If Black English isnt a Language, Tell me what is

James Baldwin writes about how language is everywhere. It is how we communicate with one another, whether it is spoken words, hand gestures, or even clicks with the tongue, it is a form of communication and is different through out the world. In Spain were Spanish is the native language, it is still different from the Spanish used in Mexico or even South America. In England they use different dialects depending on what area they are in. Some words do not even exist in the same places. Even in America we can see all the different dialects. We have the southerns and northers, easterners, and westerners, and within each segment there are even more dialects. If the Cajuns are able to speak their guttural language, Baldwin states why cant the black have their language. It becomes modernized or censored by the white folks. Everyone wants to pretend to be a hard core rapper in LA, when they live in Orange County. The whites take the words they say and use them in everyday language as well, only when they do it they hide the real meanings and make it sound not as bad. If everyone else is allowed to speak their dialect without other people trying to sensor it or modernize it, why cant black language be the same.

CRAAP Test

The article "Feline Reactions to Bearded Men" did not pass the CRAAP test by any means. The article was written in 1999 and the evidence they used to support their web site was over ten years old, and over forty years in some sources. They use idiotic things such as pictures of cats being shown pictures of bearded men, and they are said to have reactions to them as opposed to non bearded men. The headline on the web site is even "Research that makes you laugh then think", that does not sound formal or accurate. Also it would be interesting to know who wants to use this information. It does not seem like it would be very relevant to researchers or students, maybe for humor, but nothing else.

http://www.improb.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html

Right to Fail

In the article “The Right to Fail” I think the title speaks for itself. People do in fact have a right to fail. Society over the years has taught us that going to college and getting a huge luscious office is the only way to prove you are successful. Now people are starting to realize that they can have success in their own individual ways. There is no longer a definite “right” or “wrong” answer. People have the right to find happiness and succeed in the peace core, or in a prestigious corner office. They also have the right to fail as many times as it takes to find what suits them the best.

This article relates to my family and I because Zinsser uses the idea that people learn what is “acceptable” and “unacceptable” thru their parents, and their parents. When my mom wanted to be the first in her whole family to go to college the rest of the family looked down on her and said that it was a waste of time and money because she would not amount to anything anyways. My dad on the other hand had to apply to every college in the book and make straight A’s in order for his parents to consider them their son. The line Zinsser uses for this example is the kids whispering “What if I fail?” and the parents response being “Don’t”. My mother ended up getting more scholarship money for academics then my dad did for football, and she came out with a higher degree. She found her success in doing her school work and getting a good degree, while my dad found his success in playing sports and then focusing on getting a degree. When it came time for me to choose what I wanted to do with my life I took both of their stories into consideration to figure out my own individual outcome of what I thought of as success.

I have failed more times in my life that I would like to actually admit to, but the ironic thing was I did learn from every single slip-up. I am a product of my mother and take pride in my grades and doing well in school. I find success in working towards getting two masters degrees, just as much as a peace core person find success in helping other people.

Success is defined in many different ways and it is up to the individual to fail a couple times in order to find out what they truly consider their own success.

Logical Fallacies

In the article " Vegas clinic may have sickened thousands", the title already portrays a fallacy. MAY HAVE sickened thousands, says who?? This is an example of Begging the Question, Appeal to Improper Authority/ Appeal to Biased Authority, and Hasty Generalization. It is considered begging the question because the author is assuming that there are thousands infected. It is appeal to improper authority/ appeal to biased authority because the author never says where he got his facts from an authority that proved it was thousands infected. Also a hasty generalization because he could, and probably is, exaggerating.

The discovery led to the biggest public health notification operation in U.S. history.....
This sentence is also a hasty generalization because how does this author know this is the biggest public health notification in U.S. history?

Bell said such improper procedures appear to be more common in outpatient surgical centers like the endoscopy center. Unlike hospitals, such centers often do not have employees whose sole responsibility is to monitor and educate staff on best practices.
This is an example of Straw Man because the author is putting down the outpatient centers in a way saying this infection amoung thousands happened because it was an outpatient not a hospital where the staff is more responsible because they have less responsibilities.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5595894.html

Middle-Schoolers Get the Pill

In "Middle-Schoolers Get the Pill" one point of view is that these children in middle schools who are between the ages of 11 and 13 and who are getting condoms without their parents knowing is wrong. No child of this age should be having sex, and especially should not be getting condoms through a school without their parents even knowing. It is wrong. A counterargument to this issue is the fact that 17 girls have already been reported pregnant in one middle school, so the school feels it has a right to give out condoms to aviod these pregnantcies.

Another point of view besides the kids being so young, is this awareness is traveling across the nations and more middle schools are starting to do it as well. They say it is because some of these girls are 14 and 15 and have already encountered sex. The schools believe they are getting a fair and equal opportuinty by letting these young girls get condoms to reduce STD's and pregnantcies. As "smart" as this sounds the counterarguement is this is just as absured as giving low-tar cigarettes to teens. Society does not want them smoking, so we make it illegal. Why is this so hard to do with 11 year olds having sex?!

One point I think was over looked was where are the parents in this. Why are the parents not teaching their kids about not having sex at such a young age? Also, how do the parents not know that the schools are giving out condoms and not check to see if their kids have some and if they do talk to them about it?