Thursday, December 6, 2007
D#16, HW#2, Evaluation Survey
As far as I can tell, the evaluation survey has not been posted yet and my pregnant butt is going to bed.
D#16, HW#1, WP#4 Final
Coralee Harding
WP#4 Course Portfolio
Eng102-7891 Adams
Dec. 6 2007
Research Proposal
Poverty defined in the Webster’s dictionary is “the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.” Whether you realize it or not, you see somebody who is suffering from poverty on a daily basis. You may see these people holding a cardboard sign on the street corner, handing you coffee at your morning fast food joint, sitting on the curb outside Taco Bell as you eat your lunch, or even driving the car in the lane next to you. According to the research and educational institute, the Heritage Foundation, one in eight people in the United States suffer from poverty on some level. Some of these people are living on the streets with no shelter, while others live in low-income housing.
For the duration of this project I will study the question: Although the government of the United States of America provides welfare for their citizens suffering from poverty, what more can be done to aid those in need? There are some people living in poverty who do not want to change their lifestyle, but there are millions of others living in poverty who want to change but do not have the resources necessary. These are the people who need help. Because the American government is unable to aid everybody who is suffering from poverty, the ultimate power of helping the issue of poverty lies in the hands of average Americans.
My intended audience will be average Americans. These are people who have seen poverty regularly, but other than offering loose change to a guy on the street, do not go out of their way to help the problem. This audience most likely does not know facts or statistics about this issue, but they know that it does exist. They are likely to have mixed feelings about the issues on poverty. Some feel sad when they see a family struggling with poverty and some do not. Many of these people do not know the extreme conditions in which people are living, and many do not care.
My purpose in choosing this audience is so that some of them will understand the issue more and feel inclined to do something about it. There are several organizations that are in desperate need of people to volunteer their time. Many of these organizations also accept monetary donations, as well as second-hand items that would be used for people suffering form poverty. Although some people would rather not know, every person needs to be educated about what is going on outside of their own lives and the issue of poverty that currently exists. Every person is capable of aiding in poverty; there is no question there. The question is if you are willing to spend the time to aid those who need it. Soup kitchens and homeless shelters, not currently flooded with volunteers.
I feel strongly about this issue because it has personally affected my life. From a very young age my mother took me to an old church building that was renovated and renamed Homecraft. At this place my mother and I, along with other volunteers, made quilts from donated fabric, cleaned and clothed used dolls, and put together hygiene kits for people who could not afford these things. I was shown how important it was to give all that you could to people in poverty, even if all you had to give was time. I also had a coworker who could not afford to live in an apartment, and was forced to live in her van. She wasn’t on drugs, didn’t have an alcohol problem, she was just your average person who was unable to earn enough money on her own to pay for the necessities of life. Because she did not have an address, she was unable to receive aid from the government. Many changes need to occur within the American government, as well as in most people, to help aid those in poverty.
Over the next couple months I will research, interview, observe, and obtain as much knowledge as I can about poverty in America. I will also study several resources such as books, websites, testimonies, and journals. This will allow me to write my paper with confidence, and allow my audience to read first-hand evidence.
Annotated Bibliography
The topic I have chosen to write about is poverty in The United States of America. In the U.S. today, the government provides little aid to people suffering in poverty. These unfortunate people receive even less aid from their fellow American citizens. In this society, few people are regularly active in aiding the needy. These few people who are in favor of helping may be working in shelter homes, volunteering at various charitable organizations, making items such as quilts in their own homes, and performing other similar services. There are also people in the middle who may volunteer once in a while, or not at all, but do not shun those in who need help. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who do not care. These people may feel that everybody gets what they deserve, and do not want to aid those in poverty.
Berliner, BethAnn. "Educating Homeless Students." 2002. Education Resources Information Center. Mesa, AZ. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://www.eric.ed.gov >
This book is about how homeless children should be educated and taught just as much as children not living in poverty and should be treated the exact same. It suggests that education facilities work with shelter homes, where the children may be living, to make sure they are attending school regularly. This book also suggest that schools help children buy supplies that they need that they cannot afford. This book is directed at solving the problems of poverty, and not just focusing on what the problems are. This is one way that poverty can be aided, at little expense to the school or parents. I will cover this topic and topics closely related in my research paper. This is a very strong resource.
Clemmitt, Marcia. "Evaluating Head Start." CQ Researcher 15.29 (2005): 685-708. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 11 Oct. 2007.
This book is about the preschool program Head Start that directed for poor children. It has recently been a topic considered by the government. Right now they are deciding how to improve this program and if they want to put it in the hands of state officials instead of the federal government. Although Head Start proves to be working well for these children, they are now requiring that 50% of all the teacher have at least a Bachelors degree by 2011. This is one thing that the government is doing right. They are helping children to see they can have a good future, and not destined to live in poverty as they are now.
Cooper, Mary H. "The Working Poor." CQ Researcher 5.41 (1995): 969-992. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 19 Sept. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1995110300 >.
The author who wrote this book is extremely passionate about this issue. She gives great detail about the issue, and has interviewed several people about this topic. The author explains in detail what people on welfare can get, and if they are receiving enough aid to support themselves and their family. She feels strongly that people in poverty are not receiving enough aid. This book gives facts as well as emotional appeal, and using these two strategies allowed me to see clear answers to my research question.
Coral Ridge Ministries. "Issues Tearing Our Nation's Fabric." 13 July 2002. Leadership University. Mesa, Arizona. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage is the only resource I was able find that was opposing the government's aid to poverty. This is about how the welfare system is completely useless and not effective. This author believes that more emotional damage is caused by the welfare program than the damage from living in poverty. Suprisingly this webpage is made by a church organization. It then gives several quotes from the Bible on how people who are idle and do not work will suffer, and basically that they deserve it. This is true, but not everybody suffering from poverty chooses to be there. This author proposes to make all welfare programs faith-based where people can receive "life-saving spiritual and moral counceling."
"Hard at Work But Can't Buy Food." _CNN Money_. 2004. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/16/news/economy/poverty_corporate/index.htm >
This article from CNN is all about people who have steady jobs but are still forced to live life in poverty. It talks about how people who are living in poverty usually have a lot of worries, such as where they will get money for their next meal, and thus do not perform work duties as well as they could. This website also gives several facts about poverty, such as 6.2% of all Americans who work live below the poverty standards. In my research paper I will focus on this specific issue. This article does not help solve my research question, but it helps describe the issue in greater detail.
Hayes, Bill. "Bill of Rights in Action." 1998. Constitutional Rights Foundation. Mesa, AZ. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage describes the history of welfare in the United States. It discusses the first welfare program that was established in the United States and people's reactions. It describes all of the welfare programs that were ever established in America and who they catered to. It also shows the differences in welfare from when to federal government was in control and how it is with the states in control. This webpage also discusses topics that the government was debating about at the time it was written. Such as, Should there be lifetime limits of five years or less on the welfare benefits families may receive?
Holosko, Michael, and Marvin Feit. "Living in Poverty in America Today." Journal of Health & Social Policy. 21.1 (2005): 119-131.
