Rebuttal Rewrite–lmj20

The Benefits of Failure

The public’s attitude toward standardized testing plays a large role in its implementation and development. Over the past few years, state education departments have faced increased scrutiny due to worries about high-stakes tests and their effect on education. Most recently, the achievement gap between lower class minority students and high class white students has been brought to the public eye and fought against.  However, there are still many that argue that standardized tests are actually beneficial to students, teachers, and education as a whole. In Latasha Gandy’s “Don’t Believe the Hype: Standardized Tests Are Good For Children, Families, and Schools,” she claims that standardized tests actually help minority or low income students by displaying the inequality of schooling. She argues that these tests are one of the most effective and convincing tools to use to fight for educational justice. Since she public is now aware of the achievement gap between minority and white students, schools will now be forced to answer to the inequality and eventually fight to fix it.

To begin, standardized tests are more than just one test taken and eventually forgotten about. The implications of these tests grow more and more over time and could follow the students for months even years after the final answer is circled on the paper. So yes, while standardized tests may be a tool to show the inequity of schooling for minority and low income students, that realization is not directly benefitting these schools, students, and communities. In fact, it is likely harming them. Low performing schools lose funding, low performing students are held back academically, and communities with low performing students are more susceptible to crime. Two studies, The Cambridge Study on Delinquent Development and the Pittsburgh Youth Study, both found links between low academic performance and adolescent delinquency. Although these tests are showing the score gap for the public to see, the students still have to suffer the consequences of the gap. The inequity that is shown in the test results ruin futures and lessens already scarce resources for schools. It is hard to find benefit in those student’s lower performance.

The constant failures and lower scores of minority and lower class students would be to overlook if they were not in vain. However, the “achievement gap” still exists and has existed since the beginning of standardized testing. According to the NAEP, National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Caucasian American and African American gap in mathematics for 17 year olds was 32 points in 1982 while in 2004 it was 28 points.  In reading achievement tests, the gap for 17 years olds in 1984 was 32 points and in 2004 it was 29. For hispanic Americans, the gap in mathematics was 27 points in 1982 for mathematics and 24 in 2004. In reading, the Hispanic gap 27 points in 1984 and then increased to 29 points in 2004. Therefore, to say that these tests are benefitting these students because it helps communities recognize the gap so that they can close it is just not true. That would be an excellent concept, if it were actually happening. In reality though, the gap still exists. Although it is narrowing in some cases, progress is slow. It took twenty years for the gap to narrow by three points. In that time, hundreds of thousands of students suffered the consequences of lower performance of standardized tests.

All in all, to say that standardized tests are benefitting minority students is insulting to the students who every year face the uphill battle of these tests and continued to be frustrated by the results. In theory, the concept of standardized tests being used as the tool to identify and abolish the achievement gap is amazing. However, in reality, that goal is just not being achieved. The achievement gap still exists today despite its existence being discovered over thirty years ago. There is now a lot more awareness for the problem but that is no consolation to the students who are failing and the schools that are getting less funding. To say that a racial achievement gap is beneficial is to undermine the effect it has on minority students.

Works Cited

“Education and Delinquency: Summary of a Workshop.” Linking School Performance and Delinquency. The National Academy of the Sciences, 2000. Web. 12 Nov. 2016.

Gandy, Latasha. “Don’t Believe the Hype: Standardized Tests Are Good for Children, Families and Schools.” Education Post. Education Post, 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 12 Nov. 2016.

“NAEP – Achievement Gaps.” NAEP – Achievement Gaps. National Center for Educational Statistics, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 12 Nov. 2016.

Causal Rewrite–lmj20

Failing the Education System

Standardized achievement tests are wolves in sheep’s clothing that are detrimental to the health of the education system. Many parents, students, and taxpayers falsely believe that standardized testing is just a short chunk of time, usually a week or several days, where students take a state-mandated test and then go back to normal curriculum. While the actual pencil-to-paper testing may only take a week, the test itself effects a student’s learning throughout the entire school year. From narrowing curriculum to devoting a great deal of classroom time to test preparation, teachers feel forced to devalue education in order to allow their class to achieve high test scores. Achievement and intelligence are very complex concepts and presently they are being reduced to a score or percentile. This implies that the knowledge of a student is only as important as the score they achieve on a standardized test. In this way, standardized tests devalue the American education system.

Due to standardized tests increased emphasis on reading and math, studies have shown that teachers often exclude or limit topics that are not tested, particularly in elementary school. In the Center of Education Policy’s “Narrowing the Curriculum” study they found that many districts are cutting instructional time in areas like social studies, science, art, music, and physical education. A nationally representative study has found that 27% of districts cut a portion of social studies instruction time to increase reading and math instruction, 22% cut science, 20% cut music, and 18% cut other subjects. On top of this, 71% of districts admitted that students at risk of failing standardized tests had other subjects cut for them in order to make more time reading and math. For example, students at risk of failing the standardized tests would go to extra small group reading and math instruction while the other students went to music class or gym class. This means spending a majority of time on reading and math while spending the bare minimum time on other valuable subjects. Although some may believe that emphasis on reading and math does not sound so bad, it is simply unfair to deprive students of valuable topics that help make them well-rounded citizens. Subjects like history and science are just as important in helping children discover their passions while obtaining knowledge.

