Reflection on Open Letter Draft

In this blog post, I will be addressing the peer revisions that I did and that others completed for my paper. I peer reviewed Katherine and Mark's letters.

1. Did you demonstrate an ability to think about your writing and about yourself as a writer?

I believe I demonstrated an ability to think about my writing and about myself. In my letter, I addressed the topic of my own writing more narratively than analytically, which is something I plan to improve in my next draft.

2. Did you provide analysis of your experience, writing assignments, or concepts you've learned?

I provided analysis, but it was mostly vague and open-ended. I plan to focus my analytical comments, and support each one with specific support from my previous writing.

"When Will My Reflection Show Who I am Inside," Anonymous 

3. Did you provide concrete examples from your own writing?

No. I did not. I alluded to examples, but there are no hyperlinks or details.

4. Did you explain certain choices and whether those choices were effective?

I did not go into detail about certain choices and whether or not those choices were effective. I will be adding this part into my draft.

5. Did you use specific terms and concepts related to writing and the writing process?

Yes, I did.

Draft of an Open Letter

In this blog post, I will be publishing my draft of my final project and addressing my peer editors.

Here is the link to my draft.

To my peer editors:

I'd like global feedback specifically about the flow of my paper, because I feel like it's a little awkward at times. This could also be because of phrasing, so if you see anything weird, let me know. I could also really use some suggestions for my introduction and conclusion, because they're practically non-existent right now. Also, if the tone seems too informal, let me know!

Thank you so much.

Reflecting More on My Writing Process

In this blog post, I will be reflecting on my writing process and answering the following questions.

1. What were the biggest challenges you faced this semester, overall?

Time management was by far the biggest challenge of the semester. My challenges with time management were exacerbated by an injury to my spine, which left me behind in all my classes this semester.

2. What did you learn this semester about your own time management, writing and editorial skills?

I learned that my time management is not the best. I also learned that while my writing and editorial skills were already strong, there was a lot of room for improvement. For example, I learned from my Project 1 how important genre is. I also learned how necessary conventions are for different internet genres, such as blogging.

3. What do you know about the concept of 'genre'? Explain how understanding this concept is central to being a more effective writer.

I know now that genres can be created and tailored. For example, the QRG genre was completely self-created, but was unanimously accepted by our class. This concept is integral to becoming a more creative writer, while still maintaining a strong structure and abiding by writing norms.

4. What skills from this course might you use and/or develop further in the next few years of college coursework?

Time management skills will largely be the most used and developed in the next few years of college. My major, Pre-physiology, does not place emphasis on writing; I will, however, likely do lab write-ups and research papers.

5. What was your most effective moment from this semester in 109H?

My most effective moment was publishing Project 2. I felt really confident in my analysis and my writing when I published that paper.

6. What was your least effective moment from this semester in 109H?

Publishing Project 1. I felt really shaky and unprepared to publish the paper. I didn't like the topic very much, or my own writing.

Revisiting My Writing Process

In this blog post, I will be discussing how my writing process has changed over the course of the semester.

I think that at the beginning of the semester, I was incredibly optimistic about my time management skills. If we were to look at my time management skills over the course of the past few months, I'd say that it looks a little like this graph:

Elementary Algebra, Version 1.1 - Chapter 9

I started out strong, and got progressively worse until I hit rock bottom of time management. At that point, I actively made a change in my time management skills. I have procrastinated this assignment, but that was done in order to avoid procrastinating other assignments. I'm getting there.

I think my writing process hasn't changed very much in that the steps I take are the same. The only major difference is how I approach perspective of my writing. I am much more considerate of context and audience now than I was before. 

In the future, I see a lot of room for growth in my writing and time management habits. This semester, I found that the only way I could reach the full potential of my writing was to not procrastinate. Hopefully, for the next three years, I will hone my time management skills to the point where I am consistently able to perform at a high level.

Publishing Public Argument

Here is the link for my public argument and the link for my information! I hope you enjoy it.

Reflection on Project 3

In this blog post, I will be answering questions from Writing Public Lives. I will also be reflecting on my Project 3.

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

The most significant revisions were content. I changed my argument and target audience after writing my first draft, so my entire piece was pretty much rewritten.

2. How did you reconsider your thesis or organization?

My thesis stayed the same despite the fact that my argument changed. This is because I was attempting to argue too many things in one paper, so my general thesis worked for both the broader and specific topics. My organization stayed roughly within the genre.

3. What led you to these changes?

I changed my audience and purpose.

4. How do these changes affect your credibility as an author?

I think they increase my credibility, because I was willing to reconstruct an entire piece to tailor to a specific audience and purpose.

