Evaluation of Rhetorical Situations

Evaluation of Rhetorical Situations

1.  Genetically Engineered Babies? Experts Debate Idea Of 'Designer Baby' Ban
1. The author of the article is Wynne Parry and although there was not a direct link from her name when I looked her up online her credentials came across in other ways. It is apparent that she has had a long history in the writing business and has a number of different jobs that have bumped up her credibility. 
2. The primary audience of this article is an educated, middle aged group of people. It is assumed that they have a bit of previous knowledge regarding the idea of genetic engineering. Because this topic is a more complicated one it is also assumed that those reading the article are reading by choice in efforts to learn more about the controversial topic. 
3. The context of this article includes that it was written in February of 2013. This is somewhat recent information but I am sure that there has been more research done since then. There are also a number of hyperlinks throughout the article so it can be seen as a pretty credible source of information. It was published through an online newspaper which also implies credibility. 
2. What Genetic Engineering Does and Does Not Mean
1. The author of this article is James A. Shapiro. The link on Shapiro's name took me to his bio on The Huffington Post website. This biography provided a background regarding his education as well as in depth information regarding his degrees and accomplishment. The years in which he got his degrees (mid 1960s) show that he is an older author and has a very diverse background in writing and researching. This biography provides enough information to show that he is a credible source.
2. The audience of this articles is assumed to be people that know something about the genetic engineering debate but don't know all of the facts. Based on the title of the article alone it is implied that the article was made in order to increase people's knowledge regarding the subject and allow them to expand on the real facts versus the myths about the topic. 
3. This article was also written in February of 2013 which implies that it is sort of the same age as the first article. This article also has hyperlinks so it can be seen as a credible source and because it also was issued through an online newspaper it is a good potential resource. 
3. After Volkswagen Revelation, Auto Emissions Tests Come Under Global Scrutiny
1. This article had two authors, Danny Hakim and Keith Bradsher. Both of these authors had hyperlinks from the names which took me to lengthy biographies on the two. While Hakim has focused mainly on business, Bradsher was big into economics, politics and sciences. Based on each of their individual awards, accomplishments and education as well as their combined knowledge it is apparent that they are credible sources. 
2. The audience is those that know something about both the car industry and the science of what is happening in regards to climate change. By having these basic understandings the reader will be more likely to fully comprehend the logistics behind car industries and their relation to the unfortunate climate change. 
3. The context of this article includes that it was written in September of 2015 which means it is very recent. This is important because it is the most up to date article that I found and shows that the issue is up and forth coming in today's society. This article was posted through The New York Times so it must be credible and trustworthy. 

S, Jon. "Newspapers B&W (3)" 8/11/11 via flickr. Creative Commons Attribution

Reflection:

 I read Chad and Hunter's blog posts about evaluation of rhetorical situations. Both Chad and I are focusing on Engineering so it was interesting to see what similar articles we had and what differing articles we had. While all three of the articles he chose are applicable to the subject I felt that the most current issue is that about climate engineering. Climate engineering is such huge current controversy in the world that I think the article regarding climate engineering could go quite a long way in this project. Similarly to Chad, Hunter had a number of good articles but one in specific that stuck out as being very relatable for a larger audience. Looking at these different evaluations of rhetorical situations made me realize that while the majority of my evaluations were efficient but some of my articles wouldn't be appropriate for this project. I don't think the third article would be appropriate for this project because it doesn't have much rhetorical situation to go off of and very little to expand on and the first article would be the most appropriate. 

Developing a Research Question

Developing A Research Question

The topic which I focused on for the controversy QRG was optical engineering but unfortunately it is a very narrow topic so I decided to focus on Engineering as a whole on a more general scale. Below are a number of research questions regarding controversial topics in engineering. 

1. Should genetic engineering be legal? 
2. What is climate engineering and should it be pursued in the future? 
3. How are societal customs influencing women in the engineering workplace? 
4. How can chemical engineering help decrease global warming? 

Kernel-Script. "Computer Engineering"11/23/07 via Deviant Art.  Creative Commons Attribution.

Reflection on Project 1

Reflection on Project 1

Project one, researching a controversy and writing a QRG, was a new type of writing assignment. I had never before been faced with a writing assignment other than the classic high school essay. Below is my reflection on the assignment. 

Gray, Alicia. "A good student supposedly"2/25/14 via flickr. Creative Commons Attribution.

• During the Quick Reference Guide project the main challenge I faced was determining whether or not I had enough information in my QRG. The QRG finds a perfect balance between being informative and not too over the top but I struggled to find this spot with my writing. Although I think I eventually was able to determine what the right amount of information was, it was a pretty long and tiring process. 
• During this project I experienced success in learning a number of new writing techniques which I had previously not known anything about. I found success in learning how to write the QRG and I also was able to learn how to better write an annotated bibliography. I think this will be very helpful in the upcoming college years. I also learned how to research more efficiently which I think is a tremendous success. 
• I think the most effective practices were taking a source, reading it, analyzing it and then determining how to make it fit into what I was writing about. This made me really understand my controversy topic while also helping me learn how to better integrate outside knowledge and outside sources. Additionally, I think the reading to remind myself about different grammar strategies including varied sentence structure, reducing repetition and incorporating ideas amongst quotes was a great way to develop my writing. 
• What I didn't find helpful during this project was what I had learned in high school which was to input a quote into the writing and then from there go on to explain that quote. I think the QRG style of writing that we were doing was great because it showed a completely different light of writing but unfortunately much of my prior knowledge of display and then explain was not very useful. 
• This writing process was similar to ones I have done in the past because it used different sources to help develop the ideas that I had. Additionally we went through the drafting process, which I am familiar with from having done before. 
• This writing process was different than past experiences that I have had because this was not a writing in which you analyzed one writing excerpt from a paper or book and tried to explain the "rhetorical strategy" or "character development". This project gave the writer more freedom and opportunity to really learn about the subject he or she was writing about and I think by dong that it opened up doors to different aspects of the writing style that we can now continue to use. 
• I think a number of the skills from this project would be useful in future coursework. Learning how to write a solid annotated bibliography is very important and I think I will use the knowledge for that in the future when I am writing papers for other classes. Additionally I think that I will use the ability to look up different types of sources to my advantage for future research. 

