Category: x Archive Assignments
Rebuttal Rewrite-Prof2020
Difficult But Not Impossible
The concept of teaching about religion rather than teaching religion really is great in theory. However, there are a few leaks in the boat that need to be sealed before it can set sail. For this plan to work, the school district will need to ensure that each and every teacher has been properly trained to teach this rigidly strict curriculum in an entirely unbiased and neutral manner. This means reaching a certain standard in the and passing and some kind of evaluation in relation to the mandatory 30-hours of training required to be certified to teach the world religions course. Furthermore, we have to prepare for the possibility that teachers would disregard their training and take advantage of their position of influence in the classroom to sway students’ opinions in one direction or another.
This is particularly sensitive because the most widely accepted religions curriculum in practice in the United States is designed to be taught in the 9th grade. Children are frequently compared to sponges because they are constantly and consistently absorbing every piece of information their senses perceive. Especially at this stage in a child’s life when they are beginning to form their own beliefs and opinions, it’s crucial that they be armed with the proper information and understanding to make informed decisions on what ideals and convictions will guide their lifestyles. This is why finding teachers and supervisors who are dedicated to being objective in this matter is crucial to the success of these programs.
The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis runs a blog titled “Religion & Politics.” In January of 2014, Annie Laurie Gaylor wrote this in her article “The Dangers of Religious Instruction in Public Schools”:
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is continually contacted by students and parents who encounter teachers and principals who view their captive audience of students as a ripe mission field for recruitment. We handle more than 2,000 complaints a year by members of the public concerned about violations of the separation between church and state, and the vast majority of these concern violations in our public schools.
Finding teachers dedicated to teaching students in an ethical manor is becoming increasingly important as well as difficult because too many teachers fail to see or recognize the dire importance of this situation. I’m in no way saying that every teacher is determined to brainwash their students into believing a certain way. However, it’s exceptionally difficult to pick out the bad from the good. Furthermore, the observation and evaluation processes required to determine which teachers are fit for their position and time consuming and disruptive to the general learning environment. However in a situation such as this, I full believe these extensive measures to be more than worth it. I don’t believe any valid argument has been made against the need to educate students on religion in order to make them more aware of the current climate we’re living in. That being said, we simply need to work towards making it happen in a way that will satisfy both sides of the conversation.
There are plenty of educators all over the world who believe in this cause the way the rest of us do and I believe they would adapt to the situation in whatever way needed in order to accomplish our common goal: to properly educate the up and coming generations of students on matters of religion and culture that other generations were not privy to. The school district of Modesto, California is living proof that this can work. Modesto’s unparalleled success should be recognized and their methods be used as the starting point for school districts across America. Specifically, their experiment highlights the importance of well-trained teachers, a good understanding of the law, finding compromise and working towards a common goal. Progress cannot be made with two forces pulling in opposite directions, we’ll simply remain in the same place but end up more frustrated. Our mission will be difficult but not impossible.
Citations
1Kilman, Carrie. “One Nation, Many Gods.” Teaching Tolerance. N.p., 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
2You are being redirected… (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://archive.adl.org/religion_ps_2004/religion.html
3Fischer, M. W. (n.d.). Teaching Religion in Public Schools: Removing the Angst. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev027.shtml
4Pros and Cons of Prayer in School. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2016, from http://www.allabouthistory.org/pros-and-cons-of-prayer-in-school-faq.htm
Definition Rewrite – scarletthief
Race: Who Gets to Choose?