5. How will these changes better address the audience or venue?

These changes will specifically target the audience and will hopefully be more persuasive.

6. How did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

I tried to allow my voice to shine through while varying sentence structure. I used a personable tone.

7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose?

The changes will allow my audience to connect with me as an author and with my work.

8. Did you have to reconsider the conventions of your genre?

I switched genres, so yes.

9. How does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer?

The process of reflection allows me to take the time to objectively critique my work after completing it.

Reflection on Project 3 Draft

In this blog post, I will be reflecting on peer reviewing and on my own drafts.

Firstly, these are the links to the peer reviews: Cynthia's and Chloe's.

1. Who reviewed your project three draft?

Good question. I haven't received word yet that anyone has reviewed my paper, although I will keep checking.

2. What did you think or feel about the feedback?

I haven't gotten any feedback from official peer reviewers yet. I'm expecting to hear that my piece doesn't match up with my genre in my blog posts. This would be because it doesn't match. I switched my genre when I had to completely throw out two drafts of my piece because they just weren't working for me.

3. What aspects do you need to work on most? How will you work on these aspects?

I think genre will need to be focused a lot more. I will do this by shortening paragraphs, and possibly adding another section of support. This will also help my argumentation. In addition, I could work on purpose. In my draft, I have my purpose explicitly stated in my conclusion. I'm not sure if this works with my genre, so we'll see.

4. How do you feel about your project now that you've done peer review and conferencing?

My conference resulted in a complete change of topic and genre, so I feel a little shaky. I'll feel better after receiving peer review results (if I ever do). If I don't get any, then I will ask people to look the paper over so I can find strengths and weaknesses.

Draft of Project 3

Hey everyone. Please take pity on my piece and edit it. It would mean a lot to me! I spent a lot of time writing and crossing things out. I had to refocus my topic and essentially switch genres all at once.

Here's the link. Let me know what you think!

Project 3 Outline

In this blog post, I will be posting my Project 3 Outline and explicating some of the details.

Here is a link to my outline.


Introducing Your Public Argument

I chose the method of connecting my argument to my readers' world views. I plan to make the introduction personal and more emotional than the majority of my piece. Religion, science, and emotion will play a large role in my introduction.


Developing Strong Supporting Paragraphs

• List down the major supporting arguments:
• Single moms
• Health issues
• Inability to biologically reproduce
• Statistics
• Health benefits
• Psychological benefits
• List down the major criticisms:
• Parenting controversies
• Religious controversies
• Constitutional rights to parenthood
• Financial issues
• Health problems that can occur
• Psychological wellbeing of offspring
• Select key support and rebuttal points (each can be a support and a rebuttal depending on the context)
• Statistics
• Psychological studies of family dynamics 
• Religious authority
• Cultural authority
• Legal rights 
• Genetics
• Write out topic sentences:
• I'm not sure how many topic sentences I'll need because I'm unsure as to how many body paragraphs I'll be using. Below are two general topic sentences 
• People who struggle with fertility must be given options for bearing offspring.
• Sperm donation can benefit our society.
• Gather evidence:
• Please refer to my outline.
• Develop a map of my argument. 
• Please refer to my coggle. 

Concluding Strategies

I'm not really sure what category my conclusion fits into at the moment. I want to make the audience feel good about themselves and autonomously come to the conclusion that my argument is correct. These two concepts fit the "positive consequences" and the "common ground" strategies. I think my draft will ultimately determine which strategy I use. 

Analyzing My Genre

In this blog post I will be analyzing my chosen genre, the opinion column. I will share 5 examples from my genre and answer discussion questions.

Examples of Opinion Columns

Example 1: Suicide of a Dishonest Officer
Example 2: Why Paul Ryan Should Beware of Visions
Example 3: Why the New Vatican Leaks Scandal is Different
Example 4: Four Kinds of Opinion Pieces I Won't Read
Example 5: Hilary in History


Social Context:

Where is the genre typically set?
The genre is typically set in newspapers or magazines, usually ones with reputable editors and writers.

What is the subject of the genre?
The subject of the genre has a huge range. Usually the subject is somewhat current and controversial, and is intended to spark conversation.

Who uses the genre?
Usually authors who work for that particular establishment, although freelance writers are frequently published. For example, the author of example 1 is employed by the New York Times.

When and why is the genre used? What purpose does the genre serve for people who use it?
The genre is used nearly daily. Sundays are particularly big for editorial pieces. The genre is used to inform people of conversations that are going on in particular fields, usually social or political. The genre can be used as an expression of public speech.

