Final Persuasive Paper

RJ Mosqueda

Professor Brown

English 306

7 December 2016

Word Count: 1629

Final Persuasive Essay

Open letter to the students of the University of Arizona: Published in the Daily Wildcat and the Arizona Daily Star.

Dear University of Arizona Students,

I know school has started to pick up really quickly. We’ve been having multiple tests, exams, quizzes, and homework all due on the same days and not to mention that finals are just right around the corner. Times like these can be extremely stressful, sad, depressing, and can cause serious anxiety amongst us students. It has come to my attention from walking around campus to get to my classes daily, that I notice at least 80% of students look dramatically tired and moody to an extreme extent. I see it every day, students look tired, irritated, depressed, and low-spirited. As a young student here at the University of Arizona, I can relate heavily to all the other students. It is not a fun experience having so much forced on you to do within a short period of time with the addition of a large amount of pressure on you to produce a good grade all together. It is not easy and it is not desirable in any way or form. To do this as a student on a consistent basis is outrageous, so I am here as a fellow comrade to provide guidance and advice to relieve the stress and anxiety school puts on us. Because ultimately if we are going to be doing this for the next 4-5 years here at the university, then it is our duty to adapt and make life easier for us throughout our academic journey. If you fellow classmates take my advice and accept my guidance, you will not only be in a better overall mood but you will be in a healthier state physically/mentally which leads to better performance in the classroom which subsequently translates to better/good grades. Learning to manage your stress in a positive way is crucial to your well-being.

The first piece of guidance to an easier and less stressful experience with school is good nutrition and diet. Eating good certain types of food has so many positive benefits. It keeps you more energized and focused throughout the day. Good types of foods also helps keep you in shape and it keeps you in an overall better mood. According to One Green Planet Nutrition, foods from all 5 food groups (Dairy, Meats, Grains, Vegetables, Fruits) like apples, oranges, cashews, sweet potatoes, kale, and even chocolate just to name a few, all help improve the mood and keep you energized/focused throughout your normal day. “Chocolate is one of the richest sources of magnesium on the planet! Magnesium helps to calm anxiety and improve mood, which is one reason chocolate is craved during times of stress. Though high in fats, pure chocolate is cholesterol-free. Chocolate is also rich in iron, fiber, and even contains a little protein.” (OGP Nutrition, Web). Although it is candy, OGP Nutrition claims it still has benefits due to the magnesium which helps to alleviate anxiety in stressful situations like school. Fruits are also crucial to a better mood and brain function. “Oranges are rich in B vitamins that boost brain health, specifically Vitamin B6 and folate (Vitamin B9). They’re also hydrating, which keeps your fluids balanced and prevents dehydration. Dehydration is one of the most overlooked causes of a foul mood, hunger, and even headaches. Oranges also offer a large Vitamin C boost, and are low on the glycemic index.” (OGP Nutrition, Web). Conclusively, maintaining a healthy diet and eating the proper foods are absolutely necessary to relieving stress, staying focused, and having energy especially when going through your long day of classes daily. Diet and nutrition is definitely a major factor when it comes to being a student here at the University of Arizona.

The second piece of beneficial knowledge prescribed for an easier life at school is proper exercise. Mirroring nutrition and diet, exercise is also very beneficial when it comes to helping with school. I’ll even use myself as an example. Whenever I feel like I need a productive break from the books and need to get a good sweat on, I’ll turn to exercising in the gym. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), states that physical activity reduces stress. “Exercise is considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress. Studies show that it is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate. When stress affects the brain, with its many nerve connections, the rest of the body feels the impact as well. So it stands to reason that if your body feels better, so does your mind.” (ADAA). Working out helps immensely because not only are you able to take your anger and stress out through physical exercises but you get the benefit of a nice looking physique with an addition of sleeping better that same night. You will be so tired both physically and mentally that you will sleep like a baby which brings me to another piece of guidance, sleep.

The other two pieces are great but sleep I feel sleep is the most important of all. Obviously you have to eat food to live but if you do not sleep, it can affect everything you do not just school in particular. A study done by Pierrick J., Arnal shows that “Six nights of extended sleep improve sustained attention and alertness, limit the degradation of these two parameters during total sleep deprivation and improve their recovery speed.” (Arnal 1935). Without sleep (sleep deprivation) you lose attention, alertness, sense of awareness, and an ability to function physically. Your body just starts to shut down. If you’ve ever been super tired and have not had much sleep, you know exactly how it is. You feel slow and tired like you cannot even move or function. Scientists at Harvard discovered that sleep is absolutely crucial in everyday performance. “Sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.” (Harvard University). Without the ability to memorize, learn, and stay awake how are you possibly going to do well in class or even do anything in life? Sleep is a huge necessity, so if you get plenty of good sleep you will presumably have better health, be in a better mood which then translates to good grades.