Evaluation:

• After reading Mathias and Jovanka's blogs I was able to gain insight on what my peers thought was helpful. Both Mathias and I had very narrow topics for our controversies so we each struggled a bit on finding enough in depth sources to help aid our QRG. I wish that I could have taken more away from the "Clarity" exercises though like he did because I feel like I didn't let them help me enough. Jovanka and I had similar ideas on how using emotional appeal can help show readers that the topic at hand relates to them but while she didn't use any social media sources I used them as somewhat of a focal point in my writing. While we all have some similar ideas we vary in what we think is helpful and other stuff that we don't think is as helpful. 

The TMT Controversy: A Telescope Atop A Mystical Mountain

The TMT Controversy:

A Telescope Atop A Mystical Mountain

O, Mikey. "Sunset Over Mauna Kea-Hawaii"6/20/14 via flickr. Public Domain Dedication

What is this controversy?

 This controversy is not just a debate, but a dueling battle between two sides  The TMT controversy, a debate regarding the construction of the world’s most innovative telescope atop one of Hawaii’s ideological mountains, has picked up quite a bit of steam in the past year. While this is an optimal location for astronomers to continue learning about the universe, it has simultaneously angered the Hawaiian natives. Mauna Kea has long been a sacred site for the Hawaiian’s ideological ceremonies including ancestral worship and religious practices. Because the people of Hawaii hold this landmark so close to their hearts  it is natural for them to be upset with the potential telescope construction.  As time has gone on, more and more people have joined forces on either side of the debate in order to work on getting justice for what they think is right.

Pasixxxx, "Mapmaunakea"3/1/06 via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain (Some Rights Reserved).

What are the logistics of the situation?

 Although the debate has grown significantly in recent months, there has been much talk about the building of telescopes in Hawaii for years. In 1960 there was a 212-hectare reserve that was labeled as land to be used for astronomy projects. If the TMT is built it will be the 14th telescope to be commissioned on this  specific plot of land set aside for astronomy purposes. Mauna Kea is within this reserve so the astronomers feel they have a right to proceed with the building of their designed telescope. Although the natives have put up with 13 telescopes being built thus far they feel that this extreme project which would take over 2 hectares of land from the reserve is too much of a commitment and an extreme change to their cultural environment.  

What are the main sides in this controversy?

 One side of this controversy holds the idea that astronomers should be allowed to build on the Mauna Kea due to the fact that the TMT telescope will allow for drastic advances in the name of science. On the other hand, there is a belief that Mauna Kea has been thought of as a sacred place for centuries and is a revered location in Hawaii then it should remain pure for the people who know it as that. There is also a concern of limited monetary resources that provide a big problem for the people of Hawaii. A video showing their side of the story relayed the message "As an island with finite resources, we cannot afford further mismanagement."

The majority of the astronomy community favors the building of the telescope due to the possibility of such innovative advancements in the optical science world. The fact that the observatory atop Mauna Kea is the largest in the world makes astronomers even more eager to continue construction of more unprecedented telescopes. Among the most impressive feats which the TMT telescope will accomplish are the capabilities of determining dark matter’s presence in shaping the world and investigating black holes further. Additionally, the Governor of Hawaii, David Ige, favors the building but specifies that “the pursuit of science on the mountain has gotten in the way of the cultural experience, and the state must restore the balance” (Hofschneider). This is a key factor because he was one of the first people to suggest the possibility of compromise between the two sides of the debate. Meanwhile, the Hawaiian natives, famous celebrities, and some in the science community believe strongly in keeping Mauna Kea from having anything built on it.

Hilo, Occupy. “Thirty Meter Telescope protest” 10/7/14 via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons Attribution.

  

How are people trying to make a difference?

How are opponents trying to make a change regarding this topic? Those not in favor of the telescope being built on Mauna Kea have banned together in order to make a change. A hashtag #WeAreMaunaKea has begun trending on social media sites and even some celebrities have joined in the fight by posting it. Meanwhile, the people of Hawaii have been protesting. These people have been protesting to gain leverage for their cause. While some of these people just join in the fight to keep the telescope off of Mauna Kea because they live there they have little scholarly credibility. There are a number of other protesters who cite credible reasons as to why they don’t want the telescope on their sacred land. These hashtags and other forms of protest have seemed to be extremely effective in getting the Hawaiian government to acknowledge the negative effects of allowing construction of the TMT on Mauna Kea and has spurred on legal action regarding the controversy.As of late August, the Hawaii Supreme Court began hearing the opening arguments for the court case regarding the building of the telescope on the mountain. 