Another way that standardized tests devalue education is through a process called “teaching to the test.” According to the Center for Public Education’s “High Stake Testing and Effects on Instruction,” teaching to the test is made up of a wide variety of teaching practices such as scrapping classroom learning time for test preparation, narrowing curriculum to better fit test questions, and teaching memorization over high order skills. Teaching to the test is not just ensuring test readiness by making an effort to cover areas that are being tested. Teaching to the test is a deliberate attempt to base curriculum on the sole priority of achieving passing scores. With increased stakes for students and higher pressures from administrators who crave more school funding, teachers find themselves more and more in the position of teaching to the test. A study by Rand Corporation called “Standard-Based Accountability: Experiences of Teachers and Administrators” analyzed standardized testing in California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Results found that an average of 90% of principals in those three states implemented a strategy of “matching curriculum and instruction with assessments” to improve scores. That means that in those three states, and likely across the country, teachers are being instructed by their bosses to teach to the test.

In addition, the high-stakes nature of tests devalues education by increasing the prevalence of cheating. Kenneth H. Wodtke’s study “How Standardized is School Testing? An Exploratory Observational Study of Standardized Group Testing in Kindergarten” demonstrates how increased pressure influences test scores. The study observed ten kindergarten classrooms, classes 1-5 were from upper-middle class communities and classes 6-10 were from lower income communities who were also participating in a district-sponsored program to raise test scores. Teachers in low income communities that were participating in the program were seven times more likely to commit significant procedural variations, ten times more likely to allow unauthorized item repetitions, and thirty-nine times more likely to cue correct answers than their wealthier counterparts. This study shows that teachers who are pressured, especially by a funded program that demands higher test scores, are more likely to cheat which clearly devalues not only the test but the value of education as a whole. Wodtke, after observing what he had, deemed that the scores of these ten tests were incomparable to each other since there was mismanagement in one way or another which would ruin test validity in eight of the ten classes. Yet, some of the districts in this study used the scores from these very tests to place children into first grade classrooms. The mismanagement of test administration may now have horrible consequences for those students who may have been placed in the wrong classroom.

The realization that teachers have a hand in the degradation of education leads many to question why teachers would willingly take part in such practices. Teachers devote their lives to a career thats goal is to provide children with knowledge, so understandably it is hard to consider that they would contribute to  devaluing student’s instruction. The most influential reason that teachers would voluntarily narrow curriculum, teach to the test, or cheat is the high-stakes nature of tests. In the Rand Corporation study, “Standard-Based Accountability: Experiences of Teachers and Administrators,” results found that an average of 54% of schools in the states of CA, GA, and PA use tests to assess teacher performance and 53% use them to decide student promotion and retention. Teachers want their students to succeed and in an educational system where passing a standardized test equates to success, there are not many options for struggling educators.

All in all, high-stake standardized testing, which has become the norm in American public schools, is devaluing education by reducing success in school to a number. As a society, we want well-rounded knowledgeable students that will contribute to the next generation yet we create simple standard tests to measure their capability.  It is time to create accommodating and specific tests that promote high-level thinking and allow every student the right and ability to achieve a high score. It is time to stop using a test score to define education. Tests should be used as educational tools for teachers that help them understand what topics students are struggling with and which they excel in. Tests should not be used to measure teacher quality, determine funding for schools, or to solely determine whether a child passes or fails a grade. Education is worth more than that and one high stakes test should never be used to measure the vast and brilliant knowledge that any given student possesses.

Works Cited

Hamilton, L. S., Stecher, B. M., Marsh, J. A., McCombs, J. S., Robyn, A., Russell, J. L., et al. (2007). Standards-based accountability under No Child Left Behind: Experiences of teachers and administrators in three states. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.

Mitchell, Ruth. “High-Stakes Testing and Effects on Instruction.” Center for Public Education. Center for Public Education, 6 Mar. 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.

“NCLB: Narrowing the Curriculum?” NCLB Policy Brief. Center on Education Policy, 1 July 2005. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.

 

A12 Casual Rewrite – aaspiringwriter

India: The Next Superpower?

India is the biggest successful democracy in the world and has a strong political system. It has made tremendous growth in the sectors such as: Information Technology, Agriculture, Infrastructure, Education, healthcare etc. However, if India wants to be a Superpower it will have to eliminate the problems such as corruption, Inflation, population explosion, illiteracy etc and start contributing more towards science, research and innovation, encouraging small business and keeping peace with its neighboring nations.