Last but not least, an essential tip to less stress and a better life here at the UA is a healthy dose of social interaction. As a student, you are behind your laptop, in your notes, sitting behind a desk, and studying all day on the daily. It is unquestionably undeniable that having friends and a good social circle helps with getting through school and overcoming all of its obstacles. Having a solid foundation of friends is very beneficial to reducing stress and doing well in class because not only can they help tutor you in that specific subject if you need help but having comrades also lightens the mood up. If you are feeling depressed and stressed out from school, having close friends helps you get through it all. You can vent to them, you can go party with them, or do any type of activity to take your mind off of school. If you have somebody to go through it all with, it makes getting through school a lot easier. “New research shows that our innate ability to bond, both by words and by touch, has a calming effect on the body.” (Young, Web). Showing a little compassion goes a very long way, “Studies show that a simple gesture of empathy and concern makes us feel more connected. The review of published clinical studies examines how feelings of trust, safety, and comfort lower the body's stress-related responses and in turn improve heart health.” (Young, Web). Human social interaction plays a complementary role when it comes to making life easier on yourself as a college student. In addition to that, we are all college students which means we are here for an experience and to also have fun. Being social and establishing relationships with others goes a long way. It is beneficial in the short and long run. As a result, having a sturdy network of friends helps a lot and reduces stress with an additional benefit of getting good grades because they could also tutor you if they know the subject on hand.

In conclusion, the key to managing and reducing your stress as a college student comes from a healthy diet/nutrition, proper physical exercise ,much needed sleep, and a solid foundation of friends and companionship. Doing all these will help you succeed and survive in school while ultimately getting you what we are all here for, that diploma/degree.

Sincerely,

RJ Mosqueda

University of Arizona Student





Explication:
*My open letter to UA students uses the writing skills learned throughout this course. I use rhetoric mainly through ethos and pathos. Ethos because I have credibility through my admission as a UA student just like every other student. Pathos by an emotional response because we are all going through stress and different types of emotions regarding school. I mostly applied ethos and pathos by putting myself in the other student's shoes. Meaning we both can relate because we are going through the same thing with finals, school work, etc. I used quotes and citations from ".org" websites for authenticity and also pulled a scholarly peer reviewed article/journal for further credibility. I addressed the crowd I wanted. The cool thing about my letter is that it can be applied to ANY type of student going through stress and unhappiness with school. It does not necessarily have to be a college student going to the UA. The overall purpose of the letter is to help make life and college easier on yourself as a student. Nobody ever said college had to be stressful and boring, when it comes to the school work/academic part of it. I acknowledge that my thesis may be controversial which is totally fine with me because the whole goal of the paper is to "persuade" someone to do otherwise. Overall, I would say my statements/arguments are based on facts and reality because all of this stuff ACTUALLY happens with students in real life. If we were to do a survey or a study, I would hypothesize that 85% of students say that they go through some type of stress and or anxiety throughout there years here at UA.

Works Cited:

McClees, Heather. "Elevate Your Mood and Get Happy With These 11 Foods!" Elevate Your Mood and Get Happy With These 11 Foods! One Green Planet, 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

"Physical Activity Reduces Stress." Exercise for Stress and Anxiety. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, July 2014. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

Arnal, Pierrick J. et al. “Benefits of Sleep Extension on Sustained Attention and Sleep Pressure Before and During Total Sleep Deprivation and Recovery.” Sleep 38.12 (2015): 1935–1943. PMC. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.

"Benefits of Sleep." Benefits of Sleep | Healthy Sleep. Harvard University, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

Young, Jeffrey B. "Find a Doctor." How Human Connection Can Relieve Stress. Dignity Health, 05 Sept. 2015. Web. 07 Dec. 2016.

Final Research Paper

RJ Mosqueda
Professor Brown
English 306
3 December, 2016

Final Research Paper: MLK Jr.

As Americans, we understand how pivotal the Civil Rights Movement was to our history in the United States. The movement within itself is one of the most revolutionary forms of protest known to mankind. To truly understand it, we must dive deeper into it by getting to know the leader behind the movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. MLK is one of the most prolific and efficient peaceful protest leaders to have ever walked this earth. African Americans back then were facing serious racial discrimination simply because of their skin color. Because of him back then, we now have freedom for all people today.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. He was brought up in a Christian household. His maternal grandparents Adam and Jenny Williams were the Reverend and second pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Dr. King was a family man, he had four children, two boys and two girls by name of Yolanda, Bernice, Martin, and Dexter (Schulke 1). Dr. King had such a way with his words. He was a baptist minister and and activist leader in the Civil Rights Movement. On April 4,1967, as Dr. King prepared to break his silence on the issue of the Vietnam War at New York City's Riverside Church, “He knew many Americans would be bewildered, even outraged. King's public voice, considered radical by some, moderate by many, was well known for positive messages of unity and hope” (Cook 75). Dr. King’s philosophy was all about peace and tranquility, that is why the protests he lead, were executed in a peaceful manner meaning zero violence. An example would be when he helped boycott the transportation system in Montgomery, Alabama. Here all he did was protest peacefully for equality on African Americans not having to give up their seats to White folks. He stood with multiple Blacks and rebelled peacefully which resulted in the boycott's official end and signaled one of the civil rights movement's first victories while making King one of its central figures.