Why does it matter to those of us that aren't from Hawaii?

To many who are not directly associated with this problem it seems as though there’s no reason to care about the controversy at hand. In reality, though, the outcome of this controversy could affect us all on a very large scale. The proposed telescope is one that would revolutionize astronomy in ways never seen before. These advancements include, but are not limited to, learning more about dark matter, looking for “Earth’s twin”, and searching for other dark holes in the universe. On the other hand, if the telescope is built, the people of Hawaii will lose another piece of their history and culture. This will not only affect them but everyone who ventures to Hawaii because they will all have less untainted land to explore and admire. Destroying this sacred mountain would be similar to destroying one the United States National Parks. This would be similar to demolishing Mount Lemmon in Tucson, Arizona. Although not seen by many as a major landmark, to those from Tucson Mount Lemmon is a key cultural element and changing it would not be taken to well by Tucson locals. Although this topic may not have a direct impact on everyone it still can affect us all through job opportunities, learning possibilities and much more.

 

Clarity, Part 2

Clarity, Part 2

There are many different items which writers need to revise in their work in order to make it flow better. Below is my thoughts on four different types of improvements that can be made to my QRG. 

• Shifts: In order to keep awkward shifts to a minimum it is important to make the point of view constantly consistent. This was interesting to me because I had not really put much thought into it but rather it was just an underlying notion. Another topic brought to mind was to make verbs consistent in mood and voice. I don't usually think of verbs having a mood or voice but by reading this section it was interesting to start to understand how you can employ these ideas to ensure no awkward shifts. 
• Emphasis: This section highly recommended coordinating equal ideas while also coordinating subordinate minor ideas. A writer can do this by using coordinating conjunctions and or adverbs. This way the major ideas will be emphasized in parallel ways while the more minor ideas will have less of an emphasis. 
• Variety: I have always struggled with adding variety to my writing, especially in sentence structure. This reading section brought to my attention attempting to invert sentences in order to mix up the sentence types. A writer can also vary his or her sentence structure in order to add variety to the writing which is something that became much more clarifies in this section. There are many different ways to adding variety to sentence structure by word choice or grammatical composition. 
• Wordy Sentences: I think it is very easy to add to much detail into a sentence and make it to wordy. One thing brought to my attention was an effort to cut inflated phrases. I think this is a really important thing in writing because it is easy to bulk up sentences with quite a bit of "fluff" rather than just write about the most important items. 

"Grammar Fan" 10/31/08 via Falling Fifth. Creative Commons Attribution.

Revising Draft of QRG: 

• In my draft of the QRG I realized that I have very little variation in sentence structure. I tried to work on adding different sentence elements such as quotes, shorter sentences and longer sentences. 
• On example was the addition of the quote: "As an island with finite resources, we cannot afford further mismanagement." I think it is effective to change up the structure with quotes because it adds an element of reliability for the reader through first hand experiences.
• I had quite a few wordy sentences in my draft and I tried to work on making them flow better and be less confusing for the readers. Below is a reworked sentence that I reworked to make less confusing.
• Although the debate has gained much speed in recent months there has been much talk about the building of telescopes in Hawaii for years.

Identifying Basic Grammar Patterns

Identifying Basic Grammar Patterns

In writing it is imperative that an author captivates his or her audience with varying grammatical elements. Below is an analyzation of the grammar specifics in one paragraph of my controversy QRG. 

An analyzation of my longest paragraph can be found here. In analyzing this paragraph I had to make quite a few changes because I did not have enough variation in the grammatical elements that I use. In specific I had a hard time with the sentence patterns and sentence purposes. The majority of my sentences are declarative due to the fact that it is an informative piece of writing. Additionally,  the sentence patterns tripped me up a little bit because sometimes I make my sentences so long that I have trouble determining what pattern each specific sentence is. I think these are two major things which I can work on with future writing in order to make it more effective and draw readers in more. In reality I would like to spend more time on all of these concepts in order to improve upon them because I feel like I am capable of using them but not very efficient with them. 

Deazralei. "GRAMMAR-Live with it." 3/30/09 via Deviant Art. Creative Commons Attribution

Paragraph Analysis

Paragraph Analysis

It is important for a writer to determine his or her weaknesses during the drafting process of writing. Below is an analyzation of the strengths and weaknesses in the paragraphs in my rough draft. HERE is the link to my paragraph analysis. 

Yann, "Paragraph-mark" 2008 via Wikimedia Commons.  Public Domain.

• Strengths: 
• I think that the majority of my paragraphs have good focus on the main points which they are trying to convey. In this I think they stick to the main topic and I don't go off onto tangents regarding other things. 
• Additionally I also think that the majority of links and transitions in my writing were good. Most often I would end section's paragraphs at good points in which transitioned to a different topic about the subject very well. 
• Weaknesses: 
• In some instances I think I need to develop my main point more. although I do a great job on focusing on the main point at the beginning I think I need to add some more evidence and analyzation of this evidence in order to bolster the development of the main points.
• Another thing I need to work on is adding more hyperlinks in order to add credibility of the subject and for myself as the writer. 
• Lastly, I think I need to add a few more key topics into my QRG in order to round out the whole topic and make sure that I convey all importances to the audience rather than just a brief overview. 