Corruption in India is severe. As per the World Corruption Audit conducted in 2015, India ranked 65th out of the 150 democratic nations. Almost every person in India has been asked to pay the bribe at-least once in their lifetime. According to the Indian Corruption Study 2005, “Common citizens of the country pay a bribe of Rs. 21,068 crores while availing one or more of the eleven public services in a year.” Lack of transparency in the public sector, poor tax regulation and licensing policies can be considered the root causes of corruption in India. Bribing a public servant to get the work done quickly has been a common ritual there and Indians have somewhat gotten used to it. However, an Anti-corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare in 2011 has been an eyeopener for both the government and the citizens. Ten’s of thousands of citizens joined the movement forcing the government to pass a new Anti-Corruption bill (Lokpal Bill) in the Parliament. In 2015, to fight against corruption; The Prime Minister of India took a drastic step and announced the demonetization of the rupee to control tax invasion and eradicate black money from the country. Such movements is a proof that if the people and the government of the nation unite and work together, they can eradicate the problems. Some effort made in the present can help India to be the superpower in the future.

Growing population has been the biggest hindrance in country’s growth and India is the second most populous country in the world after china. To be a superpower, the nation should be able to manage its man power and resources and distribute them evenly. But, because of the enormous population, it has been tough for India to maintain the balance. However, due to various population control campaigns and increase in the number of educated people, a slight decline in the growth rate  has been observed. Rema Nagrajan in her article, “The Myth of India’s population explosion,” stated “India’s total fertility rate — a measure of the number of children born to a woman during her lifetime — was down from 5.9 in 1951 to 2.3 in 2011.” If India successes in stabilizing its population then it has good chances of being the superpower.

To sum up, Corruption and Population explosion can be a big problem for any country. But despite of that if a country is able to make constant progress and at such a fast pace then it really has immense potential to be the Superpower.

Works Cited

2012. N.p.: Authorhouse, 2012. 11-12. Web.

“Home Countries India: World Democracy Profile.” India: World Audit Democracy Profile. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.

“India – Corruption.” Foreign Law Guide (n.d.): 1. Web.

“The Myth of India’s Population Explosion.” Times Of India Blogs. N.p., 22 June 2016. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.

Rebuttal Rewrite-edwardnihlman

Do Violent Video Games Translate to Violent Behavior?

Violent video games causing violent behavior in gamers seems like a reasonable thing to conclude. The evidence for such a conclusion is also seemingly concrete.  Such evidence includes studies showing that aggression does increase when playing violent video games, as well as testimonies from culprits. However, everything that this argument is founded on is incorrect. I have found that the evidence supporting violent video games as a catalyst for violence is taken for granted and interpreted incorrectly to favor that stance.

 Firstly, the American Psychological Association’s research on video games finds that there is a correlation between playing violent video games and increases in aggression. This would seem conclusive at face value if it were not for the fact that there are various forms of aggression. Aggressive behavior takes the form of anything from lying and throwing tantrums to fighting and hurting people. It can be verbal or physical, subtle or noticeable. The studies done by the Association are not conclusive in pointing out a link between violent video games and criminal activity, but rather violent video games and a broad spectrum of aggressive actions. It may be possible that there is a connection, but according to data collected by the Entertainment Software Association, as general video game sales increase, the total number of violent offences has been decreasing over time. This shows that despite a larger population of gamers having played violent video games, there have been less violent crimes.

 On another note, a critical point is that some criminals admit to video games playing a part in their crime. ABC News reported in 2003 that William and Joshua Buckner shot at passing cars on the Tennessee highway, killing a man and injuring a woman. After being apprehended, they claimed that they were inspired to do the crime after playing a came called Grand Theft Auto. There seems to be very obvious scapegoating in this situation. James Fleck explains in his essay Why We Blame Others, that people will blame another person or source for an action out of habit. When someone is under heat for their actions, it is a natural reaction to attempt to bring attention off of one’s self and onto another source. This instance is no different. Whether or not someone is trying to lessen their prison sentence or some other underlying goal, criminals will typically bring other people or another factor into their crime so that they do not get the full wrath of their apprehension.

 In conclusion, the evidence that supports the argument of violent video games causing violent behavior is often misinterpreted. Just because games can cause aggression, does not mean it results in criminal activity, especially when violent crimes are decreasing as video games are becoming more and more popular. Even testimonies from criminals cannot be taken at face value since a criminal will say almost anything to lessen the consequences of their actions. In reality, for a perpetrator to blame video games only adds to the idea that violent video games are used as a scapegoat.

Works Cited

“APA Review Confirms Link Between Playing Violent Video Games and Aggression.” American Psychological Association. N.p., 13 Aug. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Entertainment Software Association, “Essential Facts About Games and Violence,” http://www.theesa.com, 2008

News, ABC. “Did Video Game Drive Teens to Shootings?” ABC News. ABC News Network, 06 Sept. 2003. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.

Fleck, J. R. (2011). Why we blame others: An examination of scapegoating (Order No. 1492807). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (862344967).

Causal Rewrite-edwardnihlman

One of a Million

When someone commits a crime, it is very easy for the government or parents to blame video games, because they are not associated with them. The fact of the matter is, violent video games are only one out of many sources of increased aggression, and it is not even a particular one that is directly correlated with criminal activity. If people would dig deeper, they would find that the video games and other media, are not the blame for mass murders and other crimes. An individual’s environment, upbringing, and social class create aggression and contribute to criminal activity.

