4a) Make a final decision about your logical argument research topic. What is it? Questions to ask yourself:  

What have we been studying in class this year? we been studying factual and non factual websites. we been studying the importance and non importance of things in life as well. 
Which subjects appeal to me?  -college research because it is applying us to be college ready and is giving us skills we will need in every day life and for our writing. it also opens up our minds and makes us think deeper. 
What are people writing about?  -people are writing about topics they feel are important and need to be more addressed and taken seriously.  
What's most interesting to me?  - seeing other peoples thoughts and ideas about a topic is most interesting to me because this may change my mind and open my mind to new ideas. 
Can I find information about that? no

4b) Why are you most interested in the topic of argument selected? 
i am most interested in drunk driving because it is a major danger that is increasing in the world. many people are losing their life and don't understand the real danger of driving under the influence. many young teenagers are now driving and are getting behind the wheel of a car intoxicated. 

Critical Thinking & Analysis

Drunk Driving:

1. Should states adopt stricter penalties for drivers who refuse to take a BAC test? Why or why not?     - they should have stricter penalties for drivers ho refuse to take the BAC test. they should have stricter penalties because if they aren't drinking then they should have no problem taking the test. if they are intoxicated and are refusing the BAC test then they should have a penalty for this because it is a crime and either way if they are intoxicated they are going to get caught. 
2. Should laws be enacted that require ignition-interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders? Why or why not?   -yes laws should be required for an insert of an interlock device in cars for all convicted drunk drivers and offenders. this will help stop drunk driving. with the interlock device it will help stop accidents and the death of people due to driving intoxicated. 
3. Do you think DUI checkpoints should be used more often and in more places? Explain.  -yes DUI check points should be used in more places. i believe a lot of people take the chance of driving drunk and it shouldn't be allowed period. i believe the alcohol contact should be lowered as well because if you are drinking one beer or alcoholic beverage it is still in your system and has an effect on you. 
4. Describe other measures you think could be implemented to reduce drunk driving.  -cops can hold checkpoints in certain areas after a certain time to check for drunk drivers. i also believe they should lower the DUI alcohol count because one alcohol drink does has an impact on a person. 

Racial Discrimination:

1. Why is racism so rife in the world?  -racism is so rife in the world because Racism is based on the belief that physical characteristics account for differences in character and ability, and that a particular race is superior to another. Now a days people face racism on a daily basic with "jokes" that aren't really jokes by being segregated in work environments and etc. 
2. How should racial discrimination be addressed?  - racial discrimination should be addressed through young kids and during childhood. i believe we the people and society should address this at this time because this is the time where we learn and see the truth and can believe things for ourself. if we are taught at a young age that everyone is equal because we are equal then there will be less discrimination. 
3. Has the United States done enough to address the historical injustices to African Americans, Native Americans and other groups? If not, what needs to be done?  -i believe there are doing a lot and can keep doing a lot.they started a argument in the united states trying to fight against racism which is good. i believe if people stick up for themselves and keep talking then they can eventually overcome racial discrimination. 

Teenager Suicide:

1. Should schools provide screening for mental illnesses and suicidal tendencies?  - i don't believe that teenager suicide needs to be screened for a mental illness. i believe that it is a lack of attention or a disability in the mind (depression). i don't believe teenagers should be screened for a mental illness unless this isn't their first attempt. many teenagers due this because they are depressed and have no one to turn to. it is hard for teenagers to have a tuff situation that they feel they have to face on their own . i believe if people give more attention to teenagers who are down and depressed they will save many lives just by talking to them and giving them that care. 
2. What other steps can society take to limit the number of teen suicides?   -society can stop putting pressure on teenagers. they can stop making teenagers feel like it is important that they become what the ideal teenager society has portrayed for them. if teenagers are offered more social interaction task in life then i believe this will be a step in preventing teenagers to committing suicide. i believe teenagers need to feel cared and comfortable with the people in their schools and in their society for them to be able to talk and come out about their problem rather than jumping to conclusion and committing suicide. 
3. Is increased pressure in the school environment to blame for increased suicide rates?   -i believe that school environment pressure can contribute to the blame for increased suicide. i believe this because school is very stressful and very demanding for teenagers especially for applying for college. i don't think this can make one student just be the affect for their suicide. there has to be other problems that add to this for them to really get overwhelmed. 
4. Is the decline of the traditional family to blame for increased suicide rates?  -i believe family and traditional values have a 80 percent affection rate. i believe this because people look forward to hanging out with the family and spending time with them on the holidays. i believe that family has a major effect on teenager because they are around them more than anyone and if they don't feel comfortable with their family this can really depress them. 
5. Are mental and/or substance abuse disorders contributing factors to suicide?   -yes mental and substance abuse disorders does contribute to the factors of suicide. i believe when a person gets abused verbally it ha a major toll on a person. a lot of people are scared to stick up for themselves and dont know how to tell someone off when getting verbally abused. when a person is verbally abused it stays in their head no matter if they received a apology. it is a word that is said and is repeated in their head daily because they were hurt from what was said.

Gay Rights:

1. should gay and lesbians be allowed to adopt children?   -yes i believe gay and rights should be allowed to adopt children. they should be allowed to adopt children because they are normal people like everyone else and deserve to be happy and have a family. they should be able to adopt because they deserve the same opportunities and experiences. 
2. should gay and lesbians be granted the same rights as heterosexuals?  -yes i believe everyone is equal and deserve the same opportunities. 
3. should gays be allowed to serve openly in the military?  - yes gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military. it shouldn't matter who or what they like because it is work. in the work zone i believe it shouldn't matter who or what you like. i believe the military is a serious place and anyone should be allowed to be involved in it as long as they are health and able to physically work and be involved.  
4. are more laws needed to protect the rights of transgender people?  -yes i believe there should be more laws to protect the rights of gays and transgender. i believe that there just as equal as everyone else and they shouldn't be discriminated.  there should be more laws to protect them because they get discriminated and bullied for who they are. it shouldn't be a problem who they are. 
5. should same sex marriage be allowed?  - they should be allowed to marry and have their own family. they should be allowed to marry because they deserve the same opportunity as others. 
6. should the employment non-discrimination act (ENDA) be passed to end sexual orientation and gender identify discrimination at work?  - yes absolutely the ENDA should be past because they shouldn't be singled out or discriminated. it is very important to me that they dont get discriminated because they are the same as everyone else and shouldn't be treated other wise. 

Dating rape/violence:

1. How can the use of cell phones contribute to dating violence and harassment?   -cell phones can contribute to violence and harassment. cell phones are a weapon. they allow kids and teenagers to stay in contact with  each other not that this is a bad thing but it is a problem if you friend turns into a enemy and once one person has your number it is very easy for others to get your number as well. a cell phone can lead to violence because now a cell phone can do just about anything. a cell phone leads to social media websites and this leads kids and teenagers to sign up for these social media websites. this can affect and lead to violence and harassment because it is on the internet where everyone can see everyone business and talk to anyone world wide. a lot of times people lead to meeting each other and over the web you can be anyone but in person you can be a totally different person. 
2. Why do some girls stay in abusive relationships?   - some girls stay in abusive relationships because they don't have anyone to talk to or are scared to be alone. girls are scared of the outcome as well. they are scared due to threats and the fear of being alone. girls also may stay in a abusive relationship because they are scared that their next relationship may be worse. girls are naive and don't see that they are getting abused. most girls stay because they fear due to threats and because they love the person that they are in the relationship with. 
3. What can be done to educate teens and their parents about the warning signs of dating violence?    -i don't believe there is much that can be done but they should be taught the signs of dating violence. the only thing they can really do is talk about it and realize it can happen to anyone not just them and they have to keep there eyes open and not be afraid to stick up for themselves. 
4. Do you think the prevalence of sexual content in the media contributes to dating violence? Why or why not?    -yes i feel the internet and social media has a major affect on sexual content and dating violence. i feel that the internet portrays people to be drawn to sexual content and this may lead to people fighting about it in there relationship. the social media portrays how things should be and how the society wants things in a relationship. 