Reflection on Project 1 Draft

Reflection on Project 1 Draft

Revision is a key part of the writing process and instrumental in ensuring that a writer ends with his or her best draft. By having peers read your drafts they sometimes can spot things which you as the writer can't. This helps to make your writing even better by having many different perspectives. Below is a review of how I think the first draft of my GRQ went. 

I read and added comments on Joy's QRG as well as Bailey's QRG . Each were very different and each had individual aspects which worked really well and then others that could potentially be reworked if they wanted to rework them. 

McPhee, Nic. "(Editing a Paper)-31" 1/26/08 via flickr. Creative Commons.

• Audience:
• The readers of this document will probably be peers in my class who haven't heard of this controversy and potentially people on the internet interested in the TMT telescope controversy. For this reason I tried to make my document provide the groundwork for understanding the controversy as well as having specifics to help expand reader's knowledge of the specific subject
• I think that the readers' expectations are to learn more about this topic and understand the logistics behind it all. With working hyperlinks and descriptive information I think that I attempt to meet this expectation although I think that I could work on providing a few more working hyperlinks to increase credibility as well as opportunities for readers' to further expand their knowledge on the subject. 
• To be completely honest I am still trying to determine how much information I need to give my audience. Some QRG's I have read are much longer than some others and I am trying to determine what the appropriate length is for my document on this specific topic. That being said, I think that as I revise I am going to try to work on determining if I should add more information to make the document longer or not 
• Language suitable for this audience is scholarly language but not over the top with wordy and confusing language. Due to the fact that the main audience of this document will be peers and potentially a few older people we are mostly all of the same verse and there is no need for confusing wording that you have to read multiple times in order to understand. 
• The tone that I should use in this essay is one that favors neither side of the controversy. I think this is important because this is an informative piece and in order to maintain being able to explain to my audience what this controversy is about it's important to not put my own beliefs into this document but rather just convey both sides equally. 
• Context: 
• The formatting requirements in this document are to have visual aids to help display the controversy at hand as well as having much white space to give the reader a break from all the text. By also having short and direct paragraphs it helps ensure that the readers don't get overwhelmed. I think I do this appropriately in my document but I am thinking about adding a few more visual aids throughout. 
• Content requirements for the assignment are to inform readers of the controversy which one is covering while providing credible sources from which the writer took his or her information from. I think that in my document I give a pretty direct basis of what the controversy is about but as I continue working on revising I am going to work on providing some more specifics for my audience. 
• I believe that my draft reflects both knowledge from class as well as my own ideas and voice. Class discussions really taught me the correct way to analyze controversy as well as how to organize a QRG and by putting my ideas and the information from my various sources I think that I effectively used both class as well as individual knowledge. 
• Comments on my draft brought to my attention by peer reviewers have been fixed but as I continue to review and manipulate my first draft I will ensure that I keep an eye out for these grammatical issues that could rise up. Additionally I plan to keep in mind past issues I have had with grammatical issues in order to ensure that I can try to avoid them in this document. 

Clarity, Part 1

Clarity, Part 1

Every writer has things he or she needs to work on improving. Based on my past writing experiences I have found a few of these topics that I think it would be important to get better at. The following is a synopsis of these subjects. 

North.jvta. "Find your voice. Express yourself. Creative writing." 2/13/14 via Wikimedia Commons.
Creative Commons Attribution.

• Active Verbs: Although I had learned to use the active voice in high school I always had trouble doing it. It was interesting to read the specified reasons for using active and passive voice. Passive voice is to be used in order to put an emphasis on the person who is having the verb done to them. This puts the focus on the receiver rather than the subject of the sentence. Active voice is more clear and direct and a better form to use in most cases.
• Needed words: I had not really thought about needed words until I read this chapter but it was very insightful as to keeping the sentence on the right track. It is easy to forget to add a word in a sentence because of compound structures of sentences. It was interesting to read that this is only allowed if the word taken out is common to both parts of the compound sentence. For grammatical and logical completion of a sentence specific words are often needed to be added back in. 
• Move awkwardly placed modifiers: This was an interesting section to read because I think making sentences to wordy and with incorrect word order is a common mistake. After writing quite a bit it is easy for an author to get tripped up and put a word in correct order. It was interesting to read that specifically English language doesn't allow an adverb to appear between a verb and object. It is important to ensure that a long adverb phrase doesn't come between a subject and verb. 
• Maintain consistent verb tenses: As a writer continues writing it is common to shift between verb tenses. I often find myself doing this in my own writing. By choosing one verb tense to write in it conveys important details to the reader  while also specifically describing the time of the actions. I was enlightened to hear that this often occurs for writers when they write about literature, a fact I never knew. 

Reflection: 

• After reading my peer's QRG drafts I was able to expand on what I read about regarding topics to improve in writing.   It was nice to know that it is common for writers to sometimes need to work on topics, just like I do. One of Joy's sentence "Common core is a new set of standards for education that each state has the choice to adopt." related back to my topic of needed words. Here she could have added "of whether or not" in between "choice" and "to". I believe this would make the sentence more direct and to the point. It is nice to know that it is common to be so into the writing mode that it is hard to reread and notice what you could improve on in your own writing. Similarly, in Bailey's draft, "This process is used order to be sure that the product is safe for human use without having to test potentially dangerous products on humans themselves." Here she also left out a word, "in" before "order". This is an important addition in order to be correct grammatically and specification in the sentence. Although I only found one of my topics in my peer's drafts I am sure that other people have similar concerns and it is comforting to know that we are all in the same boat in efforts to improve our writing..
  