This book is about poverty in America today. It discusses health issues several people living in poverty are subject to. One common health issue is hunger. Several people living in poverty cannot afford to eat enough to sustain their own body. Another health concern many people in poverty are facing is lack of nutrition. If they are lucky enough to afford food, it is not usually a healthy, well-rounded meal. This book also discusses emotional effects caused by poverty. These are all issues that I would like to cover in my research paper.
Koch, Kathy. "Hunger in America." CQ Researcher 10.44 (2000): 1033-1056. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2000122200 >.
This book is specifically about hunger issues in America. This book gives numbers and statistics about poverty, and also talks about how many people are declined for food stamps. The author talks about how the governments eligibility requirements are too tight for people to get help. This book is directly about the topic I am focusing on. This is something that I will concentrate on in my project since eating is required for everybody to live and everyone can relate to it. This source is very strong compared to the other one's that I have chosen.
"Poverty in America, One Nation, Pulling Apart." Penn State University. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://www.povertyinamerica.psu.edu/ >
This website is dedicated to informing about poverty in America. It describes how America is pulling itself apart and several communities are below the standard of the economic average. This website discusses the people who are most at risk for ending up in poverty and how most people are living in poverty at no fault of their own. This website also goes into how children are physiologically effected and that they feel they will live in the same conditions as their parents when they are adults themselves. This website targets several areas that I will focus on in my research paper. Some of these areas include the types of people who are most likely to live in poverty, and the effects poverty has on children.
Worsnop, Richard L. "Helping the Homeless." CQ Researcher 6.4 (1996): 73-96. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996012600 >.
This book is about the government problems, what they are doing wrong, and how they can make changes and start helping the homeless in better ways. It talks about how there are not very many improvements being made to help poverty. It also talks about how some cities are changing their boundaries to exclude the homeless, and cutting them off from their benefits. It also describes how people do not accept group homes and homeless shelters well. This book covers American's reactions to the homeless. This source targets the government and American people. Among other things, I will use these two targets in my research paper, however, I will focus less on the government and more on Americans reactions and actions to people in poverty. This source is strong in certain areas, such as American's reactions.
Although poverty is a ongoing issue in America, I have read about a few ways that the government has stepped in to aid. Aside from the welfare program, they provides special preschools for children living under the economic standards and are currently working on improving these programs to allow children in poverty to gain higher levels of achievement. While studying these programs I have gained a higher respect for the government and their willingness to aid the children. However, it is still not enough. While children are receiving more aid, adults are receiving much less. Government aid needs to be available to people of all ages who need it under all circumstances. Different aid would need to apply to those who have lost their jobs unexpectedly than to those who are drug abusers. It has, however, been difficult to find books or articles that are against aiding poverty. Instead of using viewpoints that are anti-aiding, I will discuss how not aiding people in poverty is beneficial. These resources will be obtained by interviewing.
Poverty in America
There is a family living ten houses down from you . Do you know them? Last night they had to decide if they should buy groceries or put gas in their car. In fact, one out of every ten families in the United States struggle with this same problem (Triplett). On your way to work this morning you passed a man sitting on the street corner. Did you notice him? There was a 70% chance he was severely mentally handicapped, a United States veteran, or had children hiding in the shade behind the bushes (Triplett). While walking through the parking lot, finding your way into the store, you passed a parked car. That was somebody's home. The woman inside had no family or friends, no address to put on her welfare application. This woman was denied government aid because of it. Although the government of the United States of America provides welfare for their citizens suffering from poverty, it is not enough. To lower the number of people living in poverty, there must be changes made within the government. There must be more easily attainable aid for people who need and deserve it. Instead of increasing the restrictions to receive aid, the restrictions should be lowered and monitored more carefully.
Since 1935 the government has been trying to aid people suffering from poverty. They have tried several methods and passed several laws to help solve this issue. Some of the first attempts to give aid included poorhouses and orphanages. During this period of time, people would not accept the government's help unless they were extremely desperate. Those who were allowed the government's help were often shunned and rejected by their friends and neighbors. A few years after the poorhouses opened, the "mother's pension" took effect which gave money to single mothers to allow them to stay at home and raise their children. This did not include mothers who were divorced or minorities. In 1935 the Social Security Act was established and the welfare of the people was put into the hands of the federal government. These new laws established old-age pensions and unemployment insurance but did not include farm workers or servants. Since then, the divorce rate skyrocketed and single mothers with children were able to receive government aid. In 1996 welfare control was mostly given back to the states, and no longer a federal responsibility (Hayes).
Poverty is something that can happen to anyone. Nobody expects or wants to live life in poverty, and yet it effects over 2 million Americans per year (Triplett). Poverty is an ongoing issue in America. Evidence shows that 10% of families living in this nation struggle with poverty (Triplett). Chances are that you have a friend, coworker, or relative living in poverty. These people may not appear to be struggling, but behind closed doors they suffer. For families who have a working parent, regardless of their actual income, it is very difficult for them to qualify for government aid. These families are below the average income of $52, 704, but above the poverty average of $18, 400. If these families are lucky enough to qualify for a government food assistance program, such as food stamps, the average amount of redeemable food stamps is $2.34 per day, per person (Net Industries). It is extremely difficult to eat three healthy, well-balanced meals for $7.02 a day.
The majority of people suffering from poverty are people who deserve government aid the most. 40% of people living in poverty are families, 30% are substance abusers, 23% are severely mentally ill, and 10% are veterans. 17% of those in poverty are employed (Triplett). A single mother heads most families living in poverty. Studies show that singles mothers are most likely to live in poverty for long periods of time (Triplett). Substance abuse is a huge issue in America, especially among teenagers. The teens that are addicted to drugs or alcohol are the ones you will most likely see living in the streets as adults. Severely mentally ill people usually have no control over their financial situation. These people are often overlooked as people in need of aid. Not every mentally ill person has somebody to look after them. If they have no one who cares enough about them, they are forced to live a confused life on the streets. Veterans deserve so much more than what they are given by the government. Each one deserves to be respected and admired, not viewed as just another homeless person.
One major downfall of the government's welfare program is its capability to cause dependency. "75 percent of all welfare recipients remain on the program five years or longer" (Coral Ridge Ministries). Some critics believe if all government aid is cut off from the people, it will force those in poverty to become more self-reliant. Government aid should not be a permanent crutch for people to lean on, but a short-term support system for people in poverty. Welfare and food stamps are meant for people to use in emergency situations, and to help them get back on their feet. Yet many people on welfare are abusing their benefits. "A study by the Congressional Budget Office showed that long periods of welfare dependency can actually reduce a child’s IQ by as much as 20 percent." (Coral Ridge Ministries). Children living in poverty, and who rely on government welfare, often feel that they will live in the same condition when they are adults and do not strive to become better. If there were no welfare programs for people living in poverty, some believe there would be less people allowing themselves to suffer in poverty and relying on the government's aid. This is why the government must improve the welfare program. They must create a program that is for people who really need assistance, and only for a short period of time in most circumstances.
After nearly 100 years of attempting to aid the poor, the government has yet to succeed. The number of people receiving welfare has gone down over the years, but the restrictions to receive aid have gone up. Major changes must be made in the way that the government handles poverty. There are two groups of people who have the ultimate power to change the life of those suffering. The United States government and American voters. The government can construct laws, and voters have the ability to pass or petition them. Americans also have the ability to aid on a more personal level.
