1) I don't believe I share enough with this culture yet to make a decision on a topic as sensitive and important as this one. Because I have a little education on the culture I do know more than some other people about this subject but I personally do not fully understand this culture yet. My hope is to someday be able to understand more. To say that I know enough about this culture to make an informed decision to this extreme would be to disrespect the culture all together.
2) I grew up in a hearing world and have only recently been introduced to the signing world. I would say that my culture is very different from theirs. I believe culture extends beyond societal norms. Of course, both cultures follow the laws of society, extend the same manners and decent behavior as any person would, but on a deeper level we are completely different. Their experiences are entirely different in that I cannot imagine a world without sound. Every time I reflect on a memory or an experience of my own there is sound.
3) The reason I find this culture to be so fascinating is because of how different it is to my own. I would like to become bilingual in ASL in the hopes of discovering this culture and possibly making it part of my own. I integrate sign language into my classroom every day by using sign to help my students "find their words". If a child with a speech or language delay or disorder can't express themselves when they need to it builds up in the form of anger and frustration within them and eventually they get upset and could upset the classroom. By teaching some simple signs that are used in passing (ie: when reading a book or talking to the class, I casually use signs repeatedly so they learn in passing, indirect ways) a student will usually start using the sign too. When a child is stuck on a sentence or a word, they can use the sign to express themselves through tears, through a stutter, and more. This is where my culture, or the culture I have created in my classroom, may be similar to the Deaf culture.
4) This text is written in our time, so this question is irrelevant.
EDIT: Analyzing others' assumptions
I analyzed Jake's and found his topic to be really interesting! I think looking at subcultures within the general culture is something both him and I must look at as we continue with our research. My topic on education relates strongly with economic standing of these families, because of resources and financial reasons many families don't get to pick which education their little ones get. This is something for me to keep in mind!
I analyzed Jess' blog next. I found her topic also very interesting. I think the biggest issue my generation has is that we don't usually look at subcultures within our "American" culture even though we all have them. I think this is a common custom of ours that we need to break but will take time to fully get in the habit of being aware of.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Analyzing My Audience
1) What values, ideas, norms, beliefs, even laws of the culture play an important role in the text?
2) Does the text address these values, beliefs, etc directly or indirectly?
3) What is the relationship of the text to these values, beliefs, etc? Is it critical of these aspects of the culture? Is it supportive? Does it seek to modify these aspects of the culture in a certain way?
- I think the new ways of the deaf and hard of hearing culture is that they get to decide if they completely mix their culture with that of the hearing, or not. The beauty of this culture is that it depends on the individual, the family, everything, to decide if it is best for them to be in the hearing world or to stay in the deaf community and the deaf world. By choosing to go to an all deaf school, only signing, and not integrating their lives in that of the hearing they are choosing to be exclusive. If they choose to be part of both the hearing and non-hearing worlds then that is also a choice and can be chosen only by those individuals. This culture can be so broad and so narrow all at the same time. It is beautiful in that way.
2) Does the text address these values, beliefs, etc directly or indirectly?
- The article I chose gives light to all of the aspects of this culture. Whether they are inclusive or exclusive the author provides the pros and cons of each kind of system. In a way, he is not only discussing education, but the foundation of the morals of the parents providing the child with education. By choosing a residential school, they are putting their child in an exclusive environment focused on the deaf community and leaving the hearing world behind. By choosing a day school for their child they are choosing a life of mostly the deaf world with little to no interaction with the hearing. In a hearing school, there are many options, from just the classroom with out help, a little help, or full on help away from hearing students. This could potentially open the children up to an inclusive lifestyle. All these things are balanced precariously on one another and depending on the foundation of the family, the author may get varied responses from the audience.
3) What is the relationship of the text to these values, beliefs, etc? Is it critical of these aspects of the culture? Is it supportive? Does it seek to modify these aspects of the culture in a certain way?
- This text does not sway to one side of the spectrum or the other but rather stays medially, allowing the audience to make the decision for themselves. This is the best resource for parents who are in need of information because the author gives all the information he finds important about each kind of education, and allows for the audience to gauge it for themselves. The author does not seek to modify anyone's opinions or to support or negate anyone's values or ideas on proper education.
Cultural Analysis of "Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing" by John Miller
I think the strongest article I posted was "Education Options for Children that are Deaf or Hard of Hearing" by John Miller. I think this is the strongest because of the solid background that the author has with the field he wrote about. While this may not have been my first choice for this research project, I think starting on a solid foot is better than trying to catch up later.
Previewing the article:
Things have changed drastically for hard of hearing and individuals who are deaf. While it used to be that those with hard of hearing or deafness were thought to be developmentally slow or mentally retarded, individuals that fit this category were hidden away from public eye or else left in their own community of individuals like them, the more adoptions and resources there are today have made it obvious that it is not the case and that they shouldn't be treated this way. Some hearing couples adopt hard of hearing (HoH) children or children who are deaf and do not know the resources available to them. Some others have children born with ear defects, underdevelopment, or other cases that result in HoH or deafness. These parents now have resources that are growing in funding and credibility and are in need of finding the best way to care for their children.