Dr. King has led more than eight peaceful protests that were absolutely vital to the American Civil Rights Movement. He has led well known protests such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), The Albany Movement (1961), and The Birmingham Campaign in 1963 (Mach 1-3). These protests developed because of racial inequality towards people of color. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was aimed for people of color that they must give up their seats to Whites and sit in the back of the bus. It escalated when a black lady by the name of Rosa Parks, was arrested for refusing to give up her on a bus to a White person. The next day, Dr. King proposed a citywide boycott of public transportation at a church meeting. “The boycott proved to be effective, causing the transit system to run a huge deficit. Montgomery’s black residents not only were the principal boycotters, but also the bulk of the transit system’s paying customers.” (Mach 1-3). The bus boycott was a success because “In June 1956, a federal court found that the laws in Alabama and Montgomery requiring segregated buses were unconstitutional. However, an appeal kept segregation intact until Dec. 20, 1956, when the US Supreme Court upheld the district court's ruling.” (Mach 2-3). The Albany movement was a coalition formed in November 1961 in Albany, Ga., to protest city segregation policies. When it came to the Albany Movement for MLK, it was successful long term. It did not work immediately just like the bus boycotts but “Three days into King's sentence, an Albany police chief arranged for his release. The movement eventually dissolved, with few substantial results after nearly a year of continued peaceful protests, but the campaign tested tactics that would shape future protests in the national civil rights movement.” (Mach 4). The movement was a coalition formed in November 1961 in Albany, GA to protest city segregation policies. Dr. King tried to join but got arrested instead for trying to protest where he later declined bail until the city changed its segregation policies.

Martin Luther King Jr. had people that supported and assisted him as well. He had the benefit of the Southern Leadership Conference which who had aided him in the Birmingham Campaign in 1963. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was created on January 10-11, 1957. This involved sixty black ministers and civil rights leaders met in Atlanta, Georgia in an effort to replicate the successful strategy and tactics of the recently concluded Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. “Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen as the first president of this new group dedicated to abolishing legalized segregation and ending the disfranchisement of black southerners in a non-violent manner. Later SCLC would address the issues of war and poverty.” (Cho 1). The Birmingham Campaign was a strategic effort led by Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to end discriminatory economic policies in the city of Alabama. Some of the protests included boycotting certain businesses that hired only white people or that had segregated restrooms. This peaceful protest was also successful and productive because when refused to change their policies, Dr. King encouraged protesters to hold-sit ins and marches with the aim of getting arrested to overcrowd the jails. The end result was glorious, “By the end of the campaign, many segregation signs at Birmingham businesses came down, and public places became more open to all races.” (Mach 4-5). Dr. King was truly a master at his craft. He believed in something greater than himself, freedom. Although he was assassinated, his legacy still lives on till this very day. These peaceful protests front lined by King were a major factor to freedom back then and even today.

After people started taking notice of Dr. King and the effects/changes of his protests, there would be one more event that would have the entire world watching. In Washington D.C. 1963, Dr. King would deliver his iconic “I Have A Dream Speech”. The speech was for the march on Washington for jobs and freedom.

King urged America to "make real the promises of democracy." King synthesized portions of his earlier speeches to capture both the necessity for change and the potential for hope in American society. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” (Martin Luther King Jr). The overall goal of Martin Luther King Jr, the American Civil Rights Movement, and these pivotal protests was to stop racism. Freedom and equality for all is what he and his peers were striving for and ultimately achieved a great deal of it.

When looking at MLK from a protest perspective, Dr. King was an advocate for active protesting. As stated in the beginning of my paper, he believed in peaceful protesting as he lead multiple successful peaceful protests such as The Birmingham Campaign (1963), The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955), and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, “I Have A Dream Speech” (1963). When studying his movements, it is clear as to what Dr. King was fighting for, freedom and equality. All of his previous protests were successful and great short-term and long-term but the “I Have A Dream Speech” one stood out in particular because it was nationwide so everyone could view it. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was basically an eye opener for a lot of people and was the ultimate exclamation point for the American Civil Rights Movement. MLK protested and made a statement with this speech by basically saying enough is enough, it is time for us to come together.

