations use the appeal to pity all the time. In some cases they will want to do a fundraiser for their brothers or sisters just because they do not have the money to pay for their own dues. In reality some of the sisters or brothers who participate in the fundraiser do not even want to participate in the fundraiser but they only do it because they feel sorry for them. 

what i found useful and interesting....

I found the section about all the different types of reasoning to be interesting because I never knew that reasoning involved many different types of categories. Out of all the types of reasoning my favorite one was the direct way of reasoning because this type of reasoning involves direct reasoning. I like that there is a direct type of reasoning because that is what reasoning should be all about in the first place. The other types of reasoning is also very interesting and useful as well but the direct way of reasoning is a perfect way to describe the best type of reasoning. We can use direct reasoning in our everyday life. When you want to say something or tell something to someone directly that is when it is appropriate to use direct reasoning. You can also use it when you want to directly remind yourself something as well, just as a reminder.

most helpful..

#2

I think the second major assignment that we are currently working on right now was the most useful concept for me so far this semester because I never really knew that you can use artifacts as an example. Other than that I actually never knew what an artifact was. I always just saw it as an actual thing, rather than something that can be found online and used for something school related. So if I was never assigned to do that assignment than I probably would have still had that same impression of what an artifact is. Therefore, I gained a lot from this assignment. Not only did I learn about artifacts, but I also learned how to communicate clearly with people when working on a group project. It helped me see and think of different types of ways that I can communicate with people, especially when working on group projects. 

what i found interesting...

Chapter 8

I found the first section of chapter 8 to be interesting because I have never known what a general claim was. So therefore the definition of a general claim is reasons that asserts something in a general way about all or part of a collection. I thought the first few examples that the book used was very interesting because it helped me gain a better understanding about general claims. I liked how they explained what general claims are by using easy to understand examples. After reading this part of the chapter I think I gained a lot more knowledge about general claims and I can now use it in my everyday life. He uses different types of examples such as the example about, all means “every single one, no exceptions.” It should be very obvious to everyone of what the definition of all is anyways. So it should not be a surprise to anyone at all. 

what i found interesting...

I found the first part of Chapter 4 on the “Group Communication” book an interesting topic that was discussed because it goes over the need for effective communication in organizations. The author stated that, “Perhaps you belong to religious organizations, political organizations, civic organizations, fraternal organizations, and/or business organizations.” I found it interesting because there are so many different types of organizations that exist today, and there are probably more that was not mentioned. I am currently part of a sorority, and I found this very interesting for me to read because I got to learn how all of these organizations communicate with each other. 

advertisement

http://markesaurus.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/silly-whopper-at-big-mac/

  In this Burger King advertisement, it is trying to tell the audience that a whopper from Burger King is a lot more better than a big mac from Mcdonalds. In reality none of these two burgers are good for us. Honestly a burger in general is unhealthy and neither a whopper or a big mac is better for us to eat. However, if you do not want to look at the advertisement in that way then you can use your personal experience to use your best judgement whether or not a whopper is better or a big mac. I do not think the advertisement is targeting people that care about what they eat or people who watch what they eat. Therefore, I think the claim of  the advertisement which is, “Silly Whopper, that’s a big mac box,” is a false claim because it does not matter where the burger is from, it matters how bad and unhealthy it is for a person. 

(my advertisement wouldn't post... but i did provide the link)

Violating the Principle of Rational Discussion

#1

Everyone in America is required to have a drivers license.

Therefore, everyone in America has a drivers license.

Of course it is very important that everyone in America is required to have a drivers license. But there are in fact a lot of people in America, including myself who does not have a drivers license. Therefore the argument is weak because it is ignoring the fact that there are other types of transportation that America provides for us. Not everyone enjoys driving, some people are actually afraid to drive an actual car. Everyone has their own opinions on driving and some people would rather not drive because of a money issue and of course a personal issue. We cannot just assume that everyone in America is required to get their drivers license. This argument would be good if it stated that not everyone in America is required to have a drivers license, but that it is an option of transportation that people may have.

what i found interesting...