"Hieronymous" by Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist for the New York Times

Rhetorical Patterns of the Genre

What type of context is usually included and excluded?
A bio of the author is almost always included at the top of the page. Social context is almost always included. Location and geography are sometimes included, but the context is usually dependent on the issue.

What rhetorical appeals appear most often?
Ethos appears in the author bio. Pathos and logos are often combined to appear as a support of evidence. Pathos is often shown through personal stories or accompanying graphics. Logos is found in statistical analysis, although it is not as common as pathos.

How are the texts organized?
Organization varies depending on the author and topic. However, the texts are usually short, and often have chunky paragraphs. An interesting intro and conclusion would be considered conventional.

Do sentences share a common structure or style?
Quotations are a common way to support arguments, especially in Examples 1 and 5.

What type of word choice is used? Tone? Jargon?
Jargon is typically either explained or avoided. A personable tone is used, although the author either attempts to remain impartial or address his or her biases.


Analyze what the Patterns Reveal about Social Context

Who does the genre include and exclude?
The genre is pretty inclusive for ideas that support the author's argument. However, concepts that disagree with the evidence are often avoided.

What roles for writers and readers does the genre encourage?
The role of the writer is to assume an opinion and stick with it, without addressing possible confusions. The role of the reader is to be persuaded by the work.

What values and beliefs are assumed about or encouraged from users of the genre?
Some values include a strong education, a certain age, geographical location, and possibly gender. Beliefs can vary based on the topic, although in this day and age, authors typically either cater to a religious crowd or a secular audience.

What content does the genre treat as most valuable?
The most valuable content is support and analysis of the author's argument.

What content does the genre treat as least valuable?
The content that is least valuable is the other side's opinion.

Considering Types

In this blog post, I will be considering different types of arguments that may be applicable to my piece. I have chosen to look into position arguments, evaluative arguments, and refutation arguments.

Position Arguments

Position arguments would allow me to pick a side, but not argue for it. This might be less than ideal because it would be a very short article with little to no analysis.

"The Argument" by Shelly

Evaluative Arguments

Similar to a position argument, I would choose to argue for the cause. I would write an article full of in-depth analysis and support for my reasoning. This type of argument also fits my possible genre of "magazine article" most closely.

Refutation Arguments

This argument is the opposite of the evaluative argument. The only issue I have with this argument is personal; I'd rather write a support of reproductive technology instead of a critique.

My Rhetorical Action Plan

In this blog post, I will be discussing my rhetorical action plan with help from the Writing Public Lives.


Audience: Who are you trying to persuade with your public argument? Describe the following aspects of your audience in a few sentences:

I will be trying to persuade people who are against sperm donation that it is a useful procedure.

What does the audience know about the topic, text or idea? How do they know the topic? Do they have certain predispositions or opinions about the topic that you will need to address?

The audience knows about the topic from media, education, and most likely, religious authority. They will likely be predisposed to side with their culture, which is anti-masturbation, and inherently anti-sperm donation.

What do you know about the values, ideals, principles, or norms that members of the audience might hold?

There may be some members of the audience who are extremely against masturbation, birth control, abortion, and experimentation about embryos. Some members of the audience will be more open minded than others; some might not believe in evolution, while others will be completely secularized.

What type of research or evidence do you think will be persuasive for your audience? How might you have to translate this evidence for them?

I think personal, emotional evidence will be the most supportive. The language will have to be translated from scientific and logical into possibly theological.

What visual images or elements might your audience respond to? Why?

The audience would likely respond most to visuals related to the family, which are most emotional. They are more likely to generate sympathy for those who benefit from sperm donation

Why is your audience reading or listening to your argument? Are you trying to expand their understanding of an idea,  encourage them to take action on an issue, challenge a long-held tradition or viewpoint, etc.? How likely is your argument to motivate your audience?

I will be trying to both expand their understanding of an idea and challenge a long-held viewpoint against sperm donation. I don't think it is likely that my argument will motivate my audience, because cultural indoctrination is incredibly powerful.



Genre: What form of writing will you use? After identifying your genre, list your answers in the following: 

My genre: magazine article, such as one in The New Yorker

What is the function of the genre? What is it designed to do for your readers? Why did you pick this genre?

The function of the genre is to entertain and inform. I picked this genre because it is unexpected, and I can treat the topic in a light way.

What is the setting of the genre? Where could you see it being used?

The setting of the genre is within a magazine. I could see my article being used in a magazine that serves to entertain as well as inform. I would like to see my article in a magazine like The New Yorker. 

How might you use rhetorical appeals in your work?

I would make a lot of use of pathos and logos, as the topic is one that combines emotional intensity with impartial scientific technology.

What type of style will you use?'

