Riddle: What’s a Kilogram?
The Definition recently changed.
- “If Le Grand K gets heavier or lighter — or absorbs atoms of something from the air — the definition of the kilogram literally changes. Scientists believe something like this has been happening, because Le Grand K seems to now weigh slightly less than its official copies.”
- “The originators of the metric system based it on the globe itself, with the meter described as one 10-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the equator. But, for a long time, the meter was literally a metal bar in France. As physics advanced, says Schlamminger, scientists were able to ditch the metal bar and define the meter in terms of the distance that light can travel through a vacuum in about one 300-millionth of a second.”
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland has its own copy of Le Grand K — a platinum-iridium kilogram known as K92.
The New Kilogram is based on Planck’s constant
Now, after researchers spent years creating an elaborate new kind of weighing machine called a Kibble balance, it’s finally the kilogram’s turn. In the future, to see whether a hunk of metal really weighs 1 kilogram, it won’t have to get flown to France and compared with Le Grand K. It can be evaluated in this type of instrument, using Planck’s constant.”
Causal: Perfect Attendance Awards
- Perfect Attendance Awards
- The Study
- As states and districts struggle to prevent chronic absenteeism, rewarding students for
attendance has been seen as low-hanging fruit—California even requires it by law.
In a forthcoming study previewed at the annual Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness meeting in Washington last week, researchers found that older students who received recognition certificates were actually less likely to continue going to school every day than students who received nothing at all.
- As states and districts struggle to prevent chronic absenteeism, rewarding students for
Reducing Jargon: Korean pop boy bands
Housekeeping
- All Feedback and Revisions are conducted on the Rewrite Posts.
- Please put Feedback Please requests ONLY on the Rewrite posts.
- Don’t, for example, ask for feedback on BOTH the Causal Draft AND the Causal Rewrite.
- I work on Feedback every day. The queue was down to 0 on Monday. Yesterday, it went to 18. I have it down to 15 now and will return to work on Feedback this afternoon. Keep asking as long as you keep revising.
- To move up in the queue, post a Reply indicating what sort of feedback you prefer.
- Your Short Arguments need a Title.
- If I’ve already revised your post to say “Needs a Title,” provide a title.
- My next move will be to revise my advice to “Needs a Fucking Title.”
- DON’T USE parenthetical citation notes.
- Refer to the Author, Title, or Publication in your sentence.
- Refer to this page if you don’t understand: Informal Citation
- Above your sources, at the bottom of your essay, center the word References
- That’s it. Just the word References
- Don’t make it bold.
- Don’t follow it with a colon.
- Don’t leave it against the left-hand margin.
- Don’t put it into quotation marks.
- Refer to this page if you don’t understand: Informal Citation
The Rebuttal Unit
My Worthy Opponent is Wrong.
In your research, you run across an article by Bob Herbert in the New York Times that concerns you. Herbert sounds pretty knowledgeable, and you know he speaks compellingly for opponents of nuclear power in the US. How can you USE HIS ARTICLE in your Rebuttal Argument?
Does he make mistakes of logic? Does he apply his evidence inappropriately? Does he complain of cost overruns that don’t actually result in overly expensive power? Does he concentrate on one or two objections and ignore all the advantages of nuclear power? Does he set up a false choice between two options when there are other alternatives?
Read the article now:
If you encounter a paywall, find the full text at:
To practice Rebuttal Techniques:
Next Portfolio Task
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- Task: Rebuttal Argument: My Worthy Opponent Is Wrong!
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- DUE MON NOV 25 (11:59PM SUN NOV 24)
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- Task: Rebuttal Argument: My Worthy Opponent Is Wrong!
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
Class Notes 11/13/2024
Kilogram riddle: Definitions aren’t always as they seem.
Figure out the subject of your idea, make that the subject of your sentence, and explain what it does.
Societal disruption has demonstrably shown its chaotic effects and thereby illuminated the inherent instability of the society in question, part of which is the inevitable consequence of technological instability. The American reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic produced a significant disruption to our economic norms, particularly but not exclusively in the relative employability of large parts of the population. As a chaotic response ensued from the outset of the pandemic, it became evident to anyone who wished to see that American health and bureaucratic institutions were armed to combat not this new pandemic but perhaps one of an earlier generation, for which such a chaotic response would have produced less instability. With any disruption to broad systemic norms of societal behavior, it is reasonable to expect some negative blowback and destabilization. However, when America—unlike many other nations that did not experience deep negative performance losses—was put to the test, a large underperformance in employment ensued.
Societal disturbances have shown the harsh consequences that shed light on the unstable society which is due to technological instability. The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of disruption to society as it caused a large amount of unemployment in America. The chaotic response to the pandemic revealed that American health and bureaucratic systems were outdated, and prepared for past pandemics rather than the current one. While some disruption was expected, the U.S. faced significant instability and underperformed, especially in employment, unlike many other nations that managed better.