Martin Luther King Jr. was revolutionary and played a huge role in the Civil Rights Movement.  From a historical context, African Americans back then were clearly being mistreated simply because of the color of their skin. It was clear that racism was going on, but due to technology back then, it was not widely available and documented throughout the United States. Some people were not aware as to what was going on during these times so it was that these protests slowly started getting recognition and getting out to the world. It was clear by Martin Luther King Jr’s standards that something had to be done. From a rhetorical/identity context MLK served as a voice and an image for all African Americans and even freedom/equality in general because that is what he was fighting for. MLK brought attention to the world on how unfairly blacks were being treated. “Any way you look at it, socially, politically, economically, education, African Americans were kept out of society. And they had to scratch and bite to get whatever advantages that they did get. And the majority could not get those advantages.” (PBS). African Americans back then dealt with so much from segregation, to restrictions on voting, and even violence. Whites in the South wanted to make sure there was no type of rebellion towards them, “Another issue was in order to make sure that African Americans did not attempt to assert themselves in any way, whether it was voting, whether it was trying to buy land, the white South resorted to terrorism. And that terrorism which was a legacy that never stopped from the time of the Civil War all the way up through this period, reached an intensity in the 1890s and in 1900. And it consisted of lynching African Americans, it consisted of burning African Americans, it consisted of whipping African Americans.” (PBS). Overall, the main reason for protest is because of how African Americans were treated back then. If it was not for Martin Luther King Jr. being the voice/image for these people, we would not experience freedom today. Because of Dr. King and his protests, we are free to this day. Freedom is the main reason why protests were started, it just happened to be revolutionized by Martin Luther King Jr.

 When we look at identity, specifically when it comes to African Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. fills that void immensely. He gave African Americans their own identity through his actions, intentions, and impact on Blacks as a whole. He has inspired numerous groups and people such as The Black Panthers, John Lewis, and James Farmer to stand out and protest against inequality, including the “Big Six” civil rights leaders. All of these groups and people were inspired and influenced by Dr. King himself because he gave everyone hope and was successful throughout his time of protest, his actions and results spoke for themselves. Dr. King brought everyone together, not just blacks, but anyone who was against racial inequality and gave them their own identity/image/voice through him.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence is still felt today. Although racism is clearly still at large, Dr. King’s efforts have propelled society forward by an enormous amount. Multiple examples reflect Dr. King’s accomplishments when it comes to freedom and equality for all. There are no more “white only” restaurants or restrooms. Public transportation is available to literally anyone, color of skin is irrelevant. Jobs hire anyone who is qualified for their standards, while race, ethnicity, and skin color do not matter. The world is now more aware than ever of racism and it is clear that it is present because we see it in the news, social media, and with law enforcement. Even though people are still racist today, MLK’s influence and involvement in the American Civil Rights Movement was very successful and revolutionary in society today. We’ve come a very long way as human beings when it comes to race.

In today’s society we’ve seen numerous forms of protests from Americans. Lately there has been evidential footage of law enforcement mistreating and killing Blacks. Colin Kaepernick’s protest reflects that of Martin Luther King Jr’s. Colin chose to sit during the singing of the national anthem prior to a game in the NFL. His action was immediately put on display by the media the whole world knew of this very quickly. Many people agreed and disagreed with his form of protest. Some were furious, while others supported. You would then see other players kneel during the anthem, and or speak out on the issue to express themselves on the topic. Many ignored the main reason why he was kneeling and continued to express anger towards Colin. Despite all the backlash Colin took, he imitated Dr. King and proceeded to protest in a non-violent manner simply by kneeling during the anthem. “Colin Kaepernick might have the hottest-selling jersey in the NFL, but he sure doesn’t have the support of white America. Only 29 percent of white Americans approve of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s recent decision to sit during the national anthem in protest of the mistreatment of people of color in the U.S., while 69 percent disapprove, according to a new YouGov poll.” (Strachan Web). The ones who do not agree with Colin are the ones who do not understand the true meaning behind it, he wants freedom and equality for all despite skin color. Colin is essentially doing what many African Americans did in the past. He is fighting for freedom. It is no different then how it was back then in the past. Colin is using his platform to do what MLK did during the civil rights movement and that is to protest and fight for equality for everyone.

Ultimately if people are being mistreated, discriminated against, being killed/hurted then they are going to stand up for themselves. Martin Luther King Jr. is the ultimate symbol for the American Civil Rights Movement because he believed it was necessary for change back then during that period of time and fought for freedom and equality for all especially African Americans. Dr. King served as a voice and an image not just for Blacks but for freedom as well. He ultimately fought for equality and non discrimination towards Blacks. The way he protested and stood up for African Americans was in the most peaceful ways possible. His actions and results speak for themselves, he was very successful both short-term and long-term while being able to influence Blacks to stand up for themselves. Without Martin Luther King’s protest and presence within the American Civil Rights Movement back then, there would be no people of color today in America. We as a human race would be divided, separated, and segregated even more.