  

Thoughts On Drafting

Thoughts On Drafting 

Pacres, Jeffrey James. "Writing" 2/9/09 via Flickr. Creative Commons.

• Helpful Topics: 
• Writing Paragraphs in PIE form: I think that regardless of the fact that the genre is different of that than a classic essay the PIE format is very helpful. PIE incorporates the importance of Point, Illustration and Explanation which really leads to a well rounded paragraph. If a writer takes a specific point that is specified in the beginning of the paragraph, uses evidence to support the claim made and then explains how the evidence provides proof of the claim the reader will have a better view of the claim at hand. 
• Organizing text is a very important component of presenting a subject for readers. Regardless of what genre a writer is writing in he or she needs to be sure to organize their information in an organized and methodical manner in order to convey its importance to the reader. By making the information purposeful through logos, pathos and ethos all working in compliment of one another the writer can make it easier for the reader to follow and understand. 
• Less Helpful Topics: 
• Writing a Thesis Statement: Due to the fact that we are composing writings in the QRG genre a thesis statement is a bit irrelevant. There isn't one sentence in which a QRG writer needs to summarize the main point because the whole writing should be about the most important parts of the topic. Rather than having a specific thesis like paragraph form writing should have this genre doesn't need a specific thesis. 
• While having somewhat of an introduction is important in the QRG genre the introduction is more of a brief synopsis of the core of the issue at hand. For my QRG that is specifying what the TMT controversy is. The book writes of grabbing the readers attention, forecasting the direction and crafting a thesis statement but in the QRG genre there is no constant introduction necessitated at the beginning of each writing. 
• The QRG genre doesn't have a specific conclusion paragraph like essay form writing usually does. It is common for the QRG auto to provide the potential future of the issue or an opinion on what will happen with the subject based on certain things but there isn't a review of what was written about in the article. Each section is its own and doesn't need to be reviewed at the end because a QRG is supposed to be a quick and easy read about subjects pertaining to mass audience rather than trying to persuade someone to believe why a writers claims are correct. 

Reflection: 

Other classmates thoughts on drafting really gave me different ideas about what's important for the QRG genre. Austin and I had completely different ideas regarding what was important to the QRG from the reading and what wasn't and I think it's interesting to see how we each interpreted it. I learned that I think I need to put more hyperlinks in my QRG in order to increase my credibility as the author and give the readers more background. Jovanka and I had more similar ideas regarding helpful tips for the QRG and she brought up an important point about the illustration within the QRG. I had been thinking that the PIE method was helpful but I overlooked the idea that the QRG isn't supposed to have illustration of the author's ideas because it is more of an informative writing with solid facts to inform the readers about. 

Things to improve in my writing: 

1.  I think I need to put more informative hyperlinks into my writing. 
2. I need to add on to my current draft to make more sections with subheadings to provide more writing and go into a bit more depth on the TMT controversy. 
3. I need to work on not putting too much illustration into my writing because I think often I fluff up the sections with illustrations and my thoughts which isn't completely appropriate for the QRG genre.

Extra Credit: Putting Quotes In Context 

The way in which quotes are interpreted is highly based on the context in which it occurs. If someone's quote is taken out f context it can often lead to misinterpretation. The following are two quotes and my analyzation of the context of each.

Correll, Gordon. "Chris Pratt" 7/19/14 via
Wikimedia Commons.  Creative Commons Attribution

Petteway, Steve. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg" via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

• Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said: "I'm constantly amazed by the number of people who want to take my picture."
• Ginsburg made this quote in the middle of an interview with Jeffrey Ronson, an interviewer from New Republic news source. Ronson had just asked her how she felt about being an internet sensation and this was her response to the question. Without context the meaning behind this quote could be misconstrued. It could be seen as something sarcastic that makes someone look pompous or could seem as though someone extremely obtuse. With the context of the interview regarding the trending fashion statements revolved around Ginsburg's name it gives the reader insight as to the comical idea that a number of people are somewhat obsessed with RBJ. The context shows that she is an older woman and she is just as amused and awe struck by the subject as much of the public is. On first glance I thought that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a stern and serious woman due to the fact that I only knew her as a supreme court justice. She seems to be revered as a liberal woman supreme court justice and held in such high esteem so the first thought about her wouldn't be something funny or comical. This context, which approached the subject of the fandom of people around her depicted her in a new light, one with a sense of humor and can take a joke. It was interesting to read this and the quotes regarding it because it shows a completely different side of her, a more personal one which people can relate to. 
• Parks and Recreation TV star Chris Pratt commented: "I do know what it feels like to eat emotionally, and...to be sad and make yourself happy with food. And then to be almost immediately sad again and now ashamed and then to try to hide those feelings with more food. I know what that's like. It's a vicious cycle and it's a very real thing." 
• This quote that Pratt mad was input into the middle of an article regarding how even though he isn't a woman, he has still felt the immense Hollywood pressure to be a specific weight and look. This context is so important because someone could just look at this comment and think that Pratt was just mocking the women of Hollywood and even the women of the world but in reality he is sympathizing with the constant pressure on them. This context makes readers understand that Pratt really did struggle with his body image, similarly to how so many others do in this day in age. The provides credibility for him as well as well as appealing to pathos, or emotion of the readers. This is a relatable topic for many and sheds a light on Pratt as someone who understands and can sympathize with us all. Based on how the media portrays Chris Pratt I think of him as a very confident and hilarious guy who knows how to make great jokes. From this article it is obvious that he has a soft side and is vulnerable. Perhaps the face that he puts on as a person in Parks and Recreation was just a coping method for something that he had for so long worried about. This shed a somewhat normal light on him and makes him seem more real rather than just a tough movie star. 