Class Notes 11.13.24
versus “Music enlivens and shapes every society.’ Replace the subject as the main introduction of the sentence and don’t use a passive preposition “by” to introduce it.
Class Notes – 11/13/24
Notes 11/13
Riddle: What’s a Kilogram?
*If the grand k gets heavier or lighter– or absorbs atoms of something from the air– the definition of the kilogram literally changes.
*They also describe a meter as one 10-millionth of the distances from the north pole.
Perfect attendance award
The Le Grand K is an object that declares what a kilogram should be which was made in France. The theory was that if the object is heavier or light then it is not a meter. The manufactures of copies of Le Grand K could be defective from a sudden change of the weight that was measured. The counterargument is that there could be a factor of a slight change on the earth axis that can impact the sudden shift around the world than how it was made.
Definition argument is based on your local definition.
“Study: Praising perfect attendance may have reverse effect”
The idea of perfect attendance can devalue its purpose of coming to school on time, and presented in class. There was a regulation in a school program for parents who are late to pick up their kids will receive a fine for 10 shekels to motivate parents to come early. The program does the opposite effect where there is an increase of parents who are coming late because 10 shekels doesn’t make a difference to the parents.
If you can translate academic claims, but your translation is stupid then it is a stupid claim then therefore you must revised or change the sentence. The “academic” sentence has to be descaled so the sentences aren’t too long and boring.
Class Notes – phoenixxxx23
-What if the picture of kilogram (chunk of metal) is a kilogram?
If Le Grand K gets heavier or lighter — or absorbs atoms of something from the air — the definition of the kilogram changes
-The definitions are not as obvious as they seem
-Value or no value matters. Sometimes section option can show reverse results. You must be careful before assigning any value to something.
-Make the subject of your idea the subject of your sentence
-Use simple language!
-Straightforward language makes it easy to understand if the idea is worthy or not
–Find the core of your idea and express it as clearly and purely as possible. Don’t believe that using sophisticated academic language can MASK your lack of competence on the subject.
–Understanding is far more valuable than trying to impress audience with jargon
–False analogy from another author can serve as evidence to support your perspective.
-Simply pointing out that an analogy is flawed isn’t enough to make a strong case. To effectively use a false analogy as part of my rebuttal argument, I must carefully analyze and explain what makes it incorrect or misleading.
Class notes- figure8clementine 11/13/24
Class Notes 11/13
A study shows that praising perfect attendence actually encouraged students to attend less from that point on. Rewarding good behavior or just expected behavior devalues the behavior, whats the point of showing up if all I get is a piece of paper.
School in Israel started charging parents for picking up their kids late. Because the fine was only 10 shekels, more parents showed up late.
Don’t use “jargon” in your writing. If you try to use big academic words when you don’t really need to, it will be annoying to read. Write your sentence in the most efficient way and avoid unnecessary words.
The Rebuttal Unit:
The final piece of the essay involves finding a worthy opponent who disagrees with your argument. By including the best arguments against your own, and proving them wrong, you can really strengthen your argument.
Class Notes: 11/13/24
Riddle: Le Grande K
Causal: Praising perfect attendance may have reverse effect.
-Get rid of or reduce Jargon because it makes people not want to read it. It is hard for people to understand because it is full of junk words and is not simply stating their ideas.
-Simple way to avoiding academic sounding writing is to find out the subject of the sentence and make it about that. Make the sentence simple and just state the claim you have straightforwardly.
-Only put feedback please on the rewrite, which is also where revisions take place. All changes/improvements should be made on the rewrite.
Rebuttal Unit:
True analogy vs False analogy:
-False: If it is a false analogy, it would not be an effective rebuttal to just say Herbert’s analogy is wrong when he compares Fukushima to nuclear plants in the US.
-When it is a false analogy, an effective rebuttal would be to pointing out the essential differences that makes the analogy false.
Class Notes 11/13
11/13/24
What is a Kilogram?
Perfect Attendance
Academese
Housekeeping
Rebuttal Unit
11/13/24 Class Notes
Class Notes 11.13.24
Class Notes 11/13/24
Talking in academic jargon does not help and in most cases actively harms your argument. Make the subject of your argument the subject of your sentences.
Dismantle your opponents arguments on their own terms. If they outline the terms on which their argument succeeds, use those terms to show that their argument is wrong. If you beat them in their own argument there is nothing left for your reader to turn to in order to reject your argument.
Refuting analogies should be done by pointing out the differences. Identify the most important and convincing difference then expose it.
False choices should be refuted by exposing the third option. Show that the two options are bad but there is another option. Show why that option matters and why they should choose the third option that you provide.
