Reasonings

Towards the beginning of the semester, we talked about inductive and deductive reasoning. I know that we talked about that it for quite sometime, but I could use a little more discussion on this topic. I was able to differentiate inductive reasoning from the deductive reasoning. but never fully understood every aspect of it. I think that we should be able to learn how to discuss and explain it without referring to the text, but I still do not feel confident doing that regarding this subject matter. Maybe if a little more time was spent on it and a few more exercises aside from writing a post on it would have been a little more efficient in helping students like me who are a little confused about the topic to understand it a little better. Aside from this, every other topic of discussion was easy to grasp and apply to our daily lives.

Class Reflections

Personally, I enjoyed taking an online class. One of the things I probably enjoyed the most is being able to voice my opinion through writing and having our fellow students read and criticize what we have to say. I especially enjoyed this because the topics we discussed are suitable for today's issues. Another factor that I liked is that we got the opportunity to take our tests online. It was convenient and nice to take it whenever it is best for us and in the comfort of our own home. What I did not like about the class are the group projects. Not everyone in the class participates as much as one person would. It was more difficult to keep in contact with someone from a group and get the work done efficiently. I prefer to work by myself or in pairs. I think that is one way that the class can be improved. We can have smaller groups so it would be easier for students to get together and work on it. Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the class.

Learned Lessons

Over the course of the semester, we as a class went over many topics. One of the things that I learned is to be a better critical thinker. This course allowed us to digest the different techniques to go about discussing critical topics, especially those that we are faced with nowadays. What stuck out to me the most that I learned is the impact of the social media to all of us. I always have had some understanding of it, but the course reminded me of how it truly affects us and how we should handle them being the critical thinkers that we are. Since the social media is one of the strongest influences we have, we need to be aware of how to handle them the right way. Another topic is studying the validity of an argument. I think that arguing, or defending your stance, is always a part of our everyday lives. Sometimes it may be a casual argument among you and your friends, but other times it could be a little more serious, such as arguing your point with your boss or co-workers to try to prove that you are suitable for your job. I think that we learned a lot of valuable information in this course and we should all put it to use to be the best version of critical thinkers that we can be.

Mission Critical and Causal Argument

In this course, we have gone over several topics to discuss. We learned many tips and tricks to be the best version of critical thinkers that we could be. The modules on Mission Critical and Causal Argument were very useful. The Mission Critical summarizes everything that we covered on arguments - from the basics, to analyzing arguments and to fallacies. Some of the topics discussed are the different parts of an argument, inductive and deductive and misdirected and emotional appeals. In addition, I think that the Causal Arguments website contains important information about arguments and how we to best use them in our daily lives. The website talks about the rules dealing with causation and also the strengths of a causal argument. Both of these websites make it convenient to go back and review the material that we learned throughout the semester. They are both necessary learning tools that we need to take advantage of.

Incorrect Conclusions

 As a college student, I am pretty positive that many of us have encountered the example I am about to give sometime during our college career. The way our classes our set up, it makes it easy for students to study in groups. It may work for some, and for the rest it may not be the best strategy. For me, it is the latter. I find myself giving study groups before a midterm a chance, but I always end up doing worse in a test than if I were to prepare for it myself. In my point of view, going over the class material with fellow students before a midterm is beneficial because we ask each other questions and each of us tell the group some information that we might be missing. When it comes to the test, I do not do as well as I thought I would. I have tried studying myself and I do better. This is most likely due to the fact that I am distracted by the side chatter when I can use that time focusing more on the text. Using my scientific skills, I was able to observe not only my own but also the rest of my study groups' actions and assess the effect it has on other people. I observed that our study techniques were effective, however it was not at all accurate. With that I was able to apply my observations and experience to the next situation. Situations like these happen all the time. For as long as we learn from our mistakes, these wrong situations can have a good outcome.

Horoscopes

According to www.shine.yahoo.com, my quick horoscope for today says: "Your place among your friends is secure today, and you know just where you stand."

Personally, I do not believe in horoscopes. I think that each horoscope may have some truth behind it only because we try and find a situation that has happened in our daily lives that we can relate it to. In my opinion, my horoscope above is accurate. Today, I was feeling a little stressed because of the hectic week I am having and going to face in the next couple of days, but I just sat down with a few of my friends at our house and spending time with them definitely alleviated a little of my stress. Though I think this is true, I think that if any of my friends with a different astrological sign was going through the same stressful week as I am and came up to me for advice, this horoscope would still apply to them. In fact, my friend from back home (with a different astrological sign) sent me a message saying that she needed me to be there for her since she is going through something complicated, and I was. We all may have different beliefs when it comes to horoscopes so it is important that we respect each other's viewpoint on this.

Social Networking

It is very apparent that the internet has affected our daily life by diversifying the different ways we deal with the media. One of the most common uses of the Interent is the social networking websites that are made available to almost everyone in the world. Starting with Friendster, MySpace, Google Plus and the famous Facebook, society has consistently talked about and took part in these social networking websites. Our text gives facts and numbers about the participation our society has with these websites, which only proves the impact this has on us. One example is that Facebook has more than 400 million members worldwide and counting. Social networking on the Internet definitely has its good and bad points. It is critical to understand how to use them correctly. As critical thinkers, it is our responsibility to study the various networking websites and how to use them for their advantages and not fall for their traps.

Internet Plagiarism

The internet has many benefits, and at times people tend to misuse them. In the article "The Wrongs of Internet Plagiarism: The Quick Arguments" by Brook Sadler, she talks about the negativity that plagiarism brings. On the other hand, Russel Hunt, author of "Four Reasons to Be Happy about Internet Plagiarism," discusses the benefits of plagiarism because it bring awareness, and when we are aware we can work against the flaws and towards the benefits. I agree more with Hunt's argument. He provides adequate reasoning behind his points. He says that knowing what plagiarism is will help us students develop awareness to know that it is wrong. Although Sadler lists all the negative aspects of plagiarism, it does not set her aside from the rest of the stances we have heard about this issue. I am glad that this topic got brought up because it is a very common issue in society. Media literacy is critical to understand because it helps us to be more aware of the good and bad ways we deal with the media.

Media Influences

The media is one of the strongest influence that we have nowadays. Almost everyone is exposed to different types of media, and this is most of the time how we keep connected with the past, current and future events. Because we face the media so frequently, it impacts the views and values we have about the world. A good example is a popular talk show, like maybe the Tyra Banks Show. Back when it was still on air, Tyra Banks hit many society's strengths and flaws. She discusses the issue with racism, physical appearance and the various beliefs of people. Through the exposure that this show brings to people, it definitely influences how we view the world. It allows for both sides of the story to be heard and criticized. A particular episode talked about the problems of people's weight. Tyra dressed up as both a skinny and an over sized woman and she walked into different clothing stores and she compared the customer service she received from the employees. Obviously, she got prime treatment when she was fit and skinny, and the complete opposite for being overweight. In that particular episode, we got to see how people treat others simply because of their weight. I am sure that most people who watched the episode, including myself, took into consideration how to act around different people. It made me understand that people are people and no one wants to be treated differently for not looking like a superstar.

Advertising in the Media

Nowadays, we are surrounded by the media at all angles. We see commercials on television, billboards when we drive around, magazine and newspaper ads, and even on the internet. It has now simply become inevitable. Marketers spend a lot of time and money to make their advertisements as efficient as possible. One of the ways they do this is by studying their consumers' habits. After looking closely at what they do, marketers find ways to work around it to profit from all of us. To stress the example of how big of a deal this is, our text provided the readers with the various facts and figures to support their reasoning. For example, manufacturers know that people change their cellphone provider multiple times a year, so cell-phone services ads come out quite often. The Internet itself is not too far behind when it comes to publicizing. Advertising in the media is definitely an effective method to communicate with the customers.

Children's Food Advertising

Advertising food has become one of the largest projects of food companies. In both articles by Margo Wootan and by Robert Liodice, children's food advertising and their health is discussed. In the first passage "Regulating Food Advertising to Children," the author argues that there is a dramatic increase in the number of children and teens with obesity over the years. She believes this is due to the accessibility of junk foods to children. Another contributing factor is parental authority for giving in to the food marketing that attracts their kids. Wootan suggests a variety of solutions by altering their marketing techniques by possibly changing the packaging to smaller portions or even simply improving the nutritional quality of foods. In the other article "Advertising and Freedom of Speech: Beware of the Food Nanny," Liodice talks about how the United States is a free country and the people have every right to express their thoughts and feelings. The CSPI narrows the public's perspective and focuses on just food advertising. They were not accurate on their facts about this topic and the author sees this to be particularly misleading. I think that Wooton's article proficiently delivered her message across simply because hers seemed more logical, especially with all the marketing solutions she presented. They were all easily attainable. I believe that if we actually follow some of the rules she suggested, we will see an improvement in children and teen's overall health.

Marketing Strategies

Target is one of the biggest retail companies here in the U.S. Along with a bunch my friends; we visited Target to purchase food, toiletries and clothes this past weekend. Being the successful retailer they are today, Target definitely used a variety of marketing strategies and strategically planned to help the company reach or go beyond their target sales. They made sure to assess the consumers shopping habits and discovered ways to cater to their needs for an efficient and enjoyable experience. One of the techniques that Target uses is their low prices, sales and promotions. For example, a bag of chips included a liter of soda. This caught my attention and made me actually buy the chips. Striving to reach to their consumers’ demands was definitely what they work towards. Another strategy they had was good customer service. I was in a rush to find the aisle for granola bars since all my friends were already in line to pay. I asked an employee to help me locate them, and he walked me to where they were even if he had to stop doing what he was doing and it was quite far. Lastly, Target continues to keep their company’s reputation. When I walked through the store, I felt a good atmosphere. They also have good marketing and catchy logos and phrases. This makes it exciting for the customers. I thought that the most effective marketing strategy was the customer service. If a team member makes certain that the customer leaves happier than when they walked in, it only goes to show that they truly care, and not just there to get the job done and get paid. The least effective would most likely be the marketing that they have. Although they have signs of prices on display, it does not make them any more special than if I would get an item at Walmart or Safeway. Customers would most likely be inclined to buy items at Target if, in one way or another, they prove that it is going to be a customers’ smartest purchase.

Direct Experience and False Memories

Going on our normal routines, we as humans come across and witness many situations in our everyday lives. In our text, a portion explains the differences between experiences that we go through and our memories. As critical thinkers, it is important to as much as possible accurately differentiate between the two. Some of the factors that affect clearly explaining what had really happened are trauma and language. When a traumatic event occurs, it starts to become difficult to clearly explain what was going on since there are many things going on in one's head. Words also have an effect on this. The choice of words and the order they are in can give a variety of responses. This is when it becomes difficult to connect between what has really happened and ones's memory. Moreover, one of the biggest issues is that when the most consistent information is needed, it is hard to tell if a memory is true or not since false memories are just as easy to believe as the accurate ones. At times, we even fall into false memory syndrome, which is when we alter our memories when we recall events, sometimes even memories that never even occurred. Being the critical thinkers that we are, we should practice and enhance our memorization skills through being more attentive and analyzing events so that we can accurately remember any new information.

The Various Opinions about Unidentified Flying Objects

In the readings regarding the varying opinions and evidence regarding the existence of unidentified flying objects, it was easy to form or strengthen our personal belief and stance regarding this topic. In the first article “Scientific Study of Unidentified Flying Objects” by Condon, the author argues that technology still needs improvement so that we can fully explain and stand behind the belief about these UFOs. If there is a good idea about their existence, there should be credible information to support whatever stance one takes. He also adds that since this is the case, UFO reports should not be publicized. Moreover, Hynek, the author of “The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry,” talks about this experience is not given much attention by the authorities, and because of this neglect, it is not looked at closely or systematically. Since it has never been fully clarified by the scientists, they can never fully execute proper data collection. Hynek suggests that a good way to approach this is to start from scratch and start gathering and processing data. Open communication should also be kept among the countries since this phenomenon is familiar worldwide. Lastly, in the article “Physical Evidence and Unidentified Flying Objects” by Paynter, the writer believes that unless there is physical evidence about the existence of UFOs. I personally stand behind Paynter’s argument. The human mind is full of imaginations and it is not difficult to make a story more interesting or make assumptions about certain issues. Unless an argument is a hundred percent supported, it is going to be difficult for me to believe this or any argument for this matter. Nothing is going to make this topic more credible but the presence of physical evidence.

Knowledge vs. Wisdom

To some knowledge and wisdom may be synonymous to each other, and to the rest they may have completely different meanings. According to our text, knowledge is defined as information that we hold to be true because it is backed up by evidence. I agree with this definition in the sense that I think that knowledge is simply information and facts that have been proven to be accurate over time. Wisdom, on the other hand, is applying one's knowledge to real life situations and exercising the best judgment that one can possibly use. Another difference between the two is that for wisdom to be more credible, one has to have had experienced various life happenings that will result in learning. For example between a young teenager and someone older, the older man who has gone through the different stages in life will know how to better approach the good and bad situations that they will come across because it is more likely that they have already been through a similar experience. Also, knowledge is more of a uniform information while wisdom varies among everyone. They are very much alike in a way because both wisdom and knowledge use factual information. In college, I think I am both gaining knowledge and wisdom. I am acquiring knowledge through all the information I am learning in my classes. On the other hand, I become more wise through the experiences that we gain. A classic example is learning the best study methods and ways to be the best student I can be and succeed in college. Continuing on, I think that the Information Age has molded us to become more knowledgeable since information is easily shared among each other through the use of technology; and today's technology is continually improving by the second. It is difficult to day that the Information Age is making us wiser because the technology is mostly doing the work for us to get any information. I believe that only those who are responsible for creating the technology are the ones gaining wisdom from the trial and error experiences that they go through trying to perfect technology. 

The Varying Communication Styles in Different Cultures

Different cultures consequently have different ways of communicating. Since each and everyone of us were brought up in a different way, when we are all brought together we noticeably see the differences, most especially in the communication styles. Our text talks about the examples that can prove this point. Take for example silence. Silence may or may not be taken as a positive or negative notion. For many cultures in Asia, it is seen as a valuable key in communication. On the other hand, the European Americans find it uncomfortable. Another varying method is personal space when communicating. Here in the United States, as well as countries in northern Europe and in Canada, we have greatly observe personal space and we do not really touch people while talking. However in places such as Arab and countries in Latin America, it will be taken as being rude and distant. Being the critical thinkers that we are, it is essential that we recognize these differences and respect them. In our lives, we will not only encounter people who grew up around the same practices as we did. And when the time comes that we are faced with contrariety, we need to learn to set our differences aside.

Rhetorical Devices

Many of us use a variety of rhetorical devices in our daily discussions. Its purpose is to persuade others to believe a thought or idea without the use of reason. Within the past weeks, I can say that I have use a variety of these rhetorical devices, but the two methods that I am going to discuss in this post are hyperbole and lie. Hyperbole, as most of us know, is exaggeration. This is a very common technique that we encounter almost in every conversation. For example just earlier today, I told my friends how difficult one of my midterms was. I used the expression, "It was so hard, I almost passed out on the third question." Realistically, I did not feel like passing out or anything near that, but instead I was just really nervous and wanted to get every answer right. Another device that I used was a lie. A lie is a false statement that is intended to deceive. Even if we all are aware that lying is a horrible habit, it is sometimes inevitable. Last week, my parents were constantly reminding me to fill out my FAFSA application because it was due in a few days. That week was a busy one for me, and completing the FAFSA was just not at the top of my to-do list. And so when my parents asked me, I just lied and told them that I finished it when I really did not turn it in a couple days after telling them that I did. I used these methods to persuade people to believe whatever I say so that they can get a sense of how I see and feel different about different thoughts and situations.

Sally Rider's Crtical Thinking Skills

After reading a piece of her biography, we can say that Sally Rider exemplifies many attributes of a critical thinker. First of all, being able to achieve a PhD in Physics and a degree in English shows that she is highly skilled in the field of research and inquiry. Ride also received a dignified job with NASA, and got the chance to study in an astronaut class with the few chosen ones. This exhibits her creative problem solving techniques. These classes are not easy, so for her to be chosen and to finish, she must have stood out by solving problems effectively. In addition, Ride also showed off her effective communication techniques when she addressed the United Nations and made a report for NASA. She did not stop here. She continued to enhance her skills through writing children's literature focusing mainly on her line of work, space exploration. Throughout all her achievements, she executed many analytical skills. From studying in college, to earning a degree and working with NASA, she needed to use the best tricks of an effective critical thinker.

Cultural Attitudes and Emotions

All of us have emotions, and it is simply inevitable for us as humans to be reasoning out situations without having our emotions influence it. In the text, it gives examples such as Buddhists believe in love in all beings as a basis for a logical critical thinking. Because of this, we need to keep in mind that at times, we need to set our emotions aside to arrive at the best decision we could possibly come up with. Our feelings allow us to get the best of ourselves in some situations. For example, if a son or daughter is upset at their parents for grounding them,  he or she might choose an act of rebellion such as maybe not doing their chore well or sneaking out of the house to get back at his or her parent. Though emotions may be seen as a negative thing, it could be used sometimes to improve our critical thinking. It can be used as a motivation to the best final decision.

Evolution and Belief in God

Both of the articles strongly contradict each other. Aquinas says that the existence of God can easily be supported by reasoning. On the other hand, Dawkins opposes his proofs and argues that God's existence is bogus, but rather people are forced to believe about the nature of God and not God in himself. When it comes to reasoning these two articles out, I think evolution and belief can work hand in hand in deriving a point. I am not going to fight the idea that believing that something so great and powerful must have existed before any of the things we have now started. But with a strong background in Catholicism, faith is what connects the two together. Although evolution states that a single thing must have started the rest, and belief argues that God has just simply been present since the very beginning, with faith one can say that believing in His existence, He must have in one way or another started, and was the ultimate reason as to why there is such existence in everything else. As for Aquinas' response to Dawkins, I think he would disagree and reason that a stronger faith will help a person justify his or her reasoning and beliefs of what is going on in this world.

Strengths and Weakness in Reasoning

Each one of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. It is extremely crucial for a person to be able to recognize these assets that they possess in order to work towards solidifying their strengths or working on their weakness. In my case, I believe that one of my strengths when it comes to my reasoning is in deduction and generalization. I believe that the best way to approach a problematic situation is to find a premise to support a conclusion within every reasoning. A resolution would be more credible if it was supported by propositions. In addition, generalizing a reason is at times beneficial for other occurrences. In instances where a quick verdict needs to be made, looking at the bigger picture would be the most efficient method. In a career choice, I would say the best type of reasoning is deductive. If the pros and cons are weighed out efficiently before making a huge decision such as what career path to take, then this seems to me is the most logical approach.

Analogies in Critical Thinking

Using analogies in our everyday life has come to be very common in our usual conversations. In the text, analogy is defined as a type of comparison between two topics. Sometimes, thoughts are easier understood when it is compared with other things that could easily be related to. Analogies are most especially helpful when it comes to complex comparisons. In addition, it is also advantageous in arguments. However when used in this manner, there are steps to be followed. These are first of all, identifying what is being compared, followed by listing the similarities and dissimilarities, then comparing both of these lists. Next, looking at the possible counteranalogies and finally deciding if the analogy is sufficient enough to support the conclusion. There are several means of arguments in writing, but to make a strong one using analogies, the rules should be followed efficiently. It is always important to drive a point across as conducive as possible to deliver an adequate argument.

Vices in Youth

Dr. Novello is a notable woman in society and she definitely influences both the young and older crowds in the field of health. In the article, she focuses on cigarette smoking in teens and how it progressed since the year of 1988. As she tried to figure out the reason as to why this happened, she used the cause-and-effect inductive reasoning. In the article, Dr. Novello's cause for the issue is the increase of Camel ads for Camel cigarettes. Another cause is that the youth is not thoroughly educated about the issue. As a result, Dr. Novello decides to work for more education in the schools and at the same time try to ban the cigarette ads. To conclude her reasoning, she implies that decreasing the amount of advertising for these cigarettes and at the same time increasing the knowledge of kids about this issue will probably help the lowering the problem of smoking among children and teens.

Inductive Reasoning

Whether we notice it or not, do it intentionally or not, as critical thinkers nowadays, inductive reasoning occurs quite often. It gradually has become our way to reason out many situations that come our way. I can even personally attest to this. For example, the last time I had Sashimi, I got food poisoning from it. Just because it happened once quite recently, it made me arrive to a conclusion that was reasoned out by inductive thinking. In this given situation, I can say that my first premise could be Sashimi is raw food. The second premise could be that raw food gives  me food poisoning. Therefore, I can say that Sashimi probably gave me food poisoning. I would say that this is an inductive reasoning because I claimed that my conclusion is not definite and could only possibly be true. Though this form of reasoning is not always right, I can say that it is still an effective way of thinking because it does not immediately assume and rush into possibly wrong conclusions. Even though my example may have a possibility of being true, it does not reassure that Sashimi was the only reason that I had food poisoning.

Validity of an Argument

Believe it or not, but in our everyday lives, arguing has become inevitable. Whether it is a huge argument or one that is really minute, it comes up in our conversations with people, and the funny part, even with ourselves. Chapter 8 discusses valid and invalid arguments. It talks about how a conclusion to an argument may be false not because the of the invalid form of argument, but due to the fact that the premise is false. However, this is also not always the case. There may be instances where both the premise and conclusion are accurate, but only because it happens to be true. I believed this section of the chapter to be considerable and of value because arguments are used in daily dialogues, especially in forms of persuasion. For an argument to be substantial and be of validity, it must relay accurate facts and be delivered in the proper and most persuasive methods. These compelling arguments help us form an idea of what thoughts, doings and values to believe and how to correctly act on it.

Capital Punishment

The United States is a very diverse country, hence the varying beliefs on certain controversial issues such as capital punishment. Human dignity is the one element that should be valued by everyone. Though not every culture puts their belief in the value of human life, ending someone's life, should not be in the control of another fellow human being. Referring to what Sister Helen Prejean mentioned, it is against what we are thought and brought up to be. Some Christians may find this acceptable due to the fact that they see the logic in giving death as a punishment for an act that somebody has done that could be or is equally as malicious as ending a life. What makes the death penalty so ethical and reasonable to begin with? Ending someone's life as a punishment will not change the past, nor will it bring justice. It absolutely gives nothing but removal of rights, nothing but another dead human being. In addition, based on the passages in chapter 8, all the countries involved in the European Union are strongly against the death penalty and are continuing to rally against it. Capital punishment has been going for years and it must be abolished. There are other means of punishment, but death is certainly never an adequate response to a crime.

Tell Nothing but the Truth

The short story about Silver Blaze can easily be tied into the everyday lives of people. When Sherlock Holmes explains that "many people rely on opinion and unsupported assumptions," it only means that people easily give into their hunch or gut feeling without taking all factors, obvious or hidden, into consideration. It is only human nature to jump into conclusions based on their own thoughts and opinions and other people's stories without complete knowledge and confirmation of the facts.

I can personally testify that this is true because of a very classic incident that happened to me in the past that I am sure many of you can easily relate to either because it may have already happened to you or you may have heard about it. A really good friend of mine and myself got into a huge argument because of a rumor I believed in that I have heard from my other friends. Based from our relationship, this good friend of mine had a tendency to commit such act. So I easily accredited what the others had told me. We got into a huge debacle about how I did not trust her nor our friendship well enough to believe what she said. Eventually, in the end the truth came out and I was, in fact, at fault and misguided. I fell along the lines of people who just easily jump into a "rumor" without critically thinking the situation through. Being the defensive human beings that we are, we tend to do this and at times, may blow it out of proportion. This bad habit needs to be put to an end, before we all get ourselves into some serious trouble.

What is the Issue?

Identifying an issue is always the first step to solving a problem. The article stresses that not clearly stating an issue will only lead to frustration and misunderstanding. When reading any piecework, as a critical thinker it is crucial to find what the author is trying to relay. The article also says that it is more evident to interpret an issue through talking. However this will not always be the case. The writer suggest that when presented a written work, a reader's focus should be on either the title or first paragraphs. Before going into further details, it is key to understand what is being talked about. From there deriving arguments, questions and solutions would become not only easier but also more accurate. For instance if there is an issue being discussed, it would be easier to interpret the written piece's purpose which then enables the readers to fully grasp the message and from then on go about furthering and expanding their ideas.

Taking a Stance

Growing up, I have always lived around a safe, predominantly white, sheltered community. When I landed my first job at retail, my managers would always tell all of the employees to keep an eye out for those customers that come in and seem suspicious even if they were not doing anything out of the ordinary. The customers that my managers normally single out are Mexicans and African-Americans. As a newly hired employee, I listened to everything that my managers told me, even if I felt a little uncomfortable about the racist comments they would talk about each of the purchasers. Eventually, I tried to make it clear that it was not making me feel comfortable. Eventually one day, I pulled one of my managers aside and told her that some customers are here to shop and all the times that we were asked to spy on the customers who were not of white descent, nothing terrible happens. I also told her that just because a person is white, it does not mean that he or she would not steal anything from the store. In all honesty, it took me a while to build up that confidence to talk to my manager in fear of losing my job. However I am glad I took a stance and she listened to what I had to say. Though they still do it at times, and I understand that they are just doing their job, they toned down the unnecessary comments. I have learned that sometimes it just takes a little leap of confidence to stand behind what you believe is right. This is key to success and happiness.

President Obama's Stance on Same-Sex Marriage

     President Barack Obama supports the two opposing beliefs regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage and civil union and equal rights among the people. Though the two ideas are not really homogeneous of each other, President Obama backs up each of his stances. Taking on his job as the President of this country, he made a commitment to serve the people to the best of his abilities through logical thoughts and acts, at the same time serving as an example of a true leader standing confidently behind his morals and what he believes to be intuitive.

     In response to Nava and Dawidoff's article, President Obama would take into perspective the writers' points of view while still backing up his personal beliefs. If he does otherwise, he loses credibility because he is simply giving in to what everyone else wants him to do, without putting into regard what he originally believes as just. Instead, Obama still respects that everyone should have equal rights thus legalizing civil unions. By allowing this, he stays true to himself while serving his country to the very best that he can.

Introductory Post

Hello!

A sophomore here at SJSU, I am currently pursuing a degree in Biology. I enjoy spending time with my friends, running and playing with my new puppy. As for my communication background, I have taken English and Speech classes. I also keep my communication with everyone else through the use of technology, like online networking sites, blogs, and other websites alike. I am ready expand my communication skills through this class and I am excited to open my mind to what everyone else has to offer.