Rebuttal – Thefirstmclovin

Posted on November 28, 2023 by thefirstmclovin

Title – Recognizing the Cognitive Benefits of Excessive Screen Time

Long-term exposure to digital information is thought to be negatively affecting cognitive functioning, athis is a widely held notion in the current debate regarding the cognitive effects of excessive screen time. What’s said makes the case that excessive screen time can, in fact, have a positive cognitive functioning, in contrast to popular assumption. An indidvidual may have a more thorough grasp of how screen time impacts cognitive function by keeping in mind the variety of activities that can be done through screen-based activities, such as educational applications and interactive games, as well as online learning platforms. The reply also emphasizes how crucial individual variety is in the digital world.It is crucial to remember that not every screen usage is the same and that considerations like the user’s age, the purpose of the use, and the caliber of the content should all be made. The cognitive advantages of both intentional and inadvertent screen use are frequently disregarded by the one-size-fits-all approach to screen usage. This oversimplification of how technology and cognition interact may result in misunderstandings. By highlighting the various facets of how screen time affects cognition, this rebuttal seeks to expand the conversation and offer a more thorough and knowledgeable perspective that defies popular belief.

Digital platforms offer more than just entertainment, despite the belief that excessive screen time can be harmful. They present an opportunity to hone a variety of cognitive skills. People can learn the skills needed to solve problems, think critically, and make wise decisions by using interactive games, educational apps, and simulations. Certain screen-based activities foster an environment of creativity and engagement due to their interactive nature, which can positively influence the development of critical skills. Additionally, screen time can be an effective tool for learning if it is spent on educational content and online resources. The availability of a vast array of educational resources is now simpler than ever thanks to the digital era. Screen-based learning can help you develop a lifelong learning mindset and enhance your cognitive abilities. It can be achieved through online courses and instructional videos that cover a broad range of topics. You may get over the notion that screen time is “bad for you” and take advantage of the wealth of learning opportunities that the digital world provides by realizing that screen-based learning is complex and benefits your cognitive development. This viewpoint permits a more nuanced comprehension, acknowledging that screens can be an effective instrument in the growth of cognitive abilities and the acquisition of knowledge.

Screens are no longer just for passive consumption; with the advent of digital media, they are now a creative expression platform. It has been discovered that creating creatively on screens, whether through graphic design, video editing, or digital art, is a potent stimulus for cognitive processes linked to expression, creativity, and innovation. These examples show how excessive screen time can enhance cognitive abilities, especially those connected to creativity and self-expression, defying the widespread belief that screen time can cause cognitive decline. The argument that excessive screen time contributes to social isolation is frequently made, but it ignores the crucial role that screens can play in fostering digital connectivity. People can interact, network, and work together in a variety of ways by using social media, video conferencing, and online communities. Additionally, the growth of a deeper understanding of various viewpoints as well as cognitive abilities like empathy and interpersonal skills can benefit from these digital social experiences. It is possible to go beyond the narrative that solely emphasizes excessive screen time by acknowledging the dual nature of screens as a platform for both creativity and digital connection. This nuanced perspective on screens can support meaningful social connections that can improve cognitive development in addition to fostering individual artistic growth.

This counterargument goes against the idea that too much screen time is a sign of mental decline. Instead, it looks at how screens can be used to help people learn new skills and improve their cognitive abilities. Instead of just being a distraction, interactive games, apps, and simulations can help people learn how to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions. People can use screen-based activities to foster a dynamic environment that helps them develop useful and adaptive skills. The counterargument sees screens as a way to access a huge amount of information and knowledge. In the digital age, screens are becoming more accessible than ever before, giving people access to a huge variety of educational resources, courses, and info. This raises the question of whether too much screen time is bad for your brain, and if it can actually help you learn more. The counterargument is that screens can actually help you develop your creative skills and boost your self-expression. Not only are screens fun to use, but they can also be a great way to socialize, network, and work together. Social media, forums, and forums are all essential tools that help people stay connected online. These virtual connections not only show us that screens aren’t just a lonely device, but they can also help us develop empathy, better understanding of others, and better social skills. By understanding the complicated connection between screen use and our brains, we can see how screens can be a powerful tool. We need to look at the big picture and not just one side of the story. It’s only through this deeper understanding that we can really understand how digital involvement can affect our brains.

References –

https://educationaltechnologyjournal.springeropen.com/

https://www.academia.edu/91861121/Effect_of_digital_technology_on_our_brain_health

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9113848/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2021.684137/full

Posted in Rebuttal Draft | 2 Comments

Reflective- Sunflower828

Posted on November 28, 2023 by louie.doodle.lover

Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

In the numerous stages of developing my Annotated Bibliography , I had to search all over the internet and read through several sources to find the ones which suited my argument the best. The recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development were never ending, as I was determined to search through each source to best fit my paper. With the help of Professor Hodges, I was able to find 10 sources that made my research paper the best it could be. The sources allowed me to develop a paper that provides evidence and a solid argument regarding TikTok improving the symptoms of individuals suffering with depression.

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

When working on the Claims Task, I was able to read through the specific assigned section of the text and deeply analyze the work of the author. To complete this task, I had to follow the conversation which was occurring between the characters in the text, then identify which categorical claim the ideas in the text were. When completing the task, I was able to read critically enough to identify the various discourse from the man suffering with PTSD, his wife, along with the reporter crafting the work. This required me to synthesize all of the points of view into one, creating a cohesive idea within the assignment.

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

In the Visual Rewrite, I not only analyzed the purpose, audience, and context of the 30 second video, but I also was able to analyze my own writing. The most important portion of this assignment was to focus on the rhetoric and purpose of my own writing and how it impacts the audience’s understanding of the video that is being described within the work. The context of my writing was top tier, which allowed for a complete understanding of the visual argument without viewing the video. Through my thorough descriptions, the purpose of the video was able to be conveyed to the reader, even though they did not view the video themselves.

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

The Rebuttal Rewrite that I did incorporated a visual representation that aids the argument and allows the reader to have a visual aid to sway them in the argument that TikTok is helpful to the recovery of a user who has suffered with depression. In the rebuttal, I located and evaluated the sources that appear when you search the words “TikTok” and “depression” and how the sources sway the reader. I introduced the image in an academic manner, and by providing an image of a Google Search, it proves that I am a reliable narrator, allowing the reader to trust what I am saying and allow the remainder of my academic language to sway their mindset on the issue of TikTok causing or aiding depression.

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

In my Research Argument, I incorporated several sources which I provided citations for. In this argument, I incorporate the necessary citations which uphold my ethical responsibility to the author. I am able to represent and exhibit complex ideas throughout the paper, but I am able to cite the sources which they came from. In the end of the paper, the references section is correct and allows for the appropriate citation which corresponds with the sources which contributed to the paper. I find it extremely important to uphold the ethical responsibility to the author, which is why I continue to provide appropriate citations each time I produce a piece of writing.

Posted in Reflective | 2 Comments

Research—Urbie

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Urbie

School is more than study in the book.

” There is no elevator to success you must take the stairs” is one of the most important things you learn in school because you must work and make effort to pass class by class till the end. In general, the most experience and achievements the school experience provide you when live it are a lot and can have a lot of great effects on your future in your career and in your life in General.

