Technology

In his article John McDermott claims that there are not only advantages of technology development, but also some negative consequences. He provides us with an example of using bombing programs in South Vietnam. According to the author, there were a couple of these bombing programs which were carried out.
I agree with his statement that technology development does not necessarily affect people in a good way. Today technology has improved dramatically, and it can be very dangerous if it is used against people.

the Opiate of the Intellectuals ashleigh ross

What argument is the author of this piece trying to make?
the argument the author is trying to make is that technology is causing a gap between upper and lower class.
do you agree or disagree with this statement?
i agree with this statement, technology has its positive externalities, but definitely has down falls. technology has improved the health care system, but also has change the way kids and adults way of life. children no longer play and go outside as much as the used to and play video games inside all day, and people no longer work hard to attain information, they rely on the internet to give them answers whether its right or wrong, and most of them are not from scientific sources.

Technology

In this article, McDermott is trying to express how technology has taken over the main role in peoples lives across the country.  He is explaining even though we have created so many opportunities and progress with this technology, it really isn't helping us out in the end.  Technology has turned into almost a drug for people these days. The children are starting to get cellphones in elementary school now, and this could lead to the future failure of personal communication. I agree with this article in its stressing of the dangers of the technology advancements. This argument is extremely prevalent to us college students.

Technology 4/26/12

The author is trying to say that we have gotten so obsessed with technology, but not moving forward, but going backwards instead. I actually do agree with his argument because although we have come up with a lot of amazing gadgets like phones and laptops, I feel like we would have been better off without it. We are becoming a very lazy country. We barely have to do anything anymore. America is becoming lazier and lazier. I think if you have ever seen the movie Wall-e, we will end up something like that eventually if we keep progressing in technology like this.

Technology

McDermitt's argument is that technology basically controls us, us being individuals in the world. I do agree with this, I personally could not function without my phone, zune/ipod, and computer. I would go bonkers. I believe that everything today is through technology and without it everyone wouldn't know what to do with themselves.

Technology

The authors argument is that will technology have a great influence on the poor and rich in the world. I would think that this is a valid argument and I can definity see how both sides would be portrayed. On one side I can see that technology can make the rich successful and more knowledgable. On the other hand technology is good for our entire community and it has been made excessible to people of al classes. I think technology is important to help us grow even though we might be over using it in some cases.

“Technology: the Opiate of the Intellectuals”

What argument is the author of this piece trying to make?          

The author of this piece is trying to argue that the development of technology has/will cause large gaps between the upper and lower classes in American society and making us take a step backwards.

Do you agree or disagree with his argument?

I tend to agree with this argument. If the development of technology continues and keeps separating the American society then it would create an elitist group and the “other” group, those who did not understand such technology.  Those who did not know how to use such advanced technology I believe would feel irate and upset because they have almost failed in society, while the elitist would be over taking businesses and major corporations leaving barely any jobs for the “others”. Therefore if we create such major gaps in society by way of technology our society has the potential to fall apart which I believe would be a travesty since we have worked so hard to get to the point where we are today as a mainly cohesive society.

Technology 4/26

The article's main point is about our society today is obsessed and some could say addicted to technology. Smart phones, social networking, iPods, iPads, kindles, video games, etc. are all very commonly used technological pieces. I completely agree with this argument. I have to admit I am one of those people addicted to technology especially my phone and computer. Our society is getting more and more addicted and obsessed by the day.Technology has offered good things in medicine fields, communications, etc. however it has a "drug addiction" factor.

Technology

The argument made in this article is that technology has become a drug to society. People always seem to be in their phones, or using their iPod, or checking their e-mail. Even when people go camping nowadays, an event that is supposed to require zero technology, they have electric mattresses, and portable DVD players. Obviously, I completely agree with this article. With societies obsession with technology, it is easy to see how it can start taking over the population. It's easy to believe that soon robots will be taking over many jobs that real people currently possess!! I don't think people realize how much control technology has over their lives. Trying to get through even a single day without any technology would be near impossible! I know I couldn't do it. How much is too much? How much of this "drug addiction" is healthy? It's hard to say, and I think the answer has also been so influenced over time with this gradual advance in technology.

Technology

The article on technology talks about how overpowered our culture is on technology. In previous times, Religion was the one thing that kept the community going and without it communities will not be the same. In today's time, technology has begun to take over that role. Technology is so prevalent in society and people can not go a day without. People are constantly checking their phones or any other piece of technology that it has become like a drug to our culture. Most Americans are constantly obsessing over technology and cannot go a day without. I agree with this article that technology is taking over people of today's time.

Technology: the Opiate of the Intellectuals

1. I think the argument that the author is trying to make is that the advancement in technology that we have experienced has changed the world and society so much.
2. I agree \with his argument.  He makes a lot of good points.  I feel like the technology has really helped us with so many things in life and has really changed everyone.  But we rely so much on technology.  For example, with texting and Twitter and Facebook, people have stopped communicating face to face which is ridiculous.  Our world has changed so much in that way; our parents didn't have the technology we had and they're just fine! One day, the technology will probably take over and we will become obsolete... yikes.

Technology Reading

The arguement that the writer was trying to make was that technology is like a drug to us.  We constanly need to have technology around us and to get us through our days which is a major problem in our society.  We rely too much on technology and have to have it in order to survive.  We are constantly on our cell phones texting, emailing, chatting, or facebooking.  Whenever we need to know something, we automatically get on our computers to Google it.  I completely agree with this arguement because I see it everyday.  You walk around campus and everybody has their cell phones out and in hand, not paying attention to anything else.

Technology: the Opiate of Intellectuals

The author's argument in Technology: the Opiate of Intellectuals is whether technology is a positive or a negative McDermott. He doesn't believe that technology is a "self correcting" system which indicates he views technology as negative. He sees technology as moving us back, instead of forward.

McDermott's argument is very "in your face." Since the author uses Vietnam as a prime example or comparison, it creates a very strong and personal effect on people.

Opiate of the intellectuals

What argument is the author of this piece trying to make?
This author is trying to argue that technology has taken over the world, just like a drug. It is very addictive, and everyone picks up on it eventually. Technology is what the social breakdown of certain stratifications depends on. It has changed how society works and how people interact with one another and go about in their lifestyles. People in the lower class miss out on social rationality when technology increases and they are denied of certain social cues. This author is also saying that the economic power goes to those who are technologically inclined, or the elite.
Do you agree or disagree with the author?
I agree with this author's point of view. Technology is a huge part of society today, and a lot of things depend on it. It helps in advertising and getting certain points across, so the people who know how to work it and use it to their advantage are going to prosper over those who are not. Those who have the social network figured out will definitely put themselves at the top, helping them economically and socially.

Technology: The Opiate of Intellectuals

The argument in this paper that John McDermott is making is that technology only benefits the people that are in management of the technology and it controls the rest of society. I somewhat agree with this statement. The people who are in charge of the TV networks and internet websites, at least in America, have a lot of influence on society as a whole. They choose what is shown on TV or on the featured story on someone's internet homepage and this is a major way that Americans get information about the world. At the same time however, I feel like people in America know how to decipher through this information and take what they want from it. Those who are in management of technology do not completely control the rest of society, but they definitely do have some influence.

Toulmin Group

Hannah Weiss
Claim: Family is Important
Warrant: family has positively impacted my life.
Data: They have all been able to support me and be available to me and provide me with the things I want and need.
Rebuttals: Not all families are as strong and are not there for one another.
Backing:Giving Examples of scenarios of when my family was able to help me and support me.



Rachel Beger
Claim: I am able to write a great IMC plan and succeed in the advertising world after taking this WRA class. 
Data: I got a 4.0 on the IMC plan that I wrote for another plans group project.
Warrant: Worked really ahrd and using the writing skills that I have learned in this class.
Backing: Performed well on the IMC plan.
Rebuttals: This course will not help me be able to write a great IMC plan in the advertising world.


Natalie Smith:
Claim: This class helped me to understand that I like writing research papers the most.
Data: This was the easiest paper for me to write.
Warrant: I understand how to write this paper the most accuratly out of all the papers I enjoyed writing them more.
Backing: This was my best paper.
Rebuttals: Not all papers I will have to write are reaserch.


Allison Carter
Claim: I learn more about my career from the research paper 
Data: I learn more about pregnant women that contracted herpes
warrant: with research more about this topic it will help me in my career.
backing: Becoming an OB/GYN you will have to know about this topic.
Qualification: Research helps learn more about your career.
Rebuttals: I may not have a patient that has herpes.


Tori Bauman
Claim: I'm going to be a great interior designer.
Data: I have researched the major and know that I possess qualities that would make me a good interior designer.
Warrrant: Researching about my major and figuring out that I have what it takes to become an interior designer would help me be a great one because of the research and what I know will help me.
Backing: I'm going to pick a quality of an interior designer has and tell how i possess that.
Qualifications: Researching your major always helps with becoming an interior designer.
Rebuttal: Experience is more important.

Technology

The author is trying to say that technology has a rationalized control over large groups of people simply because there is one little "man" sitting behind the technology controlling the outcome. He states that only the "people in charge" and reap the benefits of technology without having to deal with the "costs." He uses a metaphor from the Vietnam War to support his claim.

I disagree with this because I think that everyone can benefit from technology and his metaphor has no more relevant use for society because societies technology has changed drastically since then.

Argument

Ashley Parzych:
Claim: WRA 140 has helped me learn how to write successful college papers compared to high school papers.
Data: The papers that I have written in WRA 140 have resulted in successful final paper grades meaning that I am now a successful college writer.
Warrant: Working on my papers, revising and editing them, reading, all the work done in this class.
Backing: I participated in class, came to class everyday, met with the teacher to talk about editing my papers.
Rebuttal: There is always more room for improvement, my writing will continue to get better through college and after.
Modality: WRA 140 has definitely improved my writing as a whole


Kelly Keelon:
Claim: WRA helped me get out of High School writing and into College writing.
Data: Experiences in class and paper assignments have progressed my writing.
Warrant: The rewrites helped make me a college level writer and fix my mistakes.
Backing: Came to class, and took time out of class to meet with the teacher.
Modality: WRA has improved my writing skills significantly.
Rebuttal: I have only taken one writing class, there is room for improvement.

Whitley Henry:
Data: WRA has benefited my writing, involvement in class activities such as group workshops, and class discussions have helped progress my writing in different areas.
Claim: All Michigan State University student should at some point in their undergrad take WRA to help improve their writing.
Warrant: My writing has improved, I know how to write in a variety of ways now.
Backing:I can write better in all areas because I was exposed to writing in different ways during the course.
Modality: This WRA class has most definitely improved my writing skills in all areas.
Rebuttal: I still have some things about writing that I need to learn and I can still improve on.

Ilyssa Beebe:
Claim: WRA 140 has helped me gain knowledge that will help me pursue and succeed at my future goal of being a lawyer.
Data: Discussions we have had in WRA Literature that we have read, and papers that we have completed have all helped me ready for future and discussions I may have later on in my college experience.
Warrant: Researching for and working on our papers. Revising and editing them a long with the reading and group discussion that we have had. For Paper #3 I had to lean how to successfully use a formatting system that was completely new to me.
Modality: Certainly that  I am better at writing papers in a short time, also that it will be easier to in the future for me to have to adapt to a new formatting system. Also that I have a strong back round o it so if I learn it in the future I will be able to adapt to any situations.
Rebuttal: I am not an expert at writing law papers, but this class has put me in the right direction.

Toulmin's Argument Model

Caitlin:

Claim: I will make a good pediatric nurse

Grounds: My experience with Natalie will make me a good nurse

Warrant: Struggling through this experience will make me better understand the struggle of my patients, and will make me want to help them that much more.

Backing: Cancer is not just surface level, it’s an emotional, physical, and intellectual disease.

Qualifier: Seeing my near sister fight this, gives me passion to help others

Rebuttal: This job will be emotionally strenuous, since it requires an emotional connection with patients who might not wake up the next morning, which will most definitely take a toll on me, but it is even more rewarding to know that you can brighten their day for even a minute, and give them a reason to smile.

Hannah Pugh:

Parts of my argument:

Claim: This class has helped me put what I have a passion for toward a career.

Data: Paper number one let me explore my passion. Paper number two gave me insight to what I didn’t want to do with my career. Paper number three, the research paper let me explore my passion in a more serious way and let me connect two things I like into something that I can relate to a career.

Warrant: Because I was forced to write those papers, I was able to narrow down my career path.

Qualifiers: Talking about our future in class brought up questions of what to do in my future.

Backing: Although writing is not part of my major I have learned through the essays of my major and what I wanted to change it to.

Rebuttal: Some people may not agree that one class could help so much in determining a focus in a career. 

Courtney:

Claim: I am going to be a successful eye doctor

Data: I am ambitious.

Warrant: Determination will keep me from giving up on the way to reaching my goal, no matter what.
Data: I have prior work experience.

Warrant: I know how to keep up a job and have learned the responsibilities and punctuality needed for a future career.

Backing: Red Robin had me responsible for seating people efficiently and required me to show up on time and communicating with my team members.

Data: I like to expand my knowledge.

Warrant: Optometry requires a lot of knowledge on the topic and it is important that doctors are intelligent.

Data: I have good hand-eye coordination, displayed in my drawing skills.

Warrant: Intricate procedures are used on the eye and for fixing and tweaking spectacle frames.

Qualifiers:

Rebuttal: Some people may say that there’s no guarantee that I will end up being successful; however, I know that if I don’t give up, my strengths that I mentioned will help me move along, at whatever pace it takes and through any set backs I run into.

Shelby:

The claim- I will be a good speech therapist

Warrant- Growing up with Zander was an eye opener to what I want to do because his struggles became very obvious to me

Data- I am good at helping people and am very patient when it comes to helping them

Rebuttal- It will be emotionally draining trying to help everybody with their speech impediments and it will also get very strenuous

Backing- Since I saw what Zander had to go through, I will know what other kids are going through as well. It is very hard to go through childhood with a speech impediment so I will take this knowledge relate it back to the children that I work with

Qualifiers- seeing Zander’s struggles through childhood will help me help others