#3

I found the first part of Chapter 4 on the “Group Communication” book an interesting topic that was discussed because it goes over the need for effective communication in organizations. The author stated that, “Perhaps you belong to religious organizations, political organizations, civic organizations, fraternal organizations, and/or business organizations.” I found it interesting because there are so many different types of organizations that exist today, and there are probably more that was not mentioned. I am currently part of a sorority, and I found this very interesting for me to read because I got to learn how all of these organizations communicate with each other. 

fallacies

#2

Strawman

It’s easier to knock down someone’s argument if you misrepresent it, putting words in the other person’s mouth.

 In my own words..

Knocking down someone’s argument is very easy because all you have to simply do is represent it in the wrong way by saying something that the person has never even said before.

 

In real life I have actually heard someone use the strawman fallacy. For example, I happened to be the one to use it because I have once tried to knock down my classmate’s argument about something in class in high school one day. In my religion class back in high school the class consisted of a lot of debates and personal opinions on different topics, because of course it was a religion class and any discussions that pertain to religious activities will never be non-argumentative.

When I was in class we were arguing on whether or not there is a heaven that actually exists in real life and whether or not we all go to heaven after we die. When my classmate commented on my opinion that heaven really does not exist, I argued back and said that she did not know what heaven was anyways or what it meant. However, she really never said any of those things in the first place. All she really said was that she does not believe that heaven exists. 

Complex arguments for analysis

Question #1

#2. I’m on my way to school. I left five minutes late. Traffic is heavy. Therefore, I’ll be late for class. So I might as well stop and get breakfast.

Argument? Yes

Conclusion: The fact that he/she is on the way to school should be eliminated.

Additional premises needed? You can say something like I woke up a little too late to leave early for school.

Identify any subargument: 2, 3, and 4 support all independent and support the conclusion.

Good argument? All of the premises used in the argument seem to be plausible, but at the same time I do not think that this is a good argument. Anyone can be late for school for any reason so it is too vague to be used as an argument.

 

I thought that this exercise was useful because it can be very helpful for me when I am trying to distinguish if certain arguments are bad or good. Also the exercise can help me easily identify whether something is an argument or not. I will definitely use this exercise for more practice.

what i found useful

question #3

         I found plausible claims and implausible claims to be useful because a plausible claim means that we have a good reason to believe that the claim is true. If the claim is less plausible then we do not really have a reason to believe that the claim is true. This would mean that the claim is implausible.

         Epstein states in the book that in Chapter 5 we will go more into plausible claims and implausible claims. I just found it useful for me because he is introducing the topic early on so that I know what is ahead of the textbook for me and my other classmates to read. Another thing that I found useful with plausible claims and implausible claims was “begging the question”. Begging the question is brought up with the two claims. Begging the question means when the argument begs the question on whether or not any of its premises is no more plausible than the conclusion. I found this to be useful as well because I can actually relate to it in real life and I have used it in everyday life. 

valid arguments versus strong arguments

question #2

A valid argument is when a claim contains premises of an argument to provide different grounds for the truth of he conclusion that is to be made. Therefore the claim in the argument will either be accurate or not accurate at all. So if the argument is correct then it is a valid argument. Strong arguments can also be seen as inductive arguments in other words. This means that the conclusion will more likely be true since the premises must always give support to the arguments.

An example of a valid argument that I have recently heard was something that my boyfriend told me. He said, “If I went took a semester off of school, then I would be able to make more money. It’s not the case that I will make more money, but I will be behind with school. Therefore I should not take a semester off.” This is a valid argument because it proves that even if my boyfriend does take a semester off of college you will make more money but in the long run my boyfriend will be behind with school. An example of a strong argument that I have heard the other day is, “If you are not nervous you will do good with your new job. You will be able to learn easily if you pay attention. Therefore you will do good with your new job if you are able to learn easily if you pay attention.” I chose this as a perfect example of a strong argument because the premises give a lot of support to the arguments.

The tests for an argument to be good

question #1

The three tests for an argument to be good are whether the premises are plausible, if the premises are more plausible than the conclusion, and whether or not the argument is valid or strong. So I came up with an example stating that, “All babies have hair, all babies have blonde hair, therefore all babies have hair that is blonde.

