MIDDLE EAST HOMEWORK – DUE MAY 8TH – SYRIA AND THE CIVIL WAR
Read this article from Canada – it explains the basics of what has happened in Syria (FEEL FREE TO LOOK UP OTHER SOURCES IF YOU NEED MORE BACKGROUND – BUT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE OF YOUR HAVING READ THESE AND WATCHED THE ENTIRE VIDEO.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/from-spray-paint-to-civil-war-syria-explained-in-5-questions-1.1237292
Then read this –
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21572198-sectarian-divisions-deepen-war-changing-country-beyond-recognition-country
Then watch this Frontline video – it is 53 minutes long. Be aware that some of the scenes are very hard to watch. War is violent.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/syria-behind-the-lines/
Write a one page minimum essay answering these questions. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED IN ALL THREE SOURCES AND OFTEN TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES IN THE VIDEO. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU READ THROUGH THE QUESTIONS AND THEN READ THE ARTICLES AND THEN WATCH THE VIDEO.
All the same rules apply to this assignment as did to the previous ones – title, minimum one page, font, etc.
1. Who is Hafez al Assad, how did he come to power and how did he run the country?(nice, kind or what?)Who is Bashar al Assad and how did he come to power and how did he run the country?(nice, kind or what?) What changes did he try to make in Syria – did it work? Then what happened?
2. What was the starting point of the civil war? How has Syria changed since the civil war?
3. Who are the majority population of Syria and who are the minority? What makes them “different”? Are they the only ones involved in the war (who else lives in this country?). Who sides with whom? (opposition/rebels versus regime soldiers)
4. Why is one group so afraid of the other? What do Alawites think will happen to them if the rebels win?
5. What does the regime (Assad and “current” government) tell their people about who the opposition are, you should answer this by referring to the main characters in the documentary – what are their thoughts about the situation. Ahmad (in the Rebel free Syrian Army), the young man in the high school – what is their motto?, Mohammed the Alawite militia man, what is he and other Alawites convinced of as far as his Sunni neighbors and what they are planning to do? Which foreigners do they think are fighting against them?
6. What happened to the Sunni farmer – what is the problem for many farmers?
7. Early on in the documentary there is a poster on the wall of Assad on the Regime side of the river. What does it say – do you see similar ideology throughout the video?
8. How many dead, how many refugees, what happens to Ahmed, what does his mom say she will do?
All Aboard
Armeen Ali
1
My topic is about CTA and its lack of funding, I picked the topic because I thought it was something I could relate to, and I tend to write better papers when I feel connected with the issue. I stuck with this topic right from the start.
2
The general structure follows the guidelines of intro-conclusion.
Introduction- Opening statement, a little timeline look at the cost of CTA, and the Present pending Doomsday Intro
Narration: Transition from Doomsday intro with a more detailed look, statistics, and the update to date current day situation.
Partition: Questioning along with the facts, and guide into the what the rest of the paper should be.
Argument: Thesis claim, saying that better organization and budget planning what it could do.
Refutation: Providing CTA’s argument and claims to prove them wrong, such as unnecessary renovation.
Conclusion: Pulling together my claims, restating my thesis, and some thought provoking questions.
3
The major arguments to support my thesis are:
A). The amount being spend on renovation alone could fill the gap and still have half the budget left
B) How even though Chicago is 2nd largest transportation mode, and one the highest tax charging cities, doing quite poorly.
C) Money embellishment possible, specially after George Ryan.
Refutation: CTA’s major arguments
A) CTA does not receive adequate funding
B) Cuts are necessary because $266 million was short this year in funding
4
The most useful sources for me was, the Chicago tribunes, CTA to hit riders hard if no deal is reached by Jon Hilkevitch, because it really provided me with a lot of background information that I needed to make claims. Also the ABC 7, team coverage article- CTA ‘doomsday’ delayed, because it was helpful in providing me quotes to use in my story, and it had a lot of good information like personal stories and statistics.
The sources that have been the least helpful would have to be the article, Records: CTA Money is Loss for Other Projects, because this one I found a overlap of the many article I already had.
5
If I could anything differently I would try making this a stronger paper, with more evidence and organization.
6
The most important thing I learned about my topic was that there was a lot of layers to find.
For my research paper the most interesting thing was how after so many problems that arose, I just ended up smirking or putting it off after a certain point. It finally took a deadline to make get going.
7
Time line
Topic Selection and Proposal 1-2 Days
Single Source Summary & Analysis 1 day
Annotated Bibliography 2-3 days
Formal Outline 3 days (very long hours 5-7 hours)
Final Paper 1st draft- 7 days
After crash- Month and a half.