I will be attempting to combine a lighter tone with a heavier subject. I will keep my tone professional but I will try to maintain a personal connection with the audience.

"The New Yorker" Unknown

Potential Reactions: Positive Support

• creating discussion
• through online commenting features
• through constructive responses
• constructive criticism
• change in opinion or personal ideology
• creating change in the community
• legally
• culturally
• through family

Potential Reactions: Negative Rebuttals

• disrespectful attacks
• discrediting the author
• criticism through personal means
• refusal to acknowledge unique ideas
• morally authoritative stance
• religion
• law
• culture

Analyzing Purpose

In this blog post, I will be sharing my brainstorming about the purpose of my controversy.

I created a coggle to try to organize my thoughts. Something that became clear to me is that the purpose of sperm donation is to help people have children, and that many things stand in the way of this apparent right.

Untitled, BioEdge

In the coggle, I answered 1-3 from the posted questions. I touched on the topic of 4, but I thought I would address it further.

Draft out a paragraph that describes the groups of people likely to read your work.

The people likely to read my work will take one of two positions: sperm donation is ethical, or sperm donation is unethical. The people who agree with my perspective (that sperm donation is ethical) will likely be educated, young, secular, and of childbearing age. They may have struggled with reproductive health in the past. Members of the audience that will disagree with my perspective are more likely to be older and possibly more religious.

Analyzing Context

In this blog post, I will be answering Student's Guide questions about analyzing the context of sperm donation.


1. What are the key perspectives or schools of thought on the debate you are studying?

The short answer is two: those for sperm donation, and those against. However, realistically, the answer is much more complex. I like to think of this issue in terms of a spectrum rather than a clear black or white answer. In a lot of cases, sperm donation only affects a person's life tangentially rather than directly, so it usually does not become a huge issue. Religion, culture, location, and age all have large affects on a person's feelings about sperm donation.


2. What are the major points of contention or major disagreements among these perspectives?

One major point of contention is cost. Some people have issues with compensation of sperm donors, while others believe that creating a child should not have a cost. Another larger scale issue is ethics. Some common ethical questions include: parentage questions, anonymity, what to do with excess embryos, "designer babies," and more.


3. What are possible points of agreement, or common ground, between the sides?

One possible point of common ground is that human material should be handled with respect. Another possible agreement is that the reproductive technology that allows for sperm donation has resulted in human lives that have equal value as the lives of naturally conceived offspring. A third area of common ground could be that the ethical dilemmas of sperm donation deserve attention.

"Sperm Donor" from Conceive Easy

4. What are the ideological differences, if any, between the sides?

The most significant ideological difference is culture. Religion specifically plays a huge role in a person's acceptance or rejection of sperm donation. Age is also important, as people of a childrearing age are more likely to be sympathetic to the cause of sperm donation.


5. What specific actions do their texts or perspectives ask the audience to make?

The texts ask the audience to agree with their perspective. Every article I've read about sperm donation has an underlying agenda. Even the most academic research articles still take a bias either for or against sperm donation. In that way, nearly all of the work published about the subject is persuasive.


6. What perspectives are useful in supporting your own arguments about the issue? Why did you choose these?

To be honest, I have not entirely decided on my own perspective of the issue. For that reason, both sides are equally useful to me. Using both sides will help me make an informed decision and write a balanced piece.


7. What perspectives do you think will be the greatest threat to your argument? Why or why not?

I believe that extreme perspectives will be the greatest threat. These arguments are almost always rooted in emotional rhetoric, and can be very persuasive.

Audience and Genre

In this blog post, I will be discussing the possible audience and genre of the piece I will be writing. In my opinion, the most relevant audiences would be medical professionals, prospective donors, and prospective parents.


Medical Professionals
Medical professionals will be interested in my research because it pertains to new knowledge within their realm of expertise. Sperm donation is also a controversial aspect of medicine, and is somewhat isolated within practices. Common places I could publish my research would be in one of various medical journals. Some examples include The American Journal of Medicine and The New England Journal of Medicine. Another publication could be through medical textbooks, such as Gray's Anatomy or The Atlas of Human Anatomy


Prospective donors
Possible donors would be interested in reading my work because they would want to know more about any rewards and consequences that accompany sperm donation. I believe that this audience would also be interested in anonymity and any personal vignettes that may be relevant. A possible genre for this audience could be a blog or a video. Two examples of medical blogs include Docbastard and Skeptical Scalpel, two popular cynical takes on the medical field. Examples of videos include educational videos such as John and Hank Green's Vlogbrothers.