Despite what others may say, not every United States citizen has equal opportunities. Some people have disadvantages against them based on their race, ethnicity, gender, etc. With this in mind, consider an experiment performed by Tobias Greitemeyer and Christian Sagioglou which proves that people of a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be aggressive than those of a higher status. The United States government promises equal opportunity, and yet many people have it harder than others. If these same people are forced into a lower class, find increased aggression from their status, and then commit a crime, then it does not paint a very pretty picture of the government which allows such things to occur and blames video games for its own failures.

 Furthermore, Jennifer Welsh wrote about a study by Michael Lorber, which discovered that an aggressive personality can be formed due to negative parenting when a child is still an infant. Since a baby is very impressionable, a parent’s negative treatment towards the child and around the child can assist in building a violent mind that could later commit crimes. The point is, violent video games are a proven cause of aggressive behavior in people, but it is not the only factor. There are other reasons for increasing aggressive behavior;  some of which are not flattering for various groups of people. If attention was put on society or parenting, as a cause for increased aggression, it might make the government or parents very concerned for their own image. In contrast, people put all of the attention on interactive media.

 However, some might say that while there are other causes of aggression, violent video games on a whole, is the most noteworthy one. It allows a player to control the actions and desensitize them through that. If one form of aggression is to be considered more effective than another, then there should be some way to identifying this. A simple argument would be that crime clearly comes from playing violent video games. That argument holds very little validity,  when a study by the American Psychological Association shows that, while it has been proven that games do increase aggression, there is an inability to clearly correlate these aggressive behaviors to criminal activity; especially since aggression takes on a multitude of forms, some of which are not even physical. In the end, someone who commits a crime due to their socioeconomic status seems more apparent since they are obviously poor and have a more clear motive.

 In conclusion, things such as parenting and social status are just as much a cause of aggression as violent video games. This opens the door for tons of other possible reasons for violent behavior. Video games may be correlated to increased aggression, but they are hardly the core cause of it. More so, they only play as a  partial factor.

Works Cited

Greitemeyer, Tobias, and Christina Sagioglou. “Subjective Socioeconomic Status Causes Aggression: A Test Of The Theory Of Social Deprivation.” Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology 111.2 (2016): 178-194. PsycARTICLES. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.

Welsh, Jennifer. “‘Negative Parenting’ Starts Aggressive Personalities Early.” Live Science. N.p., 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 6 Nov. 2016.

“APA Review Confirms Link Between Playing Violent Video Games and Aggression.” American Psychological Association. N.p., 13 Aug. 2015. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Causal Argument Rewrite-Dublin517

                                  The End of Romantic Misogyny, Thanks Internet

                 Our western culture has lead us to believe that women in  monogamous relationships are superior, happier women, but as another sexual revolution rears its noble head; thoughts are changing. Not all women want to, or can, fit the mold of girlfriend or wife, that is why the transition of monogamy to free and open lifestyles is so significant. Authors Pantea Farvid and Virginia Baum help to sum up the negatives of institutional monogamy. Pointing out that the interests of men and capitalism are nursed by the existence of possessiveness, jealousy, and exclusion, all conveniently disguised as “romance.” Women will no longer  feel the need to justify their sexual desires and experiences with a committed romantic relationship. They can behave sexually and independently without the fear of the societal damnation that they have faced for centuries. Social media and dating services are a significant causal factor in the realization that sex and romance can be two different entities. The “techno-sexual” age has supplied women with the tools to liberate themselves from the romantic misogyny of monogamous relationships.

               There is no reason why a long-term monogamous relationship cannot be healthy and supportive to a woman. Despite the possibility to be an equal partnership, societal restraints often create a power dynamic that gives authority to the man. Theories often attribute this phenomena to old-world ideals that view women as property to be transferred from father to husband through marriage.  A woman could be tied down to a good man, or alone like a sad spinster. If they did not fall into one of those two scenarios they faced being slut-shamed and titled as promiscuous. Women have been pigeon holed in positions as girlfriends and wives, being seen as independent sexual individuals is a rarity.

These opinions are especially true within the realm of heterosexuality. Farvid and Baum hit the nail on the head once more  when they say “Marriage and, in more contemporary times, monogamy, have been constructed as the ideal way to have heterosexual relationships; the pinnacle of all heterosexual unions (Jackson and Scott, 2004; Robinson, 1997; Stelboum,1999) and the desired outcome of dating and relationships.” . Stevi Jackson and Sue Scott elaborate upon the reason why some women abstain from monogamy. Having a full-on romantic partner can be burdensome, it includes loss of individual identity as one transitions from individual to half-of-a-couple.Jackson and Scott also elaborate upon how it also means having to integrate said partner into an already formed social life, meeting friends and family and “making it work.” Some women prefer to reap the benefits of sexual activities without the hassle of a partnership.