Traditional schools have big on improving the socializing of children, because It’s a big group where children learn not just from books but also from each other. In these schools, you can go to events, play with friends, and feel like you’re part of a team. Making friends is an important part of going to a regular school, and it helps kids learn how to talk, share, and be friends with different people. So, when we say regular schools are big on improving socializing, it means they really care about helping kids make friends and feel connected to each other. Schools are like special places where kids come together to make friends and be part of a bigger group. It’s not just about learning lessons from books; it’s also about learning from each other. When you go to school, you meet many kids, and some of them become your friends. Together, you form a community, which means a big group of people who care about each other. This is important because it helps everyone feel like they belong and are part of something special. So, when we say schools are where children form connections and become part of a broader community, we mean that schools are like big families where everyone is friends and helps each other grow, all this can be summarize in “Life connections”. In school, there are special times that we remember a lot because they are important and fun. These are events like homecoming, where everyone comes back to celebrate; school trips, where we go to different places together; prom, which is like a big dance party; and graduation, where we finish one part of our learning journey. These moments are like big celebrations and make our time in school special. We wear nice clothes, take pictures, and have a good time with friends. When people say these events are memorable and significant, they mean that these times are super important and stay in our hearts as happy memories from our school days, most of these events are kind of like the end of this long journey and a new chapter will begin, and always don’t forget that everything will end. Going to public school is like a special and important part of growing up. We call it a “rite of passage,” which means it’s something everyone goes through as they become older. It’s like a big step in our journey through life. During this time, we learn a lot of things, make friends, and have experiences that help us become who we are. It’s a bit like an adventure where we discover new things about ourselves and the world. So, when people say attending public school is a rite of passage and an integral part of life’s journey, they mean it’s a crucial and special time that shapes us as we go along in life. Moving from one grade to the next in school or from school to the next part of life can be a big and proud moment for a person. It’s like taking a step forward in our learning journey. When we finish a school year, it’s a time to feel proud of what we’ve learned and achieved. Moving on to a higher grade or leaving school to start something new is a special time. We celebrate these moments because they show how we’re growing and getting ready for new things. So, when people say these transitions can be significant and proud moments, they mean these times are important and make us feel happy and accomplished. Going to school and experiencing school life is really good for your future. When you attend school, you learn many things that help you understand the world better. It’s not just about books; it’s also about learning to work with others, solving problems, and discovering what you enjoy doing. The skills and knowledge you gain in school are like tools that can help you in the future. They prepare you for different jobs and challenges in life. So, when people say that school life has a really good impact on your future, they mean it sets you up with the skills and knowledge you need to do well as you grow up, also based on my experience college life on campus and been working on campus it’s also a big learning achievement.

On the other hand, Homeschooling is like a special way of learning that gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility. Unlike regular schools with strict schedules, homeschooling lets you learn at your own pace and in a way that feels comfortable for you. You can choose what subjects to focus on and when to study them. This means you have more time for other things you enjoy. Maybe you like to learn in the morning or afternoon – with homeschooling, you can decide! It’s like having your own personalized learning plan. So, when we say we highlight the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling, we mean that it allows you to learn in a way that fits your own style and lets you have more control over your education, we can summarize all this by saying “been your own boss”. Homeschooling is a special way of learning where you get to learn and live right at home. Unlike regular schools, you don’t have to follow strict schedules or be in a classroom. You can choose where in your home you want to study, whether it’s at the kitchen table or in a cozy corner. This way, you have the freedom to make your own learning space comfortable. You also get to decide when to study and take breaks. It’s like bringing school to your home, and you have more control over how and when you learn. So, when we say homeschooling is about learning and living within the comfort of your own home, it means you can create a learning environment that suits you, and you’re not bound by the rules of traditional schools. Homeschooling can help make things less stressful and sad when it comes to tests and exams. In regular schools, there might be a lot of pressure and worry about doing well in big tests. But with homeschooling, you can learn in a way that suits you, and you may not have as many stressful tests. This can make you feel more relaxed and happier about learning. Since you’re not in a big classroom setting, there’s less pressure, and you can go at your own pace. So, when we say homeschooling can lead to fewer instances of stress and depression related to tests and exams, we mean it can make learning a more positive and comfortable experience without the same kind of worries about tests. Homeschooling can be helpful for some kids who need extra support, like special needs children or those with disabilities. In regular schools, it might be harder for these kids to get the special attention and help they need. But with homeschooling, parents or teachers can create a learning plan that fits the unique needs of each child. This way, they can go at a pace that works best for them and focus on what they enjoy. Homeschooling becomes like a personalized learning journey, making it easier for kids with special needs to learn and grow comfortably. So, when we say homeschooling can be advantageous for specific cases like special needs children, we mean it can provide a more tailored and supportive environment for their learning. Homeschooling is talked about as a way of learning that is easier and can change to fit the needs of certain groups, like special needs children. It means that homeschooling can be more reachable and can adjust to what each child needs. For kids who might find it hard in regular schools, homeschooling becomes a good choice because it can be changed to help them learn better. It’s like making learning more comfortable and fitting it to what each child likes and can do. So, when we say homeschooling is presented as a more accessible and adaptable approach for these groups, we mean it’s a way of learning that is open to everyone and can change to make learning easier for kids who might need extra help.

If there were no other reason to homeschool your kids, the socialization
they get in school would be enough. —John Holt

The role of education in ancient civilization thousands of years ago going to school was super important. It wasn’t just about learning facts; it was the main way people learned everything about life. Imagine if everyone had to go to school to make friends, have fun, and understand how life works. It wasn’t a choice – it was a basic part of living. Schools back then were not just for reading and math. They were like the heart of society, where you not only learned stuff but also figured out how to handle life. It was where you met friends and learned how to be a good person. The lessons weren’t just about subjects; they also taught you how to behave and what was right or wrong. So, in those ancient times, education was the key to becoming a smart and good person who could contribute to the community.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at
all”-Aristotle.

Public School is the place where all our life connections start, such as joining clubs, making friends, enjoying the time with new people besides our parents and family. We feel that we’re a part of a community outside our household and making good memories. Also, we don’t need to forget that school is an experience for a very long term with thousands of years and histories; so, nothing can replace all this work. Several of the events that stick in our mind our whole lives are homecoming, school trips, prom, first day and last day of school, and graduation. Life, its chapters, and every time you do a chapter and move forward to the next one, you feel happy and proud of yourself. But, at the same time, you will have missed the past, but life must continue. For each person who went to public school and completed this chapter of his life, the best feeling for him is the day he graduated, and he’s going to enter a new chapter in his life after school. Based on Monikah Schuschu (writer at CollegeVine high school) it’s where there’s a last time for everything and is the limitations of foresight.

For all people how go to
public schools they ask always their self “Why school choice is good for
homeschoolers” based on Kerry McDonald

Homeschooling in the U.S. has changed a lot in the last 50 years. At first, people thought it was a bit unusual, but now it’s seen as a normal way to learn outside of traditional schools. More and more families are choosing homeschooling because they want a different kind of education. One big reason for the rise in homeschooling is that parents and teachers feel traditional classrooms might not be the best fit for every student. Homeschooling lets families go at their own pace and focus on what each child likes and needs to learn. Another reason is that families want to bring their own values and culture into education. Homeschooling allows parents to teach their kids based on their beliefs, making learning more personal and meaningful. Technology has also made homeschooling easier. There are lots of online tools and resources that families can use to make learning fun and interactive. Plus, homeschooling communities have grown, allowing families to connect, share ideas, and support each other. Nowadays, homeschooling is recognized as a valid choice, and there are rules in place to make sure homeschooled kids get a good education. It’s become a mainstream option for families who want a more flexible and customized approach to learning. Statistics reveal a substantial increase in the U.S. homeschooling population, from 850,000 in 1999 to 1.8 million children by 2012, constituting 3.4% of K–12 students. Although there was a slight dip in homeschooling numbers between 2012 and 2016, some states with robust education choice programs experienced growth in homeschoolers. Demographically, homeschooling families have become more diverse, challenging the previous stereotype of being predominantly white, middle-class, and Christian. Motivations for homeschooling have diversified, with concerns about the traditional school environment and a desire for a more personalized, child-centered education emerging as primary reasons. The article suggests that the availability of education choice programs, such as education savings accounts (ESAs) and vouchers, may influence the growth of homeschooling in certain states. Homeschooling is also identified as a driver of education innovation, with examples including hybrid homeschooling models and learning centers offering flexible and personalized approaches to education. While there appears to be a slowdown in national homeschooling growth, state-level data in some areas show significant increases. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of educational freedom and choice, encouraging homeschoolers to support such programs as they contribute to greater educational liberty for all families. Elective home education is the place plane of freedom between your own walls no one is here to give you orders or having a person call a  teacher where to sit down and listen to her properly , there is no annoying people around bothering you the environment , you don’t have to wait for the weekend to have break from waking up early to go to school, you are always in the weekend, less depressed from test and exams because you own everything at your own. But in the same time homeschooling is great for some people who might find it hard to go to regular school every day. Like, for kids with special needs or those who can’t easily leave the house due to a disability. Homeschooling makes learning more flexible and comes to them, making things a bit easier. For kids with special needs, homeschooling is like having a customized school experience. Parents or caregivers can adjust the way they teach to fit how the child learns best. This way, they get the right support for their learning and personal growth. And for those who can’t easily go to a school because of health issues or disabilities, homeschooling is a practical solution. Learning happens at home, so there’s no need to worry about getting to and from school every day. It makes education more reachable and fairer for everyone. Homeschooling also lets students learn at their own pace. This is super helpful for those who need extra time or different ways of learning. It takes away some of the stress and helps them enjoy learning more. In a nutshell, homeschooling is like a flexible and supportive option, especially for those who face different challenges. It makes education work for them, showing that learning can happen anywhere and in a way that suits each person’s needs.

I believe that regular school attendance is generally better than homeschooling, except when considering kids with disabilities. It’s acknowledged that people have different points of views on this matter, homeschooling is good because it’s personalized. Each student can learn in their own way and understand subjects better. It’s flexible too. Students can o at their own pace, explore what they like, and create a learning space that works for them. This freedom helps them become responsible and good at deciding things for themselves. But, going to a regular school has its own good points, especially when it comes to making friends and learning how to be around different people. Regular schools also teach important life skills like managing time, meeting deadlines, and sticking to a schedule. These skills are useful for jobs and college. So, both ways of learning have good things. It depends on what works best for each student and what helps them learn and grow.

Homeschooling supporters argue that parents can tailor the learning experience to their children’s needs and interests. They believe that this customization helps kids understand subjects better. While this point is valid, it’s essential to recognize that not all parents are experts in every subject and if everyone can be a teacher what will be the point of to become a teacher in anything you have to go learn More and get trained also no one can be an expert in everything and know everything. Additionally, teaching way of the parents, for education it can affect the students’ adaptability to different teaching styles in the future because been in college or school or anywhere else and someone is teaching you something in not going to be like your mam or dad teaching between four walls in the house. Also, the school it’s a practice for your work like in the future has example in school you have to be on time, listen to other people, respect other people, respect the deadlines, do your homework and you’re job in the future is going to be the same thing you have to be on time, listen to other people, follow rules and have tasks to do.

Another significant aspect of homeschooling is the flexibility it offers in terms of schedules. Students can learn at their own pace and explore non-academic interests means they are their own boss. While flexibility is a valuable trait, a structured learning environment in traditional schools instills vital skills such as time management and meeting deadlines essential for future jobs and college. Moreover, sticking to a routine at school contributes to the development of social skills. On the other hand, too homeschooling can be beneficial for a part of the people in the world because sometimes people can have some issues where is too much work for them and it’s also hard to wake up every day and been in the society of the traditional school , so study from the house will be the best option for them , also it can keep them away from other issue as from bullying and avoiding the stigma of a labeled disability.

Advocates for homeschooling often highlight the advantage of individual attention, claiming that it addresses each child’s unique learning style more effectively than crowded classrooms. But regular schools also help kids in different ways, like special classes and tutoring. A study from Walden University says regular classrooms are important. Being with kids from different backgrounds helps with social skills and working together. This is important for real life, not just school. Talking and being friends with different kids helps us understand each other. Being in a regular school is good for learning how to be with others. This is important for jobs and life. Homeschooling can be good for some things, but being in a real school helps with many parts of growing up. It’s not just about classes – it’s about making friends and being ready for different things in life. So, some people like homeschooling because it’s good for one kid’s way of learning. But regular schools help with many things – not just learning from books. Both ways have good points, and people should think about what’s best for kids’ learning and growing up.

In conclusion, the benefits of homeschooling, such as personalized learning, flexible schedules, and individual attention, should be weighed against the advantages of regular schooling. A well-rounded education goes beyond academic knowledge; it includes the development of social skills, adaptability, and exposure to diverse perspectives. While homeschooling may have its merits, my thesis maintains that, in most cases, traditional schooling provides a more comprehensive and beneficial educational experience. To recap everything, the debate between homeschooling and regular schooling revolves around the balance between personalized education and the broader advantages of a traditional school setting. While homeschooling offers unique benefits, as we describe before about the benefits to part of the people in the world with special cases. It’s crucial to consider the holistic development that traditional schools provide. The skills learned in a structured school environment, including time management, social interactions, and exposure to diverse perspectives, contribute significantly to a well-rounded education. Thus, my thesis stands firm, asserting that, in most cases, traditional schooling offers a more comprehensive and beneficial educational experience. One question after reading all my research papers for you has a student what your best choice is to wake up grab your bag and go to school or staying at home between four walls?

 

Sources:

Walden University. (n.d.). Why Do People Act Differently in Groups Than They Do Alone? Walden University. https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/ms-in-psychology/resource/why-do-people-act-differently-in-groups-than-they-do-alone

ICHER By Robert Lyon (September 21) 2015, MESCHOOLING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: Research Review. ICHER Blog. https://icher.org/blog/?p=2122

Special needs students – the advantages of homeschooling. Calvert Education. (2019, January 3). Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://www.calverteducation.com/homeschooling-children-with-special-needs/special-needs-students-the-advantages-of-homeschooling

 Special needs parenting: The pros and cons of homeschooling a child with disabilities. Angel Sense. (2019, February 11). Retrieved May 31, 2022, from https://www.angelsense.com/blog/special-needs-parenting-the-pros-and-cons-of-homeschooling-a-child-with-disabilities/ 

 READY KIDS Occupational Therapy-Homeschooling For Special Needs Children: Weight Pros & cons.The ready kids team. Homeschooling for Special Needs Children: Weighing Pros & Cons (readykids.com.au)

Ray, B. D. (2017). Research facts on homeschooling. National Home Education Research Institute. Research Facts on Homeschooling – National Home Education Research Institute (nheri.org)

Medlin, R. G. (2000). Home schooling and the question of socialization. Peabody Journal of Education, 75(1-2), 107-123. Home Schooling and the Question of Socialization: Peabody Journal of Education: Vol 75, No 1-2 (tandfonline.com)

Rudner, L. M. (1999). Scholastic achievement and demographic characteristics of home school students in 1998. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 7(8). ERIC – ED424309 – Scholastic Achievement and Demographic Characteristics of Home School Students in 1998., Education Policy Analysis Archives, 1999-Mar-23

Isenberg, E. J. (2007). What have we learned about homeschooling? Peabody Journal of Education, 82(2-3), 387-409. What Have We Learned about Homeschooling? on JSTOR

Gaither, M. (2009). Homeschooling in the USA: Past, present, and future. Theory and Research in Education, 6(3), 331-346. Homeschooling in the USA: Past, present and future – Milton Gaither, 2009 (sagepub.com)

American University School of Education Online. (n.d.). The importance of school attendance. American University School of Education Online. https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/importance-of-school-attendance/

Dunckley, V. (2021, September). The research on homeschooling. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202109/the-research-homeschooling

Smith, J. [Smith Channel]. (2020, June 15). How to Bake the Perfect Cake [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9OlhikDBDo

Eanes, L. (2021, September 17). The Research on Homeschooling. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202109/the-research-homeschooling

Smith, J. (2022, February 1). Studying Alone vs. Studying in a Group: Which Is More Effective? E2 Study Solution. https://www.e2studysolution.com/news/studying-alone-vs-studying-in-a-group-which-is-more-effective/

Posted in Research Position Paper | 1 Comment

Causal rewrite- Propel78

Posted on November 28, 2023 by propel78

Justice and the pursuit of Innocence 

The innocence project is a nonprofit organization established in 1992. The innocence project has emerged as a powerful force and challenging and rectifying flaws within criminal justice. Specialized in the use of DNA evidence. The innocence project has not only exonerated wrongfully. We convicted individuals, but have also cast for systematic change, influencing policies and legal reforms, and the Public opinion on all of it.

At its core, the innocence project contributes significantly to the criminal justice system by exposing and raising awareness to the flaws and errors within its system. Throughout many investigations and many trial and errors, the organization, uncovers, mistakes, conduct, and biased opinions in cases, they are shedding light on these systematic weaknesses that contribute majorly to individuals being wrongfully convicted. By bringing these issues up , and really shedding the spotlight on them the innocence project serves as an agent of change, compelling the justice system to reassess its practices and ways. 

The innocence project’s impact on the criminal justice system is particularly pronounced in its scrutiny of eyewitness testimonies, a major factor contributing to wrongful convictions. In the case of Barry Gibbs, where he spent 45 years in prison for crime, he did not commit and illustrate how unreliable witness accounts are, and that is only one of many cases where eyewitness testimonies were wrong. The innocence project interventions in such cases not only  to individual exonerations, but also prompts border questions about the ethical conduct of prosecutors, and the needs for stricter oversight in the justice system.

A key focus of the innocence project is really showing and highlighting how unreliable eyewitness testimonies are by demonstrating the potential for identification and wrongful convictions. By leveraging DNA evidence, the organization showcases the limitations of human memory, and really shows light on how easily these cases and eyewitness testimonies can be switched up and changed. They are pushing for a significant change in police procedures to the advocacy that have resulted in the implementation of more accurate identification methods, such as double blind lineups, emphasizing the need for corroboration before relying on eyewitness testimony., the advocacy have resulted in the implementation of more accurate identification method, such as double blind lineups, emphasizing the need for corroboration before relying on an eyewitness testimony.

The direct impact of the innocence project is most evident in its successful exonerations of wrongfully convicted individuals, having freed more than 575 individuals in the United States alone, the innocence project not only restores their freedom by exposing flaws within the criminal justice system. It has led to an increased public Successful exonerations of wrongfully convicted individuals, having freed more than 575 individuals in the United States alone, the innocence project not only restores their freedom by exposing flaws within the criminal justice system. It has led to an increased public. scrutiny forcing a reevaluation of the death penalty in some states, due to the possibility of executing an innocent person, because it has happened before and could happen again, if not changed. Most or, if not all states have either done away with the death penalty, or changed their death penalty laws. The innocence project really spotlighted laws within the death penalty, and realized that some of these people on death row really shouldn’t be there because they did not commit the crime. Many people on death row have been sentenced to death for crimes. They did not commit, and the innocence project is working in advocating for those people who are in the system right now that didn’t do anything wrong, and for those who Have sadly passed away due to a wrongful conviction. The exoneration cases underscore the urgency for a systematic reform within the justice system, because they have shown that there are many different flaws within the system, not only with prosecutors themselves, but as the system as a whole.

Beyond individual exoneration, the innocence project has begun instrumental and influencing policies and legal reforms at both state and federal levels. Introducing post conviction, DNA test laws which will help the people who were wrongfully convicted be freed while the people who should be convicted get convicted. The organization ensures that convicted individuals have the right to request a DNA test, offering a potential Avenue to prove their innocence. These policy changes address the root causes of wrongful conviction and work towards preventing future injustices within the system, and also prevent any other way. Wrongful conviction may happen in a case. The innocence project is advocating to try and make the criminal justice system as fair and safe as possible and also at the same time making sure that someone who didn’t do anything wrong is not convicted for a crime they did not do.

The innocence project’s efforts extend beyond legal forms to shaping public opinion. By sharing the stories are wrongfully convicted, individuals through documentaries, news coverage and social media. The innocence project has granted widespread attention for empathy. Public support translates into increased funding resources and political pressure has further prolonged the organization’s mission and advocating for justice reform.

In conclusion, the innocence project stands as a crucial force in unrevealing injustice advocating for reform and shaping public opinion. By exposing flaws within the criminal system, securing exoneration for wrongfully convicted individuals and influencing policies and legal reform the organization has made significant strides in change in the systems. These flaws that the innocence project is really shining light on have also made a major change in public opinion on the justice system. It has made many people reevaluate what really happens in it, and makes people really think if it is fair or not. While the innocence project has been achieved. There is an ongoing need to address the systemic issues, ensuring a fair and just criminal justice system for all. The works of the innocence project remained pivotal in the pursuit of a more accountable, legal framework in the justice system.

References

The Innocence project. “Transforming Systems.” Innocence Project, 2 Nov. 2023, https://innocenceproject.org/transforming-systems/

The innocence project. “Restoring Freedom.” Innocence Project, 25 Oct. 2023, innocenceproject.org/restoring-freedom/. 

The innocence Project. “By the Numbers.” Innocence Project, 23 Oct. 2023, innocenceproject.org/exonerations-data/#:~:text=The%20Innocence%20Project%20fights%20to,contributed%20to%20their%20wrongful%20convictions. 

Posted in Causal Rewrite | Leave a comment

Definition rewrite-Propel78

Posted on November 28, 2023 by propel78

Unveiling truth the intersection of DNA Testing, Technology, and Justice Reform

In our distance, our actions interact intricately weaving a trail of DNA. An eligible mark that identifies our identities. Think of a scenario where there’s a  knock on your door and you hear an unwanted arrest based off of Solely a testimony of an eyewitness error where DNA testing was still in an early access stage. As you find yourself sentenced to an unjust, 30 year prison sentence, the progression of technology becomes an unlikely savior. The innocence project harnesses the power of advanced DNA technology and testing systems which offers a lifeline to prove your innocence on revealing a narrative that underscores the transformation potential of technology in the modern age, and how we can also use it in the justice system.

The innocence project is an organization that stands as a beacon for the wrongfully convicted. By employing DNA evidence and advocating for comprehensive criminal justice reforms. This dual approach not only contributes to individual exoneration, but also serves as a catalyst for the systematic change within the legal and criminal justice systems. The trajectory of DNA testing integrations into forensic science has not only exposed many major flaws, but has also fostered a more reliable and resistant way to test DNA and also helped shape and frame the legal framework.

In every cell of every living organism lies the blueprint for the buildings and maintaining living beings. Even though humans share 99.9% of their DNA with one another that 0.1% that varies from person to person can tell us a lot about each and every individual because they are all different in each and every individual. It can be used to identify people who have committed crimes, as well as exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals at its main main core DNA is the blueprint of individual identity, 99% of our DNA shared among humans that remaining 0.1% becomes the key difference and is a valuable tool for both convicting criminals and liberating the innocent. 

In the technology advancements, the collection and analysis of DNA evidence demands a newfound precision. Recognizing the vulnerability of evidence of tampering, forensic experts, to straighten procedures in both gathering and evaluating evidence. The evolution of forensic science, which once witnessed the misuse of method, hood, such as bite mark fingerprints, bloodstain patterns to marks and hair compressions have been rectified enhanced through advanced technologies, and also through more careful and cautious procedures of gathering and using evidence. These changes and new methodologies have not only made a major impact in criminal justice reform, but have also made an extremely valuable impact on forensic evidence and forensic gathering. These method hoods are used to make sure that evidence is not being tampered with or gathered incorrectly because then it is unusable in the criminal justice system, because tampered evidence can lead to a wrongful conviction, and cannot be used at all in the system.

The technological powers are exemplified by the staggering achievements of the innocence project. 575 individuals are freed in the United States alone throughout their DNA testing the impact of technology. The justice system is undeniable and has made a very big impact on it. The surge in  technological advancements during the late 1900s and early 2000s reaching its pinnacle in the early 2010s has not only enabled the innocence projects to rectify errors, but has also positioned itself as a potent force in the ongoing battle against wrongful convictions that still happen today.

The symbolism of technology injustice is fundamental to the innocent mission. En’yū testing once a novel concept has emerged as a very major thing in criminal cases offering unprecedented precision and determining guilt or innocence. The advanced systems employed to discern patterns in DNA contribute a significantly large amount to this project. Success showcasing technology as a decisive factor in securing a person’s freedom.

DNA testing and advancements in forensic science disciplines have related weaknesses in the scientific foundations of several methods that were once widely accepted by the criminal legal system and used to help secure earlier convictions has now changed. Beyond just individual cases the innocence project operations as an agent of change, exposing flaws inherited in the criminal system. They advocate DNA testing, addressing issues such as police procedures, evidence handling, and the reliability of eyewitness testimonies. Eyewitness testimonies were one of the things that the legal system would use without no hard evidence supporting it, which led to a lot of innocent people being convicted of crimes they did not commit because of eyewitness testimony. The innocence project advocates, and says I witness testimonies should not be as valuable as they are, because there are different techniques, and ways that we could do things that are more reliable, and have more hard evidence than an eyewitness testimony would. Eyewitness accounts once held, and irrefutable evidence now facing problems, prompting a shift towards a more evidence based approach in trials instead of just an eyewitness which is a  he said she said argument.

The forensic science system successful in the presentation of misleading evidence is dissected by the innocence Project. It not only identifies errors but also proposes remedies contributing to the ref of method hoods that are used in the justice system foundations. By pinpointing these mistakes in laboratory procedures and evidence gathering the innocence project becomes an instrumental force and ensures the accuracy and integrity of forensic evidence.

In conclusion, unveiling, truth of DNA technology, and the criminal system. Where technology justice and advocate coverage to the people who were wrongfully accused. The tireless efforts of the innocence project coupled with the experiment of growth of technology amplifies the potential for positive change within the legal and criminal justice systems, and a major systematic change. As a society evolving landscape of justice, the role of technology and organizations, like the innocence project, become increasingly pivotal in ensuring a fair, accurate and comprehensive pursuit in the truth of justice, and making sure that we can have a more fair balance system and to also prevent someone from being wrongfully convicted again.

References

Selby, Daniele. “DNA and Wrongful Conviction: Five Facts You Should Know.” Innocence Project, 2 May 2023, innocenceproject.org/news/dna-and-wrongful-conviction-five-facts-you-should-know/#:~:text=The%20emergence%20of%20DNA%20technology,exonerate%20hundreds%20of%20innocent%20people. 

The Innocence Project. “Misapplication of Forensic Science.” Innocence Project, 18 Oct. 2023, innocenceproject.org/misapplication-of-forensic-science/.

Posted in Definition Rewrite | 1 Comment

Definition Rewrite – MillyCain

Posted on November 28, 2023 by millycain

What makes the core subjects, ‘core’

The American K-12 curriculum is guided along by one key idea, the core subject. According to Brian Miller in, “What does a High School Curriculum include?” the core subjects are english, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. In order for a student to legally graduate high school, they must pass whatever their state’s required amount of classes is for these core subjects. This is a simple enough concept to grasp. Its easy enough to see how subjects like science and english will play a role in students lives after their graduation, so we don’t really think about how or why these subjects are selected to be the core subjects. As it turns out, there isn’t any set of criteria that determines what the core subjects are. Searching for, “What is a core subject” will often yield results that tell you what those subjects are, rather than showing you how they benefit the students. For example, Information published by the College Board defines a core subject as, “mandatory classes you must take to meet graduation requirements in the subject areas of English, math, science, and social studies.” Unfortunately, this type of surface-level definition is the most common result when researching the topic. The issue with these types of definitions is that they don’t actually tell us the reason why the government requires students take these courses in order to graduate. They lack any substance. So is there a definition that can help give us the reason? What is the criteria that actually makes a subject “core?” And should be questioning that criteria?

Maybe its obvious to some what determines a core subject. All of the previously mentioned core subjects are umbrella terms that cover a wider variety of more specific topics. A student’s schedule would never say math or science, it would instead say statistics or physics, for example. So this means that one characteristic of a ore subject is that its broad enough to fit another, smaller subjects into it. You could argue that putting thought into the what we consider a core subject is useless because every subject somehow fits under those main 5 core subjects, however even if this is true, I still think its worth examining why we value the core subjects so much. Why do we value the problem solving skills that students gain from math classes, and why do we think that learning how the world works in the form of science is valuable? The answer to these questions will help us define what makes the core subjects, core.

One potential definition of core subject comes from the federal government itself, specifically, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nancy Saffer in a piece written for the Bureau titled, “Core subjects and your career” talks about both the general applications of each subject in the real world, but more specifically, the career implications that each subject has. For example, when writing about the benefits that taking english courses has, Staffer tells the reader how the communications skills that students learn in english classes are valuable to all career types, even ones that require little communication. Now we’re getting somewhere. This concept tells us that the skills we learn in core classes should be applicable to wide variety of potential careers. This makes sense because if everyone is required to take these courses, then those courses should teach you things that act as a foundation for any number of careers. We now have another piece of criteria that we can use to define a core subject. A core subject should be valuable in its ability support at least foundational skillset for any career.

If the selection process of core subjects was only concerned with how it impacted careers, then that would be disappointing to say the least. So what else besides careers are core subjects concerned with supplementing its students with? Well one answer could come from Jackson Best, who states that, soft skills can be learned through mathematics, a subject where soft skills wouldn’t seem too intertwined. According to Best, “But this same anxiety [anxiety of failing in mathematics] can be used to develop resilience instead of trauma if we give students the right tools to manage it.” What this means is that we see the core subjects as something that can enhance other skills that aren’t inherently related to the subject. These subjects must provide skills that students are able to utilize in different way. While similar to the careers criteria, this differs slightly because these soft skills learnt from the core subjects are able to be sued in environments outside of the workplace as well. These skills are used to prepare students for their adult lives.

Now we have our criteria for a core subject. A core subject must be able to fit other, similar subjects into it, it must prepare students with skills specifically geared towards careers, and it must prepare students with skills they can utilize in their adult lives. So how does it actually look in practice? One example that I think is extremely relevant is how in high school, I would often hear fellow classmates ask, “Why aren’t we taught how to do taxes in school?” I often agreed with their assertion that learning how to do taxes would be beneficial to the students. Let’s take a look at a theoretical ‘tax education’ subject, and if it would fit our criteria? Well, a tax education would first have to be broad enough to fit other, more specific classes as well. This might be a stretch, but students could learn different parts of tax law, so we’ll say it passes this criteria. This subject would absolutely fit our criteria with preparing kids for their futures, no questions asked But what about our criteria with preparing kids with career oriented skills that prepare for a broad variety of careers. This is where I have my doubts. This type of subject would be incredibly specific. Would the skills learned in this class be undoubtedly applicable to students and their wide array of careers? I don’t think so.

With this idea of a core subject now properly defined, we can now use it to determine what core subjects should look like moving forward. We can criticize this set of criteria and use it to change the education system, or enhance it.

Refrences

Best, Jackson. “Finding Soft Skills in Mathematics Isn’t As Hard As You Might Think.” 3P Learning, 2 Mar. 2020 https://www.3plearning.com/blog/finding-soft-skills-mathematics-isnt-hard-might-think/

Miller, Brian. “What Does a High School Curriculum Include?” – Education Degree. https://www.educationdegree.com/articles/what-a-high-school-curriculum-includes/#:~:text=What%20Are%20the%205%20Core,and%20a%20foreign%20language%20course. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.

What’s the Difference between Elective and Core Subjects? – BigFuture | College Board. https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/help-center/whats-difference-between-elective-and-core-subjects. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.

Nancy, Saffer. “Core subjects and your career.” – United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/1999/Summer/art03.pdf

Posted in Definition Rewrite | 5 Comments

Rebuttal Rewrite – HDT1817

Posted on November 27, 2023 by hdt1817

The Exaggerated Dark History of Richard III and its Damaging Relations to the Princes in the Tower

Shakespeare and Sir Thomas More were not omniscient beings. Shakespeare was born close to one hundred years after the death of Richard III, and Sir Thomas More was a boy of only seven years upon the death of Richard III. With that being said, why would any scholar not question the legitimacy of the content of their writings and accounts of Richard III? Many historians have this picture of Richard III in their minds as a cruel, calloused, power hungry usurper who ordered the murder of his own nephews, the princes in the tower. However, there is simply no way of proving this, unless any devout readers hold truths to the works I’ve previously mentioned written by men ruled under monarchs who bear the name Tudor. The Tudors destroyed Richard in the battle at Bosworth Field and put an end to the York reign. This alone is enough to claim that they would not want any recorded history of Richard being a good and just ruler. 

Let’s agree for a short while that the princes were in fact murdered. Why would Richard III order their deaths when the majority of England were in favor of his brother Edward IV and his sons, the princes in the tower. If there was anyone who had more of a motive to murder these two boys, it would be Margaret Beaufort. The biggest motive for this would be for her to have men she is in alliance with murder the boys and put the blame on Richard, casting him out of the favor of England. For context, Margaret Beaufort was the mother of Henry VII, King of England who defeated Richard III in battle and ascended the throne. Margaret lived at court while Richard III was king. This meant she had a closer than most access to the tower of London, where the princes were being held. During this time, her son Henry VII is plotting an attack against Richard. So Margaret, being the pious woman and devout mother that she was, would of course want to clear the path even further than just Richard for her son Henry to win the throne. If Henry defeated Richard in battle, and the princes were left alive, he would still have the princes and their supporters to deal with. Margaret was known for her schemes and political skills so if the princes were murdered it was not at the hands of Richard III, but the Tudor matriarch who betrayed the house of York to place her son on the throne.

An argument I have previously touched on that could be the most compelling piece of evidence is the fact that to this day the truth about the princes has not come out to the public. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s refusal to allow further investigation into this case should make people wonder why. Why are two medieval princes still relevant to the crown today? They would hold no relevance if they were murdered. However, if they were allowed to live, and went on to marry, and produced their own heirs, they would have created a lineage that could still be alive today. And if that is the case, which I wholeheartedly believe it is, the entire line of succession in the English Monarchy today would be thrown out of order. Living heirs of the princes would mean total and utter chaos for the English Crown today. According to The Telegraph “Previous correspondence suggests that the Church of England, backed by the Queen, refused DNA testing on the grounds that it could set a precedent for testing historical theories that would lead to multiple royal disinterments.”

Along with the fact that the monarchy is clearly hiding something from desirous historians and academics alike, there is the argument of the “princes” bones. If scientists were allowed to do further research, carbon dating analyses, and also extensive DNA testing on these bones, we would have a simple and true answer to if these bones belonged to the princes, and if so, what the most likely cause of death was. As of right now, scientists do not have access to do this, so the minimal evidence that is given must be used to ascertain the most logical fate of the princes, which is that Richard declared the princes illegitimate and spared their lives. The bones that were discovered near a staircase in the Tower of London were not even concluded to be those of two young boys. They could have very well been two female child skeletons for all that we know, or two commoner male child skeletons. Another interesting point in the favor of my thesis is that if Richard did want all the power for himself and he was callous and cruel, wouldn’t he present the bodies of the princes to the people if he did murder them? To snuff his brother’s entire line of succession and those who support it? It was a common thing in medieval times for the bodies of dead traitors or enemies to be put on display or placing traitors heads on spikes by the tower gates as well. Why would Richard as he is portrayed by More and Shakespeare leave anything up to the imagination when it came to his enemies? Why would he give the princes’ supporters that glimmer of hope that they are still alive? The Richard so cruelly and unfairly portrayed in history would not have done those things.

There really are no solid facts that would uphold the claim that Richard murdered his nephews, the princes in the tower. This theory in itself also is one that provides no intrigue. Sure, claiming that “treacherous” Richard III ordered the deaths of his brother’s beloved little boys would emit scandal and shock, but the theory that he allowed them to live, provides a different insight into the character of Richard III. Queen Elizabeth II’s refusal for further investigation, the degenerative bone disease found on the eldest skeleton that did not match any health or physical attributes of the princes, their mother Elizabeth of Woodville’s return to court after their disappearance, and Margaret Beaufort’s ambitions, all hold enough power to disprove More and Shakespeare’s accounts of Richard and any other vicious account of him thereof, that he murdered the princes in the tower.

References

More, T. (n.d.). The history of king king richard the third – thomas more studies. https://thomasmorestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Richard_III_English_glossed.pdf

Shakespeare, W. (1593). Richard III: Entire play. http://shakespeare.mit.edu/richardiii/full.html

Brain, J. (2023, November 21). Lady Margaret Beaufort. Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Lady-Margaret-Beaufort/

Ward, V. (14 Oct. 2022) Mystery of Princes in the Tower Could Finally Be Solved – with Help from King Charles. The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/10/14/king-charles-rumoured-want-mystery-princes-tower-solved/

Posted in Rebuttal Rewrite | 3 Comments

Rebuttal Draft – HDT1817

Posted on November 27, 2023 by hdt1817

The Exaggerated Dark History of Richard III and it’s Damaging Relations to the Princes in the Tower

     Shakespeare and Sir Thomas More were not omniscient beings. Shakespeare was born close to one hundred years after the death of Richard III, and Sir Thomas More was a boy of only seven years upon the death of Richard III. With that being said, why would any scholar not question the legitimacy of the content of their writings and accounts of Richard III? Many historians have this picture of Richard III in their minds as a cruel, calloused, power hungry usurper who ordered the murder of his own nephews, the princes in the tower. However, there is simply no way of proving this, unless any devout readers hold truths to the works I’ve previously mentioned written by men ruled under monarchs who bear the name Tudor. The Tudors destroyed Richard in the battle at Bosworth Field and put an end to the York reign. This alone is enough to claim that they would not want any recorded history of Richard being a good and just ruler. 

     Let’s agree for a short while that the princes were in fact murdered. Why would Richard III order their deaths when the majority of England were in favor of his brother Edward IV and his sons, the princes in the tower. If there was anyone who had more of a motive to murder these two boys, it would be Margaret Beaufort. The biggest motive for this would be for her to have men she is in alliance with murder the boys and put the blame on Richard, casting him out of the favor of England. For context, Margaret Beaufort was the mother of Henry VII, King of England who defeated Richard III in battle and ascended the throne. Margaret lived at court while Richard III was king. This meant she had a closer than most access to the tower of London, where the princes were being held. During this time, her son Henry VII is plotting an attack against Richard. So Margaret, being the pious woman and devout mother that she was, would of course want to clear the path even further than just Richard for her son Henry to win the throne. If Henry defeated Richard in battle, and the princes were left alive, he would still have the princes and their supporters to deal with. Margaret was known for her schemes and political skills so if the princes were murdered it was not at the hands of Richard III, but the Tudor matriarch who betrayed the house of York to place her son on the throne.

     An argument I have previously touched on that could be the most compelling piece of evidence is the fact that to this day the truth about the princes has not come out to the public. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s refusal to allow further investigation into this case should make people wonder why. Why are two medieval princes still relevant to the crown today? They would hold no relevance if they were murdered. However, if they were allowed to live, and went on to marry, and produced their own heirs, they would have created a lineage that could still be alive today. And if that is the case, which I wholeheartedly believe it is, the entire line of succession in the English Monarchy today would be thrown out of order. Living heirs of the princes would mean total and utter chaos for the English Crown today. According to The Telegraph “Previous correspondence suggests that the Church of England, backed by the Queen, refused DNA testing on the grounds that it could set a precedent for testing historical theories that would lead to multiple royal disinterments.”

     Along with the fact that the monarchy is clearly hiding something from desirous historians and academics alike, there is the argument of the “princes” bones. If scientists were allowed to do further research, carbon dating analyses, and also extensive DNA testing on these bones, we would have a simple and true answer to if these bones belonged to the princes, and if so, what the most likely cause of death was. As of right now, scientists do not have access to do this, so the minimal evidence that is given must be used to ascertain the most logical fate of the princes, which is that Richard declared the princes illegitimate and spared their lives. The bones that were discovered near a staircase in the Tower of London were not even concluded to be those of two young boys. They could have very well been two female child skeletons for all that we know, or two commoner male child skeletons. Another interesting point in the favor of my thesis is that if Richard did want all the power for himself and he was callous and cruel, wouldn’t he present the bodies of the princes to the people if he did murder them? To snuff his brother’s entire line of succession and those who support it? It was a common thing in medieval times for the bodies of dead traitors or enemies to be put on display or placing traitors heads on spikes by the tower gates as well. Why would Richard as he is portrayed by More and Shakespeare leave anything up to the imagination when it came to his enemies? Why would he give the princes’ supporters that glimmer of hope that they are still alive? The Richard so cruelly and unfairly portrayed in history would not have done those things.

     There really are no solid facts that would uphold the claim that Richard murdered his nephews, the princes in the tower. This theory in itself also is one that provides no intrigue. Sure, claiming that “treacherous” Richard III ordered the deaths of his brother’s beloved little boys would emit scandal and shock, but the theory that he allowed them to live, provides a different insight into the character of Richard III. Queen Elizabeth II’s refusal for further investigation, the degenerative bone disease found on the eldest skeleton that did not match any health or physical attributes of the princes, their mother Elizabeth of Woodville’s return to court after their disappearance, and Margaret Beauforts ambitions, all hold enough power to disprove More and Shakespeare’s accounts of Richard and any other vicious account of him thereof, that he murdered the princes in the tower.

References

More, T. (n.d.). The history of king king richard the third – thomas more studies. https://thomasmorestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Richard_III_English_glossed.pdf

Shakespeare, W. (1593). Richard III: Entire play. http://shakespeare.mit.edu/richardiii/full.html

Brain, J. (2023, November 21). Lady Margaret Beaufort. Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Lady-Margaret-Beaufort/

Ward, V. (14 Oct. 2022) Mystery of Princes in the Tower Could Finally Be Solved – with Help from King Charles. The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/10/14/king-charles-rumoured-want-mystery-princes-tower-solved/

Posted in Rebuttal Draft | Leave a comment

Rebuttal – TheFrogSprog

Posted on November 27, 2023 by TheFrogSprog

The opposing side’s views and opinions

A huge wave of studies about the mental effects of video games have been conducted over the past two decades. Researchers often still debate over what kind of video games have caused these issues and whether or not these problems have been recently shown in the subjects or whether there’s an underlying cause to these problems. The general consensus from researchers has shown that video games only amplify negative emotions in players with issues that are already present. Unlike what many researchers claim, video games are in fact not the root cause of all of these issues, rather than the current underlying issues that are the true culprits to the player base. When studying the effects of video games on aggression, specific criteria must be met for the study to be a fair assessment of how people are affected. 

In the published study, “Consequences of Play: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Online Gaming” by Victoria Anne Sublette and Barbara Mullan, it is stated “However, more common physical and psychosocial effects attributed to online video gaming are social isolation, increased aggression, and negative academic and occupational consequences” these are simply generalizations made by the researchers in their attempts to prove games as being harmful towards their player base. Later on, in the same study by Sublette and Mullan, it is stated that “A study by Eastin and Griffiths (2006) found that hostile expectation ratings were highest in virtual reality (VR) games, although actual aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior were not affected by the type of game played; while an earlier study found no significant correlations between playing violent video games and levels of aggression (Williams and Skoric 2005)” this blatant contradiction in the study mentioned above statement and summarization of earlier studies in combination with their own shows that there have been no correlations towards violent games and aggressive behavior. This goes directly against the common belief that video games are the progenitor of many forms of offline aggression. 

Many more Researchers agree as M. Delisi, M. Vaughn, and J Shock said in their research paper, “Violent Video Games, Delinquency, and Youth Violence: New Evidence”, they claim that “The present study was designed to respond to these needs using a multifactorial risk factor approach focused on more serious violent delinquent behaviors among a correctional sample of serious male and female institutionalized delinquents” with this new found study that focuses on only the institutionalized it neglects the major population who don’t necessarily have a known issue already present. In the researchers’ attempt to prove the hypothesis correct that video games actually do cause offline aggression and violent tendencies in their player base; they use those who are already known to have aggressive tendencies. This pigeonhole makes it seem as if the study was set up to fail as studying the effects of media on aggressive behavior in those who have been placed in prison is a counterproductive assessment as it is safe to assume that those who are incarcerated also have a higher likely hood of being more aggressive than the average person.

The study titled “Does Playing Violent Video Games Induce Aggression? Empirical Evidence of a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study” by researchers Weber, Rittenfield, and Mathiak a scientific study was done on a group of gamers and their brain’s reactions towards the stimuli they are receiving from the games they are playing. A quote contained in the study is, “which allowed for distinguishing between actions involving virtual violence and actions in which virtual violence was absent” This quote indicates that the study itself used a specific game for studying both aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors using one game to see the differences in brain activity between the “phases of play”. To see the full range that the brain can reach, different types of games should be played in order to tell how the brain interprets the stimuli and potentially processes some aggressive tendencies or lack thereof from different genres such as puzzle games like Tetris or open-world games like Grand Theft Auto. The difference in how these games affect people is very different as the absolute lack of violence in certain games can help provide a baseline control group for comparison to the violent games.

Grand Theft Auto is a major part of the thought process that violent games create violent people. In the research study, “Violent Video Games and Real-World Violence: Rhetoric versus Data”, written by Charlotte and Patrick Markey, and Julianna French the violent actions often associated with games like Call of Duty and multiple entries in the Grand Theft Auto series are brought up in their study in aggressive and violent actions being caused by games is brought up. These people have connections to these games by their crimes happening around when these games were released, and their crimes involve multiple homicides, rapes, and robberies. This study goes into how the releases of these games have affected the minds of the men who committed multiple violent acts. This, however, has been proven to be very muddled, and according to C. Ferguson and his article “Blazing Angels or Resident Evil? Can Violent Video Games be a Force for Good?” he states “Put simply, this issue notes that both public and scientific concern (Anderson, 2004, refers to violent video game effects as “somewhat alarming” p 120) is not matched by violent crime data, which for both adults and youth (Childstats.gov, 2008; FBI, 1951–2007) has plummeted at the same time as video games have increased in popularity” This large decline in violent crime data seen does not account for the almost exponential decrease in violent crimes among young men as these games increase in popularity. The large disparity between these studies and research depends entirely on who and how the study is processed. It also depends on who the studies follow as that can skew the study to a degree but generally, most studies now find that while some rises in aggression can be detected it is entirely negligible.

References

DeLisi M, Vaughn MG, Gentile DA, Anderson CA, Shook JJ. Violent Video Games, Delinquency, and Youth Violence: New Evidence. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice. 2013;11(2):132-142. doi:10.1177/1541204012460874

Ferguson, C. J. (2010). Blazing Angels or Resident Evil? Can Violent Video Games be a Force for Good? Review of General Psychology, 14(2), 68-81. https://doi-org.ezproxy.rowan.edu/10.1037/a0018941

Sublette, V.A., Mullan, B. Consequences of Play: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Online Gaming. Int J Ment Health Addiction 10, 3–23 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9304-3 

Markey, P. M., Markey, C. N., & French, J. E. (2015). Violent video games and real-world violence: Rhetoric versus data. Psychology of Popular Media Culture., 4(4), 277-295. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000030   

Rene Weber, Ute Ritterfeld & Klaus Mathiak (2006) Does Playing Violent Video Games Induce Aggression? Empirical Evidence of a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study, Media Psychology, 8:1, 39-60, DOI: 10.1207/S1532785XMEP0801_4   

Posted in Rebuttal Draft | 1 Comment

Annotated Bibliography- Sunflower828

Posted on November 27, 2023 by louie.doodle.lover

TikTok Cure

Through the discussion of how teens often become depressed from their social media use, it can be argued that social media platforms such as TikTok allow users to find a community allowing for them to not feel alone in their mental struggle. TikTok is blamed throughout the media for damaging the mental health of teens, forcing them into a depression, when in reality teens often find content creators who share their same struggle with depression which they can relate to, boosting their mood significantly. By relating to a content creator or influencer, teens are finding ways to navigate their depression due to the advice of one who is going through a similar struggle, but is documenting their progress on the platform. Instead of blaming TikTok for triggering a depression in teens, the public should be thanking TikTok for its free therapeutic remedies.

Manchanda, T., Stein, A., & Fazel, M. (2023). Investigating the Role of Friendship Interventions on the Mental Health Outcomes of Adolescents: A Scoping Review of Range and a Systematic Review of Effectiveness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2160. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032160

Background: Adolescence is a time for children to mentally develop between the ages of 10 and 24, during which they form friendships, form their identity, undergo physical and mental developments. During this time, humans also begin to develop social interests, but they are also at an increased risk for mental illness through this phase of development. Those who develop mental illness and depression during adolescence have an extremely high chance of being affected by it for a longer duration.