For and against:

1. There are many reasons for people to be against drunk driving. one reason is that it is very dangerous. Drunk driving puts your and other peoples lives in danger and can lead to very bad accidents. Being drunk and walking is bad just imagine someone driving. when you drive drunk you don't see the same you see double and blurry. Drunk driving shouldn't be allowed it kills people and seriously injury's people.

2.Racial discrimination is something people are against because everyone is equal and should be viewed equally. Racial discrimination also causes world wide problems and world fights/wars. This is  something to be against because it is a serious issue everyone takes as a joke and is not taken serious which is a major problem. Discrimination leads to many other problems that can be personal. people get bullied due to racial discrimination.

3. Teenage suicide is a topic that is to be against. Teenage suicide should be prevented because it isn't handled. I am definitely against teenage suicide because it isn't   right that teenagers cut there life off due to an issue that wasn't handled. Teenage suicide is a problem that can be stopped. many times people do this because of lack of attention and because of problems (bullying).

4. Gay rights people can be for or against. many people are against because it isn't the moral thing in society to see the same sex married. me personally i believe that if you are happy you should be able to marry or be with whoever you want. gay rights should be allowed because we are all human beings and are all the same. they deserve the normal life and rights that Americans have.

5. Dating rape/ violence is something everyone should be against. this is a problem that isn't really handled and isn't really known. many people are scared to face the face and come out with this type of violence. it should be against because  no one deserves to be miserable  in a relationship when they don't have to be in that relationship. everyone has a choice in life and they should be able to get out if they need to.

5 topics that interest me:

1. drunk driving is a topic that interest me. This interest me because i have experienced a tragic accident with a drunk driver. i feel that there are a lot of new drivers on the road that are young and drunk driving is going to be a major problem. In the last few years a lot of people have been ding due to drunk drivers. driving drunk is something that can be stopped easily. everyone should know not to drive drunk because you are putting your life as well as others in serious danger. many innocent people get hurt and killed due to intoxication. Drunk driving is a major topic i am into because people should never make that decision to put themselves in that seat behind the wheel when they can simply walk or catch a cab and everyone can be safe.

2.Racial discrimination is another major topic that interest me. this topic interest me because so many people judge others for who they simply are. i believe that racial discrimination shouldn't be aloud. many people judge others for some stupid actions people do. this is a major problem now a days because kids are growing up learning to dislike others just because of there background. i personally feel everyone is equal and has an equal opportunity of doing things. kids shouldn't be taught at a young age to dislike each other if they should be taught about liking and disliking a person it should always be liking a person because were all the same. it is one thing to judge a person because they are a murder but even at that everyone makes mistakes and does stupid things. it isn't okay for people to get away with things but it isn't okay for people to be discriminated for who they are.

3. Another topic that interest me is teenager suicide. teenage suicide has been a big issue lately. many teenagers come to this because they have lack of attention or have a traumatic past of being bullied. people do this because of jokes that aren't taken as jokes and for not having there attention from family that they should or other problems they might have.  Suicide can occur with anyone but it is found mostly vulnerable by teenagers.

4. a topic that interest me is gay rights. this topic interest me because people treat them different and like they are not human. i feel that this is very important because everyone gay straight green or blue is the same and is all equal. this is important because society judges gay people and it isn't fair nor right. gay marriage should be equal and legalized all around the world. all that should matter in society is if  person is happy and as long as they are doing the right thing (following the law) it shouldn't matter what they like or how they act. i believe everyone was put into this world equal and for the same purpose to be happy and successful. this interest me because it relates to many other topics and turns back to human rights.