           The increased traffic found on social media and dating services helps for those looking to do just that. According to the journal entry provided by the Review of General Psychology : Journal of Division 1, of the American Psychological Association, titled “Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review,” the prevalence of sex-orientated relationships has increased and the presence of slut-shaming is (slowly) becoming less pronounced. Tinder is an application designed to match up local singles, and has coined the title as the “hookup app.” Women who desire a sexual partner and nothing more, can swipe through dozens of profiles in minutes and find a reasonable suitor; they are in control. Not only does increased use of Tinder lead to higher levels of casual sex; but sex positive websites, Tumblr pages, and YouTube channels, all encourage safe-sexual exploration and liberation.

         This obsession with sex and sex positive content has lead to the success of internet oriented entities. For example, Laci Green is a famous YouTube personality, her website gives some insight on what exactly she does, “Promote a comprehensive model of sex education using technology.” TIME Magazine named her one of the “30 Most Influential People on the Internet” citing that “In an effort to provide a more approachable version of sex education, the YouTube star offers sisterly advice on everything from hookup culture to body positivity to BDSM.” Laci Green’s success can be attributed to the increased open-mindedness of younger generations and their fascination with the internet and sex. Her fame is symbolic of the correlation between compulsory internet use and acceptance of alternatives to traditional monogamy.

                   Open and unstructured relationships are becoming more popular, their convenience and lack of commitment is enticing to people of the modern age. According to a collaborated review found on the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website,  “…these encounters often transpire without any promise of, or desire for, a more traditional romantic relationship. A review of the literature suggests that these encounters are becoming increasingly normative among adolescents and young adults in North America, representing a marked shift in openness and acceptance of uncommitted sex.” This transition is a powerful movement for the modern generation, and is akin to the sexual revolution of the “Swinging Sixties.” During that time, acceptance of pre-marital sex increased; during present times, acceptance of casual sex is also are rising.

The cause of the sexual liberation and counter-culture of the 1960’s is attributed to many factors; one in particular is increased media. Television made radical new, feminist ideas accessible to anyone in front of a TV screen. Today, anyone with a laptop or smart phone can watch a YouTube video about sex positivity or download Tinder and start swipin’. As Justin Garcia and other write within their piece titled “Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review.” a point about media’s new portrayel of casual sex, “The media suggest that uncommitted sex, or hookups, can be both physically and emotionally enjoyable and occur without ‘strings.’” Talking openly about sex can be uncomfortable for some, but through outlets found online, people can explore their sexual thoughts freely and comfortably. These opportunities are helping women to liberate themselves.

               Approval of casual sex allows women to feel more comfortable as sexual beings. Societal constructs have previously worked against those who lived outside of typical romantic scenarios, this is especially true when dealing with discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as individuals in the sex-industry worldwide. Through the internet and media, accessing testimonials of sex-workers, experiences of LGBTQ+ people, and the sexcapades of independent women, has worked to normalize alternatives to heterosexual monogamy. In fact, it has done more than that. The existence of sex positive conversations taking place on the internet have given support to those with questions and in need of help they cannot find elsewhere. Media has done more than just attempt to normalize sexual behavior for women, it has attempted to normalize life for those typically cast out.

                 This movement away from the status-quo may be similar to movements seen in the past, but it is entirely new. The power of the internet is grandiose and impressive and has made many societal impacts. It affects Presidential elections, world relations, and yes, even complex thoughts on heterosexual monogamy. YouTube channels, dating apps, Facebook, and online discussion forums, all help to include varying versions of sex and romance. Inclusion is an important step in our progress as a forward-thinking society, it will not be achieved without the help of the internet.

Works Cited
 Farvid, Pantea, and Virginia Baum. “Casual Sex as ‘not a Natural Act’ and  Other Regimes of Truth about Heterosexuality.” Sage Journals. Feminism & Psychology, 18 Apr. 2013. Web.
 Garcia, Justin R., Chris Reiber, Sean G. Massey, and Ann M. Merriwether. “Sexual Hookup Culture: A Review.” Review of General Psychology : Journal of Division 1, of the American Psychological Association. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 01 June 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.
Green, Laci. “Laci Green.” Laci Green. N.p., n.d. Web.
Jackson, Stevi, and Sue Scott. “The Personal Is Still Political: Heterosexuality, Feminism, and Monogamy.” Sage Journals. N.p., Feb. 2004. Web.

Rebuttal Rewrite- Beyonce1234

Is it really that hard?

Sandlot 2 is the biggest softball vs. baseball challenge of all time. In the movie, the Sandlot boys arrive at their usual playing spot, to their surprise, they witness three girls on their dirt. Dealing with intruders is hard enough when people are on any kind of property that has clearly been taken, but girls just make it worse. As the ball players begin to make a compromise, both boys and girls make some sort of bet. Winner takes the sandlot; loser leaves. Softball pitcher, Hayley Goodfairer, challenges baseball player, David Durgano, saying she can strike out him out with three pitches. Accepting the challenge, David faces an underhand softball windmill for the first time. Foul ball after foul ball, both began to get tired and weaker. In the end they call it a draw. During draws, there is no winner and no loser.  The symbolization here can indicate that neither sport is harder or easier than the other.