Class notes:
Class notes 11/13:
Riddle: What’s a Kilogram? – the kilogram is the weight of the Le Grand K, definition is changed to use constants, measurements are arguments, they can deviate from each other,
Causal: Perfect Attendance Awards – giving out awards leads to less people arriving every day, negative connotation,
Reducing Jargon – language is only slightly more formal than everyday language, useless language leads to more dense and less concise
Housekeeping – put titles, quote stuff correctly,
The Rebuttal Unit – the point is not to argue against yourself, but to tell why everyone else is wrong, tell how their arguments are poorly made, look closely at the conditions for opponent’s arguments to be true; false analogy, false choice, stacking the deck, inconclusive evidence
Assignments:
Rebuttal Argument DUE SUN NOV 24
Class Notes 11/13
-Definitions can change if we chose to change them
-There is a negative cogitation to giving out a perfect attendance awards as it cheapens the recognition of perfect attendance by saying it is only worth a silly piece of paper.
-When writing it can be hard for a reader to understand what you are trying to get across when you are writing for a group of people that may be well versed in the topic.
11/13
We start by discussing the concept of the kilogram, with the focus on an object called Le Grand K. This is a platinum kilogram, kept inside two bell jars and sealed under a vacuum. It serves as the physical standard for the definition of a kilogram. While people often use other units to express the weight of an object, Le Grand K is considered the kilogram—the reference point for all measurements of mass. If the mass of Le Grand K were to change, the definition of the kilogram would also change, as it is the exact reference for this unit of measurement. People compare their objects to Le Grand K to confirm whether they have exactly one kilogram. This example illustrates a deeper truth about definitions: they are not always as clear-cut as they seem. Definitions can vary depending on context, culture, and perspective. The same holds when we define terms in our writing. Just as we rely on Le Grand K to define a kilogram, we need to ensure that our audience fully understands the definitions we use. Misunderstandings can arise if we are not clear about how we define key concepts in our work.
Next, we examine a common practice in schools: giving awards for perfect attendance. On the surface, this might seem like a good way to encourage students to show up every day. However, there’s an unintended consequence. When students receive a reward for attending school every day, they may start to feel that their daily presence has no intrinsic value. The reward could make their attendance feel less about personal commitment and more about receiving a certificate. This could backfire, causing students to lose motivation, as they may feel that their actions weren’t valued in and of themselves. Similarly, in writing, using too much jargon can have the opposite effect. It may seem like an attempt to sound sophisticated, but often it just confuses the reader. To avoid this, it’s best to simplify language and focus on communicating the core idea. One way to do this is by simplifying sentence structure. Focus on the subject and state your main point directly. By avoiding unnecessary complexity, you ensure your audience stays engaged and understands your message.
In constructing a rebuttal, it’s important to avoid arguing against yourself. Instead, find the strongest possible counter-argument and then dismantle it effectively. A key part of this process is identifying the weaknesses in the opposing view. Simply criticizing the opposition without offering a solid rebuttal won’t convince your audience. Instead, you should focus on the flaws in their reasoning and demonstrate why your position is more valid. For example, imagine someone using a false analogy in their argument such as comparing the Fukushima disaster to nuclear power plants in the U.S. Simply calling the analogy incorrect is not enough. An effective rebuttal would involve pointing out the significant differences between the two situations such as differences in safety protocols, technology, and regulatory standards that make the analogy invalid. This approach helps strengthen your argument and clarifies why your perspective is more reasonable.
11/13
What is a kilogram
-Definitons form as we put meaning to them.
-Locally and globally definitions are available to change
Perfect attendance
-Most use Perfect attendance to encourage students to show up to class, you did it!
-Reality, perfect attendance is not possible for all students and can lead to a divide.
-Rewarding basic activities such as perfect attendance lead to those receiving the award to show up less
-Good attendance is the expectation
Academese
-Most people try to write academically to sound more knowledgeable on a topic.
-Ends up confusing, not too sure what they’re trying to get at if I’m googling their words every other sentence.
-Focus on your point and depth of what you’re saying. Be clear, concise, yet enough so your reader knows and follows your argument.
-No one knows what “it” is, be more specific
Housekeeping
-Rebuttal argument due the 25th!
-Go and revise to raise your grade (you got this, don’t be a slacker)
-Just add the damn title, don’t forget. You read what his next message would be if you didn’t.
-If you want feedback sooner, leave a reply asking for specific feedback.
-references needs to be centered, don’t need to italicize
Rebuttal Unit
-Argue against a strong source, if the strong source has credibility, think of what you’ll stand to gain if you can destroy their argument.
-Take from other argument, disprove it
Definition aren’t as obvious as they seem whether there local or communal.
If your academic language stops commoner from reading your paper please fix it
Make sure you have a draft and feedback
Notes deleted 11-13-14
Class Notes 13 November 2024
Class Notes 11/13