week 10: Question 3

3). Pick one concept from throughout the semester that you feel can use further discussion

One of the concepts that I think that can use further discussion is more of the paper writing topics. I think that before we had wrote the papers we could have got to learn more about the topics in detail rather then just getting thrown into writing and learning on our own. I think the topics were also very vague which made it hard to learn. One of the things that could of used more detail was what we were learning in the book could get explained more then just placing it into a blog post but using what we learned more into our paper writing because I feel like when It came down to it, they were 2 separate things. For me personally I learned the most from the paper writing rather then the blog post so I think using the material from the book and using the skills within the group papers would have been more useful to me. But overall I think this course was extremely useful and I learned a lot and I’m very pleased with the outcome. I would recommend others to take this course as it is going to help me along my educational path.

Week 10: Question 2

2). What was your favorite thing about the class?  What was your least favorite thing about the class?  How can this class be improved?  Again, be specific.

My favorite part of the class was the ability to summit the work via blogger. Com. I think it is important that as students we take advantage of the new ways of communication as the internet world is growing larger. I liked that we had to make our post in time increments because it helps the fact of procrastination. I think this is a problem that most students face and it helped me from getting back into the habits because in this course didn’t allow me to. I enjoyed that. One of the things that I didn’t prefer was the group work. But I don’t think that would be able to get changed since this course is based on group work. But in the long scheme of thing it helped me become a much better student because it taught me the skills to work with others in a professional way. I think one of the things that can be fixed it switching up the groups. I think it would have been nice to work with another group of students on the second paper. But I think over all keeping the groups worked well but I think changing them would have been a little better.

Week 10: Question 1

1). What have you learned in this class over the course of the semester?  Be specific.

One of the most important things that I learned in this class this summer would have to be that I learned to work with others. This is something that has always been challenging to me. I’m such a control freak and I always want to be the one who is doing everything on my own and within this course I was not able to do so. That was something hard for me to let go of. But with the group papers I was able to let go (since I had to) and relay on others. I think that is important skill to know since I’m getting into my major classes and I’m most likely going to have to do group work. It has been a hardship to let go but in the long run I know it is has helped me to develop better critical thinking skills as well as working along side with others.

Week 9: Disscussion Question 3

3). Gather a group of folks (no less than 4 other people) and discuss either the first or second assignment in detail.  Present your paper, and find out their opinion.  See if you can pick out any flaws in your groups reasoning and arguments.  Discuss the group activity in your post, summarizing what the folks noticed.  (The group of folks can be comprised of family, friends, acquaintances, etc....).

I gathered in a group of at my work. I asked 4 of the other interns that I work with to talk and read over my papers from my first two assignments in the class. Since they were group work I had to base my judgment from a group effort instead of an individual level. When the group read through the 2 different papers one of the common factors that they noticed was they the level of witting had improved from the first paper to the 2^nd paper. Which was nice to hear because the class is based on improvement and learning from common made mistakes. One of the other things that the interns noticed about the two different writings was it wasn’t mixed well with each others styles. That was something my group tired to work on and fix but I guess that is something that can always be improved. The group also came to a understanding that they thought both papers would receive a good grade but if our group spent more time would could of done a lot better. But overall we stuck to the prompt and we did what was asked. At the end of the talk I found it to be interesting that I asked others to read my paper. Through out it all I had mixed feelings but towards the end I enjoyed listening to what others had to say about my work. I liked this exercise a lot!

Week 9 Disscussion Question 2

When I first clicked on the web page about mission critical I was lost and confused on what I was supposed to be reading and learning about it. But part of learning how to critically think is learning on my own. Which made me go through all of the links that were listed on the web page and read them all. When I was reading through them it looked like it was a lot of information that I already learned about prior in the class. So it made this experience more like a review session then anything else. I found it useful to go over all of the material that we already covered in class and relearn everything all over again. One of the topics that I think was useful to read over again was the material that we learned in week 1 and 2 of comm. 41. The terms that we learned in week 1 and 2 were Statements and Conversions and Statements of Ambiguity. I forgot some of the definitions and rules that go along with these parts of arguments. This was extremely useful when it comes to reviewing for the final.

2). what was useful about the Mission Critical website?

Week 9 Disscussion Question 1

1). What was useful about the Cause and Effect website reading and exercises?

