Topic Proposal

My proposal topic would be to bring more attention to the less recognized sports here at ASU, specifically the swim team. There are dual meets all year long that don't get a fraction of the amount of spectators that other teams get, which then in turn limits the swim teams funding.

due 2/20 In class

Appealing to Audience

The situation: you, a 20-year-old sophomore, have recently discovered that you’re pregnant. The father of your child (a guy you dated for a year) dumped you for a Hooters waitress a week ago. After much soul-searching, you decide to keep the baby and pursue your BS degree in nursing. But you know that you’ll need help; you’ll need to write a letter to your audience (listed below) to inform them of your pregnancy and ask for assistance.

 

Your audience: Your Mama

 

Pathos:

Why would your mother be resistant to assist you or welcome this news?

She may be dissapointed that I am having a baby so young and that the father was so irresponsible to not want to help me with the baby, and that I would date a man like that. She'll see the fact that I was not very careful and didn't make good decisions.

 

What emotions might you evoke in your letter?
I would use the emotional pull that my mother will now be getting her first grandchild, and that I'm trying to help my future and my baby's future. I would show her that she will have something to be proud of.

 

Is there anything your mother values that might incline her to help you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due 02/19

Proposals: From Gripes to Solutions

Cookie Proposal:

-The argument was made by the cookie monster. His argument being that even though he was unable to solve what was in the mystery box, he still deserved the reward of being given a cookie.

-His evidence was that to why he still deserved to be given the cookie was that he was Kermit’s best friend, and even though he hadn’t wanted to play the silly guessing game he did it in the off chance that Kermit would give him the cookie.

-The Cookie Monster was very convincing in the end. He pulled on the emotions of Kermit and basically guilted him into still giving him the cookie even though it was undeserved.

Response 2-

Proposal: Bikers should be banned from biking through campus during the extremely busy times between class intervals because they cause accidents between themselves and innocent pedestrians.

This would solve a large amount of accidents and injuries that occur between bikers and pedestrians on campus during the busy hours of the day. I myself have been witness to many students being hit by careless bikers.

There could be certain times of the day that bikers are prohibited form biking, just at the very busy times. This would not be that difficult to promote, and be a simple fix to the problems that bikers cause.

Looking from Multiple Perspectives

STEP ONE: IDENTIFYING STAKEHOLDERS: In order to write a successful proposal, you need to you need to examine multiple perspectives: you’ll want to represent as many people’s interests as possible as you describe your problem and solution, and you’ll want to understand your resisting audience’s inclinations as you pitch your solution.

For the following arguments, identify different people who are involved in the issue,  people who are directly impacted by the problem posed, people who officiate the policies involved, people who have legitimate concerns or investments in the conversation, or other kinds of stakeholders. 

·      McKemy Junior High must reconsider its decision to cut music programs.

a. The students of the Junior High, especially ones who are more inclined to participate in the music programs.

b. The music teachers, they would be out of jobs if the programs were cut.

c. The principle, he must help make the decision on whether or not to keep the programs alive.

* ASU’s dry campus policy is injurious to the students and should be amended.

a. The students who like to be under the influence.

b. Students and teachers who like the fact that ASU is a dry campus making it have fewer ruckuses and is a lot safer.

c. Dr. Crow and board members of ASU that make the executive decisions regarding the campus.

* I propose that the ASU adopts a stricter campus security in order to keep vagrants and other potentially dangerous individuals off the school grounds.

a. The students, they are in danger if there are harmful individuals on campus, especially students who attend night classes.

b. The teachers, they are also at risk when teaching on campus.

c. The campus security, they would have to change the system that they have set up and provide more employees and perhaps better equipment to deal with potentially hazardous people.

STEP TWO: Develop Context: how do these stakeholders interact with one another? Do they have the same interests, attitudes, or ideas? What do they agree on and what do they disagree on? Pick one of the debates from the first page and develop a profile for each stakeholder: what are their commonly held values, objectives, or beliefs? What kinds of information or experiences get factored into their decisions?

#1

 The students at the Junior High who don’t want their music program cut. The students obviously don’t want their program to be cut, it would limit the amount of experience they would be able to attain musically while in school, and it is most likely their favorite classes. They would only think of the enjoyment they get out of the classes, not about how expensive the programs are or how they impact the school.

#2

 The teachers at the Junior High School would also want to keep the program but for other reasons. Apart from the possible enjoyment that they would get from teaching the courses, it is also their career. They would see the monetary issues that would come about if the programs were cut since they would lose their careers.

 #3

The principal on the other hand could go either way. In one aspect, it is good for a school to have music programs to enrich the students with the art of music. The other side of the argument is the amount of money it would cost the school to keep music programs alive when these programs aren’t part of the testing system of the government for the no child left behind act.