         The premises in the argument are plausible because usually babies who are first born seem to grow their hair and have hair right away. However, the premises in the argument are more plausible than the conclusion. The reason for this is because yes all babies will grow hair right away but not every baby is going to grow to have blonde hair. Some babies of different races can have brown, black, and blonde hair depending on what their hair color heredity is. The argument is valid but it is not strong. Yes, babies have hair, but not all babies can have hair right away. It usually takes some time for them to grow hair. Along with that all babies will not have blonde hair because not every single baby in this world will have blonde hair, unless their parents dye it right after birth, which I doubt would actually happen.

good definitions

#3

In order to have or make a good definition everything should be clear so that the people reading it can understand what exactly the word or action means. One of the key points in having a successful definition is looking for different examples so that you have different ideas to make the definition. It is always important to look at different examples because as discussed in the other question, you never want to have a sentence or advertisement too vague. By having plenty of examples you can have a broader definition and other people reading it will be satisfied with the fact that the definition was interesting. A definition should also include words that actually make sense, and to have it apply clearly to each sentence rather than using random words that do not even go with the topic. Overall, I do not think that it is difficult at all to make a good definition, but mainly you just need to make it clear and understandable. 

vague sentences

#2

A vague sentence is when a sentence is unclear and most of the time it just goes straight to the point, rather then describing or wording it out better. Vague sentences tend to be common for many people. Sometimes we do not even realize or notice that we are using vague sentences in our essays, or when we are speaking to other people. When I went to the grocery store with my mom she was asking me what I really wanted to buy for school. I replied to her by saying, “I want bread.” After thinking it over I realized that the statement that I said to my mom was too vague. She told me that she did not understand what exactly I meant. She was not sure of what kind of bread I wanted for school. My reply to my mom qualifies as a vague sentence because I didn’t specify whether or not I wanted, wheat bread, white bread, sourdough, etc.

question #1

subjective and objective claims

A subjective claim is meant to say whether something is true or false, and it depends on what someone thinks, believes, and feels. A subjective claim refers to personal standards. An objective claim is only objective if it is not subjective, and an objective claim refers to impersonal standards. When I was a family party for my niece’s birthday my cousins and I were talking about what size we are in pants. My younger cousin Cheena and I were trying to predict each other’s pants size while I told her, “Cheena you’re a size 2 in jeans.” This is an objective claim because it is a statement that I can prove since I already know what the size of her waist looks. Last night I was eating at a Thai restaurant with my friend and she decided to order fish, and I ordered chicken. I told her that I think, “chicken is considered to taste a lot better than fish.” This is a subjective claim because it is a matter of my opinion and there are no standards or methods that could prove whether if it is true or false. 

introduction to myself!

Hello class!

My real name is Melissa Liwanag, but I would rather be preferred as "Nags". I am currently a Sophomore and my major is Hospitality. I am 19 years old and I am turning 20 years old in March. I am from Pacifica, and for all of you who do not know where that is located it is about 45 minutes to an hour away from San Jose, and about 20 minutes away from San Francisco so it isn't too far away from here. I am currently living on campus at CVB, and I find it very convenient for me because I don't have to drive or park anywhere to get to classes and it is very easy to get to classes from there. I work at Andersen Bakery over at Valley Fair Mall, as a part time employee. My schedule for this semester is pretty flexible because I only have classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, while on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, I am working.

My communication experience comes from most of the other jobs I have had within the past few years such as, Nordstrom as a sales associate, and volunteering with two different elementary schools and talking to parents of the students and the faculty. I have also participated in the Academy of Art summer program for two summers. I took different types of fashion classes, but the main class I took that I have communication experience in is my Acting class. I learned a lot in that class and for the final we had to perform in front of all the acting majors at Academy of Art. So that has been one of my main communication experiences. My other communication experience comes from the Comm 20 class that I took in my first semester at San Jose State. I enjoyed it a lot and was able to maintain a B+ in the class. As for online classes, I have no experience with it because I have never taken an online class in my college career. I hope to gain more and better communication skills while taking this class.