In the current welfare program, people can apply for welfare or food stamps and if they meet the right qualifications, they receive their stamps and/or money once a month. Instead of giving away money or food redeemable coupons, the government can provide short-term jobs. This will force people to earn their money and in turn they will value it more. Special occupations can be set-aside for people in poverty such as working in public libraries, post offices, picking up trash on the streets, roadway construction, and other various government jobs. By doing this, the government will be receiving a service for the money that they are now giving out. Employers can also volunteer simple employment positions and allow the government to fill those positions with people struggling with poverty. This will allow families to live better lives. One issue that could arise from this is that many people in poverty do not own vehicles or have transportation to get to and from work. To solve this issue the government could provide a short-term bus pass that is usable until they receive their first paycheck.
Changes also need to be made to accommodate the homeless. Right now the government requires that you provide an address on the welfare application. If a homeless person does not have a family member's or a friend’s address that they can provide, they are not eligible to receive government aid. This ensures that the homeless will stay homeless and does not help them in any way. Instead of receiving their money or food stamps by mail, they can be held at the post office for the person to pick up, or at a local government office.
The government needs to require schools to educate students on the widespread issue of poverty. This will help children to understand the negative effects of poverty. They can also be taught how to receive long-lasting jobs so they will lower their chances of falling into poverty. This will also teach children how to get out of poverty if they are ever involved in it. By doing this, it will lower the number of people living in poverty in the future by the thousands.
In Arizona there is a large facility organized by a church called Randolph. It is similar to an assisted living facility for the elderly, but it is specifically for the severely mentally disabled. There are several small cabin-like homes where four to five mentally ill people occupy each one. There are trained assistants assigned to each of these homes. Several church groups and other organizations come and visit these people and volunteer during meals and activities. This facility is being forced to close due to lack of funding. The government is able to help fund this program and help keep it open, essentially keeping more mentally disabled people out of poverty, but they do not. It would also be beneficial if the government would open more facilities like this one to aid the mentally disabled.
We, as Americans, are given the ability to vote. Several citizens, however, do not take advantage of this right. Unlike many countries, Americans have the power to pass or petition laws. By carefully choosing the laws that are passed, Americans can make the difference in the lives of others, in their own lives, and the lives of those in poverty. When people do not vote, they are placing their future in the hands of those that do vote, who may have a different opinion.
Another way that Americans can get involved in helping aid people in poverty is by volunteering. There is a charity center in Mesa, Arizona called the Humanitarian Organization. Everybody who works there does so without being paid, and anybody is welcome to volunteer. They iron fabric, cut it into squares, design, and then sew quilts for adults and children who cannot afford them. Nobody working there is a professional quilt maker, but if a person is freezing, they don't care what the quilt looks like, as long as it keeps them warm and alive. They recently started producing hand-knit hats for babies. Since they started delivering them, the babies were able to keep a normal body temperature, and their death rate has decreased (Markland A4). There are also canneries that produce and can food for the homeless, as well as food banks and other charitable organizations that are always in need of volunteers. If a person does not have time to help by volunteering, monetary donations are accepted at all of these places.
Poverty is an issue that may never be completely solved. There are major changes that need to be made by the government, and by people living in poverty for it to be fixed. Improvements need to be made to the welfare program, and new helpful programs need to be established. Although the United States government has made changes and reforms to welfare, they have not been very effective. There are always people who need government aid who get left out. To solve this problem it takes the government to create the laws, and the American people to put them into effect.
Bibliography
Clemmitt, Marcia. "Evaluating Head Start." CQ Researcher 15.29 (2005): 685-708. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 11 Oct. 2007.
This book is about the preschool program Head Start that directed for poor children. It has recently been a topic considered by the government. Right now they are deciding how to improve this program and if they want to put it in the hands of state officials instead of the federal government. Although Head Start proves to be working well for these children, they are now requiring that 50% of all the teacher have at least a Bachelors degree by 2011. This is one thing that the government is doing right. They are helping children to see they can have a good future, and not destined to live in poverty as they are now.
Cooper, Mary H. "The Working Poor." CQ Researcher 5.41 (1995): 969-992. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 19 Sept. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1995110300 >.
The author who wrote this book is extremely passionate about this issue. She gives great detail about the issue, and has interviewed several people about this topic. The author explains in detail what people on welfare can get, and if they are receiving enough aid to support themselves and their family. She feels strongly that people in poverty are not receiving enough aid. This book gives facts as well as emotional appeal, and using these two strategies allowed me to see clear answers to my research question.
Coral Ridge Ministries. "Issues Tearing Our Nation's Fabric." 13 July 2002. Leadership University. Mesa, Arizona. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage is the only resource I was able find that was opposing the government's aid to poverty. This is about how the welfare system is completely useless and not effective. This author believes that more emotional damage is caused by the welfare program than the damage from living in poverty. Suprisingly this webpage is made by a church organization. It then gives several quotes from the Bible on how people who are idle and do not work will suffer, and basically that they deserve it. This is true, but not everybody suffering from poverty chooses to be there. This author proposes to make all welfare programs faith-based where people can receive "life-saving spiritual and moral counceling."
Hayes, Bill. "Bill of Rights in Action." 1998. Constitutional Rights Foundation. Mesa, AZ. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage describes the history of welfare in the United States. It discusses the first welfare program that was established in the United States and people's reactions. It describes all of the welfare programs that were ever established in America and who they catered to. It also shows the differences in welfare from when to federal government was in control and how it is with the states in control. This webpage also discusses topics that the government was debating about at the time it was written. Such as, Should there be lifetime limits of five years or less on the welfare benefits families may receive?
Holosko, Michael, and Marvin Feit. "Living in Poverty in America Today." Journal of Health & Social Policy. 21.1 (2005): 119-131.
This book is about poverty in America today. It discusses health issues several people living in poverty are subject to. One common health issue is hunger. Several people living in poverty cannot afford to eat enough to sustain their own body. Another health concern many people in poverty are facing is lack of nutrition. If they are lucky enough to afford food, it is not usually a healthy, well-rounded meal. This book also discusses emotional effects caused by poverty. These are all issues that I would like to cover in my research paper.
Koch, Kathy. "Hunger in America." CQ Researcher 10.44 (2000): 1033-1056. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2000122200 >.
This book is specifically about hunger issues in America. This book gives numbers and statistics about poverty, and also talks about how many people are declined for food stamps. The author talks about how the governments eligibility requirements are too tight for people to get help. This book is directly about the topic I am focusing on in my paper. This is something that I will concentrate on in my project since eating is required for everybody to live and everyone can relate to it. This source is very strong compared to the other one's that I have chosen.
Markland, Cecily. "Mesa Humanitarian Center, Service Felt Around the World." The Beehive 9 July 2007: A4+.
This article is about the Mesa Humanitarian Center in Mesa Arizona. It describes everything that this organization does for this country, and countries around the world. For example they donate thousands of quilts, hiegyn kits, toys, and other various needs to people around the world. They are 100% ran by people who volunteer their time and money, and everything they distribute is donated. This center is just one of many in the United States that is dedicated to serving those in need.
