Discussion #3 Discuss further

A topic that i would have liked to discuss a little bit more is on the subject of breaking down an argument and labeling each piece. I think that topic could have been touched on a little bit more, because for me at first it was confusing with all the new terminology and vocab that were used to explain it. I also felt that maybe there could have been more examples showing how its done, because there are many different forms of arguments and if we were able to see what each one looked like it would have proved to be more helpful to me. I also wish we would have discussed further the differences of inductive and deductive reasoning was, because they are so similar ans easy to confuse. Maybe have a little more explanation on that topic as well. But all together i felt like we stressed a good amount of emphasis on the each topic.

Discussion #2 Favorite Thing about class

My favorite thing about class was how the textbook was not only informative but interesting to read. It did a very good job relating its topics and making the course matter socially relevant and significant. Most of the time i found myself really enjoying reading the chapters from the book each week. I learned something new eachtime, and it was very easy to take what i learned and try to apply it to my everyday life. Often times i would use some of the vocab when talking with friends, and when i hear arguments or read them I find myself breaking it down and analyzing them, like i was shown through the text. What i didnt like about this class was the time restraint on when you were allowed to post on your blogs. I think the main reason why people chose to take this class online was because of their busy schedules and lack of time, so putting the 12 hour between each post was especially frustrating and stressful. The other thing i did not really appreciate too much was the fact that we had soo many group projects, that required us to meet in person. Again the main reason why people take this online course is because they are too busy or dont have enough time in their schedules to attend a regular class. The group projects were very stressful because so many people had

Discussion #1 What I have learned

During the course of this semester, some of the things that i have learned is about critical thinking and why its important to use critical thinking when making an argument or making decisions, as well as how emotion can sometimes alter our decisions and play an important role. We also learned about the nature and limitations of human knowledge, different types of evidence and errors in thinking, we learned about what a fallacy was and the many different forms of a fallacy and how to recognize a fallacy in everyday arguments and conversations as well as discussing strategies that can be used to avoid making a fallacy. I also learned how to recognize the parts of an argument and break it down into the premise, the conclusion, and premise and conclusion indicators. Another one of the important things we learned is how to distinguish between deductive and inductive arguments, and evaluate the characteristics of each, and lastly we learned about mass media and their marketing advertising techniques.

Discussion #3 Internet Age

I am definitely living in an internet age. Just five minutes ago i spent about three hours being completely bored with myself to the point where i created my own Twitter and Instagram account. The reason i did so was purely for the fact that i was bored and was hoping that these internet social networks would amuse me in moments like these. I sit in class and scroll through all my social networks. The internet has become addictive, and a major part of my day to day life. But for some its worse. Some spend all their time posting pictures of themselves every minute and updating status every second its crazy. Theres nothing people wont put on the internet anymore. We have all become accustomed to making the internet our diary. The way this genreation has been using the internet has become very unhealthy. We spend so much time focusing on the internet world we forget to live in the actual world, thats right in front of us. Social networking sites have also become instrumental in how the media tries to connect and communicate with us. Everything we learn, we primarily get it from facebook, twitter etc. first hand. It almost makes me wonder what will take over our lives next when the internet becomes out of style.

Discussion #2 Plagiarism Among College Students

Reviewing the "Internet Plagiarism Among College Students" I agree with and personally believe that Russell Hunt made the best argument towards the issue of plagiarism. Sadler gave reasons as to why plagiarism is wrong, and how it has negative effects to the academic communtiy, students, teachers and such. Hunt provides an sound argument about why we should be happy about Plagiarism and not look at it as a negative situation. He gave many reasons why, and also backed it up, and provided ample evidence as to how he has come to that certain conclusion and why he felt that way. Whereas Sadler just gave us, the normal story of plagiarism and it being negative, he just listed all things that were wrong, nothing convinced me to see the problem in his viewpoint.

Discusssion #1 Media Experiences

I think the biggest thing that the media has invovled in reinforcing my existing worldviews or values, is lately the KONY 2012 video that has been sweeping the nation about the children in africa who are being used as child soldiers and being kidnapped by a man named Joseph Kony. The invisible children organization created a thrity minute viral video that moved millions of people. Making people around the world suddenly aware, and actually aware of some of the problems thats not currently happening to themselves right now. It made people take a second to get out of their own lives and start caring about others who really need it. This video had such a big effect on me, that I have become obsessed with helping kids in africa anyway i can, even as far as trying to move to Africa. The video literally brought me to tears but im happy that it did, because it sparked something in me, and like me, it has done the same for everyone else who watched it. Changing forever my world views, and values.

Discussion #3 Product Placement

Product Placement is an advertising strategy in "which a real commercial product is used in fictional media and the presence of the product is a result of an economic exchange between the media company and the business that produces the product." Product placements usually goes undetected unless you are watching american idol where its quite evident that the brand coca cola wants you to know that each judge is drinking a coca cola type product in a big red cup. I have also noticed a lot of product placement in big action movies like Transformers and such. One thing i have noticed is that the Disney channel does a great job in ensuring that they do not advertise anything to their audience which is mostly children. They even go so far as not even having regular commercials or advertising during breaks in the show. In my own life I have experienced a sort of product placing, during my basketball games which are aired on TV, the refs make sure that the socks we are wearing only have one swoosh on each sock, so as though it doesnt make it look like we are trying to over promote a product. I didnt realize this at first, i thought it was quite silly for the referees to be so serious about a small insignificant logo on a sock. But now that i have read about the different advertising strategies companies use, i realize that this might be one of them. Something so little as sock, companies go to great lengths to try and figure out ways to market it out to the public so that we dont forget their brand name.