Active Listening

Contemporary Rhetoric is the first class where I was told to doodle during class. I was a bit surprised that I was given permission to do this during a lecture but I came to understand why it was important. When I am doodling I am not just focusing on what I am drawing but I am engaging myself in conversation because I am keeping my mind busy. Instead of staring off into space, I am able to stay focused in class and as a result, I participate more.

Similarly, I used a technique like active listening during a test once. To overcome my fear of test taking, I used a tinker toy to distract me from my nerves. During the test I would play with a hackey sac so the focus wasn't completely on the test. By doing this, I was able to relieve stress because I had my mind occupied without giving it a chance for nerves to settle in. 

On our first day of active listening I tried to bend wire but I dropped my paper clip about three times and my paperclip privileges were revoked by Brianna and Jesse.:) Instead of wire bending I doodle and I can focus on class better when I am doodling.

Good Luck Charlie

The Disney show, Good Luck Charlie, had it's first lesbian couple on the show. 

Disney has never pushed the envelope like this before. 

The network is aimed at kids yet they incorporated this hot button topic. 

Huckleberry Finn

Huckleberry Finn and Jim banter about the meanings of words. They talk about how the English and French are two different languages and neither of them have grasped why the two langueges use different words for the same reason.

-"Well then, why ain't it natural and right for a Frenchmen to talk different from us? You answer me that."
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Accomplishing Goals

1. Find Rhetoric in the shows I watch.
2. Listen for Rhetoric in conversation.
3. Pick out Rhetoric in readings and other class work.
4. Investigate how rhetoric has adapted in new media.
5. Recognize when rhetoric is being used and practice using it on my own.

Rhetorical Exploration #2

Canonical books are incorporated into classrooms because of their significance to our society; however, there are books that re band from our curriculum because of the content within them. The stories may have overall positive theme but because they may include harsh content, they are banned from schools. In our society, people go out of their way to find offense in things.

Below is a list of examples of books that have controversy as to whether or not they should be banned from schools. The stories have positive themes but they are overlooked because of the controversy.

                1. Harry Potter-Harry Potter is about a wizard that overcomes adversity however many people are fixated on the idea of the book teaching witchcraft. 

                2. The Absolutely true diary of a part time Indian- The story is about a young Indian who transitions from his tribal school into a public school. People have banned this book from schools because of it's harsh language. The word "masturbation" and "boner" were used within the story (but not it's literal context) so therefore it was deemed inappropriate for schools.

                3. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- The book is about a young boy who see's the wrongs of racism but is not favored by many people because of it's use of loaded words and the repetitive use of the slur "nigger." 

Burke's Take:

-Use of rhetoric- Students are not allowed to read certain books because of the books contents; however, by banning books we are sheltering students from important life lessons. Instead of addressing topics we are pushing them under the rug and saying that it is not okay to learn these materials. –Even though kids already are exposed to these ideas, words, phrases in other forms of media.

-Essential to our existence- These Ideals that we are sheltering our children from is only harming them because we are not addressing these issues nor are we letting our children be predisposed of them in an environment that we can teach them in versus them learning through television, internet, and friends.

-Reveals how we operate- As a society, we find offense in everything. People go out of their way to be offended. So by banning books we are just putting yet another restriction on a topic we don’t want to address. The cycle will never end. 

My solution: Banning books should be dependent on the student. Because most high school students are minors, parents should have the liberty of deciding whether or not their child should be able to read certain books and if it goes against their morals, teachers should provide an alternative to the assignment. Students should be able to make these decisions on their own, yet, they are not even allowed to use the restroom without asking therefore they are treated like a minor and should have to have the consent of their parents before engaging in certain novels.