How I used it: I was planning to use this source to prove the importance of the development years for young children, especially during their teens. The aspect of forming social interests and an identity will also be helpful to argue the topics which teens may find interesting, or associate themselves with. Most importantly, I was mention how if a teen should develop depression during their formative years, it can impact them for their adulthood as well. I just decided to take a different path with my paper, but during the revision process I may come back to this.

Garon, J. M. (2022). Parenting for the digital generation: A guide to digital education and the online environment. Rowman & Littlefield.

Background: While parenting is continuing to evolve as time goes on, it is now more challenging with the introduction of social media apps. Some parents allow their children to have free range of online apps, where others do not. Parents are now forced to look out for the various things their children are viewing or searching on the internet. In their formative years, it is extremely important for parents to look out for signs of declining mental health in their child contributing to what they are viewing online.

How I used it: From finding this source, I planned to use it as an opposition to my argument of social media being helpful to teens suffering from depression as they are able to find like minded creators struggling with the same battle. While this source provides information which discredits my hypothesis, I felt as if I could’ve used it in a productive manner which will allow my readers to deem me to be a more reliable narrator. I decided to go with another source, but this was great as it was one of the first sources I found. It helped me develop my argument.


McCashin D, Murphy CM. Using TikTok for public and youth mental health – A systematic review and content analysis. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2023;28(1):279-306. doi:10.1177/13591045221106608

Background: TikTok is one of the most popular apps on the market, as it continues to catch the interests of various teens of all ages. While some say that TikTok is damaging the mental health of its users, others can prove that there has not been enough research done to prove that that is a true statement. Most people argue that TikTok has harmful content, when in reality some of the most liked and viewed videos are positive and promote inclusivity.

How I used it: I was able to use this source to prove the hypothesis that TikTok does have positive content on the app which can be helpful for users to view. I also used the point of not enough research being done of the negative impacts TikTok has on users. The idea of inclusivity is very valuable for my argument, as such trait would improve the mental health of those whom are struggling.

Avella, H. (2023). “TikTok ≠ therapy”: Mediating mental health and algorithmic mood disorders. New Media & Society, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448221147284

Background: TikTok grew significantly over the course of the pandemic, and people began to find more about themselves and their interests through the app. Many found TikTok to be a positive mental outlet in such a grim time filled with depressive emotions. Through the communities on the app, many people, especially teens, were able to relate to one another and uplift each other since they understood how their fellow users were feeling. The TikTok algorithm includes therapeutic devices which connect with users and it models the diagnostic and charismatic forms of therapy.

How I used it: I believe this is my strongest source throughout the entirety of the essay, considering it reveals that TikTok contains components of therapy in which aids users who are struggling. Not only does the platform provide positive videos from users going through a similar situation, it also provides ideals similar to therapy in the algorithm, which are extremely helpful to my argument.

Tang X, Ding X and Zhou Z. (2023). Towards Equitable Online Participation: A Case of Older Adult Content Creators’ Role Transition on Short-form Video Sharing Platforms. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. 7:CSCW2. (1-22). Online publication date: 28-Sep-2023.

Background: TikTok contains an abundance of videos which provide insight on how to appropriately approach battling mental health and depression. By viewing relatable content, users are able to cope with their feelings and take the advice of the content creators on their screens. Through the perception of a user, TikTok can serve as a positive place where they are able to escape their depressive feelings or thoughts.

How I used it: I found it to be key to my argument that there are so many videos on TikTok that are able to help those who are struggling with depression. This statement alone enhanced my hypothesis and granted me various pieces of evidence and avenues to explore when it comes to finding comfort on an online platform.

“Tiktok Shows Teens Harmful Content within Minutes, Study Says.” CNET, http://www.cnet.com/news/social-media/tiktok-shows-teens-harmful-content-within-minutes-of-joining-study-says/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023.

Background: TikTok contains content which is harmful to teenage viewers, as it discusses various sensitive topics that could negatively impact the minds of users. The younger a viewer is, the more impact what they see has on them. By viewing content which discusses eating disorders, suicide, self harm, and various other fearing topics, teens may begin to think like this themselves, leading to a negative spiral to begin.

How I used it: I was going to reference this source when creating a rebuttal argument, as it is perfect for arguing against my point of TikTok being beneficial to the depression recovery of users. I could’ve used this source and ripped it to shreds, as it frames TikTok as the leading cause of putting harmful thoughts in the minds of teens, when in reality TikTok contains helpful content, the viewers just need to find it first. I decided not to rip it to shreds, but rather leave it intact for now. If I need another source, this is what I will come to as it drove me to choose the source I ended up refuting.

Siegel, Marc. “How Tiktok Can Harm Your Teen’s Mental Health.” New York Post, New York Post, 27 Mar. 2023, nypost.com/2023/03/26/how-tiktok-can-harm-your-teens-mental-health/.

Background: The New York Post claims that Congress is looking into TikTok for the harm it causes viewers and the ways in which it negatively impacts the mental health of the youth who view content. It can be argued that TikTok creates “copy cat behavior”, causing others to mimic the struggles that creators are talking about, worsening their own mental health.

How I used it: I was going to use this source as a point to refute, as one would have to mimic the behaviors seen on TikTok on their own, there is no way the app forces one to do so. I would’ve also considered the aspect of Congress looking into an issue that is being made into something larger than it needs to be, as unnecessary blame is being placed on TikTok. It made me realize this is more than just social media, but also an issue that high powered officials are looking into.

“How TikTok’s Algorithm ‘exploits the Vulnerability’ of Children.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 4 Apr. 2023, http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/apr/04/how-tiktoks-algorithm-exploits-the-vulnerability-of-children.

Background: The Guardian claims that the TikTok algorithm exploits children by allowing self harm and eating disorder content to be housed on the app, forcing children to see it which forces them to be susceptible to developing these thoughts themselves. By stating that underage children are on the app viewing harmful content, it is extremely damaging to them to view videos which are not full of dances or comedy.

How I used it: I would’ve loved to use this source as a rebuttal argument, as it likes to place the blame on TikTok for underage users on the app being exposed to such issues, rather than the parents keeping their underage children off of such social media platforms if it is so damaging to their mental health. Rather than bashing the app where the content is posted and which has age restrictions, perhaps we should focus on the parental controls which are failing, causing a social media platform to take all of the blame. Each of these points would be mentioned throughout the essay should this source be used. I almost used it, but instead chose another source to refute.

Yurkevich, Vanessa. “Why Experts Worry TikTok Could Add to Mental Health Crisis among US Teens | CNN Business.” CNN, Cable News Network, 11 Jan. 2023, http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/11/tech/tiktok-teen-mental-health/index.html.

Background: This source covers how experts are determining that TikTok is extremely harmful to users and even compares it to a dangerous drug. CNN also covers how there are various politicians stating that changes must be made in regards to youth on TikTok, as this is the cause of the current youth mental health crisis.

How I used it: This source is what I used to refute the opposing side in my essay, as TikTok and its content being compared to a drug which kills people angered me. I also used this source as it touches upon the mental health crisis of youth, which I agree is happening, but my essay works to prove that TikTok can be a cure for this crisis.

“Global: TikTok’s ‘for You’ Feed Risks Pushing Children and Young People towards Harmful Mental Health Content.” Amnesty International, 9 Nov. 2023, http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/11/tiktok-risks-pushing-children-towards-harmful-content/.

Background: Through the aspects on the algorithm of TikTok, random videos can pop up before the algorithm is able to determine what videos the user prefers, causing them to see videos which may trigger them. These videos can be harmful, leading to a negative mental health impact. By watching more and more videos, the more frequently their mental health will be impacted.

How I used it: I used this source as something to read through to gain ideas about which direction I wanted to go when it comes to rebuttal arguments. It was very clear to me that I did not want to use this source, as I would’ve found it difficult to write enough to refute this source. The specific cases did not appeal to me, so I did not use it.

Posted in Bibliography, X Archive | 2 Comments