My project as a whole teaches how protest can work as a place where identities are articulated because it shows how Martin Luther King Jr. as an individual brought African Americans together and through him by himself can also be seen as an identity for Blacks and freedom. Today when we think of Martin Luther King Jr. we know him for what he has done for this world. He pushed for freedom and equality for all so he can serve as an identity, image, voice for freedom and Blacks all around. When looking at the bigger picture, it is very straightforward and simple as it can get. The overall goal is to achieve freedom for everyone of all colors. We are trying to eradicate any type of racial discrimination/inequality and just live together on this earth as humans. It should not matter what color skin you have.  

Works Cited:

Cook, Vanessa. "Martin Luther King, Jr., And The Long Social Gospel Movement." Religion And American Culture 26.1 (2016): 74-100. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 3 Dec. 2016.

Strachan, Maxwell. "Black Americans Support Colin Kaepernick. White People? Not So Much." The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post, 06 Sept. 2016. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.

Mach, Andrew. "Martin Luther King Jr.: 8 Peaceful Protests That Bolstered Civil Rights." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

Schulke, Flip. "About Dr. King." The King Center. JP Morgan Chase & Co, 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

Cho, Nancy. "Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957 - ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957 - ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. BlackPast.org, 2001. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. ""I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute |. Stanford University, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

"Identity." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 551-555. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Dec. 2016.

Truman, C N. "The Black Panthers - History Learning Site." History Learning Site. Historylearningsite.co.uk., 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 03 Dec. 2016.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. ""I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." "I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom | The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. Stanford University, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2016.

Washington, Margaret. "Margaret Washington : Obstacles Faced by African Americans." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2016.

"MLK Movement Leaders." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.

Audience Description Post

The audience I am targeting is the students of the University of Arizona. I am trying to persuade them to take care of themselves better both physical and mentally for overall health and well-being which translates into better grades, better mood, and just an overall better/healthier lifestyle. As a result of my argument, I want students to start doing what I suggested and see how much better and easier everything gets especially their years here at UA.

1. Male and female. Ages 18-30 (anyone still in school despite the age). All religions/ethnicities/nationalities. Everyone who is in a stressful school environment. All levels of education (6th grade and up). All political party affiliations. In demographic terms, my audience is pretty diverse, however I am targeting mainly students studying in a high-stress/high-level academic environment.

2. Representative detail: A very tired, stressed, fed up student who just wants to do well, get their degree, and make the family/friends proud.

3. Me and this person are probably both going through school right now. We both want to do very well to graduate and get that degree so we can eventually land a career we enjoy and make lots of money off. We both want any/every edge we can possibly get to make school and even every day life better/easier for us because life already throws a lot of curveballs at you so you got to be ready for anything.

4. We may or may not deal with stress in the same way. Some people crumble from it and let it get the best of them. Others, such as myself, try and find ways to overcome it and prevent it so we may do better in our classes and in life in general.

5. Some students may not agree with my claims. Some may argue that stress is a good thing and some may argue that exercise/diet/ are irrelevant to overall academic performance and well-being. That is the only real argument I can think of regarding my statements to not be persuasive to them.

6. I feel me and the reader/listener will find common ground after they had actually tried to take my advice and see how much of a difference it makes to eliminate stress and take better care of themselves mentally/physically. The results after applying action will speak for itself.

7. No, there are no issues on me conceding ground to my listers and there will be no need to explicitly reject anyone's principles.

8. In my paper, I will explicitly acknowledge and respond to possible objections that the audience might raise in the middle of my paper. After my intro and background information, I will dive deeper into the scientific facts probably in the middle of my paper while I am breaking everything down.

Problem Frame: Students Well-Being

Open letter to the students of UA


Around the beautiful University of Arizona campus, you see students in many different moods/conditions. Many look tired, stressed, sick, angry, hungry, irritated etc. Many believe the conditions for students like this are acceptable and are the "norm" for college kids. When the mood/condition is bad, it affects the overall health and performance in the classrooms. However the status of students is completely unacceptable and not good. In order to succeed and do well in college, students must take care of themselves and look out for their overall health/well-being. By implementing healthy exercise, nutrition, sleep, and taking breaks, you will not be in such a bad condition which will lead to overall boost in well-being and performance in the classrooms.

Object Analysis: Dr. King

RJ Mosqueda

Professor Brown

English 306

10 November, 2016

Analysis of "I Have A Dream" Speech

The image shown above of Martin Luther King Jr. is the perfect representation of the American Civil Rights Movement which took place from the mid-1950s until King’s assassination in 1968. This photograph displays Martin Luther King Jr. giving his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech in “Washington D.C. at the Lincoln Memorial for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” (Carson). Martin Luther King Jr. is the ultimate symbol for the American Civil Rights Movement because he believed it was necessary for change back then during that period of time and fought for freedom and equality for all especially African Americans. Delivering this speech, on this type of stage, with these many people watching, is an accurate portrayal of identity for African Americans and also “freedom” as well. Because of Martin Luther King Jr and his famous speech, we are able to witness protest and a form of identity for Blacks and freedom all around the world.