Net Industries. 2007. 20 Nov. 2007.
This is an informational website about poverty in the United States. It discusses the background of poverty and the differences between the first stages of poverty and how it is now. It also has a chart with all the medium incomes of families. This website also discusses tax relief for the poor, the accuracy of the poverty level, hunger in America, and the growing demand for emergency food assistance. This website gives several statistics in various areas of poverty.
"Poverty in America, One Nation, Pulling Apart." Pennsylvania State University. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://www.povertyinamerica.psu.edu/ >
This website is dedicated to informing about poverty in America. It describes how America is pulling itself apart and several communities are below the standard of the economic average. This website discusses the people who are most at risk for ending up in poverty and how most people are living in poverty at no fault of their own. This website also goes into how children are physiologically effected and that they feel they will live in the same conditions as their parents when they are adults themselves. This website targets several areas that I will focus on in my research paper. Some of these areas include the types of people who are most likely to live in poverty, and the effects poverty has on children.
Triplett, William. "Ending Homelessness." CQ Researcher 14.23 (2004): 541-564. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 30 Oct. 2007.
This book gives several statistics on poverty. The author breaks down the people who are living in poverty, and the government aid that they each are able to receive. The percentages of people living in poverty are as follows: 40% of people living in poverty are families, 30% are substance abusers, 23% are severely mentally ill, and 10% are veterans. This website also gives statistics on the number of people living in poverty, and what race they are. I used this book as a resource several times while writing my paper.
Worsnop, Richard L. "Helping the Homeless." CQ Researcher 6.4 (1996): 73-96. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996012600 >.
This book is about the government problems, what they are doing wrong, and how they can make changes and start helping the homeless in better ways. It talks about how there are not very many improvements being made to help poverty. It also talks about how some cities are changing their boundaries to exclude the homeless, and cutting them off from their benefits. It also describes how people do not accept group homes and homeless shelters well. This book covers American's reactions to the homeless. This source targets the government and American people. Among other things, I will use these two targets in my research paper, however, I will focus less on the government and more on Americans reactions and actions to people in poverty. This source is strong in certain areas, such as American's reactions.
Reflective Cover Letter
During the course of this class, I have learned several techniques that have helped me to become a better writer. I also learned new strategies and styles for writing, as well as using techniques that I learned in high school. The things that I have learned will be extremely useful in projects to come. The course outcomes that I’ve improved at the most and feel the most comfortable with are organizing, using consistent tone and voice, and assessing my own writing. One area that I still need to improve is using correct documentation formatting. All of the deadlines and homework assignments that are referred to can be found on my class blog web page at www.harding302.blogspot.com.
Course Outcome 1. The rhetorical context for my writing projects were best identified in deadline 3. In the assignments involved with this deadline, I was able to narrow my broad topic to focus on a more specific topic, context, purpose, and audience. Then the topic eventually led to my research question. This progress can be seen under my blog for deadline 3 homework 6. The rhetorical context for the final research paper, as well as the research proposal was extremely important to the overall voice and feel of all the projects. By reading my final copy of writing project 3, I feel that this course outcome was achieved.
Course Outcome 2. The homework assignments that taught me about organizing my writing were extremely helpful to writing project 1 and 3. I now realize the importance of organizing my thoughts and ideas before I start writing a rough draft. One method that we learned in class was the Toulmin outlining method. This outline can be found in deadline 9 homework 4. Although this strategy was helpful, I benefited more from utilizing a cluster map. The cluster map I created can be found at http://www.gliffy.com/pubdoc/1307185/L.jpg. This is an outcome that I feel I have the most skill in and was most beneficial.
Course Outcome 3. In my writing projects 1, 2, and 3 I feel that I used consistent tone, voice, and diction, but I had some trouble with grammar and mechanics. So part of this outcome was easy for me and I had trouble with part of it. The most useful technique that I learned to improve my grammar and mechanics was done in deadline 8 homework 5. In this assignment I used the activities found in the OWL at Purdue website. I learned how to use correct grammar and mechanics. At this website I also learned more about word choice, which can be seen in deadline 13 homework 1.
Course Outcome 4. Online and print sources are two resources that I read about in deadlines 3 and 4 homework assignment 1. I learned how to search books, articles, and other paper sources in high school, but became familiar with searching online in this class. I was used to just using basic web search engines such as Google or Yahoo, but now I know there are more options available for searching online sources. I used several online resources that can be found in my annotated bibliography available to view under deadline 9 homework 2.
Course Outcome 5. Avoiding plagiarism completely can be a hard thing to do. I have never and will never copy a document word for word from another document and knowingly not give the author proper credit for it. I'm a photographer and it would be devastating to see someone else who stole or copied my work and replaced my name with theirs. I would never intentionally plagiarise. But while researching I read and saw a lot of material and while writing my papers I summarized basically everything I read into different paragraphs. I didn't keep very good notes of "who said what" and it was difficult and time consuming to go back and find where that direct source was. There was some good information that I had to leave out for that reason. This was not one of my strongest course outcomes because of my lack of organizing my sources and notes. I know now how to improve this issue in my future writings.
Course Outcome 6. Correct documentation played a big roll in all of the writing projects. The documentation style that was required in this class was MLA (Modern Language Association). This should have been an easy course outcome, but for me it was not. My biggest issue was documenting sources that did not have all of the information required for a citation, or at least that I could recognize. I haven't read anything that tells you what to do if this happens, so I was kind of lost when it came to that. This was one of my weakest course outcomes that could use a lot of improvement. I will solve this issue for future writings by searching it out more, and asking whoever I can about it. My source citation documentation can be seen in my blog under deadline 9 homework 2.
Course Outcome 7. Peer reviewing was a very important process to revising my rough drafts for all of the writing projects. Input that I gained from my classmates was very helpful to finding my mistakes and correcting them. I also found it beneficial to peer review my classmates writing projects. In doing so I saw things that they did in their projects that I wanted to adapt into my projects to improve them, such as their style or mechanics. I feel that this was one of my strongest course outcomes. I was able to provide useful information and critiques to my peers, as well as gain from their corrections made to my documents. One of my peer review reflections can be seen under deadline 12 homework 8.
Course Outcome 8. Accessing my own writing is difficult. If I make a mistake in writing, unless it is obvious, I am likely to skip over it and not notice it. That's why it is beneficial for me to have conferences, reviews, and evaluations. I enjoy reading other's opinions about my writing projects, and using their suggestions to make improvements.
Course Outcome 9. In the beginning of this class it was hard for me to use online resources to create, format and edit my writing projects. Not because I'm not technology savvy, but because my internet browser did not support several of the options available in Google documents. I solved this problem by downloading a different web browser that I use only for this class. I work with computers on a daily basis and using one for all of my homework assignments and writing projects was not a problem This is my biggest strength out of all the course outcomes. The only problem I do have is linking websites. Although I have the new web browser, the linking option is not always available or working properly.