This article is intended for those parents seeking resources and answers to how to raise their children the best. This article is straight forward and informative, and touches on the key aspects any parent would be concerned about. The author specifically states that this article is intended for those seeking advice on resources available to them and also states that these resources vary by area and the extent of the child's hearing. The author explores many options for education, starting with Pre-K and going up through all age groups. He also discusses pros and cons of each type of education he lists, keeping in mind that these children are HoH or deaf. He also provides other credited resources to these familial relations in the hopes that they will explore them. This whole article is designed to help a certain group of individuals establish their culture - of education, that is.
Skimming for cultural references:
This whole article is a cultural reference. This article lists out pros and cons for the HoH and Deaf Communities in education. Using language such as "tailored to your child's needs,", "[each child has] different levels of hearing loss,", and "with a teacher for the deaf," are all great vocabulary for someone or individuals in this culture.
Skim for cultural values:
I think the biggest cultural value in this article is that each child is different and not every one of them fits the same mold. Each child has different levels of hearing loss, have special needs or desires, has different levels of working with other children, and have different ideas of what they need for an education. This is a huge cultural value because being deaf in a hearing world is very hard. Deciding whether or not to have your HoH child in a school tailored specifically to just one culture or both is a tricky situation and needs to be handled with a great deal of care.
Reread and narrow the focus:
I think the most important parts of this article will be the pros and cons of each type of education. I think the definitions of each type of education style will also come in handy.
I also think that this article is a great resource because it's purpose is not to pick sides in this debate but rather to educate the entire population of this group and give all the information he can. By not taking sides in this discussion he opens up the door for parents to make the best decision for themselves and for their child.
Previewing the article:
Things have changed drastically for hard of hearing and individuals who are deaf. While it used to be that those with hard of hearing or deafness were thought to be developmentally slow or mentally retarded, individuals that fit this category were hidden away from public eye or else left in their own community of individuals like them, the more adoptions and resources there are today have made it obvious that it is not the case and that they shouldn't be treated this way. Some hearing couples adopt hard of hearing (HoH) children or children who are deaf and do not know the resources available to them. Some others have children born with ear defects, underdevelopment, or other cases that result in HoH or deafness. These parents now have resources that are growing in funding and credibility and are in need of finding the best way to care for their children.
This article is intended for those parents seeking resources and answers to how to raise their children the best. This article is straight forward and informative, and touches on the key aspects any parent would be concerned about. The author specifically states that this article is intended for those seeking advice on resources available to them and also states that these resources vary by area and the extent of the child's hearing. The author explores many options for education, starting with Pre-K and going up through all age groups. He also discusses pros and cons of each type of education he lists, keeping in mind that these children are HoH or deaf. He also provides other credited resources to these familial relations in the hopes that they will explore them. This whole article is designed to help a certain group of individuals establish their culture - of education, that is.
Skimming for cultural references:
This whole article is a cultural reference. This article lists out pros and cons for the HoH and Deaf Communities in education. Using language such as "tailored to your child's needs,", "[each child has] different levels of hearing loss,", and "with a teacher for the deaf," are all great vocabulary for someone or individuals in this culture.
Skim for cultural values:
I think the biggest cultural value in this article is that each child is different and not every one of them fits the same mold. Each child has different levels of hearing loss, have special needs or desires, has different levels of working with other children, and have different ideas of what they need for an education. This is a huge cultural value because being deaf in a hearing world is very hard. Deciding whether or not to have your HoH child in a school tailored specifically to just one culture or both is a tricky situation and needs to be handled with a great deal of care.
Reread and narrow the focus:
I think the most important parts of this article will be the pros and cons of each type of education. I think the definitions of each type of education style will also come in handy.
I also think that this article is a great resource because it's purpose is not to pick sides in this debate but rather to educate the entire population of this group and give all the information he can. By not taking sides in this discussion he opens up the door for parents to make the best decision for themselves and for their child.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Evaluation of Rhetorical Situations
Is American Sign Language a ‘foreign’ language?
Angie Leventis Lourgos is a writer for the Tribune. She has studied journalism in college and has been writing ever since. She has written a lot of breaking news articles for the Tribune. She seems to focus on familial issues like animals, heartbreaking stories, and the like.
I would say this article is intended for college students and those involved in the deaf community. The reason is that this article is about college credit being given for Foreign Language to those who take ASL. This mostly impacts college students and those who disagree with the "foreign" part of this delegation. Those would be those involved in the deaf community who understand that ASL is not "foreign".
Jane Collingwood is an author in Psychcentral, an online psychology news program. She has written a lot about pregnancy, mental illnesses, and emotional disorders. She has a degree and holds her profession in Psychotherapy and Therapeutic counselling.
This article is oriented towards professionals interested in learning the hard facts about baby sign, as well as well educated parents who may be considering baby sign for their child. The language in this article is very scientific which may confuse those who don't already understand the concept of baby sign or it's benefits.
