Week 14: Discussion #3

The Mission Critical and Causal Argument Website was very helpful. Both websites provided examples and explanations to each term. Another plus to these websites is that they are very easy to access and understand. All terms are summarized, which makes it easier to understand on my part because I do not like long explanations or definitions. The two websites helped me understand the concepts more clearly and if you had any confusion on what some terms were, these websites would clear it up for you. The websites also served as review because I would sometimes forget concepts I have learned earlier on or throughout the semester, so going through the websites helped refresh my memory. It was like a little mini review in preparation for the final. The overall design of the websites could be updated to help it look more organized and modern. Even without the changes, the website still serves it purpose and we still learn from it.

Week 14: Discussion #1

Today’s Sagittarius Horoscope:

Don't hesitate to try something new today, Sagittarius. If you've thought about joining a book club or taking a class, do it today! You're likely to meet some interesting people and enter a new social world. You might be tentative at first, but you'll find the group warm, friendly, and eager for your input. You'll talk like old friends by the end of the second meeting. This is just the infusion of fun you need!

Usually horoscopes are pretty accurate and apply to my daily life. However, today’s horoscope was half applied to my life. I did try something new today, which was going to the FAME SS2012: The Masquerade. It was a place where fashion designers, dancers, and DJs got to gather together and share with the public what they loved to do. It was interesting and entertaining because I have never gone to one of these events before. The people there told us about their company and what they represented, and it was heartfelt because they set themselves aside from major retail brands. Although I probably will not ever see them again, our conversations were easy to talk through and it impressed me with how much they have accomplished. Overall, horoscopes sometimes scare me with how accurate they can be, but I do not go through my day expecting my horoscope to come true. It’s fun to read your horoscope, but it does not predict what will happen to you in life.

Week 14: Discussion #2

A time that I drew an incorrect conclusion was recently this weekend. I was spending the entire weekend with a group of friends, and one of them brought a girl. From the looks of it, it seemed like they were a couple until someone told me the girl was his ex-girlfriend. After that, I assumed they were going to get back together after this weekend. During Saturday night, we were having “girl talk” and I decided to ask the girl if they were going to get back together. She said no and that they were hanging out for the first time in years. Afterwards, I felt like a complete idiot for thinking they were getting back together. The girl thought her ex told us they were getting back together, but I assured her I only thought they were going to get back together. It proved me wrong yet again, that assuming something is never the right ways to think because there is more to it than you think. 

Week 12: Discussion #3

The topic that caught my eye this week was sensationalism and the news. The news covers a lot of stories that are currently happening, but not all news will interest us. According to the Boss textbook, “most people prefer heartwarming, true-crime, or disaster stories over critical analysis of national and international issues” (pg 344). This is true for me too. When I am surfing the web for news, I skip pass anything that sounds like politics or anything that does not relate to me. If a story about a tragedy pops up, I immediately click the link and proceed to read it. As people, we have empathy, and newscaster and journalists play on that. When we see others in distress, we feel for them and want to reach out and help. That is why Newspaper cover stories and headlines are usually related to topics that will grab at our heartstrings. This strategy is good for the news because it will grab people’s attention and make them want to know more about the situation.

Week 12: Discussion #2

Brook J. Sadler believes strongly that plagiarism is unfair to both students and teachers, and should be punishable to those to take part in it. Universities should punish students by expelling them and making them an example of how plagiarism is not tolerated what so ever, especially in higher education. On the other hand, Russell Hunt does not believe plagiarism is bad for students. He thinks it is good for students to us it to reach professor’s requirement on writing. Both Sadler and Hunt provide a good argument with reasons to support them. Sadler focuses more on the negative side of plagiarism, while Hunt tells us why students might use plagiarism. I believe Sadler has the stronger argument because she explains thoroughly the effects of plagiarism to both the students using it, and the students who are not. Overall, plagiarism is the short way out for a paper, but there is no short cuts in life.

Week 12: Discussion #1

The media is very influential to our daily lives. News is written, published, and read by everyone around the world. The place where I get the most news is off Facebook. When people I know read an article online or decide to share it, then it pops up in my news feed. From there, I am able to see what news interests them and maybe it would interest me too. It will also show others who read the same article too. I find that fascinating because Facebook is a social network that not only connects people around the world, but also brings news to us in a new, modern way. What I read in the media sometimes makes me bias in certain situations. I do not do it on purpose, but when I remember certain things I read in the news, it makes me more wary about decisions I make, especially major decisions. Overall, the media is a strong, influential thing in all our lives, no matter how we use it.

Week 11: Discussion Question #3

According to the Boss textbook, product placement is a type of advertising strategy where “a real commercial product is used in fictional media, and the presence of the product is a result of an economic exchange” (pg 320). We mostly miss the products when we are not focused on finding them, but when we are aware of it, we see it everywhere. Brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi are major companies who participate in product placement. Companies pay a lot to have their brand and logo displayed on major television shows. When viewers watch the shows, they will see the advertisement and perhaps buy these company products. Companies shell out money for advertisement hoping they will generate even more money in sales to compensate for the cost and make a profit. Product placement is influential to everyone, especially towards the younger generation. What they define as “cool” on television will influence them to buy the same products to make themselves look cool.