WP#4 Course Portfolio
Eng102-7891 Adams
Dec. 6 2007
Research Proposal
Poverty defined in the Webster’s dictionary is “the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.” Whether you realize it or not, you see somebody who is suffering from poverty on a daily basis. You may see these people holding a cardboard sign on the street corner, handing you coffee at your morning fast food joint, sitting on the curb outside Taco Bell as you eat your lunch, or even driving the car in the lane next to you. According to the research and educational institute, the Heritage Foundation, one in eight people in the United States suffer from poverty on some level. Some of these people are living on the streets with no shelter, while others live in low-income housing.
For the duration of this project I will study the question: Although the government of the United States of America provides welfare for their citizens suffering from poverty, what more can be done to aid those in need? There are some people living in poverty who do not want to change their lifestyle, but there are millions of others living in poverty who want to change but do not have the resources necessary. These are the people who need help. Because the American government is unable to aid everybody who is suffering from poverty, the ultimate power of helping the issue of poverty lies in the hands of average Americans.
My intended audience will be average Americans. These are people who have seen poverty regularly, but other than offering loose change to a guy on the street, do not go out of their way to help the problem. This audience most likely does not know facts or statistics about this issue, but they know that it does exist. They are likely to have mixed feelings about the issues on poverty. Some feel sad when they see a family struggling with poverty and some do not. Many of these people do not know the extreme conditions in which people are living, and many do not care.
My purpose in choosing this audience is so that some of them will understand the issue more and feel inclined to do something about it. There are several organizations that are in desperate need of people to volunteer their time. Many of these organizations also accept monetary donations, as well as second-hand items that would be used for people suffering form poverty. Although some people would rather not know, every person needs to be educated about what is going on outside of their own lives and the issue of poverty that currently exists. Every person is capable of aiding in poverty; there is no question there. The question is if you are willing to spend the time to aid those who need it. Soup kitchens and homeless shelters, not currently flooded with volunteers.
I feel strongly about this issue because it has personally affected my life. From a very young age my mother took me to an old church building that was renovated and renamed Homecraft. At this place my mother and I, along with other volunteers, made quilts from donated fabric, cleaned and clothed used dolls, and put together hygiene kits for people who could not afford these things. I was shown how important it was to give all that you could to people in poverty, even if all you had to give was time. I also had a coworker who could not afford to live in an apartment, and was forced to live in her van. She wasn’t on drugs, didn’t have an alcohol problem, she was just your average person who was unable to earn enough money on her own to pay for the necessities of life. Because she did not have an address, she was unable to receive aid from the government. Many changes need to occur within the American government, as well as in most people, to help aid those in poverty.
Over the next couple months I will research, interview, observe, and obtain as much knowledge as I can about poverty in America. I will also study several resources such as books, websites, testimonies, and journals. This will allow me to write my paper with confidence, and allow my audience to read first-hand evidence.
Annotated Bibliography
The topic I have chosen to write about is poverty in The United States of America. In the U.S. today, the government provides little aid to people suffering in poverty. These unfortunate people receive even less aid from their fellow American citizens. In this society, few people are regularly active in aiding the needy. These few people who are in favor of helping may be working in shelter homes, volunteering at various charitable organizations, making items such as quilts in their own homes, and performing other similar services. There are also people in the middle who may volunteer once in a while, or not at all, but do not shun those in who need help. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who do not care. These people may feel that everybody gets what they deserve, and do not want to aid those in poverty.
Berliner, BethAnn. "Educating Homeless Students." 2002. Education Resources Information Center. Mesa, AZ. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://www.eric.ed.gov >
This book is about how homeless children should be educated and taught just as much as children not living in poverty and should be treated the exact same. It suggests that education facilities work with shelter homes, where the children may be living, to make sure they are attending school regularly. This book also suggest that schools help children buy supplies that they need that they cannot afford. This book is directed at solving the problems of poverty, and not just focusing on what the problems are. This is one way that poverty can be aided, at little expense to the school or parents. I will cover this topic and topics closely related in my research paper. This is a very strong resource.
Clemmitt, Marcia. "Evaluating Head Start." CQ Researcher 15.29 (2005): 685-708. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 11 Oct. 2007
This book is about the preschool program Head Start that directed for poor children. It has recently been a topic considered by the government. Right now they are deciding how to improve this program and if they want to put it in the hands of state officials instead of the federal government. Although Head Start proves to be working well for these children, they are now requiring that 50% of all the teacher have at least a Bachelors degree by 2011. This is one thing that the government is doing right. They are helping children to see they can have a good future, and not destined to live in poverty as they are now.
Cooper, Mary H. "The Working Poor." CQ Researcher 5.41 (1995): 969-992. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 19 Sept. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1995110300 >.
The author who wrote this book is extremely passionate about this issue. She gives great detail about the issue, and has interviewed several people about this topic. The author explains in detail what people on welfare can get, and if they are receiving enough aid to support themselves and their family. She feels strongly that people in poverty are not receiving enough aid. This book gives facts as well as emotional appeal, and using these two strategies allowed me to see clear answers to my research question.
Coral Ridge Ministries. "Issues Tearing Our Nation's Fabric." 13 July 2002. Leadership University. Mesa, Arizona. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage is the only resource I was able find that was opposing the government's aid to poverty. This is about how the welfare system is completely useless and not effective. This author believes that more emotional damage is caused by the welfare program than the damage from living in poverty. Suprisingly this webpage is made by a church organization. It then gives several quotes from the Bible on how people who are idle and do not work will suffer, and basically that they deserve it. This is true, but not everybody suffering from poverty chooses to be there. This author proposes to make all welfare programs faith-based where people can receive "life-saving spiritual and moral counceling."
"Hard at Work But Can't Buy Food." _CNN Money_. 2004. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/16/news/economy/poverty_corporate/index.htm >
This article from CNN is all about people who have steady jobs but are still forced to live life in poverty. It talks about how people who are living in poverty usually have a lot of worries, such as where they will get money for their next meal, and thus do not perform work duties as well as they could. This website also gives several facts about poverty, such as 6.2% of all Americans who work live below the poverty standards. In my research paper I will focus on this specific issue. This article does not help solve my research question, but it helps describe the issue in greater detail.
Hayes, Bill. "Bill of Rights in Action." 1998. Constitutional Rights Foundation. Mesa, AZ. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage describes the history of welfare in the United States. It discusses the first welfare program that was established in the United States and people's reactions. It describes all of the welfare programs that were ever established in America and who they catered to. It also shows the differences in welfare from when to federal government was in control and how it is with the states in control. This webpage also discusses topics that the government was debating about at the time it was written. Such as, Should there be lifetime limits of five years or less on the welfare benefits families may receive?
Holosko, Michael, and Marvin Feit. "Living in Poverty in America Today." Journal of Health & Social Policy. 21.1 (2005): 119-131.
This book is about poverty in America today. It discusses health issues several people living in poverty are subject to. One common health issue is hunger. Several people living in poverty cannot afford to eat enough to sustain their own body. Another health concern many people in poverty are facing is lack of nutrition. If they are lucky enough to afford food, it is not usually a healthy, well-rounded meal. This book also discusses emotional effects caused by poverty. These are all issues that I would like to cover in my research paper.
Koch, Kathy. "Hunger in America." CQ Researcher 10.44 (2000): 1033-1056. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2000122200 >.