When looking at MLK from a protest perspective, Dr. King was an advocate for that. He believed in peaceful protesting as he lead multiple successful peaceful protests such as The Birmingham Campaign (1963), The Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955), and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, “I Have A Dream Speech” (1963). When MLK gave his “I Have A Dream” speech, he specifically said “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”. When projecting this speech, it is clear what Dr. King is protesting for, freedom and equality. All of his previous protests were successful and great but this one stood out in particular because it was nationwide so everyone could view it and because at this time when he was delivering it, he was well known for his peaceful protest tactics. So this March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was basically an eye opener for a lot of people and was the ultimate exclamation point for the American Civil Rights Movement. MLK protested and made a statement with this speech by basically saying enough is enough.

The main reason for all these protests and events that went on is very simple and straightforward, racial inequality. Martin Luther King Jr. was revolutionary and played a huge role in the Civil Rights Movement. From a historical context, African Americans back then were clearly being mistreated simply because of the color of their skin. It was clear that racism was going on, but due to technology back then, it was not widely available and documented throughout the United States. People were not aware as to what was going on during these times so it was essential that these protests started popping up all over the news. It was clear by Martin Luther King Jr’s standards that something had to be done. So he served as a voice and an image for all African Americans and even freedom/equality in general because that is what he was fighting for. MLK brought attention to the world on how unfairly blacks were being treated. “Any way you look at it, socially, politically, economically, education, African Americans were kept out of society. And they had to scratch and bite to get whatever advantages that they did get. And the majority could not get those advantages.” (PBS). African Americans back then dealt with so much from segregation, to restrictions on voting, and even violence. Whites in the South wanted to make sure there was no type of rebellion towards them, “Another issue was in order to make sure that African Americans did not attempt to assert themselves in any way, whether it was voting, whether it was trying to buy land, the white South resorted to terrorism. And that terrorism which was a legacy that never stopped from the time of the Civil War all the way up through this period, reached an intensity in the 1890s and in 1900. And it consisted of lynching African Americans, it consisted of burning African Americans, it consisted of whipping African Americans.” (PBS). Overall, the main reason for protest is because of how African Americans were treated back then. If it was not for Martin Luther King Jr. being the voice/image for these people, we would not experience freedom today. Because of Dr. King and his protests, we are free to this day. Freedom is the main reason why protests were started, it just happened to be revolutionized by Martin Luther King Jr.

 When we look at identity, specifically when it comes to African Americans, Martin Luther King Jr. fills that void immensely. He gives African Americans their own identity through his actions, intentions, and impact on Blacks as a whole. He has inspired numerous groups and people such as The Black Panthers, John Lewis, and James Farmer to stand out and protest against inequality, including the “Big Six” civil rights leaders. All of these groups and people were inspired and basically started by Dr. King himself because he gave everyone hope and showed the world that we can all live together as one in harmony. Dr. King brought everyone together, not just blacks, but anyone who was against racial inequality and gave them their own identity/image/voice through him.

Ultimately, looking at Dr. King’s infamous “I Have A Dream Speech”, it reflects protest perfectly and is also concerned with a specific identity. The Lincoln Memorial for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was an exclamation point on what Dr. King was ultimately trying to convey, which was freedom and equality for all. To bring awareness and deliver such an iconic speech with that type of platform was revolutionary because he was showing the world that he was protesting for African Americans to be treated equally as everyone else in this world. “This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” (King). He brought everyone together for one main goal and gave African Americans an identity with his peaceful and revolutionary protests.

Works Cited:

King, Martin Luther, Jr. ""I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." "I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom | The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute. Stanford University, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.


Questions:

1. Does the "I Have A Dream Speech" reflect protest effectively?
2. Does the "I Have A Dream Speech" represent an identity/image for African Americans?
3. Is it clear as to what Dr. King was pushing for with this "I Have A Dream Speech"?

Practice: Your Paragraph

Purpose:

*The purpose of this paragraph is prove/show how smoking marijuana is a "learned" & "taught" process. It affects everyone differently but basically you must "learn" how to get high & enjoy the sensations you perceive.

