5) Explore what you already know. Access Leading Issue summaries ("Topic Overview" or "At Issue" Pages) and Timeline (under Research Tools) from the SIRS Leading Issue you have chosen. In 3-5 sentences, summarize the background and historical information of the Leading Issue you selected. Include main controversies, key figures, important organizations, and key events.

Briefly list what you know about your topic already. Consider the following:

• Surprising facts or statistics - African-Americans comprise 13% of the U.S. population and 14% of the monthly drug users, but 37% of the people arrested for drug-related offenses in America & After being arrested, African-Americans are 33% more likely than whites to be detained while facing a felony trial in New York.

• the extent of the problem - People who face racial discrimination, specifically teens, face depression or develop stress disorders as a result of being discriminated. In some cases, people commit suicide due to long-term depression, which resulted from being bullied or discriminated. 

• important people or institutions involved - Some important institutions involved are African American Policy Forum, Center for Social Inclusion, National MultiCultural Institute etc.

• key schools of thought - Organizations that promote racism are the Center for Social Inclusion, National Multicultural Institute, and African American Policy Forum.

• common misconceptions - Some common misconceptions are mostly African Americans face racial discrimination. This is a misconception because racism targets all races, not specially African Americans.

• observations you've made - Although there are several institutions and organizations created in efforts to help limit racism, racism still remains a major issue today.

• important trends - Important trends are neighborhoods or certain areas in a city where racism occurs the most. Another trend is the ethnicities that face the highest level of discrimination.

• major controversies - Controversies of racism are the different viewpoints of racism. These differing viewpoints consist of the various impacts that this issue has on different parts of the world.

4a) Make a final decision about your logical argument research topic. What is it? Questions to ask yourself:

My final decision about my logical argument research topic is racism.

What have we been studying in class this year? This year, we have been studying leading issues that exist today. We've researched information about specific issues that we selected and its impact on people in society.

Which subjects appeal to me? The subjects that appeal to me are common issues that need more attention in society. I'm interested in subjects such as racism, bullying, and stress disorders.

What are people writing about? People are writing about leading issues in society that have an impact on human beings, as well as the role that these issues have on the world as a whole.

What's most interesting to me? Racism is the most interesting issue to me because I've dealt with this issue before and I feel strongly about helping this issue. I feel like this topic is really controversial and I feel like it needs more attention. 

Can I find information about that? Yes, I can find information about this by researching information of the role that this issue plays in society. I can research evidence of how this issue is negatively impacting the world.


4b) Why are you most interested in the topic of argument selected? 

I am the most interested in racism because I've experienced this issue before and I feel like this issue needs more attention in society. People in society don't realize the importance of this issue and are oblivious to the damage that this issue has on individuals. I am also interested in finding out more information about this issue and more examples of the negative role that racism has on today. I'm interested in racial practices outside of the United States, and if racism is also a leading issue there.

EATING DISORDERS

Is anorexia a recent disorder or has it existed long before the advent of Twiggy and other super-thin models?
I don't think anorexia has existed long before the advent of Twiggy and other super-thin models, because body sizes weren't as important as they are today. I feel like anorexia is a recent disorder because as body sizes became a higher value in society, the more people tried to become society's ideal image.

Why are females more likely to develop anorexia than males?
Females are more likely to develop anorexia than males, because women's body is a judged a lot more than guys' bodies. It is more likely for females to develop eating disorders in order to fit into society's image of a perfect body.

Besides culture and biology, what other factors could contribute to anorexia?
Besides culture and biology, factors that also contribute to anorexia are environment, upbringing, surroundings, etc.

How has media exposure affected anorexia rates in non-Western countries?
Media exposure has affected anorexia rates in non-western countries, by having an ideal view of people's bodies. Therefore, society promotes anorexia in a way, because everyone's body is judged based on societal views.



RACISM

Why is racism so rife in the world?
Racism is so rife in the world because racism discrimination occurs in so many different scenarios, and it's had large role in today's society. Racism discrimination is a leading issue that remains an issue in locations such as school.

How should racial discrimination be addressed?
Racisl discrimination should be addressed by raising awareness of the negative impacts that discrimination has on the world today. This issue should be addressed by letting people realize how negative this problem is and the reasons why it needs more attention to make a change.

Has the United States done enough to address the historical injustices to African Americans, Native Americans and other groups? If not, what needs to be done?
I believe that the United States has put in some effort into addressing the historical injustices to African Americans, Native Americans and other groups, by educating people about it through school. Although the United States has put in some effort, I believe that more needs to be done to prevent this issue from worsening or decreasing the commonality that this issue has on countries.



CHILD ABUSE

What are the most effective ways to prevent child abuse?
The effective ways to prevent child abuse, are by educating people of the negative role child abuse has on society, designing programs that would help prevent child abuse rates from increasing, and reaching out to organizations that would contribute help toward this issue.

Are children safer because of the tracking of sex offenders? Explain your answer.
Children are safer because of the tracking of sex offenders, because it causes children to be more cautious of of their surroundings and distance themselves from people who look like potential sex offenders.

