Today we watched the video: Argumentation, produced by The Write Course. Post reflections on the video: What you learned and what was clarified about argument that you might have forgotten.
Why is argumentation an important rhetorical tool?
Homework will be to chose a poem from Reed's Men and Women, and state the argument and pull out support: definitions, analogies, testimony and/or consequences to support the argument. Post here.
What does Reed say about this section and why he included it in his anthology? Summarize his reasons and incorporate your example into this summary essay. Three paragraphs is fine.
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Bishwojit Sharma
Professor Wanda saber
English 1B
11 October 2010
Men and women
In the poem named “A Very Valentine” writer, Gertrude Stein, has tried to describe about her valentine. She was born in America but spent her most of the time in France. Men and women are two different sex and they are attracted to each other. They have different ways of thinking and different way of living. Men and women are different naturally but even they are differentiated by society. Men are often free and can do much more things openly in today’s world than women. Most of the place in world its men dominated society. Women are looked down in the society. They are only considered to look after the house and their children. In some places husband don’t even talked to their wife. They just used them to fulfill their sexual desire and cook for them.
But with the changing time and changing thought these types of society is being changed slowly. Nowadays women are also being an important part of society. They are involved in all kinds of work in the society. They are as equal to men. They have proved that they are equal to men and can compete with men in all kinds of work. In this poem writer has tried to explain her valentine. She says her valentine is very faithful to her and he is very nice and trustworthy. As we know in today’s world to find a true love is very difficult. Everyone cheat with their love. They are not committed toward their relationship. They just enjoy their life and don’t care about other. But in the poem she says her valentine is very nice and fine. He is committed towards her and she likes her a lot. From this we can guess that men and women has different place in the society but still important to each other.
Ahu Yildirim
Prof. Wanda Sabir
English 1B
7 October 2010
Reed’s Poems Men &Women
I chose Tupack Shakur’s poem for women from Reed’s selection in Men & Women. Shakur’s words have power in his poem. Even though he is a male, he carries strong affection and empathy towards to women. His speech to men has anger in it. He argues that what is wrong with men, why men must act unfaithfully when their women’s heart is true for them. He defines what man heart is all about. To explain this, he tells about the man heart “It doesn’t really have a brain, besides keeping u alive, its existence is in vain” (95).
He questions how man can be that mean to a woman, if her heart is true for him. His tone has full of despair and anger in it. In according to make his words effective, he challenges men and pushes them to realize their old relationships. To prove his point, he asks them to think about who they were in their old relationships, he tells men “think awhile about the hearts that u have broken, and broken promises u’ve spoken” (95).
In his conclusion of his poem from his perspective of view, he explains women are not perfect either but men are usually dishonest when it comes to relationship. To explain this, he states that “I am not saying females R perfect, because men we know it’s not true” (95). His paradox still continues at the end. He still mad and confused to men’s behavior of dishonesty and cruelty to their true honest women.
Why Must U Be Unfaithful (4 Women)
Men!
U shouldn’t listen 2 your selfish heart
It doesn’t really have a brain
Besides keeping u alive
Its existence is in vain
“How could I be so mean,
and say your heart no place?”
Because mortal men fall in love again
as fast as they can change their face
I may be cruel, but think awhile about
The hearts that u have broken
Match that with the empty vows
And broken promises u’ve spoken
I am not saying females R perfect
Because man we know it’s not true
But why must be unfaithful
If her heart is true 2 u!!!! (95).
Works Cited
Shakur, Tupac. “Why Must U Be Unfaithful.” From Totems to Hip Hop. Ed. Ishmael Reed.
Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. 2003. Print.
Ricardo Pedro
Wanda Sabir
English 1B
12 October 2010
The White of your Eyes
In the poem by Alberto Rios entitled “The Purpose of Altar Boys” we are shown a viewpoint on the contrast between a sinful Saturday night and a prayerful, even holy Sunday morning. The perception of this dichotomy of human behavior is given to us by an altar boy. He tells us what we do the night before holy mass: “girls take off their clothes and walk around their bedrooms or jump around their beds or wear only sandals and stand in their windows” (Reed, 86).