Original:

*Becker’s theory on “Becoming a marijuana user”, without me reiterating what he says, is that smoking marijuana is a learned experience. You must learn how to get high before you can actually get high pretty much. Becker breaks down his argument in three simple steps, “1. learns to smoke it in a way that will produce real effects; 2. learns to recognize the effects and connect them with drug use; and 3. learns to enjoy the sensations he perceives.” (Becker 227-228). The symptoms of being high are intense hunger, red eyes, and sleepiness. Not only does it state in the book on page 224-226 but it is also through personal experience. I have a lot of friends who smoke marijuana and the weed has similar effects on all of them. However, some people experience weed differently. I honestly don’t think marijuana is an acquired taste. People will only like it if they feel like it is actually good for them or not. It affects people differently as well similarly but you either like it or you don’t in my opinion, just like with anything else. From a sociological standpoint, having “others” when learning the process to smoke pot is absolutely crucial. It is very important because people are followers. A rookie smoker has no idea what he or she is doing the very first time they smoke so it is very important they have guidance and someone experienced there to help them. Becker states in the experiment that “the effects of the drug, when first perceived, may be physically unpleasant or at least ambiguous.”.

Characters:

1. Experienced
2. Differently
3. Smoking 

Topic: // Stress:

*Smoking marijuana is a learned experience... // The use,consumption of weed is a taught experience...

*However, some people experience marijuana differently... // Ultimately, weed affects people in multiple ways...

*A rookie smoker has no idea what he/she is doing the very first time they smoke, so it is very important they have guidance and someone experienced there to help them... // An individual's first time trying marijuana is a very new & different experience, so it is absolutely crucial that someone who has done it before is there to assist that individual.

Historical & Rhetorical Drafts

RJ Mosqueda

Professor Brown

English 306

3 November, 2016

Historical Context: MLK

As Americans, we understand how pivotal the Civil Rights Movement was to our history in the United States. The movement within itself is one of the most revolutionary forms of protest known to mankind. To truly understand it, we must dive deeper into it by getting to know the leader behind the movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. MLK is one of the most prolific and efficient peaceful protest leaders to have ever walked this earth. African Americans back then were facing serious racial discrimination simply because of their skin color. They were being mistreated and could not do anything about it until one day, one man (MLK) stood up, spoke up, and served as a voice/image for African Americans all around the world. Because of him back then, we now have freedom for all people today.

Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. He was brought up in a Christian household. His maternal grandparents Adam and Jenny Williams were the Reverend and second pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Dr. King was a family man, he had four children, two boys and two girls by name of Yolanda, Bernice, Martin, and Dexter (Schulke 1). Dr. King was all about peace and tranquility, that is why he only led peaceful types of protests throughout his life.

Dr. King has led more than eight peaceful protests that were absolutely vital to the American Civil Rights Movement. He has led well known protests such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), The Albany Movement (1961), and The Birmingham Campaign in 1963 (Mach 1-3). These protests developed because of racial inequality towards people of color. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was aimed for people of color that they must give up their seats to Whites and sit in the back of the bus. It escalated when a black lady by the name of Rosa Parks, was arrested for refusing to give up her on a bus to a White person. “The next day, Dr. King proposed a citywide boycott of public transportation at a church meeting. The boycott proved to be effective, causing the transit system to run a huge deficit. After all, Montgomery’s black residents not only were the principal boycotters, but also the bulk of the transit system’s paying customers.” (Mach 1-3). The bus boycott was a success because “In June 1956, a federal court found that the laws in Alabama and Montgomery requiring segregated buses were unconstitutional. However, an appeal kept segregation intact until Dec. 20, 1956, when the US Supreme Court upheld the district court's ruling.” (Mach 2-3). When it came to the Albany Movement in 1961 for MLK, it was successful in long term. It did not work immediately just like the bus boycotts but “Three days into King's sentence, an Albany police chief arranged for his release. The movement eventually dissolved, with few substantial results after nearly a year of continued peaceful protests, but the campaign tested tactics that would shape future protests in the national civil rights movement.” (Mach 4). The movement was a coalition formed in November 1961 in Albany, GA to protest city segregation policies. Dr. King tried to join but got arrested instead for trying to protest where he later declined bail until the city changed its segregation policies.

Martin Luther King Jr. had people that supported and assisted him as well. He had the benefit of the Southern Leadership Conference which who had aided him in the Birmingham Campaign in 1963. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was created on January 10-11, 1957. “This involved sixty black ministers and civil rights leaders met in Atlanta, Georgia in an effort to replicate the successful strategy and tactics of the recently concluded Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen as the first president of this new group dedicated to abolishing legalized segregation and ending the disfranchisement of black southerners in a non-violent manner. Later SCLC would address the issues of war and poverty.” (Cho 1). The Birmingham Campaign was a strategic effort led by Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to end discriminatory economic policies in the city of Alabama. Some of the protests included boycotting certain businesses that hired only white people or that had segregated restrooms. This peaceful protest was also successful and productive because when refused to change their policies, Dr. King encouraged protesters to hold-sit ins and marches with the aim of getting arrested to overcrowd the jails. The end result was glorious, “By the end of the campaign, many segregation signs at Birmingham businesses came down, and public places became more open to all races.” (Mach 4-5). Dr. King was truly a master at his craft. When you fight for something greater than yourself, everything takes care of itself. These peaceful protests front lined by King were a major factor to freedom back then and even today.