I think some of the most helpful things that I learned for the cause and effect website exercises was that not matter what the effect is there is always going to be a cause. That when they gave me the question about that happened to the employees at the picnic no matter what the cause was they had a different cause. I think that is essential to know this. These are types of things that happen in everyday life. For example when I clicked answer c – all of the employees ate the same potato salad which causes them all to leave the picnic early meaning while they eat different amounts of the potato salad they all got sick and left early. If I also clicked B- they all still ate the potato salad and got sick and left early. I learned that no matter what if you have a effect you must have a cause and if you have a cause you have a effect. They are always together.

Week 8: Disscussion Question 3

3). Pick one concept from either Chapter 13 or Chapter 15,  not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

One of the topics that I found useful was in Chapter 13: numbers? In section C Averages. One of the concepts that I always seem to relate back to math is the medium and mode of something. Medium is something is that is the midway mark of a plot of number and or letters. The mode of something is that the most that is most offended used. What I have always been taught it is the number or letter that is the used the most with a plot of information.  I never thought this could be used in there of communication. In the book it talks about how we all use the medium and mode as a way of measuring which is important in our reasoning. We can use both sides of this to determine comparisons in a way that the data will be perceived clearly. The fact in the reading that I was the most interesting was with in finding the medium and mode of something numbers are used more frequently then letters.

Week 8: Discussion Question 2

2). Discuss the usefulness of the first or second major course assignment.  Please use specific examples in your discussion.

The first Major course assignment was useful in the fact that it helped me learn how to work with other without having to actually meet in person. I learned for the first time to work with others in real time. Working with others through e-mail is challenging when others don’t reply right away but it taught me to have patience and to have understanding. Learning to work with others in an environment where your grade depends on others was a hard challenge for me to overcome. Personally I like to do everything myself so having to work with people is hard for me. But from the first assignment I was able to learn to relay and trust in my group mates that the paper assignment would get completed and turned in on time. This is something that I learned and it’s something that I’m continuing to work on everyday.

Week 8: Disscussion Question 1

One of the concepts from chapter 13 that I found useful was on graphs. Whenever I think of graphs or anything along this line I automatically consider it along side with math or business sense. But I would never have guessed that it would be used in a communication form. That was something I learned a lot about. One of the things that the book mentioned about graphs was it helps make comparisons easier to understand. One of the examples it talks about how graphs help clear harder topics were about private vs. public universities. When I saw the visual example I was able to understand what the financial differences were more clearly.  There are also many different types of graphs that many can use. There are bar graphs, Line graphs and scatter plot graphs. Thus, making all types of comparisons with numerical topics easier to understand and learn from. Graphs are a essential part to communication because if we can’t easily understand the data then we won’t be able to communicate the final outcome from the graph. For example one of the ways that I can apply graphs to my daily life is how much fittness I place into my daily life. Everyday I can graph the amount I get and from the graph I can see the over all outcome of much fittness I have gotten within a span of a week and or month.

1). Discuss one concept from Chapter 13 that you found useful.  Please explain the concept and give a persona example or personal story.  In other words, please apply the concept to everyday life and everyday argumentation.

Week 7: Discussion Question 3

3). Pick one concept from Chapter 12, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

One of the many concepts that I learned about this week that wasn’t already discussed was judging analogies. Judging analogies is when you are agree and only saying one side of the analogies is  right and the other is to vague and its easy to use as a premise.

One of the examples that I was able to understand fully was example 3 in the book. When it talked about same sex marriage. That is this becomes legal then we are ruining the importance of marriage. But the Judging analogies says that we could easily say the same thing about divorce.  That makes sense that the Judging analogies is to vague on point and that other is easily used as a premise. This is a perfect example of something that is controversial and talked about a lot but on the other hand it’s a point that could be made to vague.  

Week 7: Discussion Question 2

2). Pertaining to page 195, complete objective 1, 2, 3, 6 OR 7.  (Choose only one to complete).

Today’s assignment was to complete one of the objectives on page 195. The one I picked was objective 3. This objective talked about finding an argument that can appeal to fear.

One of the advertisements that I found was “Living in a social world-Tropicana"

That living in a social world means we are faced with hard things that come into our lives. Of the main ways, that strikes fear in most peoples life is cancer. Cancer is something that a lot of people are faced with and it strikes fear in the loved one around them. One of the most common cancer is skin cancer, this strikes fear in the people they are close with because it shows them they need to be careful. In such ways they should be wearing sun block. One of the mainstream companies who use this means of advertising is Tropicana.

