Humanities 1100
Ashlee Francom
Humanities 1100 11/28/2011 Critical Thinking Questions BURROWING OWLS from Refuge Terry Tempest Williams
in the bird refuge at The Great Basin near the Great Salt Lake. 2. What is the author trying to accomplish? The author Terry Tempest is telling a story about the flood of 1983 in Salt Lake City and how it affected the bird refuge. 3. What issues or problems are raised? During a normal year the Great Salt Lake is at about 4200’. During the summer of 1983 the water level rose to a historic high of 4211.6’. With the water this high Terry was worried about her beloved owl’s home and took a trip out the refuge with her longtime friend Sandy. During their trip they found that the owls were okay and that there were even four owlets that had been born that spring. 4. How is the author thinking about the world? The author has great respect for nature and her surroundings. She is very knowledgeable and worked as a naturalist and teacher at the Utah Museum of Natural history. 5. Is the author’s thinking justified as far as we can see from our perspective? At the end of the story she tells a story of when her grandmother took her to the refuge in 1960. When they pulled up they saw a sign that said “Canadian Goose Gun Club” on the fence and they knew something was wrong with the owls. A nice group of men told them that the owls were gone, but it wasn’t their fault. So they left. She returned a few weeks later to find the same guys there with the same news. The still won’t find the owls here. This time she got out of her car went to the men and flipped them the middle finger saying, “This is from me and the owls.” Her mother was appalled by her behavior. But I think that she was fighting for her own beliefs and for what she loved. 6. And how does the author justify it from his/her perspective? I think that throughout the story she lets you know how special the refuge and owls were to her. And that they were worth fighting for. 7. How can you understand the author’s perspective to appreciate what he/she has to say? I read her biography at the beginning of the story and was given an idea about what she stands for and her love for the burrowing owls and nature in general. On my honor, I Ashlee Francom have posted this assignment to my e-portfolio on 11/26/11 for Humanities 1100 Critical Thinking assignment |
English 2010
Ashlee Francom
Robert MacDonald English 1010 4/23/2012 Substantive Revision Is it time to stop saying “Good Job!”? Alfie Kohn is an American author and leading figure in children’s progressive education. In his article “Five reasons to stop saying “Good Job!” he explains his findings. Kohn tells us that anywhere you go today where you find children you are sure to hear one thing “Good Job!” Many parents say this for such little things as a baby clapping their hands. We know children need to feel good about themselves and that they need encouragement, but Kohn gives us five reasons why overpraising may be a bad thing (Kohn). First he says overusing the phrase “Good Job!” manipulates children. Praising children may get them to do the things you want them to do, but they aren’t learning why they were asked to do it. When you engage with your kids and teach them why, you can help them become more thoughtful people (Kohn). The second reason Kohn tells us is that you can create “praise junkies”, the more that you praise a child the more they become dependent on your praise. They may use your evaluations of their behavior to decide what is good or bad instead of learning on their own. This can create a vicious cycle where the more we praise children the more they will need it and the less they will try to earn it (Kohn). Kohn’s third reason to stop saying “Good Job!” is that you’re stealing a child’s pleasure. Every time you say “Good Job!” you are telling your child how they should feel instead of letting them decide how they feel about their own accomplishments. “Good Job!” is a judgment just like “Bad Job!” and nobody likes to be judged, not even children. You should share in your child’s pleasure, not having them doubting themselves (Kohn). The fourth reason he states is that your child may lose interest. The more you reward someone for doing something good, the more they may lose all interest in the activity. They may start doing the activity only for the praise or for a prize instead of because they like to do it or are good at it. So Kohn asks “Does praise motivate kids? Sure. It motivates kids to get praise.” (Kohn). The fifth reason that Kohn gives is the reduction in achievement. Praise can create pressure for kids to “keep up the good work”. If kids have to worry about keeping the praise coming their way they may stumble at their next task. They also may become less likely to take risks (Kohn). It may be difficult to stop praising your children, but Kohn also tells us that there are three things you can do instead. First you can try saying nothing. You don’t need to give your child reinforcement because the action may have been a fluke. Second you can say what you saw. An evaluation-free statement will let your child know that you noticed what they have done and you are proud of them. Third you can talk less and ask more. Ask your child how what they did made them feel instead of saying how it made you feel (Kohn). Finally Kohn explains that not all compliments are harmful. You just need to think about the motives behind what you say and the effects they may have. You want to make your children feel like they have some control in their lives and not like they must always seek our approval (Kohn). It is very hard to find an educator or child psychologist who disagrees with Kohn, but in the article “Don’t be afraid to praise” Carolyn Webster-Stratton gives a different perspective. She says that praise has the opposite effect and that children need praise. She says they need it to build self confidence and praise gives them motivation to accomplish difficult tasks. How could two “experts” on child development have such different views on the same subject? Kohn gives references to research that prove that children don’t need praise. Could this all really come down to the child? Every child is different and I don’t think that Kohn addresses this at all. Every child grows and learns at a different pace. So for some maybe praise might work. For others especially really bright children who are already thriving praise may not work. He is only focusing on average children. So his article is very general in that sense. As a woman who is expecting I began to wonder what the best way to raise a child is. With Kohn telling us that we are doing it all wrong and that small things like telling your child “Good Job!” may have harmful effects what are you supposed to do? A common mentality I hear all the time is that “children don’t come with a manual” implying that if you screw them up it’s not your fault because no one told you how to raise them properly. This seems like such an outdated way of thinking. You can walk into any bookstore and find hundreds of books on parenting. You can literally find a “Parenting for Dummies” book. As a small experiment I have started taking Kohn’s advice and stopped telling my cat “Good Job!” when he does what I want him to do. As silly as it may seem I am getting the hang of it. My cat may not respond to it very well, but I am trying to get rid of that automatic “Good Job!” that I want to say when I see him do something that I wanted him to do. My hope is that I will become a more thoughtful parent and not just one that says “Good Job!” every chance I get. I agree with Kohn in saying that parents are essentially lazy with their response to their kid’s behavior. It is so much easier to say “Good Job!” than to sit down and have a discussion about what you witnessed your child doing. Parents need to take the time to talk to their children. Kohn believes we can raise more thoughtful and out going children if we stop praising and change the way we react to them and I agree. This is such a simple act that could potentially make a world of difference. If you talk to your kids and they feel like they have your unconditional love and support than praising is just not needed. The responsibility must ultimately lie on the parents. So who is right and what can you do? That is something that may never be resolved, but we can learn from Kohn and other child educators that praise or no praise the best thing to do is to give your children unconditional love and support. Works Cited Kohn, Alfie. “Five Reasons to Stop Saying ‘Good Job!’” Www.alfiekohn.org. Sept. 2001. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. Gookin, Sandra Hardin, and Dan Gookin. Parenting for dummies. Foster City, Calif.: IDG Books Worldwide, 1995. Print. Carolyn, Webster-Stratton. “Parenting Insights Library – Don’t Be Afraid to Praise.” The Parenting Insights Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2012 |
Biology 1090
Ashlee Francom
Bio 1090 10/14/12 ePortfolio / Taking Sides Assignment Taking Sides Assignment Issue 11: Should Vaccination for HPV Be Mandated for Teenage Girls? 16 questions • On the Yes side: 1. Summarize the major thesis. They believe that all young people should get a HPV vaccination and that it will benefit society and reduce disease if they do. 2. Briefly explain the philosophical principles of beneficence/nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice as applied to the YES position of this debate. Beneficence involves balancing the benefits of treatment against the risks and costs involved, whereas non-maleficence means avoiding the causation of harm. Autonomy involves respecting their views about a particular treatment. 3. Briefly state in your own words three facts presented about mandatory vaccination programs. The vaccine is less effective for sexually active women. The HPV vaccine is not a replacement for cancer screenings. In the US it is common to use vaccines to reduce disease. 4. Briefly state in your own words two opinions presented. Talking to your kids about STI’s and risky sexual behavior is a good idea, but it may not lower the rates of HPV. That disease is a burden and more important than upholding parental rights. . 5. State two scientific concerns about mandating the HPV vaccine and the position of this author on those two concerns. Low rates of morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. The lack of long term evidence of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The author still believes that young women age 16-18 can benefit more from having the vaccine than not. 6. What cause/effect relationships were stated or implied by the author? (What are some consequences of the author’s point-of-view on this issue?) That if we give the HPV vaccine to all young women we can stop or dramatically reduce the disease like when they vaccinated for polio in the 50’s. Unlike polio, HPV is caused by sexual behavior not just being exposed to the disease. So there are other ways to prevent HPV other than vaccines. • On the No side: 1. Summarize the major thesis. State mandated HPV vaccinations for minor females is premature. 2. State and briefly describe the 3 prongs of evidence these authors use to approach this issue. Long term safety and effectiveness is not yet known: During trials the longest follow up visit was 15 months. There a may also be evidence that people who get the vaccine may not continue routine cervical cancer screenings. Historical Justifications have not been met for mandated vaccinations: The risk of public backlash at the Government 3. Briefly state in your own words three facts presented about mandatory vaccination programs. In 1827 Boston became the first city to require children be vaccinated before they enter public school. Herd vaccines are when the protective effect of a vaccine is extended beyond the individual the public’s health. Tetanus vaccines do not affect the public’s health, just the individual. 4. Briefly state in your own words two opinions presented. Vaccination of all school girls as a condition of school attendance-lacks sufficient rationality. They do not know for sure they are only stating this to prove their point. The rash of state legislation to mandate HPV has led to significant public concern that government is overreaching it’s police powers authority. The author does not show any proof of this statement. 5. Are the authors actually saying “No” to use of the HPV vaccine in teenage girls? Support your answer. No, they are just saying that it should not be mandated until further research on the long term effects has been done. 6. What cause/effect relationships were stated or implied by the authors? (What are some consequences of the authors’ points-of-view on this issue?) Make sure to include the issue of the potential liberal “opt-out” policy. If we start a government mandated HPV vaccine for teenage girls now there may be consequences in the future since we still don’t know the long term effects on the vaccine. If we liken the situation once again to the polio vaccine waiting to vaccinate could also have long term effects. If we would have waited to vaccinate for polio there would have been an all-out epidemic. At the rate STI’s are spreading there could be an HPV epidemic too. • Overall: 1. Which author impressed you as being the most evidence-based in presenting his or their thesis? Why? Are there any reasons to believe the writers are biased? If so, why do they have these biased? Coincidentally both authors used 17 references in their articles, but I think that the No side had a better argument. They proved that past experience doesn’t necessarily mean that something should be repeated. Yes I think the writers were biased in their writing. They did not seem to give mandated vaccines even a little chance. 2. Which side (Yes or No) do you personally feel is most correct now that you have reviewed the materials in these articles? Why? I would lean towards no. Mostly because I don’t like the government telling me what I can or cannot put in my body or my children’s body. I’m not against helping to stop HPV from spreading just against government mandates. 3. What about the HPV vaccine being mandatory for teenage boys? (Apply what you have learned from the reading.) Yes vaccinating boys would be good too so that they don’t pass it on to girls. 4. Apply your reasoning based on your reading on this issue to the potential of a mandatory, annual influenza (flu) shot for all healthy individuals between the ages of 6 months to 65 years. I have never had a flu shot and have only had the flu once in the past 10 years. I am not sure if it is because the people around me are getting flu shots and so it’s not getting passed to me or if it’s because I work in a hotel and come in contact with 100’s of people every day and I have built up a good immune system. So I don’t think we should mandate flu shots. If we all strive for better health we may not need them. Reflection: After reading the articles and completing this assignment I have been thinking a lot about vaccines. My 2 month old son was recently given his first vaccines at the pediatrician and I wonder if I made the right decision. I know without them he is susceptible to unwanted diseases, but with them there is always the possibility of allergies or even the possible link to autism. My pediatrician told me that I shouldn’t worry about these things and that the link to autism has all but been disproven, but I still worry about put chemicals in my infant’s body. I think any parent should worry about this in their children. I have learned in this class that the body can be a fragile thing. That cancer can spread quickly and anything we can do to prevent it is a good thing. So HPV vaccines can be a good thing. I just think it should always be the parents decision, not the governments. |
FHS 2450
Ashlee Francom
FHS 2450 11/15/2012 Sex Sells I am a bartender at a restaurant in Salt Lake City. For my final project I decided to see if people were more likely to buy alcohol and tobacco if the ads were of sexy women. It was hard to find ads for alcohol and tobacco in regular magazines so I choose to look through some old Playboy’s and had no problem finding exactly what I was looking for. I asked three women what they thought about these ads and it seems that the sexy ads have no effect on their choice to buy. I think that alcohol is easy to sell and the sexy ads are not really needed. I did however find these ads in a men’s magazine so I think they were specifically geared towards the type of guy who would read them. If the ad executives at these companies weren’t selling their products then I think they’d change their angle. So even though the women I asked didn’t let the sexy ads affect their choice I think sex sells and it probably always will. |
PHY 1100
Ashlee Francom
PHY 1100 9/13/12 Related Activity Chapter 3: Activity B Write a one to two page description of newborns and infants for expectant parents. Include things they would need to know in order to care for their child. I have chosen this topic because I’m a new mom and have the recent personal experience to explain everything you need to know about a newborn. The first thing you need to know about newborns is that they are not as fragile as they seem. You’ll notice that everyone who picks up the baby will be treating him like a piece of fine china. They’ll sit down and act very nervous, but they don’t need too. When picking them up and putting them down you do need to support the head and neck, but don’t be afraid or anxious about holding your baby. Next you will need to decide if you are going to breastfeed or use formula. The American Academy of Pediatrics strong recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life (Americanpregnancy.org). Some women either choose not to or can’t breastfeed and turn to formula. Whatever you choose you’ll want to know how much you need to feed baby. Your baby will need to eat every 2-3 hours. They’ll eat 2-3oz of milk at each feeding. Because breast milk is digested very easily you may find yourself feeding more often than that. Watch for signs like baby sticking his tongue out, turning his mouth from side to side looking for something to latch on, or a short whiny cry. Newborn babies can go through 10-14 diapers a day. So you’ll want to have some on stock before baby arrives. One problem you may encounter is what size to buy? Don’t only buy newborn diapers because if your baby weighs 9lbs they won’t be wearing them very long. Luckily if you have unopened boxes of diapers that don’t fit most stores will let you exchange them. You will also need a supply of wipes and diaper rash ointment. You may also be surprised to find out that newborns can sleep up to 20 hours a day. For the first few weeks it will literally be eat, sleep, poop. If your baby is up more at night, try napping when your baby sleeps. You will have laundry to do and dishes to wash, but you’ll also have lots of visitors over who you can put to work. You’ll find that the first few weeks after your baby is born will be the hardest. You’ll wonder if you’re doing everything right, if you’re feeding the baby enough, and if you’re going to lose your mind. But don’t worry it gets easier. In no time at all you’ll be caring for your baby like a pro and you’ll forget what life was like before baby. Reflective Writing: In writing this paper I realized that I have survived the first 7 weeks of my son’s life just fine. It seems so weird to think that two months ago I was about to give birth and now I’m a pro at caring for a newborn and feel confident giving advice to new parents. I am really enjoying this class and the assignments because I feel like I can relate. Works Cited “What’s in Breast Milk? : American Pregnancy Association.” Promoting Pregnancy Wellness : American Pregnancy Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://www.americanpregnancy.org/firstyearoflife/whatsinbreastmilk.html>. |