Video starts out with brief background on what the video is about.
Video is about the dangers of texting and driving and a family's experience with the action.
video starts with emotional music and a highway of cars.
They interview the policeman that arrived on the scene. He describes the setting and what he saw when he got to the scene.
A girl was killed, and the first thing he noticed was her shoes and then that the rest of her clothing was still in the car although her body was on the roadway.
The policeman has trouble speaking to the camera when recalling the incident. This appeals to pathos.
The interview skips to some girls describing who the victim was and what her history with texting was. she texted hundreds of messages a day.
"The Last Text" was "yeah"
Another boy is physically disabled due to his driver who was texting and driving and hit a tree.
The last girl was injured by reading a text message while driving and later died in the hospital.
At the end of the video the policeman says hes come to reports like those before, bu they never get any easier. He asks the question of if reading a text message is more important then your life.
The video displays 3 very emotional and brief stories of people who either died, or are now disabled as a result of somebody using a cell phone while driving. With the use of sad music in the bakcground, closeups on the faces, and pictures of the victims, you cannot help but feel emotional and sorry for these people. The purpose of the video is to demonstrate how dangerous using a cellular device can be while driving and they use strong appeals to pathos to hopefully prevent the audience from participating.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Friday, December 4, 2015
Writers blog post p.269-284 summary
Argument refers to any way that an individual expresses themselves to achieve a purpose in a certain way. The purposes of an argument can be to understand, persuade, explore, inform, convince, to make decisions, and to reach consensus. The role of an argument is important to understand, for example, who is arguing and where are they coming from? This involves giving brief background on the subject and what the purpose is. In order to make a good argument, you need to come up with facts, evidence, anecdotes, etc. to support the claim of your position. Give the audience a hook (why does it matter), a background, and a call to action.
Writers blog post "thinking about your writing" p.70
I recently wrote a position essay on the topic of guns and firearm education. My position was that I believe anybody looking to buy a firearm should first be required to take a firearm safety course and pass the class before obtaining a firearm. The motivations for writing were because of the population of people who were uncomfortable around firearms and people who needed to know how to safely and properly wield a firearm. I stated that if more people were more confident and educated in that subject, then the country could be a more reassured place when it comes to being around guns. I also stated the counterarguments of completely banning guns and refuted it by stating facts about other countries with high populations of gun ownership. And finally, I stated the possible positive effects of firearm safety and how it could improve our society as a whole.
This topic mattered to me because it seems like a lot of people blame fatalities and incidents that happen with firearms on the firearms themselves when really, the thing to blame is the person who was handling the weapon. So if more people were educated on the matter, than maybe more people would be more responsible for their own actions.
This topic mattered to me because it seems like a lot of people blame fatalities and incidents that happen with firearms on the firearms themselves when really, the thing to blame is the person who was handling the weapon. So if more people were educated on the matter, than maybe more people would be more responsible for their own actions.
Writers Blog post "Yes, we can"
The music video of “Yes, we can” demonstrates that as a nation, anything is possible. The use of different people of different cultures represents the “mixing pot” of all the ethnicities and people in America and how although we aren’t all from the same background, we all strive for greatness, justice and equality, and we all have the same general hopes and dreams.
The video uses African Americans, deaf people, people who speak languages other than english in America, etc. They all recite the speech made by president Obama as a demonstration of the unity that it brings forth. This incorporation of more than one singer empowers the meaning of his speech and how the meaning applies to anybody.
The use of words on the screen solidifies the key elements of his speech. “Change” and “hope” appear on the screen when they are said. This makes the words stand out to the viewer in a way that helps them see the main idea. The main idea’s are that hope and change are related to each other at some point in time. In order to have change, you must have hope first, which is what president Obama’s goal was to explain.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Final Position Essay
Matt LaValle
mattlavalle.blogspot.com
mattlavalle.blogspot.com
Firearm Safety for Owners and Potential Owners
“...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (2nd Amendment right- U.S. Constitution), largely influences modern America. Although the Constitution states that this right is not to be limited or undermined, there should be more gun control in certain aspects, such as safety courses and general firearm education. Many people in Washington state are fearful of more strict regulations and requirements before purchasing a gun, and some people are simply unaware of the positive effects of firearm awareness.
Gun control and firearm safety is a very important subject when it comes to purchasing, owning, or just handling a firearm. When it comes to firearms, many liabilities may occur if a firearm is handled improperly due to ignorance, which is why certain gun control laws should be enacted. For example, in Washington state, there are almost no restrictions on purchase, registration, licensing, or permits on firearms with the exception of handguns (a required concealed carry permit, but no prerequisite education class is needed to obtain one). It is extremely easy to purchase and own a gun or concealed carry permit. Although it is a right to the people to bear arms, there should be some requirements at the state level before an individual is to own a firearm. Of these requirements, a firearm safety course is most important.
