This week, when considering online arguments, I decided to choose some found in the comment section of an NBC News Instagram post regarding the Kyle Rittenhouse Trial . More specifically, the announcement of his cleared charges. I wanted to evaluate these comments because they revolve around a very current, sensitive, and controversial topic in today's news. I knew there would be a lot of political quarrel, which often turns offensive and heated from both sides. And there was. Upon reading these comments I found multiple concerns and negative outcomes. For starters, there was hardly any civility in the comment section of this post. It was a typical conservative versus liberal debate, but without any mediation. One of the main problems I saw were people bashing others based on disagreeing values. While I am all for owning your opinion, I do believe that insulting or using deprecating language towards someone of a different opinion is very concerning. I saw a lot of bold assum...
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The Toulmin Method According to page 318 of our class textbook Communicating Online, the Toulmin Method is a form of argumentation that divides an argument into six basic elements: claims, reasons, evidence, warrants, qualifiers, and rebuttals. (our book did not include grounds or backing, but coincide with reasons) The Toulmin Method Online The Toulmin Method is found in more places that you would think. Any educated argument has some, if not all, elements of the Toulmin Method. An online example I found is an article called Yes, You Should Wear a Mask. Here’s How and Why . The title of the article is pretty self explanatory, but it is an argumentative and persuasive article about why people should wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic. It includes all six elements of the Toulmin Method as shown below: Claim : You should wear a mask during the pandemic. Reason : Properly wearing a mask or cloth face covering can help keep you safe while navigating the COVI...
For my podcast I chose one titled Podcast 11: About Communicating in an Online Corona World by the group LittleBig & Partners English Backstage Sessions. Within the 48 minutes of discussion, the hosts mostly talked about the appropriate way to communicate in online meetings such as Zoom. However, they brought up some interesting and familiar topics regarding nonverbal cues and the importance of expression within online communication. In the podcast, the hosts highlighted the struggle of communicating online as instructors and professors. Due to students often muting their microphones and turning off their cameras on Zoom, they lose important nonverbal cues, such as facial expression, that typically gage the level of understanding amongst their students. According to our class textbook, Communicating Online, this would define the online learning platforms as a channel-lean context, meaning this form of communicating can lead to more misunderstandings (Communicating Online...
Social Media and Social Justice I don't believe that is bold to say that the 2020 civil rights movement wouldn't have been as big as it was without social media. The new wave of protests were kickstarted through the spread of the video displaying the death of George Floyd. Without social media, the video would not have reached such a broad audience of people. Social media allowed for intense conversations and an outlet for people to express the injustices they experience and well as those that have happened to other people. People who never had a voice suddenly had one through social media. It helped users find a community to which they belong. Social media events like Blackout Tuesday , a day where users posted black squares to show their support of the Black Lives Matter movement, spread across the internet. Hashtags were also useful for users to learn more about news surrounding the movement and protests. Despite how wonderful social media can be for some, it can also be ver...