Total paper hours – 30
Presentation 1 Day
8
Dangers of Cell Phones on Children
By: Ruqia Hussaini
Choosing My Topic
I decided to write on the dangers of cell phones on kids because it related to my second summary-response essay which also highlighted children.
Throughout the researching process my topic never changed because I found a lot of information on it and it was something intriguing for me to research.
My Thesis
I believe that cellular phones are dangerous for children. They pose as distractions in school, while learning to drive and can lead to brain cancers and tumors. Children should be given limited usage rights toward them.
I chose this particular thesis because the subject of children is too broad and I wanted to narrow it down.
I know a lot of people who have children so I wanted to do research on this particular thesis for them.
As a result, once I began working on my thesis, it never changed.
My Overall Structure
Introduction:
Many people don’t know how bad cell phones are for children. They are given to children as a form of convince but their short and long term affects can be disastrous
For example, the Gilroy Unified School Board District is thinking of banning cell phones on school premises because children simply don’t need them. If a phone call needs to be made they can go to any office and use the phone. Many board members feel that cell phones pose as distractions and a right of passage in schools.
My Overall Structure Cont’d
Narration
Mention cell phone misconduct in classrooms.
Problems with young drivers using cell phones.
What are the statistics on young cell phone drivers?
What are negative health issues of using cell phones?
What are the misconceptions people have about cell phones?
My Overall Structure Cont’d
Partition
Children need to avoid using cell phones as much as possible because of its
Negative effects it can have on youngsters.
Cell phones usage should be monitored by parents.
Using cell phones should be avoided while teenagers are driving.
My Overall Structure Cont’d
Argument
A reduction in cell phone use would decrease the number of car accidents.
Less cell phone use would mean the lower risk of children getting tumors and brain cancers.
Children would focus more on schoolwork and education rather then their cell phones.
My Overall Structure Cont’d
Refutation
Not all cell phones emit high radiation.
Cell phones give less radiation compared to x-ray machines.
Only a small number of care accidents occur because of drivers using cell phones while driving.
My Overall Structure Cont’d
Conclusion
Cell phone use should be restricted while children with learner’s permits are driving.
School officials to make policies to ban cell phones in classrooms.
Children should use ear pieces when speaking on the phone rather then putting the phone antenna towards the ear which increases the amount of radiation given off into the brain.
Major Arguments Supporting My Thesis
Cell phones are dangerous on kids because too much radiation can penetrate from the antenna and into their brains because their heads have not completely formed a hard barrier yet. As a result they are more vulnerable to getting a brain tumor or cancer.
Most schools have a phone in every room so cell phones aren’t necessary. Instead they are a distraction and are being used as a means of cheating or doing inappropriate things with it, like taking pictures of people the locker rooms.
Children using cell phones while learning to drive with learners permits are causing many accidents. Children need to learn to drive with out speaking on phones which can be a major distraction which is very unsafe.
Conquering Opposing Arguments
Opposing Side
Believes that cell phones don’t carry as much radiation as X-rays
Not all students abuse the privacy of others with taking inappropriate pictures or taking pictures of exams and using it as a means of cheating.
“4% of deaths occur due to overexposure from radiation from cell phone lighting alone” (Gorsuch, 1).
Not many deaths occur from kids with learners permits driving and using their cell phones.
My Argument
They carry enough radiation to give a child a brain cancer, tumor, as long term affects.
However, short term affects that are seen right away include: headaches, memory loss, and sleeping disorders.
Enough students have abused their privilege to using cell phones and as a result many middle and high schools have already banned them.
“I think that driving with a cell phone to your ear sometimes can be as hazardous as driving while your drunk. The phone can be as mind-altering as alcohol” (Reiter1).
Sources With Evidence
Helpful
The Time Magazine article was helpful because it focused on the bad affects of children using cell phones. It had professional opinions from Medical Journals.
I realized that magazines, newspapers, and medical related sited had the most info, every other site was not as thorough.
Articles that I got from the CNN and WebMD websites were also very helpful. They were very formative and provided a lot of facts with support from creditable Doctors and people in the Medial community.
Not Helpful
Opinions written by normal Joes or reporters from internet sites who did research wasn’t as thorough and detailed as I would have liked.
These sources included a lot of repetition and at times were vague and discussed many things ambiguously like the medical causes of children using cell phones.