I have shot and owned a variety of guns in the past seven years and have taken multiple firearm safety courses myself. Going to the shooting range is a regular thing for me and the frequency of seeing other shooters getting scolded by the range masters for unsafe handling seems like far too often of a sight. Almost every time I go to the range, there is always at least one person not paying attention to the direction of their muzzle. And if there is one rule I remember from my hunters safety course, it is that you always keep your barrel pointed in a safe direction.
In my opinion, many “accidental” shootings could be prevented if owners were simply educated about the potentially deadly weapon that they were improperly wielding. For example on February 27, 2015, a 3 year old boy, “. . .died after unintentionally shooting himself in the neck with a gun he found in his house” (Peters). And on March 1, 2015 another boy died after “unintentionally shooting himself with a gun he found stashed under a bed” (Peters). Both incidents could have been avoided through proper knowledge of storing a firearm. Scenarios like these would prevented if the owners themselves had the common sense and knowledge of not storing their weapons in such open places, especially around young curious children, or at least not storing the ammunition in or around the firearm. Some people keep loaded guns at home for protection, but proper storage, such as a safe, can be implemented if the owner is aware of the possible risk factors that come with easily accessible firearms and ammunition. That common sense and knowledge is exactly what a safety course can teach potential and future gun owners. Some may argue that a safety course isn’t going to make a difference and if they do, well then, they are just foolish to believe so.
As of 2006, the number of hunting incidents has declined to under ¼ the original number as a result of the required hunter’s education course to ". . . anyone born on or after January 1, 1972 who intend to buy a Washington hunting license" (WDFW). In the U.S. a total of about 3,800 people were killed by, “. . . unintentional shootings between 2005 and 2010” (Smartgunlaws.org). That number could have been significantly reduced if a safety course was required to every owner and potential buyer for firearms of any type, which is exactly why our country should enact such a law.
An individual may say something along the lines of “guns kill people!” or “simply banning guns completely will prevent all shootings of any kind”. In my opinion, they are mistaken. As a matter of fact, “...a study conducted at Harvard [University] found that the more guns a nation has, the less crime it tends to have” (Snyder). To me, banning guns is a way of making people more vulnerable to becoming victims of criminals because it provokes the fear of getting shot. If a criminal knows that, then he or she is going to have the advantage when it comes to doing what they say. “The places with the highest crime rates are the major cities where strict gun control laws have been passed” (Snyder), and if you believe that police are always going to serve and protect in an environment like that, think again, “...police are so overwhelmed that they have announced that they simply won’t even bother responding to certain kinds of crime anymore” (also Snyder). So if you think a gun ban approach to gun control is going to solve homicide “accidents”, and crime, then you might as well wave a white flag to everyone saying, “Hey, come break into my home and steal all my stuff”. Laws which ban guns will not make the violence and crime go away. For example, crystal meth is extremely illegal in all forms, but methamphetamine continue to be widely used and distributed. In the end, the “bad guys” are going to be the ones who continue to carry and abuse, and the “good guys” who choose to own guns for recreational or safety purposes have the intention to use their guns in a safe and responsible manner. Educating the public will inform the majority of “good” gun owners to use their guns in the most responsible way.
In conclusion, gun control should be enforced in the form of education and awareness of firearms, not fear tactics. My personal proposition would be to exercise safe handling techniques and to require mandatory safety classes to anyone who wishes to purchase a firearm and or a concealed carry permit. The only thing more dangerous than an attacker is an uneducated carrier. Uneducated carriers may improperly handle a firearm in the simplest of ways, such as putting their finger on the trigger whilst picking up the gun, storing the gun in overly accessible places, not wearing proper ear or eye protection, looking down the barrel, not checking if the gun is loaded, not checking the safety, and so many other potentially fatal mistakes. How would you feel if you were in a gun shop and overheard another person talking about possibly buying a gun, but when handed the firearm, their finger goes straight to the trigger without any knowledge of proper handling? It is not only a hazard to oneself, but also others. Therefore, if everybody who bought a firearm went through some kind of basic pistol course, or basic firearms course, the country could be a more confident and safe place to live.