Self identifying race has never been more important to Americans than it is now because it is more than a source of pride in ones’ history and family – it is a choice that allows people to access more opportunities in society. Censuses, college forms, and any other events with the option to choose which race applicants identify as such as job applications, causes confusion. The main reason for this confusion would be: How do people know what race they are? Race can be based on whether a man looks African American or on the blood of his African American ancestors. According to D’vera Cohn’s article, “Millions of Americans changed their racial or ethnic identity from one census to the next,” applicants tend to change the race they identify as such as Americans who identified as Hispanic and “some other race” in the 2000 census, who then identified as Hispanic and white in the 2010 census. America’s diversity explains the reason for the 2010 census including an option to check multiple races and a final option for “some other race” if some one couldn’t choose one of the listed races. The fact is, race can’t be defined as easily as black and white because our nation is filled with so many colors. By solving this dilemma of racial identification, proper respect toward one’s race can be given and exploitation of racial benefits can be prevented.
Mixed-race college applicants face the moral dilemma of selecting the race most likely to get them accepted. Natasha Scott, the child of an African-American father and an Asian mother, applied to the University of Virginia in 2011 as African-American to improve her odds, but feels guilty about it. When posting her dilemma on College Confidential, none of the commenters mentioned putting only Asian yet many either said to choose African American and Asian or just African American. She is both races, but in this case, chose to be the one most beneficial to her.
Because the rules for determining race are fuzzy, institutions can dispute applicants’ choices. 27-year-old Afro-Brazilian diplomatic applicant Lucas Siqueira was denied a Brazilian diplomatic position because the government “race commission” decided his looks made him White. Regardless of how he self-identifies, others will determine how he is treated in his neighborhood, at his school, and by prospective employers.
Similarly, in American history a man was deemed Black by society if they had even a drop of Black blood in them. This was called the “one-drop rule.” Even if a man had White parents, White grandparents, and White great-grandparents, if his great-great-grandmother or grandfather was African American, he was considered Black. Institutions such as schools or factories during this time of segregation had the power to identify applicants’ races despite the wishes or appearance of the applicants.
The “one-drop rule” however, in Elise Hu’s article “Minority Rules: Who Gets To Claim Status As A Person Of Color?” can also be applied by applicants to gain the societal benefits as a person of color in scholarships, college admissions, or work institutions. Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren claimed to be Cherokee Indian which in some cases would allow her to have the same health care and education benefits Native American tribe members have. Despite her claim, her self-identification doesn’t match her white looks.
Self-identifying race is important to Americans more than ever because of the benefits and opportunities in school or in the workplace that are more accessible to certain races. Clarifying what and who makes applicants Caucasian, or African American, or Asian is only the beginning to defining race.
Works Cited:
“For Affirmative Action, Brazil Sets Up Controversial Boards To Determine Race.” NPR. 29 September 2016. Web. 31 October 2016.
“Millions of Americans changed their racial or ethnic identity from one census to the next.” Pew Research Center. 5 May 2014. Web. 31 October 2016.
“Minority Rules: Who Gets To Claim Status As A Person Of Color?” NPR. 16 May 2012. Web. 31 October 2016.
“On College Forms a Question of Race, or Races, Can Perplex.” The New York Times. 13 June 2011. Web. 31 October 2016.
Annotated Bibliography- theshocker69
1. “Jim Jefferies Has Got Gun Control All Wrong. • /r/progun.” Reddit. Therevenantrising, 20 June 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.
Background: This is an anonymous reddit user’s post regarding his opinions on Jim Jefferies’ view on gun control. Although social media may not be one of the most reliable sources on the internet, events and statistics listed here are facts
How I Used It: This source worked out great for me because I was already familiar with Jefferies’ performance, this post dissected almost each sentence from his presentation. This made my dissection of his show much easier since it was all organized so neatly on this page.
2. “List of Massacres in Australia.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.
Background: This source is simply a list of Massacres that have occurred in Australia all throughout it’s history.
How I used it: I used this source to find out exactly how many massacres have occurred since Australia’s gun ban. I was able to find the date of the original massacre that caused the gun ban, and the long line of massacres listed thereafter. This helped to prove my point that gun control is counterintuitive to common beliefs.
Background: This web page was originally designed to convey philosopher John Locke’s view of gun control, the philosophical viewpoint of a firearm, and also to explain the need for firearms to defend against our government.
