Listservers Two e-mail listservs serve the forensics community. We recommend you sign-up for both. The parliamentary debate listerserv can be joined by doing the following: Visit the Bethel College listserv site at this link and follow the instructions. NetBenefits is a web-based bulletin board about parliamentary debate. While the content is sometimes beneficial, readers need to filter through some occasionally combative material. Debate Cooperative is a similar bulletin board, but focuses somewhat less on parliamentary debate. This site hosts far more information about NFA Lincoln-Douglas Debate. The individual events listserv can be joined by doing the following: Address an e-mail to listproc@cornell.edu. Leave the subject line blank. In the body of the message type: subscribe ie-l john doe.
GREAT SAMPLE VIDEOS The following link takes you to a video seminar assembled by the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensic Association. The videos contained therein are national champions or finalists from a variety of organizations. http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/pscfa/Videos.htm
|
Public Address Events Sample After Dinner Speech Footloose and Fancy Free This just in: Mohammed Ibn Bazz has banned high-heeled shoes for women in Saudi Arabia (men, however, remain free to wear three-inch stiletto heels). The Grand Mufti says: “They make women look taller, creating the type of misleading illusion forbidden under Islam (the WNBA's response is expected within the hour). Women could lose balance, risking the unveiling of some ‘private parts' (like the ankle). [And] they cause health problems” (Evening Standard 7). Film at eleven. Dr. Charles Saltzman a known Saudi sympathizer at the University of Iowa College of Medicine concurs that constrictive shoes cause over 300,000 foot disorders annually (Saltzman oral). Why do people wear uncomfortable shoes? Two words: shoe discrimination. Professional and social expectations for the types of shoes that people wear cause physical and emotional harm. The Los Angeles Times of March 2nd, 2000, states that, while the subject might sound odd, the mandatory wearing of certain shoes has become the focus of lawsuits as well as serious academic research” (Morin, B3). In order to stand up against such oppression we will, first, walk a mile in another's shoes to better understand the problem of footwear discrimination; second, we'll put the shoe on the other foot in order to explore the cause of this social disease; and finally, we'll put our collective foot down to stamp-out shoe discrimination. Much to Nancy Sinatra's chagrin these boots were NOT made for walkin'. Speaking of walking, let's begin by walking a mile in another's shoes, to the problem of footwear discrimination. Restrictive attire has a proud history in America. Starting in 1919 when striking telephone operators in Boston “had difficulty keeping up with the [picket line] because of the height of their heels” (Norwood 182). All of the way up to Ally McBeal who seems to have the same problem when trying to grab lunch. This podiatrical evil rears its ugly head in two ways: by risking physical injury and violating basic liberties. Being forced to wear uncomfortable shoes causes a myriad of ailments. On January sixteenth, 2000 The terminally hip New York Daily recounted associated traumas: back pain now and watch the leg pain. As I make you stop, think you'll think you're looking at pelvic tilt. I summon kneecap fractures. Although I like the bunionettes, and I like the peak pressure ‘cause its mal-alignment of the great toe. Hot like hammertoes when I strain calves. Big like neuroma because I'm all nerve damage. Bert Kaempfert's got the bunions. You try spinal aches, you try to hold me but I bust toe. Like Andrew Lloyd I've got disorders. Mine's a back joint. There'll be a big hyperlodosis. Gonna make a break and spinal aches. I'd like a stinkin' achin' shake. I like toes curling and twisting around each other. Gotta see the shoe, ‘cause then you'll know fallen arches gonna grow ‘cause its so dangerous you'll have to sign a ballot. How can I help it if I think you're funny when hysteric, being forced to smile when you feel bad. I'm the kind of guy with interdigital strains. Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will. These injuries force over 600,000 people to undergo surgery each year, and make up over ninety percent of American foot surgeries. Even after surgery many are still unable to work without discomfort (Ferraro, 14). Let me put it another way: The Empire State Building . . . weighs 600,000,000 pounds, but “the weight on any given square inch is no greater than that normally borne by a French heel” (Wilson 292). This problem is not restricted to women. Much like PMS, footwear prejudice affects men as well. Shoe discrimination is a workplace hazard that endangers each of us—male, female, or Janet Reno. According to the Houston Chronicle of November 27, 2000 minus 2: “Continental Airlines lowered shoe heights…to reduce slips and falls, which was one of the biggest occupational injuries plaguing the airline. The strategy worked…and the number of falls fell by 80 percent” (Sixel L/N). I don't care how well your seat cushion “becomes” a flotation device, calmly locating the nearest exit while the plane plummets to the earth engulfed in flames is difficult enough without those charged with your safety waddling about in go-go boots! In fact, this Delta Airlines safety card which I stole from our flight here (just kidding…we drove) clearly indicates that high heels are not allowed while the plane is crashing. In a personal interview on February third, 2000 with Stewardess Stacey, she informed me that sensible shoes are a must when fleeing burning wreckage. Stacey then reminded me that the skies are not that friendly before asking me to remove my hand. Additionally, losing control of such a simple choice as footwear violates basic liberties. In her book The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf argues that shoe discrimination “represents a commercially sexualized mystique, ranging from cocktail waitresses to hat-checkers. These ‘display professions' include women on their feet serving [male] customers, to whom employers offer them as an attraction” (Wolf 27). Thus giving rise to the slogan, “Fly the friendly thighs of United.” Apparently Stewardess Stacey missed that memo! These gender roles harm men as well by baring them from employment in display professions. Throughout the 1970's Southwest Airlines refused to hire male flight attendants because it was marketing “sex appeal” as witnessed by the three-inch “high boots and hot-pants” it required attendants to wear until 1982 (Wilson v. Southwest Airlines 292), otherwise known as the decade of the wedgie, leading to the stewardess motto, “Coffee, tea, or me?” If they were interested in sex appeal they should have hired ____ because… Next, let's put the shoe on the other foot to explore the cause of this social disease. Shoe discrimination is caused by professional mandates and social expectations. G. M. Humphry in his book The Human Foot and the Human Hand laments, “How greatly to be lamented that…the shoe, which is intended to befriend and protect the foot, and which, if well fitted, would…make amends for the rough hard roads upon which it treads, should be perverted into…impairing its functions” (Humphry 104). Now don't get me wrong, I like a pair of stilleto heels as much as the next guy - - no really. Mimi Pond in her book Shoes Never Lie, explains why women are subjected to such torture: “High heels…make your legs look great, your ass stick out, and your chest pitch forward. Some women report the odd sensation of not being able to think when wearing high heels, and this is what ____, I mean men like most” (pond 65). The Scotsman of February third, 2000 notes that women are being fired for refusing to wear these chauvinist shoes (Walker, 3). Take - for example - Karla Qwist, a cocktail server at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas, who told her boss she couldn't wear the high stiletto heels that are part of her "Girl from Ipanema" costume because she has foot problems. The casino refused to accommodate her, and “Honeymoon in Vegas” made casino folk seem so nice! Of course I liked the movie better the first time I saw it…when it was called “Indecent Proposal.” Qwist and other waitresses…sued the casino, alleging gender discrimination and contending the…3-inch-high shoes caused physical deformity” (Sixel L/N) Even without rules written in stone, social pressure forces us to don footwear that others deem “acceptable.” Katharine Bartlett explains, in her book Only Girls Wear Barrettes, that “Oral traditions of dress…prevail, making formal codes unnecessary” (Bartlett 2551). Can you imagine community standards so pervasive that that they dictate what you wear and how you talk? Being forced to follow a schematic schedule, traipsing across campuses