STEP THREE: Research: What would be the best method to represent or address these perspectives in a proposal essay?

#1

The students could address the school board and principal in a proposal where they speak about how beneficial the arts are to a students learning potential. They could present the case of how it will help them as well as all future students and their learning is more important than the budget.

#2

The professors would again want to address the school board and the principal of the school. They could present the case that not only would cutting the programs cause many teachers to lose their careers, but it would also limit the potential learning curve the students would achieve by participating in the arts. They could suggest possibly fundraising to help maintain the programs.

#3

The principal would be addressing the board on the benefits of having musical programs at the school, and how it gives the students a diverse learning atmosphere. He/she could present options on how to fit the programs in the budget.

In-Class Response to Buffington's 'When Teachers Aren't Nice: bell hooks and Feminist Pedagogy'

• This article is a feminists view point on how female teachers should teach their students. Nancy Buffington, the writer of the article says that the way female teachers are viewed should change. Students should not come into a classroom that has a female teacher and think that the teacher will be mothering or nurturing. That should be left to their mother. They have to use their power to help the students learn and experiment more with how they will be treated once they leave school behind. She believes that the students should be put in difficult positions in class and then discuss topics, so that the students go through conflict and struggle.
• Question 1: Is it such a good idea to purposely make students uncomfortable with topics discussed in the classroom?
• Question 2: Buffington states that she tells her students on the first day what her teaching style is and wants to hear disagreement, but does she consider that the students may be too intimidated on the first day to disagree with their professor?
• Question 3: Would her style of teaching be harder for more introvert students than ones that are outgoing and are comfortable stating their opinions?
• Question 4:Does she grade students on their class participation in the discussions?
• Question 5: If a student is incredibly uncomfortable with a particular topic, are they allowed to not participate or is that still a part of the struggle?
• "My students may not always feel comfortable with what they read, say or hear in my class. But they're thinking, learning, and changing."(p.12)
• "Again, rather than pretending that the classroom is politically neutral and unqualified fun, it is more honest and more effective to disclose the agenda, the rules, and the power relationships which pervade any classroom."(p.7)
• "In short, we can't turn the classroom into a classwomb. And we shouldn't even try.(p.5)
• I have noticed a huge difference between my high school teachers and my University professors. The major difference I have noticed is that in University we are more accountable for our actions. In high school they coddled us, they would let students turn in assignments late or the teachers would help the students more with their work. In university it is much less personal. There may be some classes that have fewer students and therefore allow us to get to know our professors better, but in most classrooms we aren't able to become almost what I would say a friend to our professors. This then means that if we don't turn in an assignment, we are usually out of luck, and out of some grade points. I'm not saying that professors don't want their students doing well in their course like teachers do, it's just that the students themselves have to be a lot more accountable for their grade than they do in high school. In high school if a student isn't doing well, teachers are to blame, in University if a student isn't doing well, the blame is put directly onto the student.

Proposals: From Gripes to Solutions

Response 2-
Proposal: Bikers should be banned from biking through campus during the extremely busy times between class intervals because they cause accidents between themselves and innocent pedestrians.

 

 
 

 

Blog #1

I looked over the proposal Student Example- 1.

I agree with the argument made in this proposal. Tuition for students to go University and achieve a degree is extremely expensive, especially for those who are from out of state. On top of fees for school, books add a even heftier bill to the students, especially students in the science field who require large scientific textbooks. If being able to access the required books online would save students money, then I think it’s an idea that should be looked into. Also, as said by the student, it would be making a step towards becoming even more green campus wide.

I think the argument was fairly made; the student brought two good points forward and even addressed the issues that this proposal would face.

The audience for this proposal is the president of Arizona State University, Mr. Crow. I think he appeals to Mr. Crow’s interests when he mentions how this would aid the University to still be regarded as one a University with one of the most environmentally friendly campuses. As a president of the school I’m sure he takes pride in any innovation and recognition the school has and receives, so this would make him take more notice of this proposal. The student also states that it would help other students with the cost of school. This would appeal to his values because a main concern is always trying to keep costs of attending school as low as possible.

I believe the author’s ethos is strong, he wrote about something that as a student he is personally involved in and affected by. This means that it is something that he truly cares about and wants to see the change made.

I would think that this would be a good model for our project. The student is clear and concise about what he would like to have done, and explains the benefits and setbacks that this proposal would bring. It would obviously be very difficult to execute, but if enough people got on board it could be possible.

The student researched the expected amount of e-reader sales that would take place, and he also showed how much books are costing students on average. He maybe could have done a survey to other students asking them what they thought about his proposal. Had the percentage been high in agreeing with his proposal then he would have had a very strong argument with many students supporting his idea. The student also could have sought out how many and which publishers are on board with making e-books for the textbooks, and if the publishers used by the school right now create e-books. Having those facts could have added extra padding to his argument.