How I used it: I was able to use this source to have guns perceived in a light they are not usually viewed in. The comparison of a firearm to your natural right to defend yourself and your loved ones is not a straw man, it is an accurate representation. Further, the explanation of firearms as a natural right, given to us by nature, was able to help me further show my point
Background: “Ghost Guns” is an episode of National Geographic’s, “Underworld Inc.” In this episode, the producers focused on the illegal gun trade, it’s traffic along our borders, and how it affects our society.
How I used it: This episode was very helpful to my paper. The show gave me so much information on how these guns are moved across our country. I learned more about the techniques that these cartels utilize in order to bring these illegal firearms across the border and I put that information in my paper.
5. “Assault Weapon Truth: The Facts about Assault Weapons.” Assaultweapontruth. Assault Weapon Truth, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016. <http://www.assaultweapontruth.com>.
Background: This website has all the information you could ever need on assault rifles, how they are organized, what constitutes an assault rifle, and even information on gun bans.
How I used it: I used this website to help me explain the legal definition of an assault weapon. I also learned how assault weapons are organized, the difference between an assault rifle and other guns, and I inserted this information into my paper.
6. Lott, John R., Jr. More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws. Chicago, and London: U of Chicago, 2010. Print.
Background: More Guns, Less Crime is an educational textbook originally designed for law and justice majors at the University of Chicago. I felt this would be an interesting source to use since it was written in Chicago, one of the cities with the strictest gun laws in America, but yet, also have some of the most crime in the nation.
How I Used It: The only chapter of this book that really pertained to my research topic and what I was attempting to deliver was chapter 5, “The Victims and the Benefits from Protection”. From this chapter, I was given large amounts of information, linking the causal chain that will extend from gun control. This information was of dire importance in my “Security” and “Problems arising from gun control” sections of my research paper.
7. Lott, John R., Jr. The Bias Against Guns: Why Almost Everything You’ve Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong. Washington DC: Regnery, 2003. Print.
Background: I came across this source on accident, turns out it is the same author for my last source “More Guns, Less Crime”. This is another law and justice textbook, however, this one goes over the Federal Rules of Evidence in more detail, and went over how gun control disarms law-abiding citizens while arming criminals.
How I Used It: This source gave me greater insight to how gun control is able to disarm American citizens, and arm criminals; creating sitting ducks, and why this is detrimental to our society. This source helped me in my “safety” section and smaller idiosyncrasies throughout my research paper.
8. Jacobs, James B. “The Value of Firearms.” Can Gun Control Work? Oxford: Oxford U, 2002. 14-16. Print.
Background: I saw this article as a critical engagement piece that serves to analyze society and attempt to reform based off of discourse. This book does not give a clear side whether the author is for or against gun control. The author only supplies facts, which is what I intended to deliver.
How I Used It: The section I payed most attention to in this book was the section titled “The Value of Firearms” in which the author detailed the importance of a firearm for defense, as well as the perceived assumption of security that comes with the firearm.
Annotated Bibliography – scarletthief
Background: 27 year old Lucas Siquiera took the Foreign Service exam to join Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but was accused of lying about his race. He claimed to be mixed race, but had a Caucasian appearance.
How I used it: To give an example of how the public and the individual can differ in opinion on which race a person can be. Despite the individual’s claims, if the public doesn’t agree, then they can’t claim to be the race they say they are.
Background: Former president of NAACP Rachel Dolezal discovered to be biologically Caucasian when many believed she was African American.
How I used it: Further information about her situation (I had another article about her, but wanted a little more information). She claimed to be black when she was white, which lead to her becoming the President, but just because she was actually white, she was forced to resign from presidency. Pros and Cons to claiming the race.
Background: Lacey Schwartz grew up in an entirely white community and never knew she had African American blood in her. She did not choose a race for her college application, but was accepted as African American based on her photo. She now identifies as black when she once identified as white.
