Two Scholarly Articles and Works Cited

One of the scholarly articles my group found is, Media Influences on Attitudes and Perceptions Toward the Body Among Adult Men and Women written by Marita P. McCabe, Kelly Butler, and Christina Watt from the Deakin University School of Psychology in Melbourne, Australia. This article researches media influence on both men’s and women’s body perception. It addresses issues where both men and women over estimate the size of specific body parts due to the media’s perception and influence suggesting what is beautiful and normal. This quote demonstrates and justifies the media’s influence and persuasion ability of the media. “The media has been found to be the most powerful and pervasive communicator of sociocultural values regarding ideal body size and shape (Heinberg, 1996). Newspapers, magazines, and television have been demonstrated to play a strong role in creating the current perception of the ideal man and woman (Cattarin et al., 2000; McCabe & Ricciardelli, 2003).” This is a good article for my group to use for our paper because it addresses both men and women. It is also a good resource to justify my group’s argument and support our claim.

The other article we found is titled The Media and Violent Behavior in Young People: Effects of the Media on Antisocial Aggressive Behavior in a Spanish Sample by Miguel Clemente Pablo Espinosa, and Miguelangel Vidal. In this study and scholarly article is discusses the relation between television, computer games, and the Internet and antisocial aggressive behavior in under- 18 year olds. This study is beneficial for my group’s paper because it looks at the more emotional side of the medias influence as opposed to physical. It also breaks down the argument in to looking at both male and female perspectives. After this study did different tests they came to the results that the media does have a strong influence and correlation with aggressive behaviors. But within the results they broke up the study into males and females and found a different end results for the two genders. This quote is a good representation of the media’s affect and people who are ideal role models responsibility in fixing this problem.”It is clear that unhealthy media content is linked to the appearance of antisocial behaviors. Parents and educators must be aware of the risks of excessive media exposure for children and the need to provide alternative modes of socialization.”

Works Cited

McCabe, Marita P., Kelly Butler, and Christina Watt. Media Influences on Attitudes and Perceptions Toward the Body Among Adult Men and Women. School of Psychology-Deakin University, Apr. 2007. Web. 12 Apr. 2010. .

Clemente, Miguel, Pablo Espinosa, and Miguel A. Vidal. The Media and Violent Behavior in Young People: Effects of the Media on Antisocial Aggressive Behavior in a Spanish Sample. University of La Coruna, 24 Sept. 2008. Web. 12 Apr. 2010. .

Group Essay

For more than a century, the United States has been moving to undo the legacy of racism and discrimination amongst its people. The changes have been to create a society reflecting the grand document of its founding, with “all men being created equal”, having “the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” How far all have really come toward such a monumental and ideal society is entailed David Cook’s “By The Color of Their Skin” article; each change for the better seems to bring two more for the worse, shifting away from the desired achievement. Though racism is dying through the effort of the entire nation, race-based discrimination is alive as ever, spawning new policies and issues for all.
The most defining arguments of the Cook article are racism and privilege, and how both influence today’s culture. As defined by Wise, “ Racism is an ideology that says certain people, by virtue of their race, are inferior or superior to others of a different race, with race usually being defined as skin color” (Cook, 2009, p.5). In other words, the color of a person’s skin color defines how they immediately see themselves, and others see them offhand. The quality of a person’s heart and soul may be the most important characteristic of all, but is seen secondary at best to the color of their skin.
The next defining aspect of this fantastic article is privilege. Once again, according to this article by Cook, privilege can also be seen as less pressure to perform. An example in the text was, “George W. Bush mangled the English language with regularity and still became president. If Barack Obama had mispronounced words the way Bush did, would he have been given the same degree of slack” (Cook, 2009, p.5). Because skin color is so defining of who someone is this example and the idea of having less pressure to perform means people of the dominate race may not feel the need to perform to their full potential because they already feel privilege.
Ironically, antiracism has caused a new type of racism, in which the previously underprivileged minorities have become the privileged majority, and the previously privileged racial majority has become an underprivileged minority. People in terms of race being constructed in America today, Cook views it as, “The mistake people make is to think that history stops and starts with each new generation” (Cook, 2009, p.6). What people need to realize is that what happens in one generation effects the next and every generation in the future and it’s impossible to start with a completely blank slate (Cook, 2009, p.6).
In our own lives today, we are affected by racism in aspects of our lives we’re not even aware of. Wise uses the example that, “Job applicants with “white-sounding” names are 50 percent more likely to get called back than those with “black-sounding” names, even if both have the same qualifications” (Cook, 2009, p.6). Such an attitude is engrained in our society; one cannot completely erase their own past, no matter how much they may try.
Such concept might tie into paper three; similar to the quest of all for the perfect meal, the strive for a perfect, just, unbiased society continues leaping forward recklessly in great bounds, and yet remain just beyond grasp. All may be looking for perfection, but all have different ideas as to what perfection really is.