Works Cited
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41 Firearms Sales or Transfers- Background checks- Requirements- Exceptions. Pub. L. RCW 9.41.113. 594 Stat. 4 Nov. 2014. Web.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2015/03/three_children_shot_in_houston_these_weren_t_accidents_they_were_the_result.html Peters, Justin. “Stop Calling Childrens Gun Deaths ‘Accidental’ ”. Slate.com. The Slate Group, 4 Mar. 2015. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/ Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hunting. WDFW. 2015. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/hunting_incidents.html Hunter Education. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hunting. WDFW. 2015. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
http://www.infowars.com/18-little-known-gun-facts-that-prove-that-guns-make-us-safer/ Snyder, Micheal. “American Dream.” INFOWARS, 18 Little Known Gun Facts That Make Us Safer. INFOWARS, 12 Aug. 2013. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-deaths-and-injuries-statistics/ “Statistics On Gun Deaths and Injuries.” Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 16 Nov. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
McAfee, Seamus. “10 GUN SAFETY MISTAKES LEARNED THE HARD WAY.” Wide Open Spaces. WOS Inc, 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
In Class Lab Analyzing an Argument
1. Claim
a.) Many Americans live in poverty but this can be prevented if others were to help
b.) Clearly stated thesis - "There are numerous amounts of reasons as to why people plummet into poverty; but there are also plenty of things America can do to help"
2. Support the writer offers for the claim
a. reasons for poverty include 2/3's experience substance and drug abuse but no professional help to stop. mental illness, financial problems, unemployment. The Reagan foundation cut funding for affordable homes.
b. Facts, statistics, and examples, and reports back up claims
c. i believe all these reasons are valid. mainly people not being able to afford homes and proper rehabilitation care.
3. How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues?
Although the essay provides good backup for the claims made and calls to action, there is not an obvious counterargument seen.
b. there is not a counterargument however there is an acknowledgement to a problem and a response to it as well
d. the arguments are made pretty validly but more elaboration could be included.
4. What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?
the writer uses a popular celebrity to show that the amount of money made by entertainment should be divided into helping society and those who live in poverty this claim is supported by a website that claims a simple way to end homelessness.
b. The claims make it pretty appealing, but a few examples of the solution in progress would help to support the position.
c. all of the sources used were published in the last 6 years.
5. How does the writer address you as the reader?
The writer begins the essay with good background information for the audience by explaining the number of Americans living in poverty and some of the reasons why.
b. The writer includes the audience by using words like "we" "our" and even more interconnected words like "brothers and sisters".
c. I believe that the writer and i share the same idea that we cant help other people if we cannot help ourselves first.
a.) Many Americans live in poverty but this can be prevented if others were to help
b.) Clearly stated thesis - "There are numerous amounts of reasons as to why people plummet into poverty; but there are also plenty of things America can do to help"
2. Support the writer offers for the claim
a. reasons for poverty include 2/3's experience substance and drug abuse but no professional help to stop. mental illness, financial problems, unemployment. The Reagan foundation cut funding for affordable homes.
b. Facts, statistics, and examples, and reports back up claims
c. i believe all these reasons are valid. mainly people not being able to afford homes and proper rehabilitation care.
3. How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues?
Although the essay provides good backup for the claims made and calls to action, there is not an obvious counterargument seen.
b. there is not a counterargument however there is an acknowledgement to a problem and a response to it as well
d. the arguments are made pretty validly but more elaboration could be included.
4. What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?
the writer uses a popular celebrity to show that the amount of money made by entertainment should be divided into helping society and those who live in poverty this claim is supported by a website that claims a simple way to end homelessness.
b. The claims make it pretty appealing, but a few examples of the solution in progress would help to support the position.
c. all of the sources used were published in the last 6 years.
5. How does the writer address you as the reader?
The writer begins the essay with good background information for the audience by explaining the number of Americans living in poverty and some of the reasons why.
b. The writer includes the audience by using words like "we" "our" and even more interconnected words like "brothers and sisters".
c. I believe that the writer and i share the same idea that we cant help other people if we cannot help ourselves first.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Writers Blog Post - Polished position paper
Matt LaValle
Firearm Safety for Buyer’s
“...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (2nd Amendment right- U.S. Constitution), largely influences modern America. Although the Constitution states that this right is not to be limited or undermined, there should be more gun control in certain aspects, such as safety courses and general firearm education. Many people in Washington state are fearful of more strict regulations and requirements before purchasing a gun, and some people are simply unaware of the positive effects of firearm awareness.
Gun control and firearm safety is a very important subject when it comes to purchasing, owning, or just handling a firearm. When it comes to firearms, many liabilities may occur if a firearm is handled improperly due to ignorance, which is why certain gun control laws should be enacted. For example, in Washington state, there are almost no restrictions on purchase, registration, licensing, or permits on firearms with the exception of handguns (a required concealed carry permit but no class needed to obtain). It is extremely easy to purchase and own a gun or concealed carry permit. Although it is a right to the people to bear arms, there should be some requirements at the state level before an individual is to own a firearm. Of these requirements, a firearm safety course is most important.