How I used it: Example to show how the public can categorize people as a certain race just based on physical attributes. Similar to Lucas Siquiera’s article where he was thought to be white by the public based on his appearance.
4. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/us/14admissions.html?_r=0
Background: For college applications, students must claim a race and Natasha Scott, who was African American/Asian, mentions how claiming to be African American would increase her chances of being accepted by colleges. Colleges want a diverse and multiracial population in their school, but most are multiracial nowadays.
How I used it: The benefits that come with some races and the difficulties people face when choosing a race to define who they are on applications/censes.
Background: Elizabeth Warren claims to have Native American ancestors despite no proof of being 1/32 Cherokee. The “one-drop” rule is applied here. If there is even a “drop” of another race in a man’s blood, then he can claim to be that race.
How I used it: Provided information and history of how America has defined race. In the past, if a person had a drop of black blood in them they were black, no matter what. Physical characteristics do not have to match the biological makeup, but people have a harder time accepting these types of race claims.
Background: Gender is usually recognized by children around 2 years of age. Parents can help to develop gender identity in their children by exposing their child to “different gender roles and different styles of play.” Children express their gender identity through social interactions (which gender they play with more), toys, games, clothes, hairstyles, nicknames, and social behaviors. Expectations of gender roles have changed now as girls can excel in activities only boys were thought to excel in and vice versa.
How I used it: To counter the idea that race is different from gender. Both develop through social interactions and environments that influences the way a person identifies themselves as. (Rebuttal argument)
7.http://cpr.indiana.edu/uploads/Categorizing%20Identities%20Handout%20FINAL%202.pdf
Background: A flow chart depicting the change of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) categories for Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Disability from 2012-2014.
How I used it: Times have changed and people no longer identify as just one race, but multiple. Gender is similar as there is the choice of neither male nor female and a choice for if a person does not prefer to respond.
Background: Based on the year 2000 and the year 2010 census, millions of Americans have changed their race.
How I used it: Used as evidence for how we unconsciously change our race over time. Race isn’t definite – it is a choice.
Background: The article describes how children from 5-18 years old though differently as they grew older. At a young age, children closer to 5 years old showed no preference for categorizing people and animals into races, but as they aged they began to show preferences depending on the community they grew up in.
How I used it: Further information on how environment aids in the development of race categories. The article also contained information mentioning how the belief in categorizing races leads to the preconceived ideas of a person based on the race they are categorized in (Example could be “White privilege”).
Background: In a 2015 Millennial poll, 50% of millennials believed gender to be a spectrum and not binary. From this 57% were women and 44% were men who believed in the gender spectrum. 55% of whites, 47% of Latinos, and 32% of African Americans also said gender is on a spectrum. In 2014 only about 26% of the Americans in the poll were comfortable with self-determination of gender.
How I used it: Americans, especially the Millennials, in 2015 are now very accepting of multiple genders and society is making exceptions for people that don’t fall in the binary (male/female) categories. There is a significant acceptance change from 2014 to 2015.
Definition Rewrite- brobeanfarms
As technology advanced, so did the average life span of the human race. Over time we have come across many new diseases, some with a higher severity. Out of every single disease, there is one that still stands out and strikes curiosity, Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Discovered in 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in brain tissue along with behavioral changes, which inevitably led to the discovery of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for 60% to 70% of cases of dementia, which also affects the brain tissue and the way the brain functions.
The brain itself is a complex organ. Signals which form memories and thoughts move through an individual nerve cell as a tiny electrical charge. Each thought generated as a result of the brain function creates these charges. After the electrical charge is formed, nerve cells connect to one another at something called synapses. When a charge reaches a synapse, it may trigger release of tiny bursts of chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters travel across the synapse, carrying signals to other cells. Scientists have identified dozens of neurotransmitters. In other words, this is how the brain communicates with the body and allows the body to carry out the necessary functions. In Alzheimer’s Disease, plaques can commonly be found between the dying cells in the brain from the build-up of a protein called beta-amyloid. The tangles created from these plaques are within the brain neurons from a disintegration of another protein, called tau. These built up protein clumps found around the neurons in the brain are the main cause of Alzheimer’s Disease. These clumps disrupt the way electrical charges travel within cells and the activity of neurotransmitters, making it difficult for the brain to carry out necessary actions.
