Throughout the fall 2009 semester there have been numerous types of essays presented. Three essays in particular include the ethnography, the annotation project, and the argument against convention. Each piece of writing served as a vehicle to develop different writing skills and reinforce basic grammar and style issues. The process of developing the aforementioned essays allows one to review their writing skills and evaluate their overall process.
Writing the ethnography began with choosing a topic which I could vividly remember. Since I recently attended my first country concert, I figured it would be fresh in my memory. By making a list of details from the things that stood out in my mind, I was able to organize the information that my ethnography would contain. After creating the basic structure of the essay, I added specific details to make it more interesting to the reader. Next I received feedback from my instructor as well as my classmates which I took into consideration during the revision process. The major changes made to my essay were in regards to the introduction and the conclusion. The ethnography served as a valuable tool which mainly improved my ability to write in great detail.
The annotation project proved to be interesting as it allowed for discussion of a vast array of information. The image I chose was a political cartoon that lent itself to numerous issues surrounding America’s current war on drugs. The main issues I chose to write about included visual rhetoric, the bills of rights as it relates to the war on drugs, the prison industrial complex, the Ku Klux Klan, the cost of the war on drugs to the taxpayer. Next I gathered valid sources to find information and created an MLA style works cited page. After viewing the information I wrote about the topics I previously chose in about one paragraph per topic. Finally, I added in text citation where needed and check for grammatical errors. The annotation project allowed me to evaluate my ability to write research style material and review the format for a works cited page.
Another piece of writing creating over the semester was the argument against convention. The assignment was to purpose a conventional idea and then challenge it. The topic of my argument essay was against religion. By examining the consequences of religion over the years, a valid argument against its positive effect on society can be made. After developing the main ideas of the essay I added specific details and examples which further supported the argument. This essay allowed me to evaluate my ability to make and support a valid argument and challenge a conventional idea.
The English 11 course contained interesting assignments that encouraged writing in different styles. Although the use of blogging in an English class was new to me, it added depth to the class by allowing for easier peer editing and teacher student communication. The assignments presented in English 11 improved my overall writing skills by forcing me to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Rough Draft Article Against Religion
An Argument against Religion
The concept of religion has existed, in some form, since the beginning of human society. Although main stream society may readily accept the idea that religion adds value to and advances the human race, in reality it does more harm than good by impeding scientific advancement, breeding extremism, producing violence, and perpetuating stereotypes and discriminatory ideals. Religion is little more than a social control that will soon be obsolete.
Religion has managed to be opposed to almost every significant discovery or research through out recorded time. When Galileo dared to suggest that the earth in fact orbited the sun, he was declared a heretic and forced to recant his findings in fear of suffering persecution. During the crusades countless works of art were destroyed if they were deemed to be blasphemous or pornographic. Even today, religion continues to challenge scientific discovery by attempting to discredit the theory of evolution and instead preach creationism. Anything that impedes scientific discovery impedes human advancement and is harmful.
While religion serves as an obstacle to discovery, it has the opposite effect in the cases of extremism and violence. The notion of organized religion serves as a vehicle for extremist groups and violence. The deaths that come as a result of suicide bombers and hijackers who believe they will be rewarded in the afterlife are a direct result of religious propaganda in the Islam faith. Abortion clinics that are bombed by Christian extremist groups always prove to be the most ironic. To voice their supreme belief in the protection of human life, they are taking it with their own hands. While these incidences may be occur in single instances, throughout history there has been events on a much larger scale.
When considering violent events resulting from religious influences, the Crusades without a doubt resulted in the most deaths. In the beginning of American society, the Salem witch trials took the lives of numerous falsely accused citizens and painted a perfect picture of religious extremism at the conception of a new society. Many years later a man by the name of Adolph Hilter caused a mass murder of the Jews in Germany in the name of a superior race. Most recently the religious extremist group Al Queda took thousands of lives after hijacking airplanes carrying innocent civilians. The warriors of traditional religion are now applying a method of total war in their attempts to enforce religious ideals and practices.
Religion, in addition to causing countless acts of violence, perpetuates oppression and discriminatory behavior against numerous groups of people. Homosexuals are quite often a common target of religious groups. There is a negative connotation to homosexuality when discussed by religious groups and many view the act as mere sin. While everyone is entitled an opinion, the opinions of dominant religious groups have a far reaching grasp that even affects our laws. Because religious opposition to gay marriage exists, homosexuals have been denied the lawful right to marry. It is religious ideal that has lead to a discriminatory act against homosexuals.
At first glance religion appears to serve a valid purpose to society as a whole, but things are not always as they seem. Whenever there exists an organization that wields as much power and influence as organize religion there will be corruption.
The concept of religion has existed, in some form, since the beginning of human society. Although main stream society may readily accept the idea that religion adds value to and advances the human race, in reality it does more harm than good by impeding scientific advancement, breeding extremism, producing violence, and perpetuating stereotypes and discriminatory ideals. Religion is little more than a social control that will soon be obsolete.
Religion has managed to be opposed to almost every significant discovery or research through out recorded time. When Galileo dared to suggest that the earth in fact orbited the sun, he was declared a heretic and forced to recant his findings in fear of suffering persecution. During the crusades countless works of art were destroyed if they were deemed to be blasphemous or pornographic. Even today, religion continues to challenge scientific discovery by attempting to discredit the theory of evolution and instead preach creationism. Anything that impedes scientific discovery impedes human advancement and is harmful.
While religion serves as an obstacle to discovery, it has the opposite effect in the cases of extremism and violence. The notion of organized religion serves as a vehicle for extremist groups and violence. The deaths that come as a result of suicide bombers and hijackers who believe they will be rewarded in the afterlife are a direct result of religious propaganda in the Islam faith. Abortion clinics that are bombed by Christian extremist groups always prove to be the most ironic. To voice their supreme belief in the protection of human life, they are taking it with their own hands. While these incidences may be occur in single instances, throughout history there has been events on a much larger scale.
When considering violent events resulting from religious influences, the Crusades without a doubt resulted in the most deaths. In the beginning of American society, the Salem witch trials took the lives of numerous falsely accused citizens and painted a perfect picture of religious extremism at the conception of a new society. Many years later a man by the name of Adolph Hilter caused a mass murder of the Jews in Germany in the name of a superior race. Most recently the religious extremist group Al Queda took thousands of lives after hijacking airplanes carrying innocent civilians. The warriors of traditional religion are now applying a method of total war in their attempts to enforce religious ideals and practices.
Religion, in addition to causing countless acts of violence, perpetuates oppression and discriminatory behavior against numerous groups of people. Homosexuals are quite often a common target of religious groups. There is a negative connotation to homosexuality when discussed by religious groups and many view the act as mere sin. While everyone is entitled an opinion, the opinions of dominant religious groups have a far reaching grasp that even affects our laws. Because religious opposition to gay marriage exists, homosexuals have been denied the lawful right to marry. It is religious ideal that has lead to a discriminatory act against homosexuals.
At first glance religion appears to serve a valid purpose to society as a whole, but things are not always as they seem. Whenever there exists an organization that wields as much power and influence as organize religion there will be corruption.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)