5. Another topic that interest me is date rape/dating violence. By looking into the database on the topic of date rape it says that one in four teenagers are getting verbally mentally physically and emotionally abused in a relationship. this interest me because i know more than one in four teenagers most likely get abused like this in a relationship whether it is a boy or girl. this is important and a topic that interest me because many people get abused in a relationship and don't say anything and don't know how to deal with it. this interest me because many relationships start at a young age now a days and if people are getting any type of abuse they should have a way to deal with it and together the couple should be able to over come it.

Make a list of four or five things that "tick you off." Explain why. (Choose significant things that others might experience as well. For instance, your little brother might tick you off, but there is little chance that this annoyance will yield a possible paper topic). It is possible that one of these annoyances can be transformed into an interesting, engaging, and researchable project.

-{trafficing} when people drive like a crazy person and cuts people off. (the way people park)
This ticks me off because people get mad when they are late and have to rush so they drive crazy if they just leave a little early or call in where ever they are going to say that they are going to be late they do not have to rush. this really ticks me off because people do not know how much of a risk factor it is not just for other people but for themselves as well.This gets me most mad when they someone cuts them off or signals to go in front of them they get mad. I feel that this can be avoid if there was a law everyone let one person in on a yield or traffic switch lane. They should defiantly make it a law that every so often you have to go back to a 5 hour 2 day class to refresh the drivers minds and inform them that it is a BIG risk factor.

-{no eye contact or interest}when i am talking to someone and they are looking around and not paying attention to what i say.
Speech is a very big thing in life. people present speeches every day even if its a long plain conversation between two friends it is still a speech. A sign of respect is when someone is talking and you look at them and give them eye contact. when people do not look at me in my eyes when i am talking i feel like the person is not listening  and does not care about anything i have to say.Making eye contact is important and is taught when you born. Eye contact can tell a lot about a person. When someone looks you in your eyes they can see right through your soul they can tell if your lieing, nervous, scared, guilty, and etc.  Eye contact is important in almost every way of having a conversation.

-when people think it is okay to be rude or disrespect and expect that person to be all nice and sweet.
It really ticks me off when people yell and act tough when there not and expect you to be nice and sweet. I hate when people take out there anger and frustration on you when you did not have anything to do with it. it really ticks me off to know that people put themselves so low to just be mad at the world but expect others to be happy and nice. It does not cost anything to be nice and kind to people especially if you do not know them. 
-when i eat dinner by myself.
This ticks me off because i live with 5 other people and almost every night i come home and eat by myself. I hate this because i feel like dinner is the second important meal of the day and it is a meal that should be ate with family.This ticks me off because i get lonely and it is not how the end of the day for anyone should be. 

Josette Roman extra credit

1. Why does the author, Nicholas Carr, feel like his mind is changing as a result of the Internet?  Nicholas carr feels like his mind is changing due to the internet. This Is due to him noticing that he can’t read a book anymore. He seems to find himself losing intrest in books and the narrators point quickly. He feels he been spending to much time on the web whether it is at work or on other things. He has been searching the web and suffing the internet a lot.

2. How does doing research today compare with doing research in a library in the old days, before the Internet? (I know you weren't around 20 years ago, but answer this based on what knowledge you have gathered about libraries in your lifetime).

Doing research on the internet is faster. Back then people used books in libraries to find information on whatever they needed. This information found in books is more reliable and is better for peoples mind. In a library they have a section of non-fiction and fiction books whereas online there is no specific place to find fiction and non-fiction information it is all scrambled. On line you can edit a page for example Wikipedia where as if you edit a text in a book they will see you obviously wrote in the book. Online you can find out anything in quick seconds.

3. How has Nicholas Carr's reading habits changed because of the Internet?

His habits change due to his behavior. He spends a lot of time on the internet. When he reads a book he is less interested. His mind barely gets caught up in the narrative since he began to spend more time on the internet. When he reads a book he gets fidgety. Now a days people have less patients to read a book they rather just get quick information on the internet.