This book is specifically about hunger issues in America. This book gives numbers and statistics about poverty, and also talks about how many people are declined for food stamps. The author talks about how the governments eligibility requirements are too tight for people to get help. This book is directly about the topic I am focusing on. This is something that I will concentrate on in my project since eating is required for everybody to live and everyone can relate to it. This source is very strong compared to the other one's that I have chosen.
"Poverty in America, One Nation, Pulling Apart." Penn State University. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://www.povertyinamerica.psu.edu/ >
This website is dedicated to informing about poverty in America. It describes how America is pulling itself apart and several communities are below the standard of the economic average. This website discusses the people who are most at risk for ending up in poverty and how most people are living in poverty at no fault of their own. This website also goes into how children are physiologically effected and that they feel they will live in the same conditions as their parents when they are adults themselves. This website targets several areas that I will focus on in my research paper. Some of these areas include the types of people who are most likely to live in poverty, and the effects poverty has on children.
Worsnop, Richard L. "Helping the Homeless." CQ Researcher 6.4 (1996): 73-96. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996012600 >.
This book is about the government problems, what they are doing wrong, and how they can make changes and start helping the homeless in better ways. It talks about how there are not very many improvements being made to help poverty. It also talks about how some cities are changing their boundaries to exclude the homeless, and cutting them off from their benefits. It also describes how people do not accept group homes and homeless shelters well. This book covers American's reactions to the homeless. This source targets the government and American people. Among other things, I will use these two targets in my research paper, however, I will focus less on the government and more on Americans reactions and actions to people in poverty. This source is strong in certain areas, such as American's reactions.
Although poverty is a ongoing issue in America, I have read about a few ways that the government has stepped in to aid. Aside from the welfare program, they provides special preschools for children living under the economic standards and are currently working on improving these programs to allow children in poverty to gain higher levels of achievement. While studying these programs I have gained a higher respect for the government and their willingness to aid the children. However, it is still not enough. While children are receiving more aid, adults are receiving much less. Government aid needs to be available to people of all ages who need it under all circumstances. Different aid would need to apply to those who have lost their jobs unexpectedly than to those who are drug abusers. It has, however, been difficult to find books or articles that are against aiding poverty. Instead of using viewpoints that are anti-aiding, I will discuss how not aiding people in poverty is beneficial. These resources will be obtained by interviewing.
Poverty in America
There is a family living ten houses down from you . Do you know them? Last night they had to decide if they should buy groceries or put gas in their car. In fact, one out of every ten families in the United States struggle with this same problem (Triplett). On your way to work this morning you passed a man sitting on the street corner. Did you notice him? There was a 70% chance he was severely mentally handicapped, a United States veteran, or had children hiding in the shade behind the bushes (Triplett). While walking through the parking lot, finding your way into the store, you passed a parked car. That was somebody's home. The woman inside had no family or friends, no address to put on her welfare application. This woman was denied government aid because of it. Although the government of the United States of America provides welfare for their citizens suffering from poverty, it is not enough. To lower the number of people living in poverty, there must be changes made within the government. There must be more easily attainable aid for people who need and deserve it. Instead of increasing the restrictions to receive aid, the restrictions should be lowered and monitored more carefully.
Since 1935 the government has been trying to aid people suffering from poverty. They have tried several methods and passed several laws to help solve this issue. Some of the first attempts to give aid included poorhouses and orphanages. During this period of time, people would not accept the government's help unless they were extremely desperate. Those who were allowed the government's help were often shunned and rejected by their friends and neighbors. A few years after the poorhouses opened, the "mother's pension" took effect which gave money to single mothers to allow them to stay at home and raise their children. This did not include mothers who were divorced or minorities. In 1935 the Social Security Act was established and the welfare of the people was put into the hands of the federal government. These new laws established old-age pensions and unemployment insurance but did not include farm workers or servants. Since then, the divorce rate skyrocketed and single mothers with children were able to receive government aid. In 1996 welfare control was mostly given back to the states, and no longer a federal responsibility (Hayes).
Poverty is something that can happen to anyone. Nobody expects or wants to live life in poverty, and yet it effects over 2 million Americans per year (Triplett). Poverty is an ongoing issue in America. Evidence shows that 10% of families living in this nation struggle with poverty (Triplett). Chances are that you have a friend, coworker, or relative living in poverty. These people may not appear to be struggling, but behind closed doors they suffer. For families who have a working parent, regardless of their actual income, it is very difficult for them to qualify for government aid. These families are below the average income of $52, 704, but above the poverty average of $18, 400. If these families are lucky enough to qualify for a government food assistance program, such as food stamps, the average amount of redeemable food stamps is $2.34 per day, per person (Net Industries). It is extremely difficult to eat three healthy, well-balanced meals for $7.02 a day.
The majority of people suffering from poverty are people who deserve government aid the most. 40% of people living in poverty are families, 30% are substance abusers, 23% are severely mentally ill, and 10% are veterans. 17% of those in poverty are employed (Triplett). A single mother heads most families living in poverty. Studies show that singles mothers are most likely to live in poverty for long periods of time (Triplett). Substance abuse is a huge issue in America, especially among teenagers. The teens that are addicted to drugs or alcohol are the ones you will most likely see living in the streets as adults. Severely mentally ill people usually have no control over their financial situation. These people are often overlooked as people in need of aid. Not every mentally ill person has somebody to look after them. If they have no one who cares enough about them, they are forced to live a confused life on the streets. Veterans deserve so much more than what they are given by the government. Each one deserves to be respected and admired, not viewed as just another homeless person.
One major downfall of the government's welfare program is its capability to cause dependency. "75 percent of all welfare recipients remain on the program five years or longer" (Coral Ridge Ministries). Some critics believe if all government aid is cut off from the people, it will force those in poverty to become more self-reliant. Government aid should not be a permanent crutch for people to lean on, but a short-term support system for people in poverty. Welfare and food stamps are meant for people to use in emergency situations, and to help them get back on their feet. Yet many people on welfare are abusing their benefits. "A study by the Congressional Budget Office showed that long periods of welfare dependency can actually reduce a child’s IQ by as much as 20 percent." (Coral Ridge Ministries). Children living in poverty, and who rely on government welfare, often feel that they will live in the same condition when they are adults and do not strive to become better. If there were no welfare programs for people living in poverty, some believe there would be less people allowing themselves to suffer in poverty and relying on the government's aid. This is why the government must improve the welfare program. They must create a program that is for people who really need assistance, and only for a short period of time in most circumstances.
After nearly 100 years of attempting to aid the poor, the government has yet to succeed. The number of people receiving welfare has gone down over the years, but the restrictions to receive aid have gone up. Major changes must be made in the way that the government handles poverty. There are two groups of people who have the ultimate power to change the life of those suffering. The United States government and American voters. The government can construct laws, and voters have the ability to pass or petition them. Americans also have the ability to aid on a more personal level.