Should convicted child sex offenders who have served their punishment be able to live where they want to? Why or why not?
Convicted child sex offender who have served their punishment should not be able to live where they want to, but rather a location picked for them, that would prevent them from committing more crimes.



BULLYING

Do you think schools are doing enough to stop bullying? Explain your answer.
I think that some schools are placing efforts to stop bullying, but some schools aren't putting in enough enforcement. Every school is different and has different ways of trying to prevent bullying.

How should bullies be punished?
Bullies should be punished by receiving consequences, such as a program for them to attend and gain a clearer perspective of why bullying is such  a negative issue in today's society

What should schools do to help students who are the victims of bullies?
Schools should help students by offering ways of allowing them to cope with the bullying issues and giving them the opportunity to talk to somebody regarding their past with being bullied. This would help them emotionally wise.

What are the reasons that students bully other students? How can this behavior be changed?
Reasons that students bully other students are because of their mental problems, insecurity, and jealousy. This behavior can be changed by schools creating more effective methods of raising awareness of bullying. If students are more acknowledged of the negative aspects of bullying, this behavior may possibly change.



TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Why do you think the teenage pregnancy rate in the U.S. is higher than in many other industrialized nations?
I think the teenage pregnancy rate is higher in the U.S. because there's less demand for protected sex. Society in America doesn't enforce protected sex, and doesn't view unprotected sex as an extremely negative thing.

What role should abstinence education play as part of a general strategy to prevent teen pregnancy?
Abstinence education should help encourage teenagers to wait until marriage to have sex, in  order to prevent getting pregnant at an early age. The idea of abstinence should direct teens in a positive direction that encourages them to prevent themselves from getting pregnant at a young age.

What role should access to contraceptives play as part of a general strategy to prevent teen pregnancy?
Contraceptives should promote teens and adults to use protected sex, to avoid the high risk of getting pregnant. Contraceptives, which are birth control pills, should have the role of helping teens avoid getting pregnant.

Using evidence from articles you have read, describe the role of politics in determining which teen pregnancy prevention strategy is advocated?
The role of politics in determining which teen pregnancy prevention strategy is advocated is choosing the best and most effective strategies of helping to prevent teen pregnancy. An effective strategy is contraceptives, which help reduce the risk of a woman getting pregnant if she used unprotected sex.

Prewriting Question

What cases can be made for or against X?

• Eating disorders - I am against eating disorders because several eating disorders exist, including bulimia and anorexia. These eating disorders impact people tremendously because once your body adjusts to this way of eating, your body will no longer adjust to a healthier eating style. I am against eating disorders because it affects people tremendously and severely damages one's health status.

• Racism - I am against racism because this has been an ongoing issue, and although slavery reparations have been made, including the CARICOM Demand for Reparations Smacks of Extortion, this still exists in today's society. Several students in school are discriminated for being a certain ethnicity, and I am highly against the idea of racism.

• Child abuse - I am against child abuse because this is a highly common problem that exists in several family households, and not everyone knows about it because it occurs at home. I feel like this issue needs more attention to try to prevent or lessen the amount of children that are abused by their parents.

• Stress disorders - I am against stress disorders because it's extremely unhealthy for one's health. Stress is a commonality between  several teens and adults, and it's a highly negative problem for several individuals. I feel like more needs to be done to help resolve stress disorders that people experience, because this kind of disorder can exist for years or months, and it's extremely difficult for people to come out of this disorder on their own.

• Bullying - I am definitely against bullying because this issue has existed in the world today for a long time now, and it still exists today. Although there are anti-bullying programs that have been created, I believe that this issue needs more attention in society. Standards or adjustments should be made, in efforts to help resolve the issue of bullying.

Potential Research Topics

Choose five topics that you think are potential research topics for your paper and briefly (in 2 to 5 sentences) explain why these topics are of interest to you.

• Eating disorders - this topic interests me because I feel like it's important for people to be more mindful of their health and take care of their eating habits.
• Child abuse - this topic interests me because there's several kids that are abused at home, and I feel like this problem needs more awareness.
• Racism - this topic interests me because although racism isn't as big as a problem as it used to be, it's still an issue that exists today.
• Stress disorders - this topic interests me because many teenagers suffer from stress disorders and they aren't doing anything to help with it.
• Bullying - this topic interests me because bullying is such a controversial issue, and I'm highly against bullying.

Blog writing prompt

Make a list of four or five things that "tick you off." Explain why. (Choose significant things that others might experience as well. For instance, your little brother might tick you off, but there is little chance that this annoyance will yield a possible paper topic). It is possible that one of these annoyances can be transformed into an interesting, engaging, and researchable project.