I have shot and owned a variety of guns for seven years and have taken multiple firearm safety courses myself. In my opinion, many “accidental” shootings could be prevented if owners were simply educated about the potentially deadly weapon that they were improperly wielding. For example on February 27, 2015, a 3 year old boy, “. . .died after unintentionally shooting himself in the neck with a gun he found in his house” (Peters). And on March 1, 2015, another boy died after “unintentionally shooting himself with a gun he found stashed under a bed” (Peters). Both incidents could have been avoided through proper knowledge of storing a firearm. Scenarios like these would prevented if the owners themselves had the common sense and knowledge of not storing their weapons in such open places, especially around young curious children, or at least not storing the ammunition in or around the firearm. Some people keep loaded guns at home for protection, but proper storage, such as a safe, can be implemented if the owner is aware of the possible risk factors that come with easily accessible firearms and ammunition. That common sense and knowledge is exactly what a safety course can teach potential and future gun owners. Some may argue that a safety course isn’t going to make a difference and if they do, well then, they are just foolish to believe so.
As of 2006, the number of hunting incidents has declined to under ¼ the original number as a result of the required hunter’s education course to anyone ". . . born on or after January 1, 1972 who intend to buy a Washington hunting license" (WDFW). In the U.S. a total of about 3,800 people were killed by, “. . . unintentional shootings between 2005 and 2010” (Smartgunlaws.org). That number could have been significantly reduced if a safety course was required to every potential buyer for firearms of any type, which is exactly why our country should enact such a law.
An individual may say something along the lines of “guns kill people!” or “simply banning guns completely will prevent all shootings of any kind”. In my opinion, they are mistaken. As a matter of fact, “...a study conducted at Harvard [University] found that the more guns a nation has, the less crime it tends to have” (Michael Snyder - American Dream). To me, banning guns is a way of making people more vulnerable to becoming victims of criminals because it provokes the fear of getting shot. If a criminal knows that, then he or she is going to have the advantage when it comes to doing what they say. “The places with the highest crime rates are the major cities where strict gun control laws have been passed” (Snyder), and if you believe that police are always going to serve and protect in an environment like that, think again, “...police are so overwhelmed that they have announced that they simply won’t even bother responding to certain kinds of crime anymore” (Snyder). So if you think a gun ban approach to gun control is going to solve homicide, “accidents”, and crime then you might as well wave a white flag to everyone saying, “Hey, come break into my home and steal all my stuff”. Laws which ban certain things will not make it go away. For example, crystal meth is extremely illegal in all forms, but methamphetamines continue to be widely used and distributed. In the end, the “bad guys” are going to be the ones who continue to carry and abuse, and the “good guys” who choose to own guns for recreational or safety purposes have the intention to use their guns in a safe and responsible manner. Educating the public will inform the majority of “good” gun owners to use their guns in the most responsible way.
In conclusion, gun control should be enforced in the form of education and awareness of firearms, not fear tactics. My personal proposition would be to exercise safe handling techniques and to require mandatory safety classes to anyone who wishes to purchase a firearm and or a concealed carry permit. The only thing more dangerous than an attacker is an uneducated carrier. Uneducated carriers may improperly handle a firearm in the simplest of ways, such as putting their finger on the trigger whilst picking up the gun, storing the gun in overly accessible places, not wearing proper ear or eye protection, looking down the barrel, not checking if the gun is loaded, not checking the safety, and so many other potentially fatal mistakes. It is not only a hazard to oneself, but also others. Therefore, if everybody who bought a firearm went through some kind of basic pistol course, or basic firearms course, the country could be a more confident and safe place to live.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41 (2015) - Washington State Legislature chapter 9.41 RCW Firearms and Dangerous Weapons Laws
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2015/03/three_children_shot_in_houston_these_weren_t_accidents_they_were_the_result.html (2015)- Justin Peters - slate.com - child incidents
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/ - WDFW Hunters Education
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/huntered/hunting_incidents.html - WDFW hunting lisences
http://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Universal_Background_Checks_for_Gun_Purchases,_Initiative_594_%282014%29 (2014)- initiative 594 Washington Universal Background checks for gun purchases
http://www.infowars.com/18-little-known-gun-facts-that-prove-that-guns-make-us-safer/ (2015)- Michael Snyder
http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-deaths-and-injuries-statistics/ (2015)- Michael Snyder “American Dream”
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