In the current welfare program, people can apply for welfare or food stamps and if they meet the right qualifications, they receive their stamps and/or money once a month. Instead of giving away money or food redeemable coupons, the government can provide short-term jobs. This will force people to earn their money and in turn they will value it more. Special occupations can be set-aside for people in poverty such as working in public libraries, post offices, picking up trash on the streets, roadway construction, and other various government jobs. By doing this, the government will be receiving a service for the money that they are now giving out. Employers can also volunteer simple employment positions and allow the government to fill those positions with people struggling with poverty. This will allow families to live better lives. One issue that could arise from this is that many people in poverty do not own vehicles or have transportation to get to and from work. To solve this issue the government could provide a short-term bus pass that is usable until they receive their first paycheck.
Changes also need to be made to accommodate the homeless. Right now the government requires that you provide an address on the welfare application. If a homeless person does not have a family member's or a friend’s address that they can provide, they are not eligible to receive government aid. This ensures that the homeless will stay homeless and does not help them in any way. Instead of receiving their money or food stamps by mail, they can be held at the post office for the person to pick up, or at a local government office.
The government needs to require schools to educate students on the widespread issue of poverty. This will help children to understand the negative effects of poverty. They can also be taught how to receive long-lasting jobs so they will lower their chances of falling into poverty. This will also teach children how to get out of poverty if they are ever involved in it. By doing this, it will lower the number of people living in poverty in the future by the thousands.
In Arizona there is a large facility organized by a church called Randolph. It is similar to an assisted living facility for the elderly, but it is specifically for the severely mentally disabled. There are several small cabin-like homes where four to five mentally ill people occupy each one. There are trained assistants assigned to each of these homes. Several church groups and other organizations come and visit these people and volunteer during meals and activities. This facility is being forced to close due to lack of funding. The government is able to help fund this program and help keep it open, essentially keeping more mentally disabled people out of poverty, but they do not. It would also be beneficial if the government would open more facilities like this one to aid the mentally disabled.
We, as Americans, are given the ability to vote. Several citizens, however, do not take advantage of this right. Unlike many countries, Americans have the power to pass or petition laws. By carefully choosing the laws that are passed, Americans can make the difference in the lives of others, in their own lives, and the lives of those in poverty. When people do not vote, they are placing their future in the hands of those that do vote, who may have a different opinion.
Another way that Americans can get involved in helping aid people in poverty is by volunteering. There is a charity center in Mesa, Arizona called the Humanitarian Organization. Everybody who works there does so without being paid, and anybody is welcome to volunteer. They iron fabric, cut it into squares, design, and then sew quilts for adults and children who cannot afford them. Nobody working there is a professional quilt maker, but if a person is freezing, they don't care what the quilt looks like, as long as it keeps them warm and alive. They recently started producing hand-knit hats for babies. Since they started delivering them, the babies were able to keep a normal body temperature, and their death rate has decreased (Markland A4). There are also canneries that produce and can food for the homeless, as well as food banks and other charitable organizations that are always in need of volunteers. If a person does not have time to help by volunteering, monetary donations are accepted at all of these places.
Poverty is an issue that may never be completely solved. There are major changes that need to be made by the government, and by people living in poverty for it to be fixed. Improvements need to be made to the welfare program, and new helpful programs need to be established. Although the United States government has made changes and reforms to welfare, they have not been very effective. There are always people who need government aid who get left out. To solve this problem it takes the government to create the laws, and the American people to put them into effect.
Bibliography
Clemmitt, Marcia. "Evaluating Head Start." CQ Researcher 15.29 (2005): 685-708. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 11 Oct. 2007
This book is about the preschool program Head Start that directed for poor children. It has recently been a topic considered by the government. Right now they are deciding how to improve this program and if they want to put it in the hands of state officials instead of the federal government. Although Head Start proves to be working well for these children, they are now requiring that 50% of all the teacher have at least a Bachelors degree by 2011. This is one thing that the government is doing right. They are helping children to see they can have a good future, and not destined to live in poverty as they are now.
Cooper, Mary H. "The Working Poor." CQ Researcher 5.41 (1995): 969-992. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 19 Sept. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1995110300 >.
The author who wrote this book is extremely passionate about this issue. She gives great detail about the issue, and has interviewed several people about this topic. The author explains in detail what people on welfare can get, and if they are receiving enough aid to support themselves and their family. She feels strongly that people in poverty are not receiving enough aid. This book gives facts as well as emotional appeal, and using these two strategies allowed me to see clear answers to my research question.
Coral Ridge Ministries. "Issues Tearing Our Nation's Fabric." 13 July 2002. Leadership University. Mesa, Arizona. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage is the only resource I was able find that was opposing the government's aid to poverty. This is about how the welfare system is completely useless and not effective. This author believes that more emotional damage is caused by the welfare program than the damage from living in poverty. Suprisingly this webpage is made by a church organization. It then gives several quotes from the Bible on how people who are idle and do not work will suffer, and basically that they deserve it. This is true, but not everybody suffering from poverty chooses to be there. This author proposes to make all welfare programs faith-based where people can receive "life-saving spiritual and moral counceling."
Hayes, Bill. "Bill of Rights in Action." 1998. Constitutional Rights Foundation. Mesa, AZ. 14 Nov. 2007.
This webpage describes the history of welfare in the United States. It discusses the first welfare program that was established in the United States and people's reactions. It describes all of the welfare programs that were ever established in America and who they catered to. It also shows the differences in welfare from when to federal government was in control and how it is with the states in control. This webpage also discusses topics that the government was debating about at the time it was written. Such as, Should there be lifetime limits of five years or less on the welfare benefits families may receive?
Holosko, Michael, and Marvin Feit. "Living in Poverty in America Today." Journal of Health & Social Policy. 21.1 (2005): 119-131.
This book is about poverty in America today. It discusses health issues several people living in poverty are subject to. One common health issue is hunger. Several people living in poverty cannot afford to eat enough to sustain their own body. Another health concern many people in poverty are facing is lack of nutrition. If they are lucky enough to afford food, it is not usually a healthy, well-rounded meal. This book also discusses emotional effects caused by poverty. These are all issues that I would like to cover in my research paper.
Koch, Kathy. "Hunger in America." CQ Researcher 10.44 (2000): 1033-1056. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2000122200 >.
This book is specifically about hunger issues in America. This book gives numbers and statistics about poverty, and also talks about how many people are declined for food stamps. The author talks about how the governments eligibility requirements are too tight for people to get help. This book is directly about the topic I am focusing on in my paper. This is something that I will concentrate on in my project since eating is required for everybody to live and everyone can relate to it. This source is very strong compared to the other one's that I have chosen.
Markland, Cecily. "Mesa Humanitarian Center, Service Felt Around the World." The Beehive 9 July 2007: A4+.
This article is about the Mesa Humanitarian Center in Mesa Arizona. It describes everything that this organization does for this country, and countries around the world. For example they donate thousands of quilts, hiegyn kits, toys, and other various needs to people around the world. They are 100% ran by people who volunteer their time and money, and everything they distribute is donated. This center is just one of many in the United States that is dedicated to serving those in need.
Net Industries. 2007. 20 Nov. 2007.
This is an informational website about poverty in the United States. It discusses the background of poverty and the differences between the first stages of poverty and how it is now. It also has a chart with all the medium incomes of families. This website also discusses tax relief for the poor, the accuracy of the poverty level, hunger in America, and the growing demand for emergency food assistance. This website gives several statistics in various areas of poverty.