Works Cited
Wise, Tim. "By the Color If Their Skin." Interview by David Cook. The Sun July 2009: 4-12. Print

Sources for English 101

When I go about finding sources for my English 101 papers I usually start with a general Google search. I have found in the past when starting a research paper or when I need to find further information about something starting online using Google is the best way to get started. Usually before I before I begin the research I usually make an outline of what my paper with be discussing that way when I go to start my research I know what kind of information I am looking for. But sometimes that is not always the case. If I don’t already have a general idea about the topic of my paper I will start by researching online to help get an outline started. Once I find sources I usually start by reading the majority of the sources and comparing the sources I have found to make sure information is relevant in other sources and can back up what one is saying. If the source sounds legitimate I will then look at who edits the site and who the creator and sponsors of the site are. I think a way in which I can improve finding sources is by not relying as much on only online sources. I think it would be beneficial for me to use more books or even become better at searching for online journals and scholarly articles. I don’t necessarily think it is hard to find sources for papers but I do think I could and should learn better tools for deciding whether a source is respectable enough to be using in my paper. In deciding where to use sources I think I do a decent job of distributing them throughout my paper. If I am arguing for or against something I think it is important to use equal sources to represent both sides.

Kelloggs Article

The article I read was about Kellogg’s and how they are considering using a laser to imprint their logo or some of the “flakes” of cereal. I found this article interesting and when I first heard of this is article in class my first thought was that it’s not such a terrible idea. I thought of M&M’s and how the stamp their logo on every single individual piece of candy, so this really didn’t seem that extreme.
As I continued to read the article more and learn about the reasons the company has for doing this it seems to me that they have a fair argument. It is true there are a lot of competitors with Kellogg’s and if I worked for that company I would want to make sure that it was clear what brand of cereal your were not only buying but also reminding them every time they take a bit. I think it is a great strategy for the company and would do nothing but maintain positive reinforcement for both the consumers and the company.
I think this article is significant because it could be taken as a controversial issue and one that people may either strongly agree or disagree with. I think I could use it in my paper as a reference when talking about companies and their advertisement strategies they have to compete with one another.



Mail, Daily. "Kellogg's Will Use Laser to Burn Logo on to Individual Corn Flakes to Stamp out Fakes." 13 Oct. 2009. Web. 7 Mar. 2010.

Norman Borlaug Reading

To be perfectly honest while reading the Norman Borlaug article I was somewhat bored. Although I do believe this issue to be very important I do not find it very interesting to read about. Issues like “improving fertilizer-use efficiency by genetically engineering wheat and other crops to have high levels of Glu dehydrogenase” (Norman Borlaug), do not raise any kind of interest for me.
I think this quote from Norman Borlaug was the most interesting, “We cannot turn back the clock on agriculture and only use methods that were developed to feed a much smaller population.” It is very true that we have a huge issue with supply and demand. Therefore it makes it hard for the agriculture industry to change what they have been doing to meet this supply and demand and to possibly struggle with a new method. It is important to make health and food issues a priority and it is very important that we the people are informed of exactly what is going into our food and what we are consuming. I believe there is a tremendous uphill battle in store for the food industry in the coming years.

Chapter 7 They Say I Say

Chapter seven starts out asking a very good and obvious question. To be perfectly honest I have never sat down and asked myself this question before writing but after reading this chapter I will most likely be asking myself this from now on. The question is, “Who Cares?” Even if someone writes a perfectly clear, well focused thesis if the writer does not sufficiently address and answer crucial questions throughout the text the reader might be left with unanswered questions and not sure what they even got out of the text. When you are writing and trying to argue a position it is best to reflect on the central point of your argument so it is clear and easy to follow. That way it gives the reader a reason for reading it. I also learned while reading this chapter that sometimes it helps to mention specific people’s names or groups to help support your argument and authority as a writer. I think this chapter brings up many valid and somewhat obvious suggestions that I believe most writers do not address but if they did it would sometimes makes their text a lot more relatable to their audience.