An example of these sources would be:
Loyola College-Maryland University Wire
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
What I Would Do Differently…If I Had To do It All Over Again
Look at newspapers and magazines foremost
Begin looking for sources sooner
Find more side affects of cell phones on kids both for long term and short term affects
Do it all in one sitting, so I don’t forget anything
I would try to find more sources that clearly dealt my subject from more reliable opinions like police officers, principals, concerned parents.
I would look at legal documents to see what the statistics are of people getting cancers and brain tumors and actually taking their cases to court.
What Important/Interesting Thing Did I learn
In my topic
I learned how much radiation is emitted from cell phones for not just kids but adults as well.
I learned that there is enough cell phone radiation to alter ones DNA if used too much.
I learned that there are many side affects for children using cell phones and yet marketing agencies keep promoting cell phones to kids to grab their attention.
In doing a research paper
I learned that it is imperative to start early and not procrastinate till the end to do everything.
I learned that the most reliable sources are the ones from newspapers and magazines. These sources tended to also have the most important information that I needed.
I learned what microfilm is and how to look at it, even though it took a lot of time.
Time Table
# Assignment Days/Weeks Time to Complete Assignment
1 Topic Selection & Proposal 2 days 2 hrs
2 Single Source Summary & Analysis 1 day 3. 5 hrs
3 Annotated Bibliography 2 days 6 hrs
4 Formal Outline 1 day 2hrs
5 Written Presentation 3 day 6hrs
6 Rough Draft 4 days 8hrs
7 Final Draft 3 days 6hrs.
The End
Research Paper Presentation
Jennifer L. Spade
English 102
May 5, 2004
Topic & Thesis Selection
Topic: Federal Reserve Board rate action.
Topic Selected: March 31, 2004; political & educational interests; no change.
Thesis: The Fed Reserve Board should wait to increase bank rates until we see a sustainable job growth above 200,000 for a 6-month composite plus other strong economic indicators.
Thesis Selected: April 7, 2004; political & economic interests; no change.
Research Paper Structure
Introduction: Fed rates, from Wall St. to Main St.
Narration: job growth & inflation = rate increases.
Partition: March job growth could be a “false start,” we need to wait for sustainable numbers.
Argument: prior Fed actions had real job growth & inflation; not there yet.
Refutation: sharp rises in rates due to quick rise in inflation; no due to low wages & high productivity.
Conclusion: Fed has time to wait for real jobs #’s.
Major Arguments
Raising rates prematurely could derail the economy
Stunt job recovery
Reduce capital investment & hiring
Cool the red-hot housing market
Slow consumer spending, thereby reducing GDP
Negatively impact emerging (global) economies
Decreased consumer confidence
Inflation is still low – Fed has time to wait (August)?
Major Opposing Arguments
Economic indicators strong; jobs & retail sales but inflation is rising, act now with minor increases
Response: March job growth could be a “false start.” Waiting a few months to make certain will provide solid evidence of the health of the U.S. economy.
Waiting too long could cause sharp rate increases – lessons from past (1994)
7 fed fund rate increases in 12 months (3% to 6%)
Too aggressive; crushed financial markets
Response: we don’t want to repeat actions taken in 1994, but the economic conditions are not comparable — productivity is strong, and wages are flat — both requiring time to adjust.
Source Analysis
Most Helpful
BusinessWeek
Associated Press
Fed Chair testimony: 5/4
April jobs report – to be released 5/7 – crucial
Least Helpful
Older publications
Books
Research Lessons Learned
Select a topic not as fluid as Fed rate actions; daily assessments of data can invalidate claim
Survey consumers for personal impact of claim
Began draft sooner
Interesting Discoveries
In researching the economic conditions and the Fed actions, I feel confident in my understanding of the subject matter and challenges faced by Greenspan and Fed policymakers when trying to keep the U.S. economy in balance.
Using a systematic approach to writing a research paper decreased the likelihood of me being overwhelmed and increased my chances of finishing it.
Research Timeline
Sheet1
Assignment Hours Days
1 Topic Selection and Proposal 2 2
2 Single Source Summary & Analysis 3 1
3 Annotated Bibliography 13 14
4 Formal Outline 7 3
5 Presentation 4 2
6 Rough Draft(s) Pending Pending
7 Final Draft Pending Pending
Sheet2
Sheet3
When Fed Chair Alan Greenspan speaks, we listen!
Good news for now, no change in Fed rates.
?
AssignmentHoursDays
1Topic Selection and Proposal 22
2Single Source Summary & Analysis31
3Annotated Bibliography 1314
4Formal Outline73
5Presentation42
6Rough Draft(s)PendingPending
7Final DraftPendingPending