The sunscreen manufactures love using skin cancer as there means of advertising because it will get people to buy and use there product because they are afraid of getting skin cancer like there loved one has.

Week 7: Disscussion Questin 1

1). Discuss the idea of Appeal to Emotion.  There are different aspects of Appeal to Emotion; which type of Appeal to Emotion strikes you and why?

The appeal of emotion appeals to me through many different outlets and I was able to learn more about it in this weeks reading. Its when you believe in something and you agree with a certain type of argument because of the way you feel about something. The many different types of appeal are based the appeal to pity, the appeal to fear and finally the appeal to spite. In my case I think I reflect more to the appeal to fear. I normally let fear take over my life. I think it is interesting that mainly politicians and advertisers use this appeal since I wouldn’t think they would want to strike fear in the people there communicating with. But it also brings up many different interesting aspect to this point that it can help with the over all manipulation.

This shows me that I use emotion on a daily bases whether I know it or not and it can be based on judgment on if I agree with what is being discussed.  In such matters as advertisers, it proteins’ to if I wan to believe in what they are selling.  

wekk 6: Discussion Question 3

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading this week, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

One of the concepts that I read about this week in Chapter 8 talked about the direct way of reasoning. There is a certain process to the direct way of reasoning. That some of the arguments can over look different types of possibilities. One of the different types of possibilities that is talked about was arguing backwards which means that you can take back everything that you have previously stated before. This can happened when one of the two areas overlap another and it can also happen when they do not over lap and also have nothing in common.

I think this is important with any type of argument or debate. It is important to always think  critically and with that you need to make sure that the over argument has something in common and that it does not over look any argument or the statement can argue backwards as well.

week 6: Disscussion Question 2

2). Discuss one concept from the readings:  Truth Tables or  Aristotelian Logic that you found useful.  Please explain the concept and give a personal example or personal story.  In other words, please apply the concept to everyday life and everyday argumentation.

When I was reading the Truth Tables, in the Epstein book,” Critical Thinking”. I found a lot of the material to be really useful in everyday life. One of the concepts that stood out to me was the truth-value of a compound claim. In this type of claim they use the words, “or”, “and”, “not” and “if”. The claim is that each person uses these words constantly throughout the day. That is we uses these words together then we can create multiple truth word claims.

I found this to be really interesting because I would of never of thought to put the words together and then that would be able to make the truth claims.  That it contains a formula to place the words together. Since A->B  but B->A this is something that I knew nothing about. 

I think we can use these skills that are taught within this reading to be more aware of what words we chose to use when we either write or speak. I think it is important especially in today’s society to watch what we say since its easy to pick up the “slang type lingo”.

Disscussion Question 1: week 6

Discuss one question:
 Concept from Chapter 8 that you found useful.  Please explain the concept and give a personal example or personal story.  In other words, please apply the concept to everyday life and everyday argumentation.

When I was reading in chapter 8 One of the concepts I cam about was in the General claim section. In that section it talked about what using the words, “All” and “some” meant. I found it interesting when I was reading because when you say, “All” its saying every single one. But when you use the word “some” it means no all but at least one person.

In today’s society we seem to use some what of a sling lingo… so when “some” people.. Like me for example now use the word “some” I wasn’t meaning one person I was classifying a entire group of people. So I need to learn to be more aware and couscous of this type of speaking and or writing.

Week 4: Disscussion Question 3

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading this week, not already discussed, that you found useful or interesting and discuss it

When reading the in the Epstein book I found many concepts to be useful in everyday life. One of the concepts that I found to be useful for myself was when the author talked about raising objections in chapter 7. I think for most students taking this course this is an important concept to know and something that we as students should be a aware of. One of the suggestions that the author makes was to be aware of not being irrational. It is important to be open to all arguments. One of the other suggestions that the author makes is when making critical decisions, the writer should be able to raise conclusion that might be false. This shows that you are open and able to raise objection to make sure the point being made

Week 4: Dissussion Question 2

2). Discuss one concept from Chapter 7 that you found useful.  Please explain the concept and give a personal example or personal story.  In other words, please apply the concept to everyday life and everyday argumentation.