The altar boy in this story is the messenger. He is telling us about ourselves. He is commenting on our souls. If the eye is the window to the soul, then he explains what it is that makes up our souls:
the big part of the eye
admits good, and the little
black part is for seeing
evil (Reed, 86)
Our souls are a dichotomy of good and evil and we tend to be good in the day and bad at night. Although this is not always the case, it is also true that our eyes always have a white part and a black part. As a result, despite the black part of our eyes getting smaller in the daylight, we still have the capacity of evil acts. The eye is the symbol of how good and evil interact on our soul. Like the bright white light of God shining on the darkness of our souls, the sunlight of the dya bears down and decreases our black part of the eye.
Ishmael Reed explains in the introduction to the section entitled “Men and Women” that he is a fan of controversy. He likes to inspire debate. Reed also likes to emphasize the opinion and viewpoints of empowered women. Therefore we see a more balanced standpoint between male and female attitudes concerning romance and love. Reed has included this poem because there is a description of girls behaving freely with their sexuality.
Works cited:
Reed, Ishmael. From Totems to Hip-Hop. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2003.
Ricardo Pedro
Wanda Sabir
English 1B
12 October 2010
Comment on Argumentation Video
What I got out of the video was the importance of rhetoric in an argument. Rhetoric is basically a psychological form of persuasion. The emphasis therefore is to use language in a convincing way to attract support for your argument.
Ahu Yildirim
Prof. Sabir
English 1B
06 October 2010
Reflection on Argumentation Video & Why is argumentation an important rhetorical tool?
Argumentation is an important rhetorical tool in order to make the essay persuasive and effective for the reader. Today in class we watched a video about argument essay. In according to write well written argument essay, I understand better that argument essay must contain certain elements such as two conflicting points of view or very different conclusions. A strong thesis statement is not enough. The art of argumentation is not an easy skill to write, I need an outline. I will need to discuss the issue in depth so that your reader will understand the problem fully. I need to state what my position is in my thesis sentence clearly. My argument must be backed up by data that persuades readers that the opinion is valid. This data consists of facts, statistics, a testimony of others through personal interviews and questionnaires or through articles and books, and examples. A reasonable tone is very important. By anticipating objections and making concessions, I can inspire confidence and show my good will to the reader. One of my first objectives in my essay must be to present both sides of my issue with an assessment of each. Of course, at the end i will conclude that one side (my side) is the best conclusion. The video was quite helpful.
Cory Hollamon
Professor Sabir
English 1b
14October 2010
I chose the poem I lived in the first century talks about the narrator living during the war and how the community was at that time. It was sad that when the war was going on newspapers that were delivered had careless stories, The news were interrupted by advertisement commercials, and the narrators main focus was to construct peace with each other. During the war I believe that is one of the most valuable things you can do is to come together with your community and everyone around you. The narrator begins his second paragraph saying, ‘” As the lights darkened, as the lights of night brightened, we would try to imagine them, try to find each other.” That’s very important because usually when it gets dark that’s when everything goes bad so for the community to stick together when its dark out shows that community is very strong. the moral to this poem is how the community stuck together during the war. Also the poem talks about how the narrator’s days were during the war.
Senay Ghidei
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
14 October 2010
From Totems to Hip Hop
Men, you shouldn't listen to your selfish heart
It doesn't really have a brain
Besides keepin you alive, it's existence is in vain
And how could I be so mean, and say your heart has no place?
Because mortal men fall in love again
as fast as they change their face
I may be cruel, but think awhile about the hearts that you have broken
and match that, with the empty vows and broken promises you've spoken
Now I'm not saying females are perfect
cause we know, it's not true
But why must you be unfaithful
if her heart is true 2 you!!!
In this poem, Tupac blames men for focusing on feelings rather than understanding the concept. He criticizes men for focusing too much on the term being a “player”. He also sympathizes with their feelings and emotions.
Tupac also claims that men fall in love very fast and are able to forget their passion for women as well. He says that it is easier for men to move on than women. He tries to help men understand that many women have had hard times dealing with them.
At last Tupac finishes his thoughts by recognizing women as imperfect as everyone; he continues giving men advice that women should be admired and cherished. He ends his thoughts by stating that being honest is for yourself and should be practiced at all times.
Sha'Quea Pratt
Professor Sabir
English 1B
7 October 2010
Response to Argumentation Video
Today we watched the argumentation video. I watched this video last year and still got something out of it. I was reminded to always persuade my argument and not to force it upon my readers by putting my opinion into my writing.
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