Works Cited
“Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer’s Association.” Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer’s Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
“Alzheimer’s Disease: MedlinePlus.” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Annotated Bibliography- brobeanfarms
“Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer’s Association.” Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer’s Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background: This article differentiates between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. Diagnosing either or can be very problematic.
How I used it: I used this article as a key point to support my thesis. There is not enough research conducted towards a cure for Alzheimer’s. Not only this, but doctors are also undereducated in this field. It is extremely difficult to differentiate between Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia which demonstrates the lack of research.
“Alzheimer’s Disease: MedlinePlus.” MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
Background: This article provides information regarding every aspect of Alzheimer’s Disease. This ranges from the effects, how it is formed, and also theories as to why it forms.
How I used it: I incorporated this all throughout the paper, but more so on how the disease is formed. The process is very complex, so this article breaks everything down to help fully understand the complicated process.
Thompson, Dennis. “Alzheimer’s Disease Center: Dementia Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
Background: Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease are not very effective. Because it is a terminal disease, treatment can only slow the progression. This article also provides pre-diagnosed symptoms as well.
How I used it: Due to the lack of a cure, the only hope for patients with Alzheimer’s would be treatment. Treatments for the disease can vary, some more effective than others. This is a huge component which supports my thesis.
“Plaques in Alzheimer’s Disease.” Nature. International Weekly Journal of Science, 31 Aug. 2016. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
Background: The process of the formation of Alzheimer’s Disease is complex itself. The build up of protein plaques in the brain on the neurotransmitters is the main cause of the disease. This provides the make-up of these plaques as well as why they may form.
How I used it: With the process of how Alzheimer’s forms, this article confirms what exactly the plaques that cause the disease are made up of. This contributed to the part of the paper explaining how the disease forms.
Park, Alice. “Alzheimer’s from a New Angle.” Time. Time, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 14 Nov. 2016.
Background: The global crisis for Alzheimer’s is continually becoming more severe. This goes into depth of how our country is affected, as well as the world as a whole. With the average life expectancy rising, Alzheimer’s is becoming more prevalent and more common. Also goes into depth with patient suicides.
How I used it: Aside from the effects Alzheimer’s has on the individuals and families, hospitals and nursing homes are required to expand upon the needs for patients with Alzheimer’s. I also used this article to go into depth about patient suicides.
“What Are the 7 Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease?” Alzheimers.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.
Background: The progression of Alzheimer’s is complex and long. There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s, each progressively becoming more severe. This is how doctors diagnose patients with this disease to determine the severity of the disease. This is related to the diagnosing of cancer and the stages that it possesses.
How I used it: The first stage of this disease is harmless, which may lead to why this disease isn’t labeled as serious, dangerous disease that it needs to be. I personally explained each step based on my research in attempt to portray the severity of this disease and why we need the research to discover a cure.
“Medications for Memory Loss.” Latest Medication for Memory Loss | Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s Association, 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
Background: Medications are the only hope for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. Since there is currently not a cure, medication may be taken to lighten the symptoms and even possibly slow the progression of the disease down, though not curing the disease.
How I used it: This article was significant in providing information for treatment. The treatment options are not very effective.
“Breakthrough Drug for Patients.” The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
Background: This is the medication that is most effective for treating Alzheimer’s. It goes in depth on the process and how this drug works. It helps to eliminate the visible effects of Alzheimer’s, although it does not stop the progression. In other words, this drug only “masks” Alzheimer’s Disease.