When I was reading in chapter 7 I was able to learn more about critical thinking and what it takes be a valid thinker. One of the concepts that I have never heard of was reducing to the absurd. When I first glanced at this concept I was slightly confused but I kept reading through the examples and it soon began to become clearer. Basically it means a reduction to an absurdity. Or when it shows several claims that are false and unacceptable in which the writing or reader would have an unwanted and false conclusion. In society I believe this happens quite often when making an argument to avoid reducing to the absurd make sure to have a really strong and valid argument. Thus, in school we all take a debate class and to make sure that reducing to the absurd we should make sure to do our research and the point we make is valid and strong that the audience would persuaded to believe.

Week 4: Disscussion Question 1

1). Discuss one concept from Chapter 6 that you found useful.  Please explain the concept and give a personal example or personal story.  In other words, please apply the concept to everyday life and everyday argumentation.

One of the concepts that I found interesting in Chapter 6 was the concept that was based on False Dilemmas. When I was reading in chapter 6 I learned a lot more about False Dilemmas then I ever knew before. One of the most crucial parts I learned about was that it is always based on doubt. I think that is something is easy to forget and we as students do that. When we are writing we need to make sure we are stating something that is not doubtful. In everyday life we all get caught up on what is the newest and latest form of drama within society. But instead of making sure it is correct we could simply just take other words and believe it. But in all reality it was false and it was based on something doubtful and not accurate. Thus it is important for everyone to be aware of False dilemmas and stray away from them whether you are making a critical decision or if it was in your own personal writings.

Week 3: Discussion Question 3

Question 3

When I was reading in chapter 4 in the Epstein book, “Critical Thinking”. Relevance was one of the many topics that helped me learn something new this week and I want to share what I learned with you,

What is Relevance?
Relevance is describes how pertinent, connected, or applicable something is to a given matter.
Thus, meaning when something is being compared to something how understood and correct it is. This is important because the solution of any problem requires the prior identification of the relevant solution can be constructed. Overall the meaning is constructed through Pertinence to the matter at hand.

Understanding this simple concept important to this process of making and understanding critical decisions because it helps us become more aware of the hardships that our in our planet and animal life as well as our atmosphere.

For example: when we recycle or use eco friendly products such as plastic wear that we use to eat. We have relevance to our earths call to stop pollution and help save our planet from trash and other harmful products that we humans produce. Being aware and concerns about the relevance to our planet is something that most people overlook. But if we start being more concerned with these things then others will soon begin to join the bandwagon and start helping save the planet. 

Week 3: Disscussion Question 2

Question 2:

Concerning Section C in Chapter 5, Advertising on the Internet.  The advertisement that I found on the internet was for the Apple products. I think the Apple Company does a really good job at grabbing the audience and making the ads fun and exciting for the audience.

The advertisement that I found on-line is for the Apple I pod. The link for the advertisement is listed below.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.photoshopstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/advertisement_poster_33.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.photoshopstar.com/graphics/professional-advertisement-poster/&h=313&w=500&sz=32&tbnid=4bnzGrtCFQG94M:&tbnh=75&tbnw=120&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dadvertisement%2Bposters%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=advertisement+posters&hl=en&usg=__6saGprkLgPdS4Uz8jQW6qfBVhvQ=&sa=X&ei=-nYDTun4C4PdiALSwv2TAQ&ved=0CEkQ9QEwAw

When I first found the picture I thought it was really cleaver and creative and it caught my attention. The advertisement has a personal connection to the younger generation. The picture of the advertisement says, “Feel the sound” when I read that I thought it was so cleaver because when using the I pod you don’t just listen to it but you can feel the beat. Not just the generation but the older generation as well has been effect by music with dancing and different forms of art. So this logo affects a wide range of audience. The colors that are shown on the picture are fun and bright colors that would make the viewers excited about the product. The advertisement affected me in a personal way because this is the ad I saw when I got my first Ipod. Thus, making the internet a good source of publication for the advertisement to sell its products.  

Week 3 Discussion Question 1

Based on the reading in the Epstein book, “Critical Thinking” Chapter 11 is based on Fallacies.

Explain the fallacy in your own words in which you read in the text book and then give a real world example that you have heard in the past. 

After reading through the different fallacies the one fallacy that stood out the most to me was false dilemma. I thought false dilemma would be used the most because it easy for readers/ writers to get caught up in a false dilemma.

False Dilemma:  False Dilemma is a logical fallacy in which someone is caught up in a situation in which only two topics are being discussed. Thus, there is going to be a dilemma in which it is not true in fact it is false.

