notes on preparing for the final exam Thur (8/21): presentation of essay 3

[snorko]

Notes on preparing for final presentation

As per schedule of classes, our final exam takes place on Thursday,
August 21, the last day of class. Everyone should have plenty of time
(5—6 minutes each plus a minute in between).

For the final exam, you will present to the class your essay #3.
Please prepare a brief outline of your essay to use during your final
presentation, and post it to the message board before class Thursday.
Plan to deliver your presentation from the outline. Do not plan to
read your essay as your presentation, but rather explain it to us. Use
short phrases for your outline, not full sentences, definitely not
paragraphs. You need to be able to see enough to remember what to say,
but if you keep the points to short phrases of essential nouns, such
as names, dates, and numbers, your thorough knowledge of the subject
will be able to fill in all the little words such as a, where,
because, and other grammatical information.

For your presentation, address the following points:

• What did you do?
Explain the thesis; explain any background information necessary to
understand thesis and argument; explain argument

• Why did you do what you did?
Explain your motive in studying topic; provide a motive for the
audience; justify the importance of the topic

• What did you learn?
Explain research methodology (where, how, and why you looked at
certain sources of information and not others); explain findings (the
importance of the details your research discovered); and explain
conclusions (lessons of your project—perhaps ethical, associative, and
predictive)

• What else could be done?
If you were in charge of a six-month project, had a one million dollar
budget, and could hire assistants or purchase necessary items, what
would you do next on this topic? What could any of us do today, in a
couple hours without extraordinary time or resources?

[Randall F]

Randall Fleming
Instructor Ed O’Connell
English 101
19 August 2008

A Maginot Wall Always Falls (outline)

For the opening aspect of the essay, the definition of a border is
discussed. To many people, a border is most likely perceived as a
definitive line or wall. However, it is most any boundary where one
facet ends and another begins, and it is not always black and white.

For the second point, an introspective point is examined. The author,
Cullen Murphy, states briefly his heritage—yet such brevity belies the
levity of the statement. Murphy has a vested interest in that he is
borne because of the dynamics of the border under review. His
ancestors defied the people in power of the period, and now he is, in
his own fashion, fighting the powers that be. What such powers had in
common was the desire to seal off the border.

In closing, the current state of the U.S.-Mexico border is reviewed.
The pros and cons of trade as it stands is discussed, and an argument
to increase the benefits to the U.S. by making trade easier for
Mexico, is advanced.

[erin]

I discussed chapter 4 The Outsiders which Cullen Murphy talks about
the United States and how it is viewed by the outside world. Within
the introduction I talked about how the US should be more like Antony
and less like Cleopatra.

Murphy talks about how the US is negatively viewed by the rest of the
world and is ignorant outside affairs.
Cleopatra is unaware of others outside herself and immature in her
ways of dealing with others as head of state. The United States
should be less like her. Examples were shown from the US putting out
a handbook in how to behave better in foreign countries and a beauty
queen that spoke ignorantly on a national broadcast.

The United States should be more like Antony in being educated and
strong, having knowledge of other countries outside. Murphy discusses
how United States' media often doesn't cover international matters
keeping people fully informed. Examples are shown from the FAIR
website, and discussed on how America's interests are targetted in
newscasts with reporting on pop culture and less important subjects.

The conclusion discusses how with an emphasis on further education and
awareness changes can be made. This can be done by electing a
president who really stresses that within society.

[NatanAviel]

Thesis: Antony, Cleopatra(Bad Example). Caesar(Good Example). 1.
Americans need to change ethnic stereotyping 2. improve Education over
entertainment 3. deal better with situation in Georgia.

Why: Important to preservation of culture

What:1. 2002 study-12 W. 22 A. 33 H."A.A. not able to make something
of themselves, even if given the chance" 12 W. 35 A. 43 H. 54 A.A.
"choice between people and money" 2. problem of NCLB 3. NATO
inactivity... research shows: sad state of ignorance in U.S.

What else:1. discourage/remove media perpetuating stereotyping. 2.
petition for funding/change NCLB. 3. encourage NATO membership/ harder
stand vs. aggression. (petition/letters)

[Jaewoo Y]

Topic : Chapter4 the United States' view of the rest of the world

Thesis : The United States' view of the rest of the world are ignorant
and inferior as their view of self is arrogant and superior, which
cause blow-back problem, therefore, should be changed.