How I used it: Scientists are conducting research for a cure, but in 110 years, the only breakthrough discovered is a treatment option. I used this in my paper to demonstrate that research has only began to break the surface of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease.” Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzhiemer’s Foundation of America, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
Background: To have an understanding of what Alzheimer’s exactly is is important. This provides a general background of the disease as well as the doctor who had discovered it 110 years ago.
How I used it: I used this article from time to time to help provide a better understanding on the disease. From previously not fully knowing what Alzheimer’s Disease was, this article helped me gain a better understanding.
MacGill, Markus. “Alzheimer’s Disease.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, 29 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
Background: Every aspect of Alzheimer’s Disease is covered. More specifically, the risk factors that may trigger Alzheimer’s are listed as well although these risk factors have not been scientifically proven to cause Alzheimer’s.
How I used it: Although this article covers every aspect of Alzheimer’s, I used this for main purpose of risk factors as well as what can be done to help prevent this disease.
Annotated Bibliography- Juniorgirlblog
- Bult, Laura. “Cop in Sandra Bland Case Accuses Prosecutors of Coverup.” NY Daily News. N.p., 29 July 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background:The officers in this case did not face any criminal charges, but they believe it wasn’t enough evidence against them.
How I use it : Because of the evidence including the picture that surface the media for weeks , which result in a mystery death the officers didn’t face any criminal charges.
2.Calacal, Celisa. “This Is How Many People Police Have Killed so Far in 2016.” ThinkProgress. N.p., 04
Background: How many people have been killed this year even though the year not over yet. This article reports that 855 people have died in the hands of police officers.
How I use it: This proves that Native American and African Americans are being killed at the highest rate in the United States.
- “Centuries of Rage: The Murder of Oscar Grant III.” San Francisco Bay View. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016Nov. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background: There was a fight on the train with Oscar Grant and some of his friends. Several cops arrived to the scene and took Grant and his friends off the train to arrest them. The officer that had Grant was unable to get one of his arms that was underneath him and shot him while his knee was still in his back.
How I use it : I used this article in this paper by show with multiple people recording the the whole entire murder the officer still didn’t face any criminal charges.
4.Clevel, Phil Trexler WKYC-TV. “Officer in Tamir Rice Shooting: ‘He Gave Me No Choice'” USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 14 June 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.
Background: Tamir Rice had received a toy gun from one of his friends and a near by Starbucks had reported it. Once the officers got on the scene, one of them automatically started shooting.
How I use it: I used this in my paper to show that the officer just started shooting for no reason and Tamir didn’t threaten either of the officers.
5.Ellis, Ralph. “Officer Charged with Manslaughter in Philando Castile Killing.” CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Background: Officer pulled Castile and his girlfriend over because he said they look like they have fit the description of a robbery that had just came in. While Castile reached for his ID the officer had shot him multiple times.
How I use it : I use this article to show that even after Castile let the officer no that he had a licensed weapon in his pocket , he was about to reach for his ID. The officer took shoots at him several time leaving him slumped over dying in front of his girlfriend and step daughter. The officer in this case was faced only 5 years.
6.Lowery, Wesley. “Aren’t More White People than Black People Killed by Police? Yes, but No.” The Washington Post. WP Company, 11 July 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Background: Yes, many believe that Blacks will be more likely to be killed by a officer because they are more likely be suspects in robberies and murders.
How I use it : I use this article in this paper by stating that Blacks have the higher rate of being killed by the police, but white people being killed by a officer is 2 times unlikely to be killed.
7.McKay, Tom. “One Map Shows How Many People Police Have Killed in Each State So Far This Year.” Mic. N.p., 25 Oct. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background: The map of the United States where the most police shooting has occurred in 2016. Out of the 50 states, in 47 of them, at least one or more people have been killed by police shootings.
How I use it : I use this article in the paper by showing where the most cases have happen and the statics of African American males being killed by a officer in that state.
8.News, BBC. “Freddie Gray’s Death in Police Custody – What We Know.” BBC News. N.p., 23 May 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Background: Freddie Gray was arrested because they believed he had switchblade and died while he was in police custody.