"John and Hank Green," Vlogbrothers

Prospective recipients
Prospective recipients might read my piece in order to either educate themselves about the process of sperm donation or to make an informed decision about whether or not sperm donation is the right choice for them. It is likely that this audience would be interested in similar genres as the prospective donors, although the prospective recipients may look for a more personal touch. For that reason, I think that recipients are likely to respond to interviews or magazine articles about the subject. Examples of famous interviewers could be a talk show host (Oprah) interviewing a person about the process of sperm donation. Magazine articles could be found in popular magazines such as People Magazine.

Narrowing My Focus

In this blog post, I will be reposting and revising the questions I found most interesting about my topic.


1. How do finances play a role in sperm donation? Specifically, what contributes to compensation for sperm donation?

This interests me because I think it provokes some questions of ethics. Is it ethical for people to be coerced into donating sperm? Is it ethical to prevent someone from having a child if they can't afford to buy a sperm sample or the treatment?

"Embryo Transfer" Unknown Author

2. How do religion and culture affect sperm donation?

I'm specifically interested in which cultures allow for sperm donation and which don't. I'd also like to consider how this plays into different governmental structures throughout the world.


3. What are the rights of unborn embryos?

Again, I'm interested in the ethical questions. I want to know different perspectives of how we as a society treat embryos, what defines life, etc.

Questions about Controversy

In this blog post, I will be creating questions for my chosen controversy, sperm donation.

Who is involved in the controversy?
1. How did the controversy affect each person involved?
2. Who is talking about the controversy?
3. Why do people care about the controversy?

What is up for debate in the controversy?
1. What are the rights of unborn embryos?
2. What role does finances play in sperm donation?
3. How much regulation is too much regulation?

"Sperm" Unknown Author

When did this controversy unfold?
1. How does the political environment affect the controversy?
2. How does the religious and cultural environment affect the controversy?
3. How has the technology changed over time?

Where has this controversy been unfolding?
1. Where are the places with the highest amount of sperm donations?
2. Where are the places where sperm is being used the most frequently?
3. How can sperm be sent to other places?

How has this controversy unfolded in the media?
1. How has social media impacted the image of this controversy?
2. How has bias impacted the image of this controversy?
3. How has journalism impacted the image of this controversy?

Reflection on Project 2

In this blog post, I will be answering the Student's Guide questions in order to reflect on my revision process.

1. Word choice was revised the most.

2. My thesis didn't change very much from one draft to another, but the overall organization of my essay did. I added a new paragraph and considered breaking one paragraphs into two.

3. Flow mostly contributed to the changes, but audience and readability was definitely considered.

4. I think the changes lend to my credibility, because I attempted to make my work as understandable as possible. I was truly writing for my readers.

5. One of the changes I made was to address the audience more explicitly. I think this will allow for greater audience comprehension.

"Reflection" The Whispering Pen

6. I revised a lot for sentence structure, because I tend to either write very long, wordy sentence or very short ones.

7. The audience will be able to understand my writing better because it will be more concise.

8. I reconsidered the convention of not addressing the audience explicitly. I also reconsidered not using italics and avoiding the second person, although I ultimately didn't use second person in my essay.

9. Reflection is a way for me to address myself when I'm writing, which I rarely do outside of personal journaling. It allows me to address my own creativity, which I am working on building.

Project 2 Outline

In this blog post, I will be posting my rough outline for my Project 2 paper. Please note that I eventually added an entire body paragraph to my essay after creating this outline.

My outlines are a way for me to write down what I'm thinking out loud. Because of this, I write little notes to myself throughout the outline. My essay was comprised of mostly paraphrasing with a few short quotations that did not make it into this outline because they were added after I finished this. For that reason, I was lacking in evidentiary support when I wrote my outline. In my outline, I clearly indicated which areas of rhetoric I would be using to make my claims, as per Student's Guide suggestions.

Intro:

Hook: Kirk Maxey fathered over 400 children -- and even he doesn’t think that’s ethical

Bridge: calls into play several important questions (I like having three)

1. Is it ethical to father so many children?
2. What are the biological and social implications of sperm donation for the offspring?
3. What is the motivation for sperm donation? (Is there compensation?)

TAG: Rene Almeling; The Unregulated Sperm Industry; article

Context: Yale professor of sociology who has written numerous books

Make my claim: Almeling is pushing an agenda throughout the piece; this is established through rhetorical analysis of ethos, pathos, and logos within the context of the piece.

Thesis: Through the effective use of anecdotes, tone, and statistical records, Almeling subtly makes use of rhetoric to argue against modern sperm donation.

Body 1:

Vignette about best-looking member of the class (Pathos)

physical traits

ethical questionability of conflict of interest with student

forced insemination

Historical records of doctors taking good-looking sperm samples (Logos/Pathos)

moral conflict

Analysis

Makes the reader uncomfortable with physicality

sympathy employed for woman

rage and distrust towards doctors

Body 2:

Vignette about healthy man who gave 8/22 babies a heart defect (Logos with some Pathos)

statistical analysis

makes it seem common

babies garner sympathy

Toddler died (Definitely Pathos)

Creates the question of who should really be allowed to donate sperm?

Places doubt in the reader’s mind, subtly encouraging them to reconsider the morality of sperm donation if children are being hurt

Conclusion:

Intro sentence: Something about Almeling being courageous for being so blunt

Transition: She embraces technological advances, but ultimately adopts an attitude of sperm donation immorality

Transition: Takes a stance as a protector of those who have suffered from sperm donation

Restate Thesis

Final Draft of Project 2

Here is the link for the final draft of my rhetorical analysis! Please enjoy reading my take on rhetoric in the field of sperm donation.

Copy For Paragraph Analysis 2

In this blog post, I will be discussing my experience analyzing my own work.


I learned a lot from reading my own work with an outsider's perspective. My analysis and support seem to be strong, while my structure could use some work. Of course this is not always the case for every bit of analysis, and in some cases my structure is strong. This is just an overall trend I've seen in my writing.

Something I realized is that a lot of things that flow in my head do not flow in the paper. This is something I've always struggled with, and is the reason for my tendency to use transitional phrases. I also realized that explicitly addressing the reader can be awkward in my writing, although I think it is necessary.

"Peer Editing" Unknown Author

I think that the internal structure of my body paragraphs is usually pretty strong, as I outline things ahead of time and address the structure at that point. However, the internal structure of my introductions and conclusions could use some work.

Revised Conclusion

In this blog post, I will be posting my old and new conclusions. For my conclusion, I attempted to use the "paint a picture" technique by looking at the topic in a broader sense. However, I find it necessary to tailor the conclusion to my essay by including specific details. I attempted to create more of a bridge between my conclusion and restating my thesis. I also addressed the reader explicitly.



Old Conclusion

Almeling adeptly discusses a rather brazen topic in an open manner that puts readers to ease while simultaneously decreasing their comfort level. She embraces technology that moves the world forward, yet, adopts an attitude that appears to be anti-sperm donation. Throughout her argument for stronger regulation of sperm industries, she characterizes herself as a defender for those who have suffered due to sperm donation. However, this same position results in the subtle crafting of an overall argument against the sperm industry. Therefore, through her inclusion of emotional vignettes, a contrast between personable tone and cool subject topics, and statistical analysis, Almeling presents a rhetorical argument against sperm donation within her work.

New Conclusion

Almeling is able to simultaneously put her readers at ease and push their comfort level while discussing a tabooed topic. However, Almeling focuses on the social dilemmas of sperm donation and does not place emphasis on the acute physiological ramifications of reproductive technology. In this way, it is important for the reader to understand that the author effectively makes use of rhetorical arguments that are based in sociology and not physiology, although the work masquerades as a scientific document. The author acts as a protector for those who have suffered from the consequences of sperm donation, which lends to ethos. Yet, the author presents all of her information with an air of ethical strain. While Almeling outwardly supports regulation of the sperm industry, a closer analysis of her writing clarifies the nature of her arguments against sperm donation. Therefore, through the inclusion of emotional vignettes, the contrast between personable tone and cool subject topics, and statistical analysis, Almeling presents a rhetorical argument against sperm donation within her work.

Punctuation Part 2

In this blog post, I will be exploring new punctuation.

Apostrophes:

I learned that apostrophes must primarily be used to show possession or ownership. What surprised me most was that apostrophes are not used to denote years. For example, I usually write 1990s as 1990's, which is grammatically incorrect.


End Punctuation

I did not really learn anything new from this section. It did, however, encourage me to revisit my draft. I did not use any exclamation points. The large majority of my sentences end in periods, with a few rhetorical questions for variety.

"Comma" Anonymous

Commas

My comma usage can probably use some work. I have learned all of the rules before; I just usually choose not to pay attention to them, which is probably not the best strategy. Because of this, I tend to have run-on sentences. My flow could use some work.


Examples

What are the consequences of sperm donation? This is an example of a rhetorical question in my essay. It is not common in the body of my essay, but is used several times in the introduction and possibly will be added in the conclusion.

Through the effective use of anecdotes, tone, and statistical records, Almeling subtly makes use of rhetoric to argue against modern sperm donation. My thesis statement is an example of proper comma usage. In it, I use commas to separate items in a list.

Practicing Summary & Paraphrase

In this blog post, I be practicing writing summaries and paraphrases of text from Rene Almeling's "The Unregulated Sperm Industry."