all day, and being judged on your performance? What a nightmare! To wake from this bad dream we need to put our foot down, stamp-out shoe discrimination, reveal two solutions to this trotter travesty, and let's see if we can't mix our metaphors a bit more while we're at it. We must begin by making the simple choice to - as the Beastie Boys tell us - “check your head,” and then proceed to check our feet. We each must check our heads and realize that comfortable shoes can be just as professional as pumps or wing tips. Even the Los Angeles Times Fashion Police (woooooo, pull over, pull over!) advise, on May 17, 2000, that “for shoes, stick with [simple] flats or low heels that will go with every outfit” (Stein L/N). With this understanding we can proceed to check our feet. Feel confident in kicking off those high-heeled manacles of oppression and dawn the fluffy slippers of freedom! In the winter 1997 issue of The Journal of Corporation Law Mark Linder, a law professor at the University of Iowa, argues that, “Workers…should be…strongly encouraged to dress in comfortable shoes.” Some employees - and forensicators - may be reprimanded for wearing comfy shoes. Professor Linder reminds us that there is legal recourse to combat such harassment. He states, “It is…time for…the courts to recognize…a standard that prohibits compelling any employee to choose between a livelihood and a lively step” (Linder L/N). Likewise, competitors should not be forced to choose between their success and their stride. In order to stand up against shoe prejudice we, first, walked a mile in another's shoes to a better understanding of the problem of footwear discrimination; second, we put the shoe on the other foot to explore the cause of this social disease; and finally, we put our collective foot down to stamp-out shoe discrimination. In the February fourteenth, 2000 after school special, “My Body, My Family: The Unwanted Touching of Uncle Jack,” we learned that it's not what we wear on the outside, but what's on the inside that counts. And just like in that after school special, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia was right all along. If an edict against high heels is good enough for Mohammed Ibn Bazz, then it's good enough for me. Works Cited Bartlett, Katherine. “Only Girls Wear Barrettes: Dress and Appearance Standards, Community Norms, and Workplace Equality.” 92 Michigan Law Review. Vol. 92 #2541, 1994. Ferraro, Susan. “Easing Common Back Pains.” New York Daily News. 16 Jan 2000, 14. Humphry, G.M. The Human Foot and the Human Hand,1861. Linder, Mark. “Smart Women, Stupid Shoes, and Cynical Employers: The Unlawfulness and Adverse Health Consequences of Sexually Discriminatory,” The Journal of Corporation Law. Vol. 22 #295, Winter 1997. Internet (Available on-line at Lexis-Nexis). Morin, Monte. “Blacks file suit charging restaurant with bias.” Los Angeles Times. 2 Mar 2000, B3. “Mufti Illusion of High Heels.” Evening Standard, Apr. 9, 1996, pg. 7. Norwood, Stephen H. Labor's Flaming Youth: Telephone Operators and Worker Militancy, 1990. Oral Communication from Dr. Charles Saltzman, University of Iowa College of Medicine (Jan. 1996). Ipid Linder, Mark. “Smart Women, Stupid Shoes, and Cynical Employers: The Unlawfulness and Adverse Health Consequences of Sexually Discriminatory,” The Journal of Corporation Law. Vol. 22 #295, Winter 1997. Internet (Available on-line at Lexis-Nexis). Pond, Mimi. Shoes Never Lie, 1985. Sixel, L.M. The Houston Chronicle. November 27, 1998. Internet (Available on-line at Lexis-Nexis). Stein, Jeannine. “Fashion Police.” The Los Angeles Times. May 14, 1999. Internet (Available on-line at Lexis-Nexis). Thompson, Francesca and Michael Coughlin, “The High Price of High-Fashion Footwear,” 76 American Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. Vol. 76 # 1586, 1994. Walker, Andrew. “Boss forced me to buy new clothes, says sacked woman.” The Scotsman. 3 Feb 2000, 3. Wilson, Eunice. A History of Shoe Fashions. 