Example of a False Dilemma:
When you are comparing two different schools and how much the tuition is at each particular school. One may say that San Jose State University and Harvard cost the same amount for tuition. But in reality Harvard is more expensive then San Jose State University. This is a proven fact. Meaning the speaker/ writer had a False Dilemma.

Week 2:Discussion Question 3

One concept from the assigned reading this week that has not already discussed that I found to be interesting was from Epstein Chapter 11 on Fallacies.

I found it interesting that there are so many different accounts of Fallacies. I learned a lot about what they really are how they affect a writer’s creditability.

One thing I learned about a fallacy is that it is normally incorrect argument or point of reason that comes from others perception and own personal opinion.

I also learned that there are different type of fallacies that range in claims, evidence, reasoning and responding.

 One of the terms I found interesting in the 4 different classifications in fallacies was:

For example of the Fallacies in claims

• Begging the question- Argument in which a speaker uses a premise to imply the truth of the conclusion or asserts that the validity of the conclusion is self-evident; also called circular reasoning

 For example fallacies in evidence

• Ad populum fallacy- argument in which a speaker appeals to popular attitudes and emotions without offering evidence to support claims

For example Fallacies in reasoning

• Hasty generalization fallacy- argument in which a speaker draws a conclusion based on too few or inadequate examples

For example Fallacies in responding

• Guilt by association fallacy- argument in which a speaker suggest that something is wrong with another speakers claim with someone the audience finds objectionalable; also called the bad company fallacy

Learning  and reading all about the different types of Fallacies made me want to be more aware of what I am putting and stating into my writing. I want to make sure I don't have anything that can be mistaken as a fallacy.

Week 2: Discussion Question 2

What is the difference between a valid agreement and a strong agreement?

 The definition of a valid argument is something that is always correct and there are no fallacies at in the inference or arrive at some conclusion. If the argument or statement is true then it would be unattainable for the conclusion for it to be false.  Also, a valid argument cannot have true assumption and a false conclusion.

                                                                                           

The definition of a strong argument is when you assume something is always true. It is important when have a strong argument that the facts you are talking about are concrete and factual. To have a strong argument the conclusion should always be correct.

Example of Valid argument: Red, Yellow and blue are always classified as primary colors. There is never any confusion on whether they can or can’t be primary colors. They are always primary colors.

Example of a strong argument: After students graduate from high school they must go to college. Most people think that to get further along in life you must get a college diploma, that is why most people assume is true to get a college degree.

Week 2: Discussion Quesion 1

Discuss what an Objective claim is:
An Objective claim is something that can be proven. It can occur in instances such as a factual matter for example something that is either true or false. It can be proven right or wrong in a matter of fact.

Discuss what a Subjective claim is:
A Subjective claim is something that is not factual and can't be solved using true or false. Instead it’s a based on opinion, or personal preface and what the person’s beliefs are. This is something that can not be proven right or wrong.

Example of an Objective Claim:
Atoms are made of electrons and protons. For example this can taken true or false or right or wrong using our modern day science theories and technologies

Example of a Subjective Claim:
Facebook would be valued at 100 million dollars if it were to go public- This is something that is based on everyone’s person opinion, belief and personal preference.

Week 1: Bio

Hi my name is Allyson McKinney.

Most people normally call me Ally.

I’m a junior at San Jose State University where I’m currently studying Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management. I hope to have a future in event planning. I have a passion for working with children and traveling. So my ultimate goal would be an event planner on a cruise ship that either works in the child care department or as a cruise director who plan events for the people who are aboard the ship. At San Jose State University I’m part Delta Zeta Sorority where I’m able to enrich myself with experience in leadership, philanthropy and event planning tools that will lead to me to my aspirations of being an event planner. Personally I enjoy spending time with friends and family and my new Dalmatian; Oreo Speedwagon. I’m very adventurous and I like to try new things so being part of Delta Zeta I’m able to try new things all of the time. My favorite color is pink and my lucky number is 11. In my free time I take pleasure in shopping, taking pictures, chatting with friends and meeting new people.

My communication studies have consisted of Comm 20: Public Speaking. So far within my studies that is the only communication class I have taken. My future goals for this class is to become a stronger, more critical thinker and writer.I hope to gain knowledge from this class that I will be able to use to further along my educational experience. I hope to learn not just educational skills but life skills as well that will take me further along in life.


I can't wait to get to know and work with all of you!


-Allyson