Journal 4: The Prevalence of Sexting

As with all new technologies, people have quickly adapted cell phone cameras to a variety of sexual applications. In this case, "sexting" is the practice of exchanging sexually explicit images of oneself via texts or emails. And if some surveys are to be believed, it is becoming increasingly prevalent in America, especially amongst the young. Law enforcement, educators, and parents are increasingly alarmed by the sexting "epidemic" and the actions of often under-age teens who engage in this practice without fully considering the consequences. Some authorities have even gone so far as to charge some under-age teens with possession of child pornography. Is sexting truly an epidemic? Or is it the 21st century equivalent to explicit love letters? What are the long term ramifications of this practice? For example, are we likely to see future political candidates defending photos they took in their youth? Or could provocative pictures you take now cost you a job in the future? Consider the practice of sexting in America.

Include at least one of the following pieces in your discussion:

• "Alarming? One in Four Teens Admit Sexting Nude Photos, Survey Finds" (The Huffington Post)
• "Sexting Lands Teen on Sex Offender List" (CNN.com)
• "Teen Sexting No One's Business?" (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
• "Warning: The Dangers of Sexting" by Jeff A. Katz (The Huffington Post)

Articles are located in the eR.

Due: Wednesday, Mar. 24

Assignment: PowerPoint Presentation

As you know, you will be responsible for a 10-minute gender-related PowerPoint presentation.

Requirements:

• Must be a minimum of 10-minutes in length
  
• Should have no less than 8 slides
  
• Must include a handout outlining your presentation (20 copies)

The best presentations will:

• First contextualize information, then present relevant facts
  
• Avoid a heavy use of animation and effects, choosing instead a simpler visual style (illustrations are highly recommended)
  
• Engage the class through a conversational style, utilizing questions and/or activities
• Utilize multimedia, such as YouTube (encouraged, but not required)

Remember, you are responsible for providing your own laptop.

J.D. Hayworth: Gay Marriage Law Could Produce Man-Horse Nuptials

By Sam Sein, The Huffington Post
3.15.10

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) primary challenger, former Arizona congressman J.D. Hayworth, warned this past weekend that the same-sex marriage decision handed down by the Massachusetts Supreme Court is so loose in its logic and wording that it could lead to a man marrying his horse.

Appearing on Orlando, Fla. radio station WORL on Sunday, the Arizona conservative had what could be described as a Rick Santorum "man on dog" moment.

"You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage -- now get this -- it defined marriage as simply, 'the establishment of intimacy,'" Hayworth said. "Now how dangerous is that? I mean, I don't mean to be absurd about it, but I guess I can make the point of absurdity with an absurd point -- I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse. It's just the wrong way to go, and the only way to protect the institution of marriage is with that federal marriage amendment that I support."

The clip, which was forwarded to the Huffington Post by a Republican source, is a deliberate over-interpretation of the Massachusetts law, which in addition to not prompting man-steed nuptials has actually helped chip away at the state's divorce rate.

Indeed, Hayworth, who favors a federal amendment that would limit marriage to one man and one woman, could harm his image with these remarks. Nearly seven years ago, then-senator Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) was asked a rather benign question about homosexuality during an interview with USA Today, and offered a response that has gone down in the annals of political head-turners.

"In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality," Santorum said. "That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be."

Week 8

A ministering angel shall my sister be.

—William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Week 8

M 3.15
READ: CR—“A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, “The Way Up to Heaven” by Roald Dahl; GL, p. 144-189
IN-CLASS: Writers workshop
DUE: Persuasive essay (Draft 1, Bring three copies)

W 3.17
READ: CR—“This Blessed House” by Jhumpa Lahiri, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway; GL, p. 190-216
IN-CLASS: Reading discussion; Watch—“The Woman with Two Breasts” from Coupling (2000)

UPCOMING:

Week 9

M 3.22
READ: CR—“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver, “Brokeback Mountain” by Annie Proulx; GL, p. 217-264
IN-CLASS: Preview—Expository Essay
Due: Persuasive essay (Final draft with first draft attached)

W 3.24
READ: GL, p. 265-290
IN-CLASS: Literature Analysis/Short Answer Responses
DUE: Journal 4

Washington D.C. Woman Lands Prep Football Head Coaching Gig

By Jim Halley, USA Today
03.11.10

When Natalie Randolph is introduced Friday morning as head football coach at Coolidge High in Washington, D.C., it will be a big deal for female coaches across the country.

There are roughly 27,000 high schools in the USA, and though record-keeping at that level is spotty, Bruce Howard of the National Federation of State High School Associations said he couldn't remember another woman becoming head coach of a boys football team.

"I can't tell you there's not another one out there, but I haven't heard of one," said Howard, who has been with the national federation for 25 years.

Because football employs more coaches, including assistants, than other high school sports, Randolph's hiring could open the door for more women to coach football and other boys sports.

"I'd say it is a big deal, particularly since it is football," said Pamela Noakes, executive director of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. "In colleges, only 2% to 3% of the coaches of men's teams are women, and most of those are coaches of already coed teams like swimming or cross country, the usual ways that women break into the ranks of coaching men."

While Randolph is a pioneer, the numbers of women coaching football are growing at the youth level. Steve Alic, a spokesman for USA Football, the national governing body for youth football, said 4.7% of its coaches are female.

"Girls and women — along with their fathers, sons and brothers — now have clear evidence that the gridiron ceiling can be broken," said Karen Durkin, chief executive officer of the Women's Sports Foundation. "Natalie's hiring will serve as a much-needed catalyst for women in leadership positions across all sports."

Randolph, 29, was an assistant coach at H.D. Woodson in Washington in 2006 and 2007. She played six seasons as a receiver and on special teams with the D.C. Divas of the National Women's Football Association.

She was a track athlete (sprints and hurdles) at the University of Virginia and began her coaching career in 2004 with Track Express Track Club in Largo, Md. She teaches environmental science at Coolidge.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to coach these young men, and I'm flattered at the outpouring of support and encouragement from the D.C. football and academic community," Randolph said in a news release. "I know how important high school football is to these young men, the parents, the school, and the Coolidge community. I plan on taking this opportunity and running with it."

When she was assistant head coach at H.D. Woodson, she showed she belonged, Woodson head coach Greg Fuller said.

"Honestly, I don't think she'll have problems with (the players or the parents), because she knows the game and I think she proved that point," Fuller said. "When she worked with me at Woodson two years ago, she had the utmost respect. She got their attention immediately when she showed the drills she had done with the Divas."

Coolidge begins spring workouts in May with summer practices starting Aug. 8. Randolph will be assisted by Bob Headen, who retired from Woodson after winning eight D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association football titles in 25 years of coaching. Randolph takes over a program that was 39-36 the past seven seasons, including four playoff appearances.

Images of Gender: Funny or Die

Forehead Tittaes w/ Marion Cotillard from Marion Cotillard

Notes on Persuasive Techniques

Aristotle's Modes of Persuasion
In 350 BCE, Aristotle's On Rhetoric identified what he considered to be the three basic components of a successful appeal.

Logos: Logos is an appeal based upon logic. The idea is that you are more likely to convince people of your position if it is framed in a reasonable manner. In other words, people are most attracted to those ideas that are clearly explained, logically constructed, and based in facts.

Pathos: Pathos is an appeal based upon emotion. People are more likely to be persuaded if base emotions are appealed to. Keep in mind, that the emotions tapped need not be positive. One can be persuaded by feelings of anger or anxiety, just as easily as feelings of warmth or optimism.

Ethos: Ethos is the appeal based upon the credibility of the speaker. This appeal touches on the element of trust. If one trusts the character, motives, and expertise of the person making the appeal, then he or she is more likely to be persuaded.

Fallacies of Logic
These are arguments containing errors in reason. They are extremely common and often very effective. However, the point here is not for you to use these in your argument, but to be able to point them out in opposing points of view.

AD HOMINEM: The Ad Hominem attack will focus on the person, not the argument.

Example: We can’t really take an argument seriously coming from her; she’s totally ignorant on the subject.

RED HERRING: A Red Herring is the introduction of an irrelevant subject, usually introduced in an attempt to drive the argument away (or distract) from its original subject.

Example: Does God exist? Of course, otherwise why would we have so many structures in His honor?

BURDEN OF PROOF: This is the tactic of shifting the Burden of Proof onto the wrong party. One party clearly has the responsibility to prove or dispove something, but instead shifts that responsibility to the opposing party.

Example: You don't believe I saw Bigfoot? Well, prove to me I didn't.

GOLDEN MEAN: The Golden Mean fallacy assumes that given two opposing viewpoints, the correct solution is invariably the middle or "golden mean." This fallacy is based upon the common belief that neither of two diametrically opposed viewpoints can possibly be correct.

Example: This recipe says to use four cups of flour, while another says to use six. I’ll play it safe and use five cups instead.

SLIPPERY SLOPE: The Slippery Slope fallacy is based on the idea that once you take the first step down a path, you will be inexorably drawn down that path until you reach an inevitable and very bad end. In other words, if “X” is allowed to happen, then “Y” is sure to be the end result.

Example: If the government starts to monitor indecency in the media more closely, we’ll eventually get back to book burning!

STRAW MAN: A Straw Man is a misrepresentation of the opposing view, setup in such a way that it is easy to demolish. At worst, it is a complete fabrication which bears no resemblance whatsoever to the original argument.

Example: Vegetarians and vegans make such a big fuss about eating meat because, at the end of the day, all they want is the destruction of capitalism.

LOADED QUESTION: A Loaded Question presupposes something that has not been proven or accepted by all involved. It is posed in such a way that a person, no matter what answer he/she responds with, will inevitably commit him/herself to some presupposed claim.

Example: Are you still a jerk?

BANDWAGON: The Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an argument.

Examples: We should end capital punishment; most of our neighbors in the industrialized world have outlawed this barbaric practice.

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION: Guilt by Association draws its power from the fact that people do not like to be associated with people they dislike. If it is shown that a person shares a belief with people he or she dislikes, then one might be influenced into rejecting that belief.

Examples: You enjoy eating fast food? I don't anymore; I suppose my tastes have evolved.