Self Evaluation Blog #3

The grammatical errors in my essay were purely syntax and word choice issues. Although, my thesis was weak and did not really provide a good argument. What I learned in the process of writing from draft 1 to the final draft is that I need to pay more attention when I reread my essays and print them out, since I didn't do that I didn't catch how blah my thesis was and I just wrote it and basically turned it in. I did have some pretty good sources, though, and I think the point of my essay overall was solid. I did not really learn anything about grammar per se. What I took from lecture is the connection between all of the logical fallacies and how multiple fallacies can be used in one instance. I find researching to be quite difficult, but this is the essay that I researched the most and it showed me how much academic research betters an essay, especially when it pertains to current events and it is worth it to take the time to find reputable sources.

Reading Blog

1. According to Jacoby, Sixties youth culture is to blame for "a lasting anti-intellectual imprint on the culture" because of the reaction they created. In response to this counterculture, a vast uprising of fundamentalists, which promoted anti-intellectualism. This resurgence of fundamentalism is aptly named the Old Sixties by Jacoby. As a result of fundamentalism, people begin having blind faith more than ever and therefore neglect intellectual pursuits.

2. I honestly do not think we have an recognizable youth culture in comparison to the ones presented by Jacoby. The most important movement to me is the Sixties youth culture. I have always been a fan of basically everything that has been produced during this time period--music, books, art, etc.--but what is most important to me about this time is the dedication and courage the members of this movement had to make their world and the generations after them better.

Prewriting Blog #4

In comparison to other movements throughout history, I do not feel that our generation has an identifiable movement. To fill the void, we have instead tried to emulate over movements, more specifically the Sixties, but the integrity of the original movement is lost. The goals that these movements possessed are lost in translation and therefore our generation lacks guidance. While many praise the Sixties for its groundbreaking changes, today’s youth has focused on the usage of drugs without making any change. Instead of using the courage and audacity the Sixties had to create awareness and change, we are all too busy turning on, tuning in, and dropping out. We need to become more aware of that affect we can have on others and the Sixties youth movement should be a motivator, not to pick apart and then only emulate the easy aspects. As a result of our misinterpretation of the Sixties youth movement, we are a disgrace to those before us who fought for our rights and gave up everything for the cause. In order for this generation to have a movement, we need to be more outspoken, not as narcissistic, and willing to stand up for what we believe is just.

The primary objective of this essay is to analysis not only the text, but society and draw connections and dissimilarities between today’s generation and those before us.

My audience in this essay could really be anyone, but the one I would like to focus on the most is my generation as to hopefully provide some introspection.

Self Evaluation Blog #2

I did not have any grammatical errors in my draft, but what I found most difficult for me was finding a counter argument and then responding to it. I could not find anything that negated my topic, so I picked a more specific source in which Social Darwinism is used to explain society. I think what worked well for me in this essay was the fluidity of essay and how each of my points transitioned nicely to the next. The only thing that did not exactly according to my plan was finding the counter argument I wanted, but I think I utilized the source I found adeptly. I have not really learned anything new about grammar and my point of view has not changed. From the lecture, I mainly took the day that the broad statements were posted and we had to choose if we strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed, or strongly disagreed. A lot of the comments made during that lecture I felt were either very rational or not very rational at all but were still expressed in a fairly intelligent manner. So, I tried to express the distinction between an anti-rational intellectual and a rational intellectual and the various prerequisites one must have to truly be a rational intellectual.

Reading Blog

America in the early 20th century was enamored with communist ideals because it was an easy way to categorize their fear regarding those of different, possibly more radical viewpoints than themselves. There was an appetite for these ideas because calling someone a communist or labeling something as communist, made the public’s fear more tangible. Therefore their willingness to label their fear increases and since it becomes tangible they believe it is easier to overcome. Although I know more concerning other periods in American history, I do find Communism and McCarthyism incredibly interesting and the publics use of it even more so. Also, Marx’s ideals are extremely fascinating as well and one of my favorite quotes of his is, “Religion is the opiate of the people.” What I find most interesting is the concept of The Black List and the threat that one would end up on it. Liberalism and intellectualism are not always synonymous and Jacoby mentions that one can give up liberalism all together. Although they can go hand in hand because as one broadens their horizons and becomes more intellectual, they do tend to do toward the liberal side, but however not always.

Prewriting Blog #3

In the Presidential debate, both candidates committed a plethora of logical fallacies. In particular, both used the numbers=facts=truth to better enhance their claims, especially when speaking about economic matters. Two tactics employed in conjunction by the McCain camp is attacking the person and guilt by association in regards to Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers and ACORN. This is a blatant logical fallacy because just because one is associated with someone who was apart of a radical organization does not make them a terrorist if they were not apart of said organization. Jacoby speaks upon a similar situation and the stigma and name calling in which people were called communists if they knew anyone who was Communist or express any diverging ideals.


The primary outcome of this essay is to express the prevalence of logical fallacies and their ineffectiveness. Also, to show how the public is easily persuaded into believing these fallacies.


What I need to consider about my audience is that not everyone believes that a logical fallacy is actually false and to not write my paper just toward a left, Democratic audience.

Self Evaluation Blog #1

Overall, I think my first essay was a success. I had one grammar issue, which is the incorrect usage of a semicolon and I realize that I should have just stuck to a comma. Those semicolons can be tricky . . .even for English majors. The main reason I misused the semicolon is because the second bit of my sentence was a fragment and could not stand alone without the first section. Dag. Another thing I need to work on, which is not really grammar related is how I phrase my introduction to an author’s work or quotes from it because it can be slightly awkward.

In the perilous journey from draft #1 to draft #3, I learned the importance of reading aloud my paper and how it is beneficial in finding errors and weird wording. I cannot think of anything that was superfluous . . .the discussion that was had on the first draft day was pretty rad and thought provoking regarding why we, as students, write essays.

Honestly, my point of view in regard to grammar and rhetoric has not changed. I think I have got a pretty solid grip on the wild beast that is grammar. The only thing I need to look out for is the elusive run on sentence because I tend to write long, wordy sentences (which this whole blog probably is), but other than that grammar and I have come to a mutual understanding.

From the lecture, I took the lecture itself and the nature of my fellow students during lecture. Since my essay advocates discussion in the classroom, I tried to take my experience in class and my experience in high school to promote more discussion in the classroom and its benefits.