The publication of this article is from January 2013. This article was delivered through the internet. Baby sign has become increasingly popular since the 90's and is becoming a very interesting topic because it is seen as a higher class thing to do. This article is intended for hearing parents with hearing children. There wouldn't be a question about sign language usage in a family with hearing impaired individuals as it would be their only method of communication.
This article was written by John Miller. Miller has been trained as an interpreter for ASL when he was 22 years old. He frequently demonstrates ASL videos on this website. He also has a masters in deaf education.
This article is intended for parents who are interested in learning about the options of their ASL child before they are old enough for school. This means that these parents may be a little confused as to how to handle their child as of yet due to the fact that they aren't used to the hearing impaired or ASL world yet. This is evident by the fact that the article starts by describing preschool options and the fact that the author states the intention of the article.
This article was published in 2012, which may be a little outdated but highly informative all the same. The author has a masters in deaf education so this article is what he studied for at least 2 years intently. This makes this article highly intelligible. This article is intended for a mixed family of hearing and non-hearing family members.
Developing a Research #2 question:
I have been taking American Sign Language (ASL) classes in the hopes of becoming bilingual. I would love to be able to teach young parents and families sign in order to help them connect with their infants on a more intimate level than those who choose not to learn ASL. This poses a debate in my field of study, Speech and Hearing, as well as to families and every young couple considering having a child.
Some believe, myself included, that teaching an infant sign will help with communication between the infant and the parents or family. An infant who doesn't have control of the fine muscles of the larynx and pharynx does have control over gross motor movements, like making a fist and waving an arm to signal it's wants and needs. Some others believe that before an infant can talk they do not have cognitive function and therefor cannot express what they want or need because they don't know. These individuals may also believe that if you do teach a child sign before they can speak they will not want to talk and will not use speech at all. This is untrue and teaching them sign may help develop social skills before most their age. I would love to discuss in my next research project the controversial ideas of whether or not teaching an infant sign language prevents them from developing speech or not.
Does teaching an infant American Sign Language before they are able to speak limit their speech abilities in the future?
I have also been curious about discussing if ASL is a language or not. Many believe that ASL is not a language because it does not involve speaking; even though it is a form of communication. I think this would also be a fun topic of discussion.
Is American Sign Language a true language?
Which brings up yet another question for families and young couples:
Is it best to have hearing impaired or ASL children go to a public, hearing school or a ASL, hearing-impaired or deaf school?
Some believe, myself included, that teaching an infant sign will help with communication between the infant and the parents or family. An infant who doesn't have control of the fine muscles of the larynx and pharynx does have control over gross motor movements, like making a fist and waving an arm to signal it's wants and needs. Some others believe that before an infant can talk they do not have cognitive function and therefor cannot express what they want or need because they don't know. These individuals may also believe that if you do teach a child sign before they can speak they will not want to talk and will not use speech at all. This is untrue and teaching them sign may help develop social skills before most their age. I would love to discuss in my next research project the controversial ideas of whether or not teaching an infant sign language prevents them from developing speech or not.
Does teaching an infant American Sign Language before they are able to speak limit their speech abilities in the future?
I have also been curious about discussing if ASL is a language or not. Many believe that ASL is not a language because it does not involve speaking; even though it is a form of communication. I think this would also be a fun topic of discussion.
Is American Sign Language a true language?
Which brings up yet another question for families and young couples:
Is it best to have hearing impaired or ASL children go to a public, hearing school or a ASL, hearing-impaired or deaf school?
Reflection on Project #1:
- What challenges did you face during the Quick Reference Card project and how did you deal with them?
- What successes did you experience on the project and how did they happen?
- I think the greatest success I felt was following the analysis of a single source. Through the lengthy process of discovering the source paragraph by paragraph I learned a lot about the source because I had to describe each paragraph with so much detail. I liked how much I learned and how my end paragraph turned out. I wish I had done that with each source.
- What kinds of arguments, rhetorical strategies, design choices and writing practices did you find the most effective for your project? Why?
- I found that focusing on one side to the argument was narrow-minded. I also found that outlining everything made the final product come together faster and in a more organized manor.
- What kinds of arguments, rhetorical strategies, design choices and writing practices did you find were not effective for your project? Why?
- I think next project I will choose a topic with more options. There is a debate on play versus educational curriculum for preschoolers but the debate is almost over. There was a lot of information to support play oriented curriculum and not a lot for the other side. I would like to find something with more support for both sides.
- How was the writing process for this project similar to other school writing experiences you’ve had in the past? How was it different?
- I have had to write multiple essays and research papers in the past. However, I do not usually need to show my work or go this far into detail on each step of the writing process. I found that there are a lot more steps than what I am used to doing for this assignment.
- Would any of the skills you practiced for this project be useful in your other coursework? Why or why not?
- I would like to keep trying to do the article summary paragraph by paragraph skill set. I think it does take a long time but that I may be able to learn more than a regular reading from it if I do take the time. I think this may come in handy when reading textbooks as well.
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