"Poverty in America, One Nation, Pulling Apart." Pennsylvania State University. 11 Oct. 2007. < http://www.povertyinamerica.psu.edu/ >
This website is dedicated to informing about poverty in America. It describes how America is pulling itself apart and several communities are below the standard of the economic average. This website discusses the people who are most at risk for ending up in poverty and how most people are living in poverty at no fault of their own. This website also goes into how children are physiologically effected and that they feel they will live in the same conditions as their parents when they are adults themselves. This website targets several areas that I will focus on in my research paper. Some of these areas include the types of people who are most likely to live in poverty, and the effects poverty has on children.
Triplett, William. "Ending Homelessness." CQ Researcher 14.23 (2004): 541-564. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 30 Oct. 2007
This book gives several statistics on poverty. The author breaks down the people who are living in poverty, and the government aid that they each are able to receive. The percentages of people living in poverty are as follows: 40% of people living in poverty are families, 30% are substance abusers, 23% are severely mentally ill, and 10% are veterans. This website also gives statistics on the number of people living in poverty, and what race they are. I used this book as a resource several times while writing my paper.
Worsnop, Richard L. "Helping the Homeless." CQ Researcher 6.4 (1996): 73-96. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Paul A. Elsner Library, Mesa, AZ. 4 Oct. 2007 < http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996012600 >.
This book is about the government problems, what they are doing wrong, and how they can make changes and start helping the homeless in better ways. It talks about how there are not very many improvements being made to help poverty. It also talks about how some cities are changing their boundaries to exclude the homeless, and cutting them off from their benefits. It also describes how people do not accept group homes and homeless shelters well. This book covers American's reactions to the homeless. This source targets the government and American people. Among other things, I will use these two targets in my research paper, however, I will focus less on the government and more on Americans reactions and actions to people in poverty. This source is strong in certain areas, such as American's reactions.
Reflective Cover Letter
During the course of this class, I have learned several techniques that have helped me to become a better writer. I also learned new strategies and styles for writing, as well as using techniques that I learned in high school. The things that I have learned will be extremely useful in projects to come. The course outcomes that I’ve improved at the most and feel the most comfortable with are organizing, using consistent tone and voice, and assessing my own writing. One area that I still need to improve is using correct documentation formatting. All of the deadlines and homework assignments that are referred to can be found on my class blog web page at www.harding302.blogspot.com.
Course Outcome 1. The rhetorical context for my writing projects were best identified in deadline 3. In the assignments involved with this deadline, I was able to narrow my broad topic to focus on a more specific topic, context, purpose, and audience. Then the topic eventually led to my research question. This progress can be seen under my blog for deadline 3 homework 6. The rhetorical context for the final research paper, as well as the research proposal was extremely important to the overall voice and feel of all the projects. By reading my final copy of writing project 3, I feel that this course outcome was achieved.
Course Outcome 2. The homework assignments that taught me about organizing my writing were extremely helpful to writing project 1 and 3. I now realize the importance of organizing my thoughts and ideas before I start writing a rough draft. One method that we learned in class was the Toulmin outlining method. This outline can be found in deadline 9 homework 4. Although this strategy was helpful, I benefited more from utilizing a cluster map. The cluster map I created can be found at http://www.gliffy.com/pubdoc/1307185/L.jpg. This is an outcome that I feel I have the most skill in and was most beneficial.
Course Outcome 3. In my writing projects 1, 2, and 3 I feel that I used consistent tone, voice, and diction, but I had some trouble with grammar and mechanics. So part of this outcome was easy for me and I had trouble with part of it. The most useful technique that I learned to improve my grammar and mechanics was done in deadline 8 homework 5. In this assignment I used the activities found in the OWL at Purdue website. I learned how to use correct grammar and mechanics. At this website I also learned more about word choice, which can be seen in deadline 13 homework 1.
Course Outcome 4. Online and print sources are two resources that I read about in deadlines 3 and 4 homework assignment 1. I learned how to search books, articles, and other paper sources in high school, but became familiar with searching online in this class. I was used to just using basic web search engines such as Google or Yahoo, but now I know there are more options available for searching online sources. I used several online resources that can be found in my annotated bibliography available to view under deadline 9 homework 2.
Course Outcome 5. Avoiding plagiarism completely can be a hard thing to do. I have never and will never copy a document word for word from another document and knowingly not give the author proper credit for it. I'm a photographer and it would be devastating to see someone else who stole or copied my work and replaced my name with theirs. I would never intentionally plagiarise. But while researching I read and saw a lot of material and while writing my papers I summarized basically everything I read into different paragraphs. I didn't keep very good notes of "who said what" and it was difficult and time consuming to go back and find where that direct source was. There was some good information that I had to leave out for that reason. This was not one of my strongest course outcomes because of my lack of organizing my sources and notes. I know now how to improve this issue in my future writings.
Course Outcome 6. Correct documentation played a big roll in all of the writing projects. The documentation style that was required in this class was MLA (Modern Language Association). This should have been an easy course outcome, but for me it was not. My biggest issue was documenting sources that did not have all of the information required for a citation, or at least that I could recognize. I haven't read anything that tells you what to do if this happens, so I was kind of lost when it came to that. This was one of my weakest course outcomes that could use a lot of improvement. I will solve this issue for future writings by searching it out more, and asking whoever I can about it. My source citation documentation can be seen in my blog under deadline 9 homework 2.
Course Outcome 7. Peer reviewing was a very important process to revising my rough drafts for all of the writing projects. Input that I gained from my classmates was very helpful to finding my mistakes and correcting them. I also found it beneficial to peer review my classmates writing projects. In doing so I saw things that they did in their projects that I wanted to adapt into my projects to improve them, such as their style or mechanics. I feel that this was one of my strongest course outcomes. I was able to provide useful information and critiques to my peers, as well as gain from their corrections made to my documents. One of my peer review reflections can be seen under deadline 12 homework 8.
Course Outcome 8. Accessing my own writing is difficult. If I make a mistake in writing, unless it is obvious, I am likely to skip over it and not notice it. That's why it is beneficial for me to have conferences, reviews, and evaluations. I enjoy reading other's opinions about my writing projects, and using their suggestions to make improvements.
Course Outcome 9. In the beginning of this class it was hard for me to use online resources to create, format and edit my writing projects. Not because I'm not technology savvy, but because my internet browser did not support several of the options available in Google documents. I solved this problem by downloading a different web browser that I use only for this class. I work with computers on a daily basis and using one for all of my homework assignments and writing projects was not a problem This is my biggest strength out of all the course outcomes. The only problem I do have is linking websites. Although I have the new web browser, the linking option is not always available or working properly.
Monday, December 3, 2007
D#15, HW#2, Peer Review Reflection
I peer reviewed Brennan and Jared. So far, Paulette has peer reviewed my paper. Peer reviewing was a pretty easy assignment cause WP#4 was short. From peer reviewing I learned that there are different ways to format the cover letter, and you don't strictly have to list out all of the outcomes and explain them (I hope). When I first read the assignment I wasn't exactly sure what to do, but I looked at a few of the cover letters that were done, and this gave me a better idea as to what I needed to do.
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