1969. Wilson v. Southwest Airlines Co., 517 F. Supp. 292, 301, 302 (N.D. Tex. 1981). Wolf, Naimi The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women, 1991. Sample Persuasive Speech Saving America's Angels of Mercy “I wake up every day and hope I don't kill someone today. Every day I pray: God protect me. Let me make it out of there with my patients alive.” These are the worries of Kathy Cloninger, a registered nurse in Illinois recounted to CNN.com on September 9, 2000. And many other nurses across the country feel the same fear and anxiety that Cloninger does. Alarmed by a 1999 study conducted by the Institute of Medicine that showed “up to 98,000 patients die in hospitals every year due to medical errors” (CNN.com Sept 15, 2000), the Chicago Tribune released an investigative report on September 10, 2000 that revealed “since 1995, at least 1,720 hospital patients have been accidentally killed and 9,584 others injured”. The Chicago Tribune continues on to note the reason behind this catastrophe stems from the “actions or inaction of registered nurses across the country.” (). The problem isn't that registered nurses aren't properly trained or don't care, the problem is far more basic than that. Registered nurses are simply overworked. Overworked registered nurses are creating a compromised health environment for nurses, doctors and patients across the country. In order to fully understand the problem of overworked registered nurses, we will first, explore the problems that overworking spawns, second, examine the causes behind being overworked, and finally, propose some solutions so America's angels of mercy aren't working 16-hour shifts. Perhaps the greatest problem facing nurses today is simply working too much. The Institute of Employment Studies notes in a 1997 press release, “one in seven full-time nurses worked more than 48 hours in a survey week.” (). Today, a 12-hour shift each day is not uncommon and it is taking its toll. At a Wichita, Kansas hospital, Deedra Tolson, a 38-year-old woman recovering from a hysterectomy, bled to death unnoticed because her nurse had to care for 19 other critically ill patients at the time (Seattle Times). Being unnoticed is not the only problem that patients face. Anyone who has ever tried to balance a checkbook when fatigued knows that they will probably have to balance it again later. Unfortunately, nurses have to calculate medication dosages while fatigued and the results can be fatal. The calculation errors are so common that nurses refer to them as “death by decimal.” (Seattle Times). At Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, 2-year-old Miguel Fernandez was injected with a fatal dose of sedatives when his nurse measured the dose incorrectly. (Seattle Times) Nurses have the responsibility of making sure all of their patients receive their medications. The Daily News of August 2, 2000, relates the story of 44 year-old Aviolle Pierre, a temporary nurse working the night shift at a Queens's nursing home. Pierre failed to administer medications to 11 of the 46 elderly patients she was in charge of during her shift. But the patients are not the only ones in jeopardy. Nurses working excruciatingly long shifts suffer from burnout. The San Diego Union-Tribune of October 19, 1999, notes “thirty-five percent [of California nurses] said they did not expect to be working in nursing within the next five years, with 55 percent of those citing burnout or physical demands” as the reason for getting out of the profession. Now that we understand effects of the problems of overworked nurses, we need to examine the causes behind this calamity so we can find viable solutions to this growing problem. Nurses not only work the normal 8-hour shift, but many are also forced to work mandatory overtime. Nurses who do not work overtime could be charged with patient abandonment. American Nurses Association president Mary Foley, notes in a June 28, 2000 ANA press release, “nurses should never be forced to work excessive overtime, especially when they are tired, [and] overworked… patients need nurses who are able to execute sophisticated thinking, [and] decision making.” (). Besides working mandatory overtime, nurses are not getting breaks because there are no other nurses to take their patients. Registered nurse Wade Smith commented in the previously cited San Diego Union- Tribune of June 1, 2000, that “he often endured 12 hours shifts without a break.” Smith explains that, “many nights the emergency room was too busy and staffing too tight for nurses to take time off for lunch or dinner.” Kathy Cloninger, a registered nurse, told the previously cited CNN.com of September 9, 2000, “Mandatory overtime and 16-hour shifts have led to a shortage of nurses...” The ironic thing is that while overworking leads to the shortage of nurses, it also leaves a greater problem in its wake; even fewer nurses for the same number of patients. This, in turn, causes hospitals to be understaffed. Rick Wade of the American Hospