Blog Entry #11

Blog Entry #11

 

If you look at the assignment description for the final essay, you will see that there is a list of banned topics.  Do you think I should be able to ban certain topics, or should you be able to write about anything you would like?  Why do you think I ban topics?  (Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings if you don't think I should be able to ban topics, and I will explain why I ban topics on my blog on Monday morning if you are interested.)

 

I believe that if there are banned topics to right on that it may be holding a future writer back from learning all they can. Personally I would love to be able to choose what I right about no matter what the topic is due to what I know more about and have an interest in. being interest in a topic allows the essay to flow easier and will allow one to express their true feelings on their topic. While if made to choose from topics they are unfamiliar with will basically all be definitions throughout the paper due to the writer trying to figure out the information as well as the reader. Then again I see the teacher’s point of view as well. If there isn’t a ban of certain topics then they will get several essay on the same topic and having to read and grade all our papers I would understand that she does not want to read the same stories over and over again. As far as the banning of topics goes of the teacher… she is the teacher and can make any decisions she wants for our assignments and we should do our best with the instructions for our essays.

Blog Entry #10

Blog #10

There are several schools that are promoting the idea of "cash for grades." In this system, children who get good grades will be given money from the school.

Discuss what you believe to be some of the negative and positive aspects of this policy.

You must respond to at least two of your classmates for this blog.

 

The negative aspect of cash for grades would have to be that the children may just be getting good grades for the money and not actually learning or could even just have someone else do it for them so they can get money. While bribing children to do good in school also can be a positive thing. They will have a reason to make good grades and won’t just say “forget it” and wind up failing all their classes. It used to be that earning an "A" was enough of a reward for doing well in school. Today, in an effort to boost achievement, some schools give students (especially those at risk for low achievement) gift cards or high-tech gadgets. And in a surprising trend, some are rewarding students with cash. Public schools across the country are experimenting with incentive programs. In urban districts and rural outposts, some schools reward students who earn higher test scores and grades. Rewarding students' efforts and achievement with gold stars and token prizes is, of course, nothing new. Paying them in cash is another matter. What's the short-term impact of these cash-incentive programs on student motivation, grades and test scores? Will this approach engage students in learning for the long haul? In my junior high school years we were given Wii’s, game cubes, etc.  for our good grades. And it wasn’t until know that I have actually thought about this happening in my life but knowing it did puts new thoughts in my mind. I believe that it just depends on how you go about doing the cash or electronics for good grades that will determine if it is positive or negative.

Blog #9

Blog #9

Discuss whether or not you believe the use of medical marijuana is justified or should be legalized.

 

Is marijuana a harmful drug or a beneficial medicine? Put all the arguments together and you might answer, “a little of both.” Marijuana can be addictive and have short-term side effects like memory loss and trouble thinking. It may have harmful long-term effects, like lung cancer, a weakened immune system, and increased heart-attack risk in the hour after smoking it. Marijuana also may have good health effects, like treating glaucoma, nausea, appetite loss and seizures. Proponents say it’s helpful for people experiencing side effects from AIDS and cancer medications and may help treat multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.  Medical marijuana is illegal at the federal level. But it’s legal in certain states. Those states won’t come after providers, but the federal government can. Confused? Don’t blame ya. In its policy statement, the American Medical Association recommends that for now, marijuana remain classified as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. The government deems drugs in this category to have a high abuse potential, no accepted medical use and a lack of acceptable safety. Then again, the AMA sees enough promise to recommend more studies on the drug and urges the National Institutes of Health “to implement administrative procedures to facilitate grant applications and the conduct of well-designed clinical research into the medical utility of marijuana.”  Marijuana is a lousy drug but can be a great medication. The same applies to most medications. Drugs can be used for medicinal purposes and/or abused in order to alter mood and run away from life. There is no question that marijuana should be considered a dangerous drug. It is carcinogenic, mood altering, motivation destroying and life wrecking. In the alternative, the same may be said for such dangerous medications as Valium, opiates, diet pills and even Tylenol. When any medication is misused it becomes a clear and present danger.