4. How is reading online different than reading a long article or book? Is there a difference? Explain.

Reading online is different from reading an actually paper copy of a article or book. This is different because online you don’t know what you are reading. The article can be plagerized or can be made up. A paper copy of an article or a book is better because you can write on it and keep it for any extra purposes. Online articles and books can also hurt your eyes and brain. Due to looking at the screen and reading it off of a screen for a long period of time can strain your eyes and make you not focus when an actual paper is in front of you.

5. Do you agree or disagree that our minds think like computers? Explain.

I agree our mind does think like computers. Our mind thinks like computers in some ways like when we calculate things we can calculate things without thinking sometimes. Also we can multitask which a computer does do. We are able to think quickly and respond to any action quick which makes us like computers.

6. Do you agree or disagree that the computer "is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies?"

I agree because the internet and computer has everything we need all in one. The computer is a combination of everything. It has was to communicate, internet, books, factual and non-factual information, it teaches us many things, and is a tool that anyone can use.

7. Why do you think The New York Times changed its format? Do you think it was a good idea or a bad idea? Why?

The new York times changed to fit the “new media rules”. I believe that the new York times shouldn’t have changed because it is making it easier for people to not have to turn a page in the newspaper. The more shortcuts people have the more lazy and less intelligent we have of getting.

8. What does Nicholas Carr mean by "knowledge work?"
Nicholas carr focused on the internet as a machine designed for the efficient and automated collection transmission proccesser. He basically sees the internet as a fast and hand on machine that transports the greatest and all technology. The computer and internet is a knowledge work. Knowledge work is viewed as a best method that can carry out every mental movement of what weve come to describe. The knowledge work holds every piece of information that is possible the old and new and is a waythat it can be pasted on from person to person.
9. Do you agree or disagree that Google has been successful in its mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful?"

I believe it is successful. I believe that google is used daily worldwide. Google provides people with everything an di feel that that is its way of giving back. Most of the information google provides for people is legitimate and factual.

10. How does Google's mission compare with a library's mission in light of the fact that there is no fiction or nonfiction section on the Internet, but there is a fiction and a nonfiction section in a library and that all the books are organized on the shelves in a library, but "scattered on the floor" of the Internet?

When searching in google usually people use a key term or one word. This helps interent pick out the best information and make it more factual and nonfiction.

11. Do you think it would be a good thing if your own brain and intelligence were "supplemented, or even replaced, by an artificial intelligence?"

I don’t think it would be a good thing for our brains to be replaced with a artificial intelligence. I don’t think this because our minds aren’t machines. We cant hold so much information. If our minds where to switch how would we learn and how would we be updated. Our brain wouldn’t be able to hold it and everyone would have the same answer for one thing.

12. Do you think that the human brain is "just an outdated computer that needs a faster processor and a bigger hard drive?" Why or why not?

No I don’t think this because a computer gets the information from a human. Someone around the world is constantly changing things on the internet and is putting the internet to a test when providing it with fictional information.

13. What do you think about your own surfing habits, the links you click on and the pages you view, being an opportunity for "Google and other companies to collect information about you and to feed you advertisements?"

I believe that our online habits aren’t good. Many people become addicted to the web and to socail media applications. This isn’t good because all our personal information is out on the online open and there are many hackers. This can lead to an easy way of identity theft.

14. How does the above compare to reading a book? Do you agree or disagree that companies online, collecting data about us by what we click on and view, are using subversive tactics to discourage "leisurely reading," and "slow, concentrated thought?" Are you yourself driven to distraction while on the Web? How or how not?

15. Do you agree with Socrates that the development of writing led to people using the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they carried around in their heads? Why or why not?

16. Do you think the Internet is doing the same thing? Why or why not? How or how not?

17. How do your own reading habits compare to what Nicholas Carr describes in this article?
I don’t like to read. I personally would prefer to look it up online and go through the web to find the answer unless it is like a short story then I would rather have it in front of me.
18. So, do you think Google really is making us stupid? Why or why not? How or how not?