How I use it : I use this article in the paper to prove that even with two witness verifying what they saw when the police was abusing Grey, the charges against each officer was drop and they didn’t get any jail time.
9.”Police Violence Reports.” Mapping Police Violence. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background: The statics on the year of 2015 and how many unarmed African American men was killed. This article shows each African American including women who was killed by the cops.
How I use it : I used this article to show the unarmed African American males were being targeted but wasn’t the only ones being target.
10.”Sandra Bland’s Death: What We Know.” CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background: This article is about a innocent lady was stopped by white officer because of her “signal light” and was later killed at the prison.
How I use it :I used this article to show that they killed a African American women while she was in their custody . With the evidence including a video showing how they mistreated her , the jury dismissed the case with the officers involved. Not only African American men are targets it women also.
11.Williams, Janice. “Police Shooting Statistics 2016: Are More Black People Killed By
Officers Than Other Races?” International Business Times. N.p., 26 Sept. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
Background: Not only was 991 people was killed in 2015, but out of that total 258 were black. This year, out of the 719 people who was killed, 178 were black .
How I use it: I used this article to show that since last year African American killing by the police has increased and their is only a few months left within the year of 2016. I use this article to also show how African American men are more likely to be killed then African American women.
12.@mvmt4bl. “The Movement for Black Lives.” The Movement for Black Lives. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.
Background: Black lives matter movement was created after the killing of the late Treyvon Martian. The reason why this was created ,so all of the African Americans including males and females stand together to fight for their rights.
How I use it: I use it in this paper to show that African Americans just want justice for their people in a non violent way .
rebuttal argument- wvuhockey
A lot of time and money is invested to creating the safest sporting equipment possible. The pads are made to work when they fit properly. Athletes should be taught how to choose the correctly sized equipment. If they are using pads too big or too small, the pads will be covering the wrong areas which can result in serious injury. When worn the correct way, the pads will absorb majority of the physical blow and leave you unharmed. Players wearing the wrong sized equipment should be banned and regulated closer.
The rate of career ending injuries is on the rise so finally the heads of different leagues are putting stricter penalties for vicious hits that are known to cause harm to an individual. For example in hockey, the leading cause of concussions is due to a hit from behind into the boards.
The USA Hockey Rulebook clearly states that a major penalty plus a game misconduct penalty, or match penalty, must be called in the following instances:
(1) In every instance where a player forcefully checks an opponent who is standing along the boards (back toward the middle of the ice).
(2) In every instance where a player is thrust head first into the boards or goal frame.
(3) In every instance where injury results from a check from behind, regardless of whether or not board contact is made.
A match penalty must be assessed in all instances when a player clearly checks an opponent from behind with excessive force while the opponent is in a vulnerable position.
Checking from behind is senseless and extremely dangerous. On-Ice Officials must be sensitive to all checks from behind that occur within the “danger zone,” which is the area approximately ten feet out from the boards. Players who are checked from behind in this area and who then crash into the boards may be at high risk of receiving a serious and possibly life altering injury.
Similar rules have been put into place in football as well. The helmet to helmet, often referred to as targeting, hits are often life altering so the NFL had to do something about this epidemic. A large fine is given to the guilty player as well as a game misconduct. This is just one of many rule changes the NFL has passed in 2016. A few other new rules posted on NFL.com are:
- Make all chop blocks illegal.
- Expand the horse collar rule
- A player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls will be disqualified.
- Eliminate the five-yard penalty for when an eligible receiver illegally touches a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds. The owners voted to make it a loss of down.
These rules are all imposed to help lower the injury rate to these athletes and make the sport all around safer without losing the interest from the audience.