The text below has been directly copied from my original source. 

Several aspects of this vignette foreshadow the trajectory of sperm donation (but not the practice of inseminating women without their knowledge). The medical profession continued to play a central role. Doctors selected donors on the basis of their “superior” qualities, secrecy marked the enterprise, and sperm was produced for a particular recipient. According to one midcentury study of several hundred men, the majority of donors produced less than 10 samples.


My Paraphrase of the Original Source

Almeling acknowledges that the medical profession is integral to the continuing trajectory of sperm donation. The author argues that doctors (not recipients) secretly chose donors based on "superior" attributes. In addition, Almeling emphasizes the questionably ethical historical aspects of donation by including statistics from a midcentury survey of donors. Of these hundreds of participants, only a few contributed more than 10 samples (Almeling).

"Summary" Anonymous

My Summary of the Original Source

Almeling indicates that historical sperm donation was unethical due to immoral medical practices exhibited in various midcentury studies.

Cluster of "The Unregulated Sperm Industry"

In this blog post, you can find my coggle of the rhetorical context of my work. In my coggle, I simply began by plotting out my own thoughts, feelings, and impressions of the article as a reader. After that, I went back and planned out the rhetorical context and other details.

Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies in "The Unregulated Sperm Industry"

In this blog post, I will be analyzing the rhetorical strategies of ethos, pathos, and logos found within Rene Almeling's "The Unregulated Sperm Industry."

Ethos:

• Credible references:
• The Journal of the American Medical Association
• The American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• offers critique and suggestions
• The Food and Drug Administration
• offers critique and suggestions 
• Background about the author
• educated in the field
• Yale education
• Tone and word choice
• comfortably uses jargon without coming across as "doublespeak" 
• a little sneaky about how she delivers information though 
• 'midcentury' does not specify the year

These strategies affect the bias presented in the text, which can sway a reader's opinion for or against the author's stance about the subject. The ethos present lends credibility to the author, but is subtle enough that the reader does not necessarily recognize it. 

Pathos:

• personal vignettes are used frequently to portray the idea that sperm donation is not all happy-go-lucky
• uncomfortable forced insemination 
• reference to Hollywood makes everything relatable 
• AIDS
• Shocking stuff
• doctors chose sperm donors based on appearance
• Repetition of key words

The author appears to be intending to make the audience uncomfortable. As a reader, I personally became uncomfortable with the text. For that reason, I would argue that Almeling was successful. The emotions enhance the author's subtle messages against reproductive technology without overtly stating them. In this way, the author appears more credible because she is less aggressive about her stance.

"Political and Rhetorical Analysis" Anonymous

Logos:

• Statistical analysis
• mentions specific numbers of donations
• statistics appear likely and credible, nothing appears to be an anomaly
• Historical records
• Take the form of personal vignettes, but are still present

The author is clearly making an attempt to gain the audience's trust when she brings up statistics. The statistics make her appear more credible. The audience is more likely to respect her stance if the statistics hold and are valid, which they are. For this reason, they were very effective. 

Revised Introduction

In this blog post, I will be presenting my old introduction along with the new introduction. I will be discussing my thought process for the introductions.

My new introduction is more powerful because it is more related to the topic of my essay. For example, I excluded all mentions of Octomom and focused instead on male sperm donation and offspring. I also included the terms "ethos, pathos, and logos" by name.

"Keep Calm," Anonymous

Old

The media phenomena Nadya Suleman, better known as “Octomom,” has raised numerous controversies about childbirth, pregnancy, and reproductive technology. On the flip side, Kirk Maxey is making waves for fathering over 400 children through sperm donation. The questions remain: is it ethical to father so many children? What are the consequences of sperm donation? Are people compensated for donations? Rene Almeling attempts to shed some light on the subject of reproductive technological advances by publishing articles such as The Unregulated Sperm Industry. However, Almeling, a thoroughly published Yale sociologist, may have an ulterior motive that must be considered when addressing her work. Through the effective use of anecdotes, tone, and statistical records, Almeling subtly makes use of rhetoric to argue against modern sperm donation.

New

Kirk Maxey lives a normal life in Northville, Michigan with his wife and twelve year old son -- but Maxey also has fathered over 400 other children. During the 1980s, Maxey became involved with sperm donation. Interestingly enough, Maxey’s case is not unique: there are a number of men who have fathered hundreds of offspring. This calls several important questions to mind: is it ethical to father so many children? What are the biological and social implications of sperm donation? What is the motivation for sperm donation? In her New York Times article, “The Unregulated Sperm Industry,” Rene Almeling attempts to answer these questions. However, the Yale professor may have an ulterior agenda that must be considered when addressing her work; this is established through analysis of ethos, pathos, and logos within the context of the piece. Through the effective use of anecdotes, tone, and statistical records, Almeling subtly makes use of rhetoric to argue against modern sperm donation.