Ultimately these peaceful protests were crucial and revolutionary to freedom back then because without Martin Luther King Jr. and all those who assisted him, people of color like myself might not even be in the United States today. Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech is a perfect example. His iconic speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 March, on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, King urged America to "make real the promises of democracy." King synthesized portions of his earlier speeches to capture both the necessity for change and the potential for hope in American society. “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” (Martin Luther King Jr). The overall goal of Martin Luther King Jr, the American Civil Rights Movement, and these pivotal protests is to stop racism. Freedom and equality for all is what everything was striving for and ultimately achieved it. This is why we have a special dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. held in January because he believed in freedom/equality, revolutionized the American Civil Rights Movement, and is the ultimate example of protest.

Rhetorical Context: MLK

When we look at identity, we think of identity as “who you are” and what the “image of you” is. Your identity defines you, it makes you who you are. “Identity is a pervasive concept in popular culture. Broadly speaking, identity refers to the overall character or personality of an individual or group” (Darity Jr. 551). Martin Luther King Jr. not only gave the African American community their own identity, but he served as a voice and an image for them as well.

Dr. King played a crucial role in the American Civil Rights Movement. He fought for freedom and equality for all, especially for African Americans because they were being racially discriminated against. When talking about identity, Dr. King brought Blacks together. An event by the name of Bloody Sunday (1965) demonstrated Blacks uniting and most importantly staying together in their fight for freedom, despite being brutally beaten by police during this peaceful protest. “King tried to organize another march, but protesters did not succeed in getting to Montgomery until March 25. The speech he delivered that day, on the steps of the state capitol, has since become known as “How Long, Not Long.” (Mach 6). This shows that Blacks were still willing to protest peacefully with Dr. King even though they had just witnessed their own race getting brutally beaten by police. Dr. King gave them an identity and brought them together as a community to fight for their rights. He inspired the Black Community and gave them a voice. Their identity is “We are one, we are all people just like you”, that is why they are protesting for equality is because we are all human beings.

Martin Luther King Jr’s philosophy was all about peace and equality. He served as a gateway for many other African Americans to stand up for themselves and start protesting. There were people that agreed with his philosophy and there were people that did not. An example of a group that did not agree with Dr. King’s philosophy but started because of his example was The Black Panthers. The Black Panthers were formed in California in 1966 and they played a short but important part in the Civil Rights Movement. “They believed that the non-violent campaign of Martin Luther King Jr. had failed and any promised changes to their lifestyle via the ‘traditional’ civil rights movement, would take too long to be implemented or simply not introduced.” (Truman Web). Even though The Black Panthers did not agree with Dr. King’s philosophy, they still formed because of him. Without Dr. King, there would be no Black Panthers because there would be no voice, image, or some type of identity. The Black Panthers are not a group formed or led by Dr. King but the mentality and inspiration started all because Dr. King gave them a sense of identity, which is very powerful to be able to have that type of influence on people. Dr. King was a gateway for African American protest groups like this, thus, giving African Americans their own unique identity.

The Civil Rights Movement’s rhetorical goal is very straightforward, freedom and equality for all. None of this would have started if people were just not racist to anyone to begin with. Same goes for Martin Luther King Jr, his ultimate goal was to press for everyone, specifically African Americans, to be treated fairly and have the same rights as everyone else in this world. People in the actual movements respond well to people who are outside the movement. I say believe this because if African Americans cared about how Caucasians viewed them, then they would have just stopped with all their protesting. It was clear that Caucasians did not approve at first, they wanted the protests and marches to stop (Mach 1). We see it in the Birmingham Campaign (1963) when White businesses only hired other whites and Blacks had segregated restrooms. It was clear that Blacks did not care what Whites saw or discussed, they only cared about their freedom and equality.

Questions: 
1. Do you understand how crucial MLK's role was during the American Civil Rights Movement?
2. Do you understand the overall goal/message of MLK and the American Civil Rights Movement?
3. Do you understand how MLK was a(n) image/identity/voice for the African American Community?

Works Cited:

Mach, Andrew. "Martin Luther King Jr.: 8 Peaceful Protests That Bolstered Civil Rights." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.

Schulke, Flip. "About Dr. King." The King Center. JP Morgan Chase & Co, 2014. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.

Cho, Nancy. "Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957 - ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957 - ) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. BlackPast.org, 2001. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. ""I Have a Dream," Address Delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute |. Stanford University, n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.

"Identity." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 551-555. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 4 Nov. 2016.

Truman, C N. "The Black Panthers - History Learning Site." History Learning Site. Historylearningsite.co.uk., 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.