Softball and baseball, in general, are too different to be compared on their difficulties. Baseball players can’t hit a softball pitch effectively because they have never seen that kind of pitching before. This is equivalent to a professional badminton player to step onto a tennis court. Though these sports are very similar with the same kind of big idea, they are very different. With tennis, the net is low to the ground and the court is bigger. In badminton, the net is high and the court in shorter. Badminton players must focus on the speed and spin of the birdie, tennis focuses on power and timing of the ball.

Some researches say that softball hitters hit less than baseball hitters because the kind of pitching is more difficult to hit. The top three softball hitters in America, as of 2015, all have batting averages over .500, while the top three baseball hitters hit just over .420. If hitting a softball is harder, than these numbers do not add up to support that statement. Because of the smaller softball field, the infield and bases are both a shorter distance. The shorter distance will cause many more infield hits than baseball hitters can produce. There are aspects in both sports that make each have many different difficulties. The sports are just too different to judge whether one is harder than the other.

In both baseball and softball, batters succeed only when they can strike the ball with enough force and accuracy to place it where defensive players are not. The mechanics of successful batters differ, but they need to be equally skilled players who practice responding to pitches that behave differently in the two sports. On average, the hardball arrives sooner at the plate, giving the batter less time to react. Baseball players practice to reduce their reaction time, or to decide earlier. On the other hand, the softball arrives on an upward plane, startling to new players and very disconcerting to accomplished baseball players. But given enough time to practice, hardball batters could adapt to softball hitting, and vice versa. Neither sport is harder.

Let’s say a badminton player has played tennis for the same amount of time, we could see what sport that player has more success with. The player can give a better measure for what sport they have more difficulties in than the other. The same concept applies to softball and baseball. Very little to no baseball players also play fast pitch softball. If there were any that did, there is no analysis on them. Researchers have also done no recorded scenario where a softball hitter batted against a baseball pitcher. Overall, stating that one sport is harder than the other is too broad of a statement.

Works Citied

H. (2014). Difference Between Tennis and Badminton. Retrieved November 23, 2016.

Sullivan, S. (2016, February 05). Baseball vs Softball, Which is Harder? – Baseball Fam. Retrieved December 05, 2016

Rebuttal Rewrite-31Savage

The Equal Opportunity State

America is a country where, a person can work their way out of poverty. There are equal opportunities for those who are wealthy, as well as those who are poor in America. If someone is living in poverty there are different assistance programs to help that person survive and get out of poverty. These assistance are labeled as government assistance. Some government assistance are, welfare, unemployment and financial aid. The government ties to set people up for success if they are willing to work for it. America was founded on creating a land where people can migrate, and create a successful living for themselves. Throughout America there has been people born into poor families who have worked their way out of poverty. Those who take advantage of the opportunities are the ones that succeed.

In present America, the US government makes it mandatory for children between the ages of 6 and 16 to attend school. Before this mandate children were put to work in factories. Education is a vital key to success. The US government realized this when there was an abundance of children were working and not attending school in the 19th and 20th centuries. According to the article Child Labor in U.S. History, children were preferred workers because employers saw them as more manageable, cheaper, and less likely to strike (Child Labor Public Education Project). Children were more likely to work in these factories their whole life because of the lack of education. With the help of child labor laws, the school mandate enabled children to get educated and end the child labor practices in the 19th and 20th centuries. Unions helped these harsh child labor practices come to an end. These employers paid very little and it was unlikely for the children to get out of poverty. Children were rescued by the Child Labor Committee when they fought for children to be provided with free, compulsory education. The Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 set federal standards for child labor. America fixed its mistake and gave those children a chance to experience life after poverty.

For those children who would later want to achieve high education but didn’t have the financial resources, the government provides financial aid. Financial aid has been available since the 1600’s. In present day, there is a financial aid application called FASFA that is filled out to determine the amount of government funds a student can receive. Outside governmental assistance scholarships are given by private company to increase funds needed to attend school. In 1643, the first scholarship was established by Lady Anne Radcliffe Mowlson at Harvard University (Fin Aid). This scholarship was worth 1000 pounds (Harvard University). This helped someone attend school, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend without it. Harvard then awarded their first student loan in 1840. After the creation of the US Department of Education in 1867, student aid programs started to thrive. Many different student aids were created to help certain groups of people. In today’s world you can receive a scholarship of just about anything. There is a list of 100 unique scholarships on YesCollege.com and one of them is the Jif most creative sandwich contest. This scholarship is worth $25,000 and it comes with a Jif Peanut Butter Basket. Qualifications to receiving scholarships have evolved from simple education based qualifiers to fun and creative qualifiers.

Beyond educational help, the government has created ways to assist those who are living in poverty. The government created federally funded assistance programs in the 1930’s during the Great Depression (Welfare info). The Great Depression affected families financially in great numbers. Families with little to no income were the main beneficiaries of these welfare programs. The welfare system stayed in the governments hand for the next sixty years (welfare Info). States were granted the ability to control their welfare programs individually. States were given a grant called TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), which is the base of welfare. Families are given money and food stamps to take care of their families. Food stamps are food vultures for families to get food. If a family has a low income limit these food stamps helps families save their money for other needed resources. These are all attempts to help struggling Americans.

