COM220 Discussion Questions Week 2 DQ1 (Due Tuesday) Where do you normally find information for topics that

hat interest you? How do you know when sources are reliable? Explain your answers.

When I am interested in a topic, I usually start by searching for information on that topic. Search engines are the most useful tools for me. For instance, I go on Google everyday to search for various kinds of information. Google is my tool when searching for useful, academic, and personal information. Search engines, like Google and Yahoo, are popular tools for me because the results show various kinds of information on the topic. Search engines provide pages of information that can be useful when conducting online research. However, when searching exclusively for academic information, I may employ the use of several sources including books, educational websites, articles, encyclopedias, or any other kind of academic source to find viable, accurate, and objective information. I check the reliability of a source by checking the source's credibility. For instance, I check the background of the source to see where the source got its information. I also check the source's credentials and examine the source's expertise on the subject matter. Also, you look at the way the material is presented. Is the source presenting factual or accurate information? Or is the information influenced by someone's opinion and biased views? To thoroughly assess the reliability of a source, you have to also pay attention to the source's language and look for fallacies within the writing. Using all of these tools can help you scrutinize the material as you assess its credibility.
Week 2 DQ2 (Due Thursday) Review the following Internet and University Library sources. Then, determine which sources are reliable and which are not. Explain your answers. o Blog: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=1622 o Wiki site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment#Public_opinion o Web site: http://www1bpt.bridgeport.edu/~darmri/capital.html o University Library article: To access the article, read the Electronic Reserve Readings, located on aXcess, for this week.

I believe that the most reliable source is the University Library website. The library presents material that is academically relevant and professionally researched and written. An electronic library is like a traditional library, and just like a traditional library, most people use it to find information that they believe is accurate and written by an educated individual who is well informed about their topic. Unlike the electronic library, the other sources are somewhat credible but each source is biased in its own way. For instance, Wikipedia contains a lot of factual information that can be used for research. The information is broad and covers multiple perspectives on capital

punishment. However, Wikipedia is known for having erroneous information and unreliable sources. Therefore, their credibility is questionable. If you choose to use Wikipedia, it is wise to check the information. Also, use other credible sources as well if you choose to use Wikipedia. Websites can be credible, but this website is so clearly biased. There is no neutrality in the author's message. The author is clearly arguing for capital punishment. Therefore, any information that is presented by the author will be information to support the practice of capital punishment. The best way to utilize this information, regardless of the bias, is to use it if you strongly agree with the author's point-of-view. When used in this way, you can just regurgitate the information because you are essentially arguing the same points. However, you can use the bias in your favor if you also disagree with capital punishment. You can use the website's bias as reasons why you disagree with the practice of capital punishment. The blog takes a political approach to dealing with the issues of capital punishment. However, rather than just stating facts about capital punishment, the blogger tries to persuade the audience by showing how Kerry is a progressive Democrat who does not argue for capital punishment. The blogger's comparison may be accurate, but it is also strongly biased. The blog may have some credibility, depending on the blogger's expertise and the background information that he/she has on the issue. Overall, when using any source and checking for credibility, remember to make sure that the source can provide where they got their information. Lastly, make sure that the sources have citations that can also be checked for credibility. Always make sure that your sources are accurate. This will ensure that your information is also accurate, and thus credible.
Week 4 DQ1 (Due Tuesday) Identify the thesis statement in the article AIDS in Africa: Dying by the numbers. What strategies does the author use to formulate his argument? What makes the argument so viable and compelling?

The thesis statement in the article is: In coming to grips with AIDS, the worst health calamity since the Middle Ages and one likely to be the worst ever, consideration inevitably turns to the numbers (Christensen, 2001). The author uses statistics to formulate his argument. In his thesis he hinted at the numbers by which people are dying. Therefore, in the rest of the essay, he uses the alarming statistical evidence to support his thesis statement. All the statistical evidence makes a poignant statement and encourages the readers to really grasp how much the AIDS epidemic is affecting sub-saharan Africa. Also, the author uses comparative data to really emphasize how the terrible the AIDS crisis is in Africa, when compared to the rest of the world. All of the statistics show that compared to the rest of the world, the AIDS crisis in Africa is clearly the worst. Lastly, another comparison that the author used was historical