The Washington Post elaborates on the crisis claiming that, more than 40 percent of retired National Football League players had signs of traumatic brain injury based on sensitive MRI scans called diffusion tensor imaging, according to a press release from the AAN. The researchers studied 165 deceased people who had played the sport in high school, college or professionally, and found evidence of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in 131 of them.
works cited
“2016 Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis.” 2016 Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis | NFL Football Operations. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Casebook.” USA Hockey Officiating Rulebook Mobile Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.
“forty Percent of Former NFL Players Suffer from Brain Injuries, New Study Shows.” The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Casual Rewrite
Before New Year’s day in 2009, a black man name Oscar Grant was killed by a officer name Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California. Mehserle and several other officers responded to a fight on a crowded Bay Area Rapid Transit. The officers caught Grant and his friends from the train. While Grant was lying face down, Mehserle and another officer were restraining Grant. Because Mehserle was unable to remove Grant’s arm from under his body in order to handcuff him, Mehserle drew his pistol and shot Grant once in the back. During this incident, many people recorded what was happening up until Grant, who was unarmed, was shot. Officer Mehserle resigned from his position and pleaded not guilty during an investigation into the shooting. Later that year, Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and not guilty of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. This case shows that the officer had no reason to kill Grant; he only shot him because he was unable to remove his arm to be handcuffed.
In the year of 2014 , an African American boy named Tamir Rice was shot by a police officer. Two officers on November 22,2014 named Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback responded to a call that a young black boy was sitting on a swing and pointing a gun at people. However, the call also stated that the “gun” might have been fake and believed that Rice might be a juvenile that is doing this. When both officers arrived on the scene, Loehmann claimed that he saw a black gun on the table and the young boy put it in his waistband. Both officers told Rice to put his hands up, but they both stated that Rice reached into his waistband and pulled out the gun. Due to this observation by the officers, Loehmann began to shoot. Later, a video was released and in the video you can see that Rice wasn’t threatening the officers verbally or physically. Loehmann started to shoot as soon as he arrived on the scene. The gun that they stated Rice had was a Airsoft,which is known to be an air gun which was designed to shoot non-lethal plastic pellets and has a safety tip on it. Loehmann shot Rice in the torso. Rice had injuries in his major vessels, intestines, and the pelvis. In this case, both of the officers were placed on leave with pay, but the grand jury decided to dismiss all the charges against each officer.
In the year 2015, Freddie Gray, Jr. was arrested by the Baltimore Police Department for possessing what the police thought was an illegal switchblade. While Gray was being transported in a police van, he fell into a coma, and later died. When the doctor described Gray’s death, he stated that there were injuries to his spinal cord. During this, witnesses to this interaction were recording the whole event. The video showed Gray screaming as the officers were dragging him to the police van. Those witnessing Gray’s arrest saw one officer bending Gray’s legs backwards, and another holding him down with the officer’s knee pressing into Gray’s neck. Each of the officers who were involved in this case were not charged with his death. This made the African American community protest until the verdict changed because the evidence showed a video and that the van that held Gray stopped three times before taking him to the hospital, plus you even had two witnesses stating that they saw what the officer was doing to him and the only consequences they got was suspension with pay.
Philando Castile was shot by officer Jeronimo Yanez on July 6, 2016. Castile was driving in the car with his girlfriend Diamond Reynold and her daughter when being asked to pull over. When officer Yanez asked for Castile license and registration, Castile told the officer that he have licensed to carry a weapon that was in his pocket during the time. Castile was shot seven time while reaching for his ID after telling officer Yanez he had a gun permit and was armed. Castile girlfriend Reynold recorded the incident and put it online. Yanez was being charged with three felonies. In this case justice was served with the officer being charged for a crime that he did with evidence including a video that surface the air immediately right after it happen.
1.“Centuries of Rage: The Murder of Oscar Grant III.” San Francisco Bay View. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016Nov. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
2.Ellis, Ralph. “Officer Charged with Manslaughter in Philando Castile Killing.” CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
3.News, BBC. “Freddie Gray’s Death in Police Custody – What We Know.” BBC News. N.p., 23 May 2016. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
Rowan Counterintuitive 