Every American has the right to be free and chase the American dream. This dream is to take advantage of the freedom and work hard to achieve financial stability. It is illegal to discriminate against someone based on race, gender and sexuality, therefore no one is denied the opportunity of financial stability. American is the land of opportunity it’s up to the citizens to choose their future and go get it. Many people try to migrate to America for its opportunities every day. America is thought to be the greatest country in the world.

 

Works Cited

“Radcliffe College Library Collection Relating to Ann Radcliffe, 1894-1977: A Finding Aid.” Radcliffe College Library. Harvard Library, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Hawksworth, Scott . “100 Unique and Weird Scholarships.” YesCollege. Yes College, 14 Nov. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

“History of Student Financial Aid.” FinAid | FinAid for Educators and FAAs | History of Student Financial Aid. Fin Aid, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016

 Michael Herring. “Child Labor in U.S. History.” Child Labor in U.S. History. Child Labor Public Education Project, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

“Welfare Reform – Social Welfare Change.” Welfare System Reform. Welfare Info, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

“US Welfare System – Help for US Citizens.” US Welfare System Help for US Citizens. Walfare System, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.

Causal Rewrite-Collegekid9

Vancouver will reduce its crime rate due to addicts by making heroin more accessible. Although this doesn’t make sense, considering that this drug is illegal, it will distract the users by taking away the motivation to commit a crime to possess the drug.  Easiest alternative methods for paying for heroin are burglaries and breaking and entry. The only thing an addict can focus on is getting their fix so that they can reach their high.These addicts are having a hard time completing daily activities such as maintaining jobs, interactions, and relationships. The “Free Heroin for Addicts” program is attempting to lower the crime rate of the city by providing heroin easily so that addicts do not have to commit crimes to get the drug. The program will also keep heroin users out of the hospital by reducing the use of laced drugs and unsanitary needles.  No matter what, addiction will always be stuck in an addicts mind with the help of these clinics many may reduce the use of heroin. Also by giving a safe environment for addicts to receive it sanitary equipment the spread of diseases such as HIV and AIDS Will also reduce. The heroine that is given at the clinics is pure and it provides these programs with finding a better way to treat addiction. These clinics will let users come in and get high multiple times a day for free and will provide medical professionals to help them out. These clinics will provide a progression and stability for addicts lives. Vancouver isn’t the only place that has tried using these clinics many places in Europe have also shown great success with their programs. So in the end free heroin clinics will benefit both The community and those suffering with addiction. This may be hard for many to take, but the reality of it is that giving heroin to those with its addiction Will in return make their community whole again.

 

“Heroin: Effects, Addiction & Treatment Options – Drugs.com.” Effects, Addiction & Treatment Options – Drugs.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
“Heroin Clinics Improve Addicts‘ Lives.” Sciencenordic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.

 

Rebuttal Rewrite- thesilentbutdeadlycineman

Rock Stars- Harmless Individuals or Devil Worshipers

Rock and roll is not the music of Satan. It is a canvas of many different topics. Rock musicians do not have dark forces in their intentions. Many of their songs highlight positive values, life lessons, and random events. Performers like Jimmy Buffett, the Beatles, and Bruce Springsteen would never be thought of as linked with the devil. But like every debatable topic, there is always a rebuttal argument (which can be rebutted with the right evidence as well). In this case, the main rebuttal argument is that seemingly harmless Rock stars, including the ones listed above, have actually been involved with dark forces.

Yes, these singers do mostly sing about happy situations. But they have also dabbled with influences of Satan. Uncovering this truth will prove that Rock and Roll has darkness running entirely through it, even in the areas that appear the brightest. For example, Jimmy Buffett, the founder of Margaritaville, is beloved by fans for singing songs about relaxation, maritime life, and cheeseburgers in paradise. However, he does have one song that mocks God and promotes blasphemous behavior- “Too Drunk to Karaoke”.  As David J. Stewart explains, “Toby Keith and Jimmy Buffet encourage booze drinkers to drink, drink, drink… until you’re ‘TOO DRUNK TO KARAOKE.’ The video is a disgrace, encouraging alcoholism and irresponsible behavior.”Jimmy Buffett, with this one song, has gone against all that he is known for.

The same thing can be said for the not-so- Fab Four. John, Paul, George, and Ringo are known as the pioneers of the British Invasion. Millions of fans loved them, especially attracting the attention of girls as the four cute guys from Liverpool. But the quartet was not the innocent boy band that they appeared to be. The most blatant proof of this can be seen (and heard) in their infamous album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  The front cover of this album features the four Beatles surrounded by controversial figures from history- including Marilyn Monroe, Karl Marx, and Bob Dylan. The most unsettling figure included however is Aleister Crowley, a well-known English occultist. His inclusion is a clear sign that the Beatles were fans of occult rituals. Another indication that these men were not the most perfect of guys is the meaning of the song, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. A close analysis shows that the Beatles in this song are glorifying the effects of taking a drug- LSD. These seemingly innocent men could not resist highlighting the influences of the Devil.