information. From the mention of the Middle Ages to the comparisons of the AIDS epidemic to the bubonic plague, the author uses historical information to make the audience analyze the information in a larger context. The author's use of different examples makes the argument viable and compelling. Taking real examples from people who have lived with AIDS touches the audience profoundly and makes us realize that even though we may live across several continents, we all share a human connection. The argument comes to life with the author's depiction of the extreme suffering that AIDS have brought on African families and each country's economy. The author's words are so potent that as a reader, you begin to see that you are not reading anything fictitious, but in fact you are reading a page out of many people's lives.
Week 4 DQ2 (Due Thursday) How does the author of AIDS in Africa: Dying by the numbers organize information to build his argument? Does he include any counterarguments? Why or why not? What kinds of statistics, graphs, or illustrations does the author include? In what ways do these visuals strengthen the authors arguments? How does the author of AIDS in Africa: Dying by the numbers organize information to build his argument?

The author of AIDS in Africa: Dying by the numbers organizes his information by sections so that all of his points are clear, concise, and focus. For instance, in the section titled 'We used to think of AIDS as a health issue; we were wrong' the author compares the alarming statistics of AIDS in Africa to the rest of the world. In another section titled "Strangling businesses," the author proves that this information is in fact truthful. Examines the impact of AIDS on the African economy.
Does he include any counterarguments?

I strongly doubt the author included counterarguments because he is not debating an issue that has multiple point-of-views. Instead, the information is factual so there are no counterarguments to refute. The author focuses on the quality of information he is presenting and the evidence that
What kinds of statistics, graphs, or illustrations does the author include?

The author uses statistics and pictures to support his claims. Throughout the article, the author presents different statistical data that shows how AIDS is affecting Africa. Also, he mentions an example or gives an explanation of something; he uses pictures to further reinforce his claims. For instance, at one point in the article, he mentions that a woman South African,Gugu Dlamini, who had come on TV and declared that she had the AIDS virus, was brutally beaten to death by fellow villagers when she returned back home to her village. To further prove this evidence, in the sidebar of the article, there is a picture of a young woman wearing a T-shirt with Gugu Dlamini's name on the back of the Tshirt.

In what ways do these visuals strengthen the authors arguments?

These visuals strengthen the author's arguments because they reinforce the fact that the information in the article is accurate. This proves that the author's information cannot be easily disputed because he uses evidence that can be proven.
Week 6 DQ1 (Due Tuesday) What type of introduction and what type of conclusion do you plan to write for your research paper? How does the introduction draw readers into your argument, and how does the conclusion neatly tie up your paper? Explain your answers.

For my introduction, I am going to write as if I am going to argue the other side of the issue. My topic is sexuality and everyone always has an opinion on this issue, so the best way to draw my readers in to give them a statement that will get them interested. My introduction will be the most compelling part of my paper because this is how my readers will decide if they want to continue reading the paper. Sexuality is such a vast topic that it will allow me to examine all levels of sexuality in my topic without giving too much information away. My introduction will discuss sexuality as it relates to changes that have occurred throughout American society, popular media, and culture. In my conclusion, I plan to offer a quotation at the end of my paper. I think wise words are always influential when applied correctly. The conclusion will draw readers in because it will summarize all of my major points and further simplify the information. All the information will be neatly tied up at the end when it comes together after my thesis statement is restated. My introduction and conclusion are two of the most important parts of my essay and they are to be constructed with extreme clarity. Sexuality is an amazing topic that will allow me to be opinionated, while giving factual information that will be proven as evidence.
Week 6 DQ2 (Due Thursday) In what ways are full-sentence outlines more beneficial than topic outlines? If someone asked, "Wouldnt it be simpler just to write your paper than to create a full-sentence outline?" how would you answer? Explain your response. What steps will you take to turn your outline into the body of your rough draft?

