Rowan Counterintuitive

For my research essay I will be examining the difficulty to accept people identifying as a different race, when it is accepted in society today to claim a different gender from your biological one. In 2015, former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner officially identified as a woman and was applauded for this announcement. She was accepted as a popular transgender woman, but when others identified as a different race they weren’t accepted. Also in 2015, the former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Rachel Dolezal was revealed to not be biologically black. She “identifies” as black, but just identifying as a race doesn’t make you a race. Or does it? If Caitlyn Jenner can be a woman, why can’t Rachel Dolezal be black?

America separates race as White (non-hispanic), African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaskan Native, and bi- and multiracial. When check marking a box for who we identify as there is even an option for “other,” and we are expected to pick our biological race rather than what we identify as. Gender used to be: Female or Male, but gender today isn’t as defined. A male can claim to be female, or vice versa, or even gender fluid, but know that whatever they claim is accepted and respected. What makes gender identification more acceptable than race identification? Being born into a white family means you must also be white, but there are cases of adoption to consider. If a they were born Asian, but adopted into a white family, are they still Asian? Also, the benefits of claiming to be a certain race, such as applying for colleges and scholarships, make many disagree with the freedom to claim one’s race. This problem is confounding yet should be able to be answered as easily as a person’s gender.

1.The Transracial Adoption Paradox

The Essential Content: This article is about how by being adopted into a white family causes others to treat the adopted child of different race as if they are also white. Despite the “white privilege” Janine Bishop received as a Korean adoptee into a white family, she truly considered herself to be Korean, yet society categorized her as White because she has been Americanized and raised by her white parents. Transracial is usually described by domestic interracial adoption or international adoption. Transracial adoptees tend to show more variability in their racial/ethnic identities. Racial identities in transracial adoptees tend to vary due to age, race, and geography. Prejudice and discrimination during adolescence and adulthood cause their choice of racial identity to change whether it’s due to pride, discomfort or other wise.

What it Proves: I can use this article to explain the complications of choosing a specific race with the transracial adoption example presented in the article. At one point in their lives, participants mentioned in the studies of the article had claimed to be white at one point, yet  changed their answer to their biological race in adulthood. The identity they chose was what they thought their race was at the time, but as seen, it can change for multiple reasons, such as discrimination or a growing pride in ones biological ethnicity.

2.Being Blackish: Race and Self-Identification

The Essential Content: Ethnic and racial classifications aren’t definite, but exist due to social conditions. All races have some example of changing or enhancing their appearance to look like another race, yet it is unacceptable for a woman like Rachel Dolezal to perm her hair and have a dark tan to appear black. Another example is how in the documentary Somewhere Between four Chinese adopted girls all felt white, but were considered to still be Chinese and were discriminated against for being Chinese. There is further personal information about Rachel Dolezal, her family especially in this article such as her having 4 adopted African American brothers.

What it Proves: I can use this article to help explain how race, like gender, can be a choice rather than a category. This article contains information that exhibits how adoption can create racial identity crisis.

3.Half of young people believe gender isn’t limited to male and female

The Essential Content: 1000 people from the ages 18-34 were surveyed to chose which category of gender recognition they believe in: Gender can only be male and female, Gender is a spectrum, or I don’t know. Half of them said that gender is a spectrum and believed in there being more than just the binary idea of gender. There are also ID cards in some cities like San Fransisco that have no specified gender.

What it Proves: I can use this article to show how supporting Americans, especially the current generation, is accepting of multiple genders and how society is making exceptions for people that don’t fall in the binary (male/female) categories. Society is willing to make ID cards for transgendered or otherwise people, so they should also be able to accept and support transracial citizens too.

4.Genetically white woman now claims self-identify as black: If you can choose your gender, can you also choose your race?

The Essential Content: Claiming race can create problems when applying for scholarships. Whites can identify as African-Americans in order to  apply for a scholarship since there isn’t a need for genetic testing to ensure you are black if anyone is allowed to identify as whatever race they choose to identify as. This denies actually African-Americans from getting the scholarships they need to further their education.

What it Proves: This article provides evidence of negatives to allowing people to identify as the race they choose.

5.Race and Ethnicity confusion

The Essential Content: Most Americans have multiple racial and ethnic origins that over generations of possible interracial marrying, ancestry becomes less important as family trees begin to include more than just one race. One example mentioned is that many whites are multiracial, but often times they choose their ancestry or race based on a favored cuisine or culture. There are also times when people tend to act “color blind” and not separate people based on races because they want to avoid using race as a descriptive factor.

