COM150 Discussion Questions

Week 1 DQ 1

Please post a 150-300-word response to the following discussion question by clicking on Reply.

Post your response to the following: Fact refers to information verifiable through evidence. Opinion refers to an impression open to dispute. Go to the History Channel Web site at http://history.com/. Click Video at the top of the Web page; then, type Speeches into the Search All Videos bar; or copy and paste the following link into a web browser http://www.history.com/media.do?searchTerm=speeches&action=search

Select a speech, briefly describe the speech, and explain whether the speech is fact or opinion.

Respond to the posts of your classmates by asking what they found interesting about the speech they selected.

          I chose a short speech by Tom Brokaw on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy.  The speech was titled “Tom Brokaw on King’s Legacy” and is about a min and forty-eight seconds long.  He speaks for a few seconds on the way the south was segregated. He talks about James Earl Ray and gives his opinion that James Earl Ray may not have acted alone in King’s assassination.  He also talks on how he and the country felt after the assassination.  He states “I think we know have an even greater appreciation of what a leader Dr. King was”.  The speech seemed more like an interview and included visual photos and short film segments of Dr. King and various other clips from the time period.  Tom Brokaw leans on facts to support his opinion of what a great leader and historical figure he thinks Dr. King was.  I found the speech was very emotional and moving. 

Week 1 DQ 2

Please post a 150-300-word response to the following discussion question by clicking on Reply.

Post your response to the following: In what ways are expository essays similar to business communication? In what ways are they different? What part do facts play in the expository essay? What part does opinion play? Explain your answers.

Ask for more information regarding areas of disagreement when your respond to your classmates' posts.

Expository essays -- Uses evidence, examples, or facts to explain a concept or to inform about a topic with a thesis as its base; the information must be presented fairly and in a non-biased manner

The similarities between expository essays and business communications are that both use evidence, examples and/or facts to explain a concept or idea.  Both are used to convey facts and scientific evidence.  Expository essays differ from business communications in that essays tend to be longer than business communications. Also, essays are generally communications used for student writings, newspapers or magazines intending to be read by anyone; unlike business communications that are generally used as a communication device meant to communicate business to coworkers or superiors.  Facts are an important part to expository essays.  By definition an essay that uses evidence, examples or facts is considered an expository essay.   By this same definition, there is almost no room in an expository essay for opinion; this type of essay needs to be unbiased and presented fairly.   The thesis portion can be opinion-based, but even an opinion-based thesis in an expository essay needs to be supported by facts and evidence and not stand on opinion alone.

1. Read Brainstorming Techniques on the student web page.

2. Read Source Credibility on the student web page.

3. Read Avoiding Plagiarism on the student web page.

Week 3 DQ 1

Post your response to the following: What is your expository essay topic? Why did you select this topic? Why is this topic important for your audience? 

I chose to write my essay about the honeybee.  Specifically whether or not the honeybee is dying out and what that could mean for the human race.  I selected this topic because it is a question that I am already curious about and just never had the time to research on my own.  Now I can do the research for a school assignment.  The rumor is if the honeybee dies out it could also end the human race, this is why I consider this an important topic for everyone.  We need to either quash the rumors or help the honeybee before extinction. 

1. Read Brainstorming Techniques on the student web page.

2. Read Source Credibility on the student web page.

3. Read Avoiding Plagiarism on the student web page.

Week 3 DQ 2

Post your response to the following: What Web sites do you normally frequent? Are these Web sites credible? When is credibility more important, and when is it less important? Support your answers with specific examples. What questions might you ask in order to determine the credibility of online sources? 

I can be found on some social sites, such as Facebook, or MySpace.  I am frequently in ancestry.com and do a lot of research using Wikipedia.  I would not say information found via the social network sites would be that credible.  I have found ancestry.com to be quite credible as long as you are looking at records only and not people’s personal information.  Wikipedia is very credible in my opinion.  Always there are sites referenced for anyone to look up and verify facts found in the articles themselves.  I would ask any potential source where they got their information, first of all.  I would also want to know how much expertise they have in the field they are reporting.  How much experience a journalist has, is always at the top of my list of questions.    

Week 5  

Discussion Question 1

 Due Date: Day 2 [Main] forum

 Select one of the following topics:

o America’s top corporations are successful for a variety of reasons.

o Scientists have discovered human remains thought to be more than 2 million years older than Lucy, a skeleton found in Ethiopia.

o A healthful diet and regular exercise will not only improve health but also lower health care costs.

 Answer the following regarding the topic you chose: What kinds of supporting paragraphs (examples, details, definitions, analysis, division and classification, process analysis, comparison-contrast, cause-effect, argument) are appropriate to support this topic? Explain your answer.

 Respond to classmates’ posts by asking for more information if you disagree with or do not understand a response

The sentence, “Scientists have discovered human remains thought to be more than 2 million years older than Lucy, a skeleton found in Ethiopia” would have the supporting paragraphs of data, facts, historical or personal details.  This type could be used to show factual data associated with the discovery and then scientific facts and opinions as to why they believe it to be older.  You could even comparsion-contrast, which you can use to compare the two sets of remains and the methods used to identify each.  Either of these types of supporting paragraphs would be appropriate to use in supporting this topic.    

Discussion Question 2

 Due Date: Day 4 [Main] forum

 Post your response to the following: Select one of the essays from the Examples of Effective Conclusions section in Effective Introductions and Conclusions. Which article did you choose? What kind of conclusion does the writer use? What is the impact of that kind of conclusion in this essay?

I chose “The Difference Between Sin and Circumstance” By Lance Morrow.  This conclusion seems to be an example of a surprising observation.  This conclusion made me really think on what the author was trying to say.  I was impressed on his interpretation of the law as it is now and how we define and apply it.  This conclusion makes you really consider the issue from a new perspective and now, even

Capstone Discussion Question

 Due Date: Day 3 [Main] forum

 Post your response to the following: Which part of the writing process was easiest for you? Which part was the most difficult? What did you learn from your writing experience during this class? In what ways have you learned to write more critically? How will this knowledge assist you with your education or in your workplace?

I would say that they actual writing of the essay itself was easiest for me.  The part I found most difficult was the brainstorming prewriting.  I found it difficult to complete every step of the prewriting process but in the end I believe it did help my writing, it gave me a place to start other than a blank white page.  I am not so sure about writing more critically but I have learned how to recognize critical writing and how to execute or avoid it.  This knowledge will help me in all aspects of my life, from my fiction writing to simple memos at work.