Omnivore's Dilemma Chapter 16

One of the most interesting yet obvious elements pointed out in chapter sixteen is when Pollan writes about America’s National Eating Disorder. In this section he says, “America has never had a stable national cuisine; each immigrant population has brought its own food-ways to the American table, but none has ever been powerful enough to hold the national diet very steady.” (pg. 299) This quote points out something I feel to be obvious but puts the truth in a clear perspective. One of the major problems America faces in our food industry and eating habits is there is no consistency. Foods are like fads in the American culture and this is both a negative and positive issue. When foods eaten for healthy diets become the new fad people become obsessed and are on a health kick, which is an example of food fads in America being a good thing but just as easily as it can be something very contradictory. When diets like eating Mexican or Greek food catch on this puts our society in a downward spiral in terms of negative food habits. It takes very little for these fads to be set in motion. The problem is this issue cannot be easily controlled therefore; the American diet is faced with a tremendous struggle when trying to maintain healthy eating.

They Say I Say chapter 6

After reading chapter six “Skeptics May Object” I believe a key point made in this chapter is “once you see writing as an act of entering a conversation, you should also see how opposing arguments can work for you rather than against you.” I interpreted this as being a tactic that people in court use. While making their case they try and keep what the other side might say or ask the witness in response to what has already been said in mind. I do believe that in life and in my writing it is important to consider all points of view. Therefore I don’t come off close-minded or like a “know it all.”
I do find it helpful to listen to what other people have to say about my writing as long as it is constructive and it will help me to improve my piece. I have come across moments where someone who is objecting to my writing isn’t doing it in a critical way but rather they are just saying what they feel and what they feel is the only right answer. By readying this chapter I understand better how to make an argument convincing but not over baring.

Chapter 4 They Say I Say

In chapter four of They Say I Say it discusses three ways to respond in your writing. Whether to agree, disagree or both and in doing so how to make your point/ argument clear. While reading this chapter I found it very informative in regards to an interpretive response or analytical response. I learned that although an interpretive response does not take the most direct approach in making an obvious point to agree or disagree, it is more effective if while making an interpretive response is if the author takes a stand. Whether it is by pointing something new out or responding to what someone else has already pointed out.
This chapter also began by informing people that when writing a response where you have to agree, disagree or both it is important to clearly and obviously declare your position. I understand that to be essential but I wasn’t sure how to do that when writing a response where you both disagree and agree. I feel like by both disagreeing and agreeing it makes your argument complicated which is hypocritical to what the beginning of the chapter said. I learned that to make your point clear, if you decide to both agree and disagree, you should put more stress on one opinion in order to make what you’re arguing clear or make your argument obvious by saying something like, “I agree with this…., but do not agree with….” That way you are still able to get your point across while keeping your argument complex.

ch. 9 Omnivore's Dilemma

This chapter starts off discussing a first visit to Whole Foods. The ironic thing was, is right before starting to read this chapter I had just returned from a Whole Foods grocery trip with my mom. While shopping we discussed our opinions of Whole Foods, a grocery store we occasionally shop at, and QFC, the grocery store we frequently visit. While we were shopping today we had talked about how shopping at Whole Foods felt like more of an experience and how shopping at QFC gives off more of a get in; get out kind of feeling. A quote on pg. 136 I believe sums up the difference between the two grocery stores well, “one of the key innovations of organic food was to allow some more information to pass along the food chain between the producer and the consumer—.” I can feel a difference in grocery stores because the environment each grocery store has is unique to what they supply, whether it is all organic or generic food. Yes it is true that by shopping at Whole Foods my family is spending on average more money than we would just sticking to QFC but as Omnivore’s Dilemma says Whole Foods produces a, “ certain magic in the marketplace” (pg.154) that is enjoyable as well as healthy.

"They Say, I Say" pg. 17- 47

After reading “They Say,” “Her Point Is,” and As He Himself Puts It,” I found the arguments they all made to be very reasonable and necessary ones. Starting with “They Say,” I found the most important part was when they talked about was clarifying what you’re talking about and identifying who said it. If this is not done you leave your readers or audience probably more confused than to begin with.
In “Her Point Is,” I found the quote, “even as writing an effective summary requires you to temporarily adopt the worldviews of others, it does not mean ignoring your own views altogether.” (pg. 31) I found this quote to be very true especially for me. I sometimes have a hard time knowing how to appropriately transition from summarizing about somebody else’s views to talking about my own. So in order to write good summaries I need to work on doing that.
Lastly after readying “As He Himself Puts It,” I really connected with the part when they were talking about introducing your quotes. This is something that really bothers me in writing. I always think it sounds odd to switch up my writing and have to introduce a quote. I would always do it in the most basic way I could but, I learned a lot of new ways to introduce quotes so the transitions isn’t awkward on page 43.
Over all I found this reading to be very helpful and informative!