Unfortunately, New Jersey’s The Boss, whose music is loved by people of all ages, could not resist the sweet temptation either. This resulted in an unanticipated action by a popular coffee shop chain. As reporter Dave Lifton mentions,”Starbucks banned his latest album, Devils & Dust, from its stores, in part due to explicit lyrics in one of the songs.”

To really hit this point home, here are some lyrics from the track in question- “She slipped me out of her mouth/’You’re ready,’ she said/She took off her bra and panties/Wet her fingers, slipped it inside her/And crawled over me on the bed.” This song unabashedly promotes sex, one of Satan’s favorite values. Starbucks can’t have this song play in its shops, and it should not be play anywhere else either[, say rock’s critics]: even Rock and Roll’s brightest individuals have been motivated by darkness.

Now is the time to shoot this rebuttal argument down. Jimmy Buffett’s song “Too Drunk to Karaoke” is an attempt by him to connect to a younger audience, one that likes to listen to songs about “hardcore” partying. He enlisted the help of Toby Keith to write the song, as his music is known to promote wild behavior. So technically, the song is actually Toby Keith’s, with Jimmy Buffett’s name receiving top billing. Plus, the song is very much Country (Keith’s main genre), making it an entirely different beast than those of Rock and Roll. Moving on to the Beatles, it must be recognized that they are just rebellious young adults. They used controversial figures including Aleister Crowley in order to set themselves apart from other bands, and because they found these individuals to be memorable in history, which is what they wanted to become.

Concerning the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, there shouldn’t be any attempts at over-analyzing. As the website Shmoop explains,”John Lennon said in many different interviews that the song title was simply inspired by a drawing that his four-year-old son, Julian, brought home from school.”A little boy’s drawing inspired the song, not drug use.

With Bruce Springsteen’s song “Reno”, there is a similar situation as Jimmy Buffett’s “Too Drunk to Karaoke”- it is not Rock and Roll. The Boss’s whole album, Devils & Dust, was his attempt at being a Country star. And his song is not promoting sex with a prostitute. The final lyrics are “She brought me another whisky/Said ‘Here’s to the best you ever had’/We laughed and made a toast/It wasn’t the best I ever had/Not even close.” Springsteen is saying that his experience with this woman of the night was not that great.

A common thread in all of these rebuttals is that they all focus on only one song or album from each specific artist.  This means that the opposition has only been able to find only one instance that they could twist to their advantage in each performer(s)’ career. The opposition is in fact unintentionally endorsing the music of Jimmy Buffett, the Beatles, and Bruce Springsteen as being wholesome and not objectionable by only finding single questionable “faults”.

As a side note, it should also be mentioned that a popular offshoot of Rock and Roll is Christian Rock. This form of music centers on songs related to promoting faith and good lessons in a contemporary fashion. Many of these tunes are even used in churches today to liven up the crowds. If the rebuttal argument was true, then even Satan has tainted the supposedly harmless Christian Rock performers. And that revelation will make the church institutions look like hypocrites. And sure enough, there are a couple of scandals involving these performers. In  January of 2015, George Perdikis, a founding member of the popular Aussie gospel rock band Newsboys (which was notably featured in the film God’s Not Dead), came out as an atheist on a faith discussion website. Plus, as reported by Asher Bayot of Inquisitr.com, Perdikis went on to write that,“The Christian music scene is populated by many people who act as though they have a direct hotline to a God who supplies them with the answers to the Universe. There seems to be more ego and narcissism amongst Christian musicians than their secular counterparts.” Another notable scandal involves As I Lay Dying, a Christian death metal band ( an extreme subgenre of heavy metal, which is a prominent genre of Rock music). As Molly Lambert of Grantland.com has written, “Tim Lambesis, currently incarcerated lead singer of … As I Lay Dying, has admitted that the band had faked being Christian.” The band pretended to be Christian in order to make more money. One of Lambesis’ ex-bandmates, Nick Hipa echoed George Perdikis’ statement about Christian musicians by calling the former lead singer a “sociopathic narcissist”. Lambesis’ scandal also provoked talk about an industry wide issue- “How do you prove someone is really dedicated to Christianity and not just the lucrative record sales of the Christian market?”

The solution to this question is admitting the craziness in trying to hold Rock to an unattainable purity level. Not one single performer in Rock ‘n’ Roll is pure. This transcends all forms of the popular genre, including Christian Rock. It’s called being human, and Rock ‘n’ Roll should not be unfairly attacked for it.

 

Works Cited

Bayot, Asher. “Founding Member Of ‘God’s Not Dead’ Band Newsboys Comes Out As An Atheist.” The Inquisitr News. N.p., 24 Jan. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

Lambert, Molly. “Pray for Pay: Jailed Christian Rocker Tim Lambesis Faked His Religion.” Grantland. N.p., 23 June 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

Lifton, Dave. “Why Starbucks Banned Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Devils and Dust’” Ultimate Classic Rock. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.

Shmoop. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Meaning.” Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.

Springsteen, Bruce. “Reno.” Azlyrics.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.

Stewart, David J. ““Too Drunk To Karaoke” Hit Song Mocks God.” “Too Drunk To Karaoke” Hit Song Mocks God. N.p., Aug. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2016.