Intro : Bush's travel around Asia and his purpose
-His arrogant behavior is enough to cause blow-back problem

Body
1. The united States should change their arrogant behavior
- The United States believes that they are the only one who can be a
global police (Max Boot)

2. The United States should find less aggressive ways to deal with
other countries
- President Bush’s decision to send military to support Georgia is not
appropriate(Congressional Bill)

3. The United States should promote mutual comprehensive faculty with
other countries to remove ignorance
- ignorance of the united states instigates superior complex, which
makes blow-back problem worse (Murphy)

Conclusion : Because the United States has enough power to dominate
others, they should learn how to control it and be responsible about
what they do or what they insist.
- non-governmental effort will be effective, such as founding public
organization to research on other counturie's view of the United
States to inform American.

[snorko]

Koo, Young
English 101
Ed O’Connell
Final Presentation

What did you do?
My thesis is that America should use its influence and power to
become a world mediator. Becoming the world’s “middleman” would mean
that less nations will be intimidated and agitated by the American
government.

Why did you do what you did?

I chose to write about America’s worldview because as an Asian
American I see and encounter situations where the ignorance of
Americans is so easy to see. American arrogance causes the hatred and
anger that outsiders have toward us.

What did you learn?
I learned that America actually falls below average on the
international academic scale. The internet is large and wide and
filled with useful information on organizations and personal beliefs
of groups of people.

What else could be done?

Post on a forum board on the internet to draw opinions and insight
from all over the world and all kinds of people.

Outline
Intro: American’s worldview and Rome’s worldview
- Arrogant
- Ignorant
- Easily forced (Pearl Harbor and 9/11)

Body1: Octavius Caesar’s outlook and way of doing things is wrong
- Young (America and Octavius)
- easily angered(Mark Antony and message)
- prideful and elitist(expects complete obedience)

Body2: Rome’s arrogance leading to defeat & America’s arrogance
leading to defeat
- Rome’s battle at the forest of Teutoberg
- U.S.’s war in Vietnam(guerilla warfare)
- Most recent battle in Iraq(wild goose chase)

Body3: Lepidus’s outlook and way of doing things is correct
- mediator(puts self between Antony & Caesar)
- even as one of the 3 top powers chooses to be the one to bring peace
- has power and respect and does not seek even more

Body4: America today
- American societies outlook on foreigners(elitists)
- American culture is the only one needed to be learned(no “broadening
of horizons”[language/culture/ideals])
- Selfish and lazy(obese and low academic ranking)

Conclusion: Be world mediator
- Already commands respect and has a strong economic role
- Strong military gives ability to make friends and defend self from
enemies
- Must change how the outside world views us by changing how we seem
to view the outside world

[snorko]

kwilliams

what did I do?
Antony + Caesar.
Antony- Bad, emotional, foolhard w/ Cleo
Caesar- good- stayed with objective, no sidetracking
compared w/- America/ Venezuela

Thesis- Shakespeare’s novel, Murphy’s book,sheds light 4 America 2
improve what is/is not important (foriegn affairs)

Why chose what I did? Antony's follies mirrored follies America made
Venezuela- feel closest in relation to play. Important- America
avoids
outside influences, misses out. nine eleven- U.S. did not see threat
suicide bombers had on planes, felt invincible.

Learned- venezuela, congressional bills, forign affair handling
articles/congressional bills- bills u.s. government pass/ no pass,
important 2 c imp u.s. puts on forign affairs. newspaper articles-
organized, reliable stories that lead to other places. snapshot of
wat
happening at that time. internet. found many agree u.s.+ foreign
affairs= no importance

conclusion- us + foreign affairs= more imp

what would i do? interview american politicians, nationwide poll on
imp
u.s. places on foriegn affairs, interview many nations, publish
findings

[Seung J. Kim]

Seung J. Kim

Many world issues have led America in a complex situation where its
citizens were secondary in importance. With North Korea’s nuclear
production and starvation and the war against Iraq have left America
to put their own citizens in second priority when Hurricane Katrina
occurred.

I have written this essay in order to set America to protect its own
citizens first and gain their trust in order to gain more support for
the government.

I learned that America took five full days in order to send any
medication, food and shelter for the people in New Orleans after
suffering from an enormous misfortune. It drove the citizens of New
Orleans to lose trust from the government and to the point where they
sued for millions of dollars.

When a town or a city is left in a desperate situation, America can
take immediate action by sending nearby troops for assists.

[Stephen C]

Antony and Caesar
What did you do?
• To show how bureaucratic complexity in an organized intuition can be
used in not only in governmental affairs but also any conglomerate.
• Argument being that even though Complexity is a far longer process,
in the long run it’s a fairer balanced method.

Why did you do what you did?

• The Santa Fe Railyard Community is a larger development project from
Trust for Public Lands that involves a whole community as while as
visitors. Instead of a private project that only evolves one client
and one merchant.