Punctuation, Part 1

In this blog post, I will be discussing punctuation methods and marks found in the front of the Students' Guide.

The Semi-Colon: I tend to overuse semi-colons in my writing. I think this is because in high school, I was strongly encouraged to use creative grammar in order to display my knowledge as opposed to using my writing to do so. I do enjoy a good semi-colon, but I believe I might have been misusing them before. For instance, I now know that semi-colons should never accompany subordinate clauses.

"Air Quotes" from Austin Powers

Quotation Marks: The reason I find quotation marks interesting is the accompanying nuances that go with intonation. Obviously, quotation marks are widely used to directly quote text. However, the whole concept of quotation marks often goes along with sarcasm, irony, or sass.

Colon: I found the colon most interesting because the Students' Guide instructions directly contradicted what I had been told my whole academic life about colons. For some reason, I have been told never to use a colon with a direct quotation. However, I have now seen the light. Usually I use colons to emphasize a point. This might work stylistically, but grammatically, can be problematic.

Draft of Rhetorical Analysis

Here's my draft! Please take a look. Thank you for taking the time to read my work. I was wondering if you could pay special attention to the organization of my essay? I’m considering adding another paragraph, but I’m not sure if it would further add to my argument or if it might become redundant. I also would appreciate some feedback about my conclusion, because I would like to know if it is effective enough.

Analyzing My Own Assumptions

In this blog post, I will be analyzing my own cultural assumptions and discussing how they related to the text of The Unregulated Sperm Industry by Rene Almeling.

1. What cultural or social values, beliefs, etc., do we share with the society or culture in which the text was written? Why have they endured?

Personally, I share the belief that as a society, we need to take care in how we proceed in the scientific world. I think this is especially applicable for ethically handling human matter. These beliefs have endured because they are present in major religions, scientific procedures, and the psychological aspects of our culture.


2. What cultural or social values, beliefs, etc., do we not share? Why?

I do not share the belief that we should stray from progress. I do think that sperm donation is a great option for people who struggle with biological reproduction. For that reason, I think that regulation is necessary to maintain health, but not the point where it becomes impossible for people to have children.

"Multiple Births." Sperm donation often results in multiple births. Anonymous, for Public Domain

3. If the text is written in a culture distant or different from our own, what social values, beliefs, etc., connect to or reflect our own culture? What social values, beliefs, etc., can we not see in our own culture?

The text was written in a culture similar to my own, although the author is more educated than me. The social values that connect are mostly ethical dilemmas about unregulated human reproduction. One value that I cannot see in my own culture would be the slight tendency to discontinue progress.


4. If the text is written in our culture but in a different historical time, how have the social values, beliefs, etc., developed or changed over time?

The text was written relatively recently. In the two years that have passed since this text was published, laws have changed about reproductive health. However, most of the laws have affected reproductive technology indirectly. For example, laws that limit reproductive health clinics that offer abortion also limit fertility-aiding clinics with the same procedures offered.

Analyzing My Text's Cultural Setting

In this post, I will be analyzing the cultural aspects that may have influenced the publication or writing process of the New York Times article "The Unregulated Sperm Industry" by Rene Almeling.

1. What values, ideas, norms, beliefs, even laws of the culture play an important role the text?

The values that play an important role in the text are cultural values of the United States. Family oriented values are huge in this article, with the author pushing the lines of what a "traditional American family" looks like. However, the laws of the United States also play a large role in the article, as the article is about regulating the laws about sperm donation.

"Sperm" Anonymous, for public domain

2. Does the text address these cultural values, beliefs, etc., directly or indirectly?

The text addresses the cultural views pretty directly. Legal jargon is comfortably used, and the author addresses legal complexities and how they affect the audience. The author presents real-life examples of issues that have come up based on the lack of regulation in the sperm industry. In addition to the direct approach, the author indirectly addresses the cultural values through theorizing about the impact of HIV on donation.


3. What is the relationship of the text to the values, beliefs, etc.? Is is critical of these aspects of the culture? Is it supportive? Does it seek to modify these aspects of the culture in a certain way?

The text attempts to adhere to to laws of the United States. However, the author doesn't take a strong position on ethical or moral laws. Almeling recognizes that with such a controversial topic, in order to remain unbiased, there must be more than one perspective on the cultural beliefs. However, the article does sometimes appear to attempt to modify positive and negative cultural perceptions of sperm donation.