Draft Of Quick Reference Guide

Draft of Quick Reference Guide

Ludraman. "Junior certificate grading" via Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons Attribution.

I have read over my draft of the QRG a few times and I am thinking it is making its way to a final project but I don't know for sure yet. Here are some things that I would appreciate if you could all let me know your thoughts on: 

• What do you think about the quotes? I only used one word for word quote but I tried to summarize things that other articles said. 
• Do we need to cite the pictures we input similarly to how we cited them on the actual blog? If so how do you do that, because I have looked everywhere but unfortunately cannot seem to figure it out. 
• Is the hyperlinking helpful where it is and do you think there is enough to make my writing seem credible? 
• I know there isn't a specific length that the QRG is supposed to be but for some reason I feel like mine isn't long enough. I don't know if that's because I already know so much about the controversy or what but if you could tell me from an outsiders perspective if it seems to have enough information or not then that would be great! 

Other than that please just let me know if any of you see anything you think that I should add/delete/change and whatnot. Thank you so much for all the help! 

The LINK TO MY ROUGH DRAFT is here 

Practice Quoting

Practice Quoting

This post is completely dedicated to working on quoting correctly within a work of writing. I have searched through my various sources and have found two quotes which effectively show the difference in ideas on either side of the TMT telescope controversy in Hawaii. The following is my analyzation of these quotes, including a style guide to show the context, authority and signal phrases within the paragraph. 

Kent, Carrie Belle. "Screenshot of "Practice Quoting."" 8/12/15 via Blogger.

Kent, Carrie Belle. "Screenshot of "Practice Quoting."" 8/12/15 via Blogger.

Key: 

     Sections highlighted in blue are signal phrases

     Sections highlighted in pink are establishing the authority of the source being quoted

     Sections highlighted in green are context of the source material

     Sections highlighted in yellow are places where I have altered the quotes to be correct grammatically within the sentence

Unbeknownst to many Americans, there is currently a major controversy raging though the islands of Hawaii. In recent years much planning has been put into funding the construction of the world's most innovative telescope on Hawaii's sacred mountain, Mana Kea. While the majority of the native Hawaiian people are extremely against this invasion of their special landmark, almost all of the astronomers favor the building of the telescope due to the many scientific advancements it will lead to. Many different people pertaining to the controversy have taken sides, some more surprising than others. Governor of Hawaii, David Ige, finally acknowledged the subject when " [he] said that the pursuit of science on the mountain has green in the way of the cultural experience, and the state must restore the balance" (Hofschneider). It was important for Ige to finally voice his thoughts on the controversial subject due to that fact that he plays such big role in the Hawaiian community. Although at first it seemed like Ige was choosing to favor the development of the telescope on the mountain, in reality he showed his belief in both the natives and the astronomers being able to succeed in living simultaneously. It is reasonable to expect the astronomers to be respectful and not greedy in their construction and it is reasonable to expect the natives to understand how necessary the construction is to science. Ige brought up this great point, one that is different than many of the other one sided comments made in the controversy previously. Emily Rice, assistant professor of astrophysics at the College Staten Island, voiced her support of the native Hawaiian people: "' [She's] realizing that something [she's] benefited from is something that causes pain to other people. That's something as a scientist-as a human being- [she] doesn't want to have a part in'" (Solomon). Knowing that there are people within the science community that are actually on the side of the debate of the Hawaiians is very important to these Hawaiians due to the fact that it provides a basis for gaining leverage in having their voices heard and not just overlooked. The support which Hawaiian's found from a number of people in the astronomy community came as a bit of a shock to many. While most astronomers highly favor the innovative telescope it was interesting to suddenly see an outpouring of support from those who understood the pleas to keep such a sacred space sacred. Rice's use of pathos is very effective in order to gain other support based on the emotional appeal of the situation. This major debate in the heart of Hawaii has seemed to cause a deep divide between the idea of invading sacred land in order to make revolutionary advancements in science or to leave this revered place pure. 

QRG's: The Genre

QRG's: The Genre

There are many different genres in which a writer can compose his or her writing in. The Quick Reference Guide is a type of more informal genre in which writer's write in order to update the common people of society on many of the issues going on around us today. This genre has specific details which make it unique and below is an analyzation of these unique qualities. 

Gregory, Ed. No Title 9/11/15 via pexels. CC0 License.