What did you learn?
• The process of check and balances
• The local new paper because the reporters as while as the locals
have a brief daily update on the project development.
• Everyone who is involved in the tasks website.
• http://www.santafenewmexican.com/
• http://www.sfrailyardcc.org/index.php
• http://www.bhinc.com/
• http://www.designworkshop.com/firm-profile/santafe.html
• http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=19976&folder_id=3128

What else could be done?

• Provide Entertainment venues for all ages and educational ventures
for the youth of the city.

[Linda N.]

1. View of world not like Antony (dont plan: signs before 9/11, not
serious: iraq war GDP 3.8% vs 38% WWII) because negative effects on
America (people dies).
View of world like Cleo (manipulative & deceiving: Russia agree to
back off-->siezed outside Gori, block highway & divide country and
threatens Tibilisi, cruel: Russia invades smaller countries, bombing
civilian infrastructure) because then America will be on guard &
prepares for the worst.

2. Antony's attitude toward others interests me. His actions
concludes his ending. All of us could learn something and change
thoughts towards others.

3. Sources--> try to look for news articles because news reporter
actually go to events and witness it, more accuracy. I learn that you
really have to be strategic even if the methods are not honorable. ex.
Russia aggrees to back off but not completely and slowly so situations
will be in their favors.
Conclusion--> don't underestimate others. America declines-->view
others as inferior--> negative impacts, like death. America survives
--> views outside as harmful and destructive--> always be on guard/
prepares for future.

4. Travel around the world doing a series of short skits/plays about
our issues and have a discussion about it in the end. Make everyone
aware and change how to view the rest the world.

[joe]

• What did you do?

Based on Murphy’s chapter on complexity, I’ve concluded that there are
positive and negative aspects to America’s growth as a diverse nation.
The power shared between triumvirates, restriction of competition by
eliminating Pompey, and Cleopatra’s cultural foundation are possible
character examples that America should avoid and maybe even follow.
Comparisons can be seen with America and characters through the system
of checks and balances, promoting competition, and building a cultural
foundation.

• Why did you do what you did?

I chose to study this topic because Murphy’s chapter on complexity in
the world today was interesting to read. This topic gave me a
different perspective on how America was able to progress in the last
200 years while many other nations have failed to do so. America
didn’t just become one of the leading nations just by luck. It has
learned from mistakes from the past and is open minded to change and
diversity.
• What did you learn?

By looking at the relationship the triumvirates had, I realized how
important it is to have the system of checks and balances because that
way one branch is unable to expand its power for selfish needs.

I understood that competition is a very important part of why America
has prospered so much.

Obesity is becoming a major problem in the U.S. and I learned that
this was caused by too much cultural diversity. Watching what you eat
and taking care of your health should be one of the main things
learned while growing up, because I see it as a foundation to one’s
future. Despite all the happenings in America, foundation should not
be overlooked.

• What else could be done?

Many of us come to think that the government is corrupted and many
more, however to see how far America has come, it has been doing
something right. Instead of complaining and looking at the negative
sides, we should look at the positive side of our nation.

America should continue encouraging competition because it is an
incentive to many who are entrepreneurs. This gives the buyers the
option to choose the best goods and services.
One can see many changes in diets of Americans today, however I think
it’s the job of the parents to build the foundation for their
children.

[Phil K.]

Thesis=America is better to “outsiders” than the Romans were to
barbarians

Motive behind studying topic= Show that America is better to its
“outsiders” than Rome was to theirs, through a series of points.

• Americans except more illegal aliens to become citizens faster than
Rome allowed barbarians to become citizens.
• Americans are not degrading their outsiders by giving them a
negative official name.
• Americans are trying to get illegal aliens to have driving rights.
• Americans have more foreign college students than any other country
in the world.
This topic is important because Americans have made outsiders have a
much better life in the U.S. then what they had in their home
country.

What did you learn=Gil Cedillo’s driving license proposal. Gil
Cedillo is one of California’s senators. He is trying to pass a law
that would allow illegal aliens to drive in California legally.

I found that since the U.S. dollar has fallen drastically, many
foreigners are trying to come to America to get a college education.

I many looked for my information on Google and I chose the articles
that best proved my points. I avoided the articles that I couldn’t
tie anything in with.

One lesson that could be learned is that if the U.S. dollar falls even
more, more and more people are going to come to America to get an
education.

What else could be done= Go to parts of the world that were part of
the Roman empire and try to find people that are descendants from
Roman barbarians. It would be interesting to see what social status
they are in today. This would take a lot of money because you would
have to pay people for interviews and research the items that they
hold from their ancestors.

If we didn’t have much time or resources then we could research some
more historical information on what the Barbarians did in Rome. What
social positions did they hold? How did the Roman people treat them
like? How are illegal aliens treated in America?