• Something that ticks me off is when someone has an attitude to me and I don't have an attitude to them. This ticks me off a lot because if I'm respectful to a person, I deserve the same respect in return. When a person is being rude and obnoxious to me for no reason, I get really ticked off.
• Another thing that ticks me off is when people boss me around. There's a difference between telling me to do something and bossing me around. This ticks me off a lot because I shouldn't be talked down upon and I should be treated with respect when being told to do something.
• Another thing that ticks me off is when people judge me without even knowing me too well. This ticks me off a lot because I think it's unfair for a person to be judged without even knowing their full back story.
• Something that ticks me off a lot is being treated unfairly. I've been discriminated several times and it really ticks me off knowing I'm treated differently because of who I am.
• The last thing that ticks me off is being touched. Due to something that has happened in my past, I really don't like being touched, unless I'm fully comfortable with the person and I allow it. 

Web Literacy 2, Homework Assignment Part 2

1. Why does the author, Nicholas Carr, feel like his mind is changing as a result of the Internet?
Nicholas Carr feels this way because for more than a decade now, he's been spending a lot of time online, searching and surfing and sometimes adding to the great databases of the Internet, and he eventually began noticing changes ever since he started being Internet-friendly. 

2. How does doing research today compare with doing research in a library in the old days, before the Internet? (I know you weren't around 20 years ago, but answer this based on what knowledge you have gathered about libraries in your lifetime).
Research today compares with doing research in the library 20 years ago, because the method of researching 20 years ago was limited to using books at the library. Since the Internet didn't exist back then, people were only able to research information by reading books at the library. 

3. How have Nicholas Carr's reading habits changed because of the Internet?
His reading habits have changed as a result of the Internet, because he realized he wasn't able to focus the way he used to. He used to be able to read several pages of a book, now it's harder for him to focus and he keeps acting fidgety. 

4. How is reading online different than reading a long article or book? Is there a difference? Explain.
Reading online is different than reading a long article or book, because the Internet provides specific information about a certain topic, and there are multiple sources provided online. This is different than reading a long article or book, because it is only one source and it may not have as much information as there is on the internet.

5. Do you agree or disagree that our minds think like computers? Explain.
I agree that our minds think like computers, because since almost everyone in today's society uses the Internet throughout the day, a lot of people are Internet-friendly. Our minds are shaped according to the internet, therefore thinking like computers. 

6. Do you agree or disagree that the computer "is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies?"
I agree that the computer is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies because the computer is the most used technology, and it is used by almost everybody in today's society.

7. Why do you think The New York Times changed its format? Do you think it was a good idea or a bad idea? Why?
I don't think it's either, because the format of The New York Times honestly doesn't make a difference. Those who previously read this newspaper will continue to read it despite the format.

8. What does Nicholas Carr mean by "knowledge work?"
Carr refers to the manipulation of abstract information and knowledge.

9. Do you agree or disagree that Google has been successful in its mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful?"
I agree

10. How does Google's mission compare with a library's mission in light of the fact that there is no fiction or nonfiction section on the Internet, but there is a fiction and a nonfiction section in a library, and that all the books are organized on the shelves in a library, but "scattered on the floor" of the Internet?
Google's mission compares with a library's mission because the information that Google provides isn't presented the same way as how information is presented at the library.

11. Do you think it would be a good thing if your own brain and intelligence were "supplemented, or even replaced, by an artificial intelligence?"
No, I don't think that would be a good thing because it's not natural.

12. Do you think that the human brain is "just an outdated computer that needs a faster processor and a bigger hard drive?" Why or why not?
I do think that, because the human brain has the ability to function in a numerous amount of ways, similar to a computer.

13. What do you think about your own surfing habits, the links you click on and the pages you view, being an opportunity for "Google and other companies to collect information about you and to feed you advertisements?"
I think that generally, people take advantage of the ability to surf the internet in a numerous amount of ways. Since it's easy to navigate through a website, I tend to find myself surfing the internet without even realizing it.

14. How does the above compare to reading a book? Do you agree or disagree that companies online, collecting data about us by what we click on and view, are using subversive tactics to discourage "leisurely reading," and "slow, concentrated thought?" Are you yourself driven to distraction while on the Web? How or how not?
The above compares to reading a book because the book contains general information, and you are unable to navigate through a book like you can on the internet. I do agree with that statement, because most companies online try promoting technology instead of books. I am sometimes driven to distraction while on the Web, because there are so many things to navigate through that I find myself lacking focus on just one thing. 

15. Do you agree with Socrates that the development of writing led to people using the written word as a substitute for the knowledge they carried around in their heads? Why or why not?
I agree because since writing was developed, people stopped relying on their knowledge as much as they used to. Instead, they rely on the written word for most things.

16. Do you think the Internet is doing the same thing? Why or why not? How or how not?
I think that the internet is doing the same thing because people have the privilege of using the internet to obtain information, as opposed to just referring to prior knowledge.

17. How do your own reading habits compare to what Nicholas Carr describes in this article?
My own reading habits are similar to what Nicholas Carr described in his article, because as I got older I began using the internet more, and I also began reading less. I distanced myself from reading as a result of internet usage, also I lack focus while I'm reading now. 

18. So, do you think Google really is making us stupid? Why or why not? How or how not?
I think that in some sense, Google is making us stupid because we're not really learning new information from the internet, we're just reading it and using it for reasons such as homework assignments. The information we see online isn't benefiting us because we probably forget the information really quickly.