• There are a number of conventions used in the  QRG Genre. Some of the main conventions are large amounts of white space,  many hyperlinks throughout the writing, subheadings, and informal/personal tone and informative pictures and statistics.  
• The white space is a big part of the QRG because it breaks up the reading and makes it easier for the reader while also indicating some shift in the writing. Hyperlinks are a form of citation for this genre and provide credibility for the author because this genre relies on internet sources. Readers of this genre don't want background information because the author can just hyperlink to the description. Subheadings also help to break the text into pieces and guide the reader in telling them what they'll be reading about next while allowing readers to pick and choose what they want to read about. The informal and personal tone is due to the fact that the topics written about in QRG's are topics of mass appeal and makes it easy to read and ore discussion based. Informative pictures and statistics provides visual evidence and context for the reader while giving the audience a break from reading. 
• The purpose of the QRG seems to be to informally provide information on a topic of mass interest that pertains to a large group of people through shorter articles containing pictures, statistic with less scholarly and confusing wording.
• It seems as though the main audience of the QRG genre is the the general public. I believe the majority of the QRGs are aimed towards the general public because the topics are ones of mass public concern that many in today's society would be concerned with and want to know more about. 
• The QRGs's seem to use the visuals and imagery as a way to split up the reading about the specific topic of the article and ensure it's not too wordy for the readers. While giving the reader a break from reading these visuals also provide context for the topic of the writing. 

Reflection: 

After reading through Jovanka's blog post, Allison's blog post, and Joy's blog post  all regarding the Genre of QRG's I was assured that we all have the same general idea about the main conventions of the genre. At the top of this list I would think there would be the informal tone just because it's the main point of the QRG in order to attract readers and keep them interested in the subject at hand. I liked how Joy brought up the fact that the readers aren't supposed to be experts so the article doesn't have to be technical because this makes total sense but I hadn't really thought about it before. I also really liked how Allison's post touched on the idea of using images to make the topic more relatable to the reader because I do think the images create a connection between the topic and something that a reader could see him or herself doing. Jovanka and I had pretty similar ideas regarding the main foundation of the QRG genre as well. 

Cluster of My Controversy

Cluster of My Controversy

I created a cluster diagram regarding the telescope controversy in Hawaii. I put the name of the controversy in the center and then branched off in the lefthand right directions to depict the major proponents and opponents of the controversy. I then went into more detail regarding the specifics of either side of the debate. Below is a link to the cluster chart: 

Kent, Carrie Belle. "TMT Telescope Debate Hawaii" 9/10/15 via Coggle.

  Cluster Chart                                       

Reflection:
I read Michaela's cluster of controversy as well as Stef's cluster of controversy. Both of these cluster types gave me insight into different ways of creating a cluster diagram and how helpful they can be when formulating what you want to write about in an assignment. Michaela's cluster was interesting because it really went in depth to all the groups on all sides of her controversy rather than just a few of the main ones. I think this is important when finding credible sources in order to expand on in your writing. Stef's cluster diagram was a little bit less elaborate but had many different connections which are important when thinking about a controversy as a whole and how each part interrelates to others. I think I might go back and take a second look at my cluster diagram to see if there's any other important connections I could make to develop my diagram more. 

Annotated Bibliography in CEP Style

Annotated Bibliography in CEP Style 

Papertrix, "Bibliography" 8/28/05 via flickr. Public Domain Dedication.

There are many different citation styles to be used depending on what field of engineering you are in. Although I could not find a specific style that all optical engineers are supposed to use I read that many chemical engineers and general engineers use the CEP citation style. The following is the annotated bibliography for all of my sources used thus far throughout the controversial topic unit. 