Google isn’t making us stupid. We make ourselves stupid if you believe the stupid information google posts sometimes. If you use google you should use it and not abuse it. Google is just a website which consists of a lot of information. You must read and watch what every website says. Google doesn’t make us stupid you google something to find out something new or something you are un sure about. 

1. What did wiki software allow Web users to do that the Mosaic browser did not?  

           - the wiki works by allowing users to modify Web pages—not by having an editing tool in their browser but by clicking and typing directly onto Web pages that ran wiki software

         2.What do blogs and wikis have in common?

         -both provide software that is available to anyone. people can modify it and use it

        3.What problem did a young Jimmy Wales find with the World Book Encyclopedia?

          - wales explained that larry's view was that if we didn’t make it more academic than a traditional encyclopedia, people wouldn’t believe in it and respect it

         

        4.How was Jimmy Wales inspired by the World Book Encyclopedia to create Wikipedia?

         -it would be free and volunteers could do it. 

          5.How have encyclopedias inspired you in your own life?

           -it is inspiring because it gives us world information about anything you research. 

         6.Why did Nupedia fail?

        -Nupedia had only about a dozen articles published. it became useless.

           7.How did wiki software change the ideas behind Nupedia?

            -the application of wiki software to Nupedia in order to create Wikipedia—combining two ideas to create an innovation

          8.What is “crowdsourcing?”

          -it is the process of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, and especially from an online community, rather than from traditional employees or suppliers. 

     9.What do you think about the concept of “any fool in the world” being able to write articles for Wikipedia?

  -i do not like that the wikipedia is able to be edited by any person anywhere. this makes wikipedia unreliable.

10.Do agree with the idea that “total idiots” could edit Wikipedia and of that being a good thing? Explain

  

  -i do not agree with this. there are people out there that change wikipedia to say anything with a topic that does not match the information. it is not a good thing because if anyone could change wikipedia than it is a non reliable source of information. 

11.Why do you think Wikipedia grew so fast and became so popular in such a short amount of time

  

-wikipedia is the first source that pops up on google and it gives simple information. alot of people use it to have the information fast without looking through the web.

      12.Do you believe Sanger’s elitist attitude was a good thing or a bad thing for Wikipedia?

  -i believe this is not a good thing because he was just trying to find the fastest solution to their problem.

13.What did you learn from the anecdote about the Wikipedia article on Einstein going to Albania for a passport in 1935

-i learned that wikipedia can not be reliable all the time. if you are reseaching you need to read everything that is on the resource.

14.Explain this quote from the article: “I can’t imagine who could have written such detailed guidelines other than a bunch of people working together...It’s common in Wikipedia that we’ll come to a solution that’s really well thought out because so many minds have had a crack at improving it.”

-

15.The author of the article states that Wikipedia “grew organically.” What does he mean by that?

16.How has Wikipedia “been the greatest collaborative knowledge project in history?” 

17.Based on your own opinion and experience with Wikipedia, do you agree with the above statement or disagree with it? Explain.

18.What does the author mean by “wiki-crack?”

19.Based on the article, do you believe Wikipedia is a reliable source of information?

20.Do you believe its possible for a 16-year-old from New Jersey to write “insightful” Wikipedia articles?

21.How do you feel about basing your own research on something a 16-year-old wrote on Wikipedia

22.What does Jimmy Wales mean by this mission statement: “Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge?”

23.Do you agree or disagree with this mission statement?

24.Do you think Wikipedia has succeeded in its mission?

-no i do not think wikipedia is successful in its misson. it still has a easy way to be edited by anyone and is not to reliable.

25.Do you agree or disagree that ordinary people, people without degrees, can “be part of the process of creating and distributing knowledge?” 

26.Based on your reading of the article, would you yourself use Wikipedia for your academic research?

27.Would you yourself like to write and/or edit Wikipedia articles in order to be “a part of the process of creating and distributing knowledge?” Why or why not?