In what ways are full-sentence outlines more beneficial than topic outlines? Full sentence outlines are more beneficial than topic outlines because they are more detailed and the information can be easily transferred to your rough draft. Full sentence outlines are not just short phrases or ideas that we sometimes use in topic outlines. Topic outlines are general ideas that are can be sometimes vague because it lacks detail. Full sentence outlines have more details that are clear and concise; well constructed sentences that are complete ideas.

If someone asked, "Wouldnt it be simpler just to write your paper than to create a fullsentence outline?" how would you answer. If someone asked, "Wouldnt it be simpler just to write your paper than to create a fullsentence outline? I would tell that person no because full-sentence outlines help you clarify your ideas and organize your thoughts. When you write your paper, your thoughts need to be already clarified, so that your audience will not have a problem following the information. Full sentence outlines give you an idea of how you want to organize every major detail of your paper. What steps will you take to turn your outline into the body of your rough draft? I will make sure that I turn my outline into the body of the rough draft by following the organization of my outline to make a rough draft that is concise and coherent. My outline is pretty accurate, although I do want to make a few minor adjustments when I transfer it into my rough draft. The body of my rough draft will reflect the ideas that were in my sentence outline, so my main goal is to use the information from the outline coupled with more information from my research, to create a rough draft that is completely effective.
Week 8 DQ1 (Due Tuesday) What was your experience with the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) in the past? In addition to the CWE, what other writing tools are available for revising a research paper? How can you become your own editor and look at your writing with a critical eye?

What was your experience with the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) in the past? My experience with the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) in the past was amazing. The CWE has amazing resources for students to use and it allows students to check their work for plagiarism, grammar, and other unseen errors. In addition to the CWE, what other writing tools are available for revising a research paper? In addition to the CWE, some other writing tools that are available for revising a research paper are: sample papers that you can use for comparison and guidance, peer reviewing, which provides the student with feedback and proofreading. When you compare your paper to sample papers, you check to make sure that you check for unseen errors. Peerreviewing is a great tool that students can use when revising a research paper because peers often give thorough evaluations that can provide a student with effective feedback. Proofreading is a great way for students to revise their research paper. Proofreading allows students to check for grammatical and mechanical errors.

How can you become your own editor and look at your writing with a critical eye? The best way to become your own editor and look at your writing with a critical eye is to make sure you have done what the assignment asked you to do, check the organization of your paper, check for clarity, and edit your paper. Following the objectives of the assignment makes the student stay on task and focus on the guidelines that you have been given. Also, checking the organization of your paper allows you to make sure that all of your ideas have been expressed in an order that easy for the reader to follow. Checking

for clarity helps the student make sure that the information in the paper is not vague or ambiguous. Editing your paper allows you to check your spelling, punctuation, syntax, and other errors.
Week 8 DQ2 (Due Thursday) What strategies do you use for revising a paper? How do you know when to accept feedback from another source? What makes feedback valuable to you?

What strategies do you use for revising a paper? When revising a paper, I use several strategies: check for the thesis statement, check for organization and relevant details to support the topic, check for errors, check for clarity and focus and provide overall feedback to make corrections. Initially, I check for the thesis statement so that I grasp the main idea of the paper. Next, I check for the organization of the main idea(s) and the accompanying details. While reviewing the paper, I also check for grammatical and mechanical errors. My final strategy is to check for coherence and focus in the paper and to provide the student with helpful corrections that will pinpoint the mistakes that need to be corrected. How do you know when to accept feedback from another source? I know when to accept feedback from another source by looking at my paper and revising and editing the best that I can from my personal point-of-view. Accepting feedback from another source is a critical step in producing a better paper. Feedback help you edit and refine your paper better than you can on your own. You know when to accept feedback after you have read your peer-reviewer's comments and suggestions. By reading your peer-reviewer's feedback or feedback from your instructor, you know if the feedback you received will be helpful and you know what changes need to be made to your paper. What makes feedback valuable to you? Suggestions and corrections make feedback valuable to me. I believe that to critique without giving suggestions, helpful alternatives, and examples is not valuable critique. Commenting on someone's mistakes is not going to correctly point out the problem for the student. Valuable critiquing is feedback that will help the student make corrections, consider alternatives for the mistakes that were highlighted, and improve the quality of the material that is being presented.