• Jones, C., "Amid controversy, construction of telescope in Hawaii halted", Science X Network, April 7th, 2015. Found at: http://phys.org/news/2015-04-controversy-telescope-hawaii-halted.html
• The purpose of this article was to inform readers of the large controversy regarding the building of the the next largest telescope on Hawaii's sacred landmark, Mauna Kea. This article in specific conveys the feelings of fear and anxiety regarding the telescope construction and the subsequent shutdown of the building site due to the countless arrests. Major findings included that there had been much noticed protest regarding the construction on the mountain and the subsequent discussions begun regarding it, a good think because many people had hopes of overcoming the issues. This article will be helpful further on in the process to recall the early stages of the debate and how people were affect on both sides of the argument. 
• Dickerson, K. "5 ways the world's most controversial telescope could revolutionize astronomy", Business Insider, June 2nd, 2015. Found at: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-tmt-could-revolutionize-astronomy-2015-6
• This article is meant to inform readers of the major scientific advancements that will be accomplished if the new telescope is built in Hawaii. Although it beings by citing the ongoing controversy regarding the construction of the innovative technology the main focus of the article is to inform regarding how the TMT will "revolutionize astronomy". This article is important because rather than just repeating what each side's major arguments are it delves into the importance of the telescope being built. For future use I believe this article will come in handy to help bolster reasons for being a proponent of the astronomers' work. 
• University of Hawaii, "Scientists on TMT: Not Of One Mind", LexisNexis, May 19th, 2015. Found at: http://www.lexisnexis.com.ezproxy1.library.arizona.edu/lnacui2api/auth/checkbrowser.do?ipcounter=1&cookieState=0&rand=0.9942764696377079&bhjs=1&bhqs=1
• This article delves into the notion that not all of the astronomers are on the same side regarding building the telescopes. While many are strong proponents of it, there are also a number of astronomers who feel for the native people and don't want to go through with the building because they don't want to interfere with the native lands. This is a very interesting finding because usually you would think that all of the astronomers would be interested in furthering the research in their field but knowing that some of them are on the native Hawaiian's side of the argument gives them a stronger basis for support. This article will be helpful later on when finding the main arguments and support of the anti-telescope creation group. 
• University of Hawaii, "On Mauna Kea, Astronomers and Hawaiians Can Share the Skies", LexisNexis, May 29th, 2015. Found at: http://www.lexisnexis.com.ezproxy1.library.arizona.edu/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?oc=00240&hnsd=f&hgn=t&lni=5G3F-JYW1-J9XT-P0C2&hns=t&perma=true&hv=t&hl=t&csi=270944%2C270077%2C11059%2C8411&secondRedirectIndicator=true
• This article is different than the previous articles because the author seems to be a proponent of helping the astronomers and the natives come to some sort of agreement on the building of the telescope. The University cites valid reasons for the telescope to be built while also providing ways that the astronomers could be more courteous to the native Hawaiian people. This article will be helpful in the future because it will be good to have an article that varies from all the other informational ones and instead provides a solution to the problem rather than just being more descriptive about the controversy at hand. 
• Honolulu Civil Beat, https://storify.com/civilbeat/mauna-kea-and-tmt  [Internet], Storify, April 9th, 2015
• This social media post concisely summed up the major points of either side of the controversial telescope issue. The post brought attention to the reasons the native Hawaiian's yearn to keep pure their sacred ground while also explaining the past events which have led the astronomers to believe they are in the complete right for wanting to use the land which was specifically set aside for them. This social media source is helpful because it gives the straight facts behind the controversy and provides an alternative type of source to use as a resource. 
• Chitnis, Rucha, "https://twitter.com/ruchachitnis/status/586287746114785280/photo/1" [Internet], Twitter, April 9th 2015. 
• This picture was posted to social media during the heated debate regarding the TMT telescope. It depicts young children project their communities anger at the astronomers' building on their sacred land that they have always considered theirs. It is a very useful and effective source because rather than just explaining and discussing what is going on it shows first hand what the native Hawaiian's are feeling which drives home the feelings that they are having. I will later on use this article as a good visual depiction of the controversy to show how important it is that it even has young children involved in it. 

After creating annotated bibliography entries for deadline 2 I realized that the MLA style is a better style to use to cite sources in general engineering rather than using the CEP style which is usually used for Chemical engineering. The citation guide for the MLA style is found in our assigned reading book as well here and a sample citation can be found here.  

• Fox, Chloe. "Everything You Need To Know About The Viral Protest Against A Hawaii Telescope." The Huffington Post. n.p., 4/13/15. Web. 9/8/15. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/13/hawaii-telescope-protests-tmt-mauna-kea_n_7044164.html>.
• This source recalls the top twenty most important ideas revolving around the telescope controversy and how each individual fact or movement has affected the entire debate. While providing not only information but also visual depictions of the conflict the article brings to light the extreme tensions being drawn while also explaining how this debate has spread so far. 
• The Associated Press. "Hawaii Supreme Court Case Hears Mauna Kea Telescope Case." The New York Times. n.p., 8/27/15. Web. 9/8/15. <http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/27/us/ap-us-giant-telescope.html>.
• This is the most recent article I was able to find on the internet pertaining to the TMT controversy in Hawaii. This articles specifically discussed the beginning of the trial regarding the telescope, reviewing that opening arguments began in the end of August and the courts already seemed to be favoring the natives due to the unequal balance of the trial. 
• The Editorial Board. "Star-Crossed on a Hawaiian Mountain." The New York Times. n.p., 5/2/15. Web. 9/8/15. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/03/opinion/sunday/star-crossed-on-a-hawaiian-mountaintop.html>.
• This article from The New York Times recalls the incidents which occurred in early may on Mauna Kea. There were a number of arrests made of protestors and the support and backing which the project as a whole had obtained ended up being disrupted due to the massive outcry by the native people. The major point of this article is to emphasize the ability of both the astronomers and natives to coexist simultaneous in harmony.  
• Hofschneider, Anita. "Hawaii Governor Announces Support for Controversial Telescope." The Huffington Post. n.p., 5/26/15. Web. 8/9/15. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/26/governor-ige-thirty-meter-telescope_n_7447234.html>.
• The article indicated above regards the surprising decision for the Hawaii governor to take sides in the telescope controversy within the state. It relays the fact that governor spoke out in support of the native people and their attempt to keep the sacred island more pure. While he tends to lean towards allowing this last telescope to be built it is clear that he believes it should be the last telescope to be built on Mauna Kea. 

Unfortunately I could not locate another blog that uses the same citation style as my own but I was able to find that of another engineer using the IEEE style. Aaron's annotated bibliography was done in this style and it is pretty straight forward.  That being said, I think there are varying levels of difficulty found in different types of citation methods. By looking at his I realized that I may not have done mine completely right, in the general sense, which is something I should work on as we go forward in the course. Gabee's blog post was done in the APSA style. I had never heard of this style before but after reading the example and guide it seemed to make sense. After reading both of the blogs I tried to determine what the right amount of writing in the annotation is and I think that it needs to be concise and to the point but also long enough to emphasis why the writer chose that specific piece of information to use in their writing. I think I need to work on making sure that my citation style is the correct one for my major and then going on to ensure that I input all the information from the article that needs to be in the citation.