What it Proves: I can use this article to support how racial origins in America aren’t just separated into white, black, asian, or etc. but is more complex. Why should identifying as a specific race or races be so important that a person is denied being black because they’re biologically white when a white person can claim to be German or Irish if they feel like it. There is no difference in claiming one race from multiple and claiming to be a race is what this article can help explain.

 

For my research essay, I will be examining the flaw in health care regarding the brain disease Alzheimer’s, how this disease can be cured and prevented, and how this inevitable disease forms. Over the past years, numbers have continued to rise in the amount of individuals who have developed Alzheimer’s disease, but one controversial question that still remains is how? Alzheimer’s is a mysterious brain disease that tends to form in progression with age, affecting many aspects of the brain.

The amount of individuals who are diagnosed with this disease have continued to rise and will do so until action is taken place regarding prevention and cure. Within the research of Alzheimer’s, I will look into what causes of the disease, what effects Alzheimer’s has on the brain and body, and what can be done to monitor, prevent and cure Alzheimers.

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp

The essential content of the article: This article provides facts about Alzheimers within the category of dementia. It is the most common form of dementia and it explains the progression of the disease.

What it proves: This article proves that it is a severe disease which progresses in severity over time.

 

https://medlineplus.gov/alzheimersdisease.html

The essential content of the article: This article describes the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and explains how to treat it depending upon the stage or severity of the disease.

What it proves: This article proves that Alzheimer’s disease is treatable.

 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159442.php

The essential content of the article: This article goes in depth on the causes of Alzheimer’s as well as the risk factor’s that could cause symptoms of the disease.

What it proves: This article proves that conclusions in early stages of life can play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s in the later years of life.

 

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v537/n7618/full/nature19323.html

The essential content of the article: This article examines the scientific aspect of the progression of this disease in the brain. This article goes into detail of the anatomy of the brain as well.

What it proves: This article proves that Alzheimer’s is scientifically researched as to how the disease progresses and the effects it has on the brain.

 

http://time.com/4217067/alzheimers-from-a-new-angle/

The essential content of the article:Explains the race to find a cure for the disease. The severity is slowly increasing along with the percentage in older adults.

What it proves: This article proves that a cure is essential, and it demonstrates the degenerative downfall of the brain over time.

 

Food pricing at professional sports games are ridiculous.  How many times have you ever heard someone say “wow what a deal $20.00 for a cheesesteak a drink!” while being at a sporting event? Chances are you most likely haven’t.  For my research paper I would like to dive into the unspoken truth that pricing at concession stands are unreasonable and should be changed for not only to better the experience for the spectators but also to improve the profit margin made by the concession stands.

Your claim is that food concession prices at professional sporting games are . . . exploitive? . . . unconscionable? . . . unethical? . . . illegal? . . . bad business? . . .  Clarify this essential point and clean up your grammar. Pricing (ARE?) ridiculous? Pricing (ARE?) unreasonable? FOR not only to better? [The grammar probably won’t survive to the next rewrite, but the claims probably will.] Strengthen and clarify the claims.

Nowadays people tailgate not only just because it’s a fun little tradition fans of sports look forward to participating in every year but also to save some money.  Even if the prices of concession stands go down I still believe that people will continue to tailgate but tailgating is not the problem.  If prices go down people will potentially buy more while in the stadium especially when the price is right.  The fact of the matter is people already paid for a ticket, parking and possibly their significant other or children.  By reducing prices I believe that it will be a win-win for both the spectator and the stadium concession stands.

What’s your point here, Harambe? Has anybody ever identified tailgating as THE REASON prices for stadium concessions are so high? You write as if this were an obvious argument, but it’s not. You need to establish that others say it’s so. Otherwise, who are you arguing with?

http://www.sports-management-degrees.com/stadium/

The Essential Content of the Article:  This article gives percentages, and statistics of pricing for professional sports teams.  Using these statistics will give my reader a better understanding and facts to support my claim.

That’s not obvious from your summary. Do the statistics in the article demonstrate that stadium prices are 5 times as high as out-of-stadium prices for similar items? If so, that would be “the essential content of the article.” You haven’t said so. You haven’t said anything at all. You say the article has statistics: that is a meaningless statement. Are you understanding the difference?

What It Proves:  That pricing at professional sports games are high.  Using this source along with some of my others I can prove they could potentially increase their profit margin if they lower their prices.

Show me.

http://jse.sagepub.com/content/8/2/183.full.pdf+html

The Essential Content of the Article:  An article written by a scholar that I will use to support my claim that not only concession stand prices are high but a better look at the overall pricing for just the experience at a professional sports game is high.  This article shows a time lapse of over the years of when the increase occurs what happens to the overall demand.

You’re doing it again. Does the article demonstrate that every time prices go up, volume of sales decreases? That would be “the essential content of the article.” Later, you might be able to prove that the decrease in sales is enough to damage profits. That would be “the essential content” of the second article. Please notice that your statement avoids drawing ANY conclusion: “when the increase occurs what happens to the overall demand.” WHAT HAPPENS is the conclusion you need to draw.

What It Proves:  When a price increase occurs the demand seems to drop.  It shows that people either eat before or after but avoid eating at games because of the insane pricing.

This is more like it, but misses by one step. If it proves that demand drops, that’s useful. But if it also shows that profits fall, it REALLY proves something.

http://www.therichest.com/sports/top-10-most-expensive-concessions-at-sporting-events-2/

The Essential Content of the Article: This source shows how ridiculous some concession stands really are.  It gives the top most expensive items from professional sports teams concession stands currently still active today.

Well . . . you could find precisely similar data showing how much diners overpay for wine at fine restaurants, or for “bottle service” at clubs. Doing so, you might inadvertently prove the opposite of what you intend: that at exclusive venues, EVERY property owner will gouge customers as much as possible.

What it Proves: That concession stands are unreasonable and which stadiums take advantage of their fans the most.

That’s interesting and might give you a shot at a better paper. Do stadiums whose customers CAN afford to pay more take more advantage of those customers than stadiums whose customers CAN’T?

https://consumerist.com/2010/04/25/baseball-park-food-is-so-overpriced-do-i-still-have-to-tip/

The Essential Content of the Article: The title of this article speaks volumes for itself. Prices are outrageous and I am not the only one who feels this way.  This author goes into detail explaining his experience at a Major League Baseball game.

Not clear on the content here. Does it contain data on comparative prices relative to other entertainment venues (movie theaters? clubs? fine restaurants? live theater lobbies?)? Or is it just a screed from somebody who feels ripped?

What it Proves: That many others including myself feel that something needs to be done about pricing at professional sporting events.  People are questioning whether they even need to tip which should be a wake up call as this can affect not only their overall sales but the overall attitude of their employees.

Not quite feeling this. Tips have absolutely nothing to do with the cost of food items. I grant you, the markup does make 15% seem like a radical overpayment for service rendered. THAT is a reasonable argument for any sane person. Why do we tip based on the size of the bill instead of the amount of service rendered?

The Essential Content of the Article: This explains from one author’s [opinion] [point of view] why prices are so high at sporting events and just in general.  That is because they know people are going to pay it.  This article gives me another opinion to use in my paper.

Not quite. “People are going to pay it” is never the answer. The answer is always: “Enough people will pay it so that we make a bigger profit than we would if we lowered the prices.”  THAT’S the claim you need to refute if you want to argue for change.

What It Proves: At least from this [authors] [author’s] understanding that pricing is high because they know people are going to pay it.  They know they  [can not] [cannot] bring their own stuff into the game and people are going to want food, or a snack and that these concession stands are in full control of the experience.

For my research paper, I delve into the concepts of generations and how the dividing of age groups by name brings condemnatory views against the groups due to name alone. The labeling of millennials being lazy and narcissistic is commonly imposed by even something as prestigious as Time magazine. Yet this blatant hatred for the other generation is commonplace and has been instilled for people to criticize the people who “live it easy” no matter what generation they are from. The Baby Boomers criticize Generation X, Generation X criticize Generation Y also known as the Millennials, and the Millennials will inevitably criticize the next generation (creatively named Generation Z).

Even though the animosity between generations is essentially cyclical, the fact of the matter is the idea of generations doesn’t even really exist. The Census Bureau that calculates different data of the population, such as religious concentration, of the United States does not define generations other than the Baby Boomers who were born in the years from 1946 – 1964. Instead, the media becomes the deciding factor of the derogatory attributes imposed on the generations. Magazines such as Time and Life to countless news programs are caught time and time again bashing the people below them throughout history.

 

Your Generational Identity is a Lie

The Essential Content of the Article: The article speaks of generations as a definition/ class that people made to label themselves. With the labels, that are made from the people rather than officially stated, the people then impose characteristics that may or may not be true to the entire demographic. It also touches on the gray areas of determining generations, with the many names each generation receives and how arbitrary the years that define the generations really are.

What it Proves: This article emphasizes how weak the definitions of generations truly are and how this system of generalizing massive amounts of people under one category really is quite detrimental

 

Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation

The Essential Content of the Article: A Time article that showcases the proof that the stereotypes of Millenials are indeed true. Calling the Millenials the Me generation, the author writes of how the millennials became narcissistic due to technology and the self-esteem needed for academic success. He then speaks of how millennials need to be engaged or else can’t otherwise be bothered. Speaks about the unneeded dependency that the millennials have and the pointless culture that thrives from it. The author then states some positives that coexist with the negatives, such as being more optimistic and idealists.

What it Proves: This article is an embodiment of a majority of the criticisms that generations impose on the millennials. The sense of superiority along with the dismissing of logical reasons behind observations while assuming many negative characteristics showcases the divide between generations.

 

“The Generation Gap”

The Essential Content of the Article: This article speaks criticizes the Baby Boomers from its more relaxed views on drugs to their work ethics.

What it Proves: This article instates the idea that the discrimination of the younger generation is timeless. No matter what period of time it is, the previous generation criticizes the later due to differences in culture and technology and is bound to repeat itself over and over again

Most Millennials Resist the ‘Millennial’ Label

The Essential Content of the Article: Consists of numerous studies of a sample size of 3147 people that asks numerous questions to different generations in regards to their own generation. It is found that the millennials  are less likely to embrace the label Millenial compared to Baby Boomers embracing the label Baby Boomers and are more likely to attribute negative traits such as being self-absorbed and wasteful. Alternatively, older Generations such as the Baby Boomers and the silent generation see themselves in more of a positive light, attributing traits such as hard-working and moral.

What it Proves: The finding that Millenials are more ashamed of their generations while the older generations are more prideful even though they both consist of the same amount of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ people showcases how the label of generations negatively impact the younger generations. The older generations that see themselves with a rose-tinted lens easily bash on the younger generations who are being brought up thinking that it is truth.

 

What Is A ‘Millennial’ Anyway? Meet The Man Who Coined The Phrase

The Essential Content of the Article: Speaks about Neil Howe and William Strauss and coining the term Millenials. At first, there was no name for the generation X and was called 133ers as they were the 13th generation after Benjamin Franklin in their book that studied the different generations. Eventually, they coined the term millennial to showcase the importance of the generation that would deal with the new millennium which would be drastically different. Different sources then used the term Millenials is different books and studied and the name stuck. However, it is noted that the people are adverse to it, as the deem the label derogatory as people label millennials narcissistic. Howe dismisses the idea, asserting, “One person’s narcissism is another person’s healthy self-esteem.”  

 

What it Proves: The article proves the manner of how the name of a generation arises; rather than many different scholars that observe the grouping of different age groups and all agree to name, it essentially becomes whatever names catches on. The person who coined the term even rejects the idea that the label is not good for the people in the generation, even though millennials themselves have shown that they do not enjoy the label millennials

For my paper I decided to write about Vancouver’s growing problem with heroin. Vancouver is giving addicts the best heroin on earth for free as well as clean needles, supervision, and assistance. The city believes that what they are doing is actually helping these addicts problem but that it is also lowering the rate of crimes that these addicts out do in order to get the drugs. By supplying the clean heroin, they are keeping them off the streets and preventing many hospital visits.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-02-04/vancouver-combats-heroin-giving-its-addicts-best-smack-world

Background: This article gives general information about what is happening in Vancouver as well as things that are being provided with the clinics.

How It Will Be Used: I will use these general details of the issue so I can get a better understanding of what is going on.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/50901-prescription-heroin-in-vancouver-will-be-handed-to-addicts-in-a-game-changing-experiment

Background: This article covers the cause of many addicts overdoses are due to another drug that is being sold as heroin.

How It Will Be Used: I will use this to show the clinics are keeping addicts from running into this other drug in the streets.
http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1926160,00.html

Background: This article displays where this idea manifested. It also discusses the effects of weaning people off of heroin.

How It Will Be Used: I will use this article to show how it can work and that it has worked before.

http://sciencenordic.com/heroin-clinics-improve-addicts-lives

Background: This article shows that the heroin clinics have lower dropout rates and that many positive things that have come from them.

How It Will Be Used: I can use this to show the positive side of giving heroin to addicts.
https://www.drugs.com/illicit/heroin.html

Background: This article explains how heroin is about 2-3 times more potent than morphine. It also provides information on how it is taken and what the effects are.

How It Will Be Used: This shows the idea of providing heroin in a safe way and with safe tools.