Day 4: Observation

Before we get into the real content for the day, we need to have a brief discussion about ethics.  Now, you already know that ethics and ethos are different but related things.  But we do need to talk about ethics too.

Where do ethics come from and why are they important?

Since I can't let you answer me back like I normally do in my physical classes, I'll try to summarize where our discussion usually takes us.

Ethics come from lots of places, but mainly its either natural or cultural.  We may be born with a certain amount of knowing what is good or evil, or it may be taught to us by our environment.  This debate is known as the nature vs. nurture debate, and we're not really going to get into that.  Ethics comes from your parents, your religious background, your education, the government, and so on.

But why have these stupid rules?  If you lie, it's not going to hurt anyone is it?

Rules keep us safe.  If I agree to follow the rules, and you agree to follow the rules, then we won't hurt each other, and then we can safely live in a community.  So, rules are about living well.  If we didn't have rules, well, things might become chaotic, and people might even start dying.

So, here's another question?  Why is death bad?

I mean, is it bad?

It's the unknown.  Unless, you think you know what may linger after this world...

So, death is kind of bad.  So we have these codes of ethics to follow.  And that means I need you to promise me that you won't plagiarize or cheat on your papers this semester.  See your daily assignments for that part of your blog posts today.

*** horrifyingly unnatural transition***


So, you guys did a pretty good job describing those crocodiles.  But you can do even better.

Description can make such a difference in your writing.  Boring writing is vanilla, but adding that special touch of style is what often makes the difference between an A paper and a B paper.

Observation can be key when making an argument, to describe those little aspects to really captivate your reader in interesting ways.  Sherlock Holmes, for example, was a master of making little keen observations that made all the difference in his cases.

So, go get your favorite piece of candy...


I'm serious.  Go.

Run to the gas station if you need to.

For this assignment, when I am teaching class in "the real world," I usually pass out Starbursts, but any piece of candy will do.

You should know that there is a difference between inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning.  The distinction is "elementary, my dear Watson."

Deductive reasoning starts with a thesis or a hypothesis.  Then tries to find facts based upon observations to support that original thesis.

Inductive reasoning begins with observation first, then arrives at a thesis based on the observations.  Sometimes this way takes a little longer to reach a conclusion, but it can be really helpful because you're not coming to a problem with preconceived notions.

Sometimes practicing inductive reasoning about things that we're already familiar with can reveal really surprising results.  This sometimes happens with ads because we're bombarded with them daily, so we don't think about them very well.  So... let's try it with a piece of candy...  (Check the daily assignments for the next steps.)

(Please also note that we are loosely following my calendar from the syllabus.  I would like for you to keep up with the readings there from Envision in Depth, but you really only need to skim the chapters unless I specifically tell you to read something in particular like tonight.)


Your Daily Assignment:

1. Write me a paragraph on your blog promising me that you won't plagiarize on your papers and think about why you won't.  Why is that important to you?  (I know that the syllabus says that you don't have to do this post until tomorrow, but I want to make sure you take time for your papers tomorrow.  I thought we could push this back, but I think it's best to do the ethics claim here.  If you need more time with the posts though, just let me know).
2. Secondly, get out that candy.  Put on a timer for 3 minutes.  You can use this one if you want.  Now, write down as many observations as you can about that piece of candy.  Just make a bullet point list down your post and go as fast as you can.  Add a picture of your candy to your post.  If you had another minute, you could make even more observations.  If you had years and years, and infinite amounts of funding, you could make even more observations!  This is what scientists do.  And then they draw conclusions.  And then they make rhetorical arguments about the way that the world is.  It's amazing.  The person with the most observations gets a "You're the Bomb!"
3. Read the short article by Orbach in Envision in Depth, on page 386.  It's an important issue that we'll talk about over the next few weeks a bit.

(You can make these two separate posts if you'd like.  That seems most natural.)

Grammar Review:

Introductory Commas:

Commas are supposed to go after introductory material.  And here's the trick to that.  Look for the subject.  So, the structure looks something like this...  Blah, blah, blah, blah, S-V.

If you only have three words or fewer before your subject, then you don't need a comma, but it's not wrong to put one in.  And I usually recommend putting one in unless there's some reason not to.  Another example would be:

First, take the knife and put it into the peanut butter jar.

So, where should the introductory comma go in this sentence?

When we were calling the young boy to the road after a long day at the lake in the middle of summertime because of his bandaged feet the dogs barked.

Look for the subject.  The comma goes before that.

Here is the extra credit opportunity that I offer each semester.  If you can find an introductory comma on a piece of packaging, like the wrapper from your candy bar today, take a picture of it and post it to your blog, and I'll give you an extra 500 points.

You say, "That's crazy, Mr. B!  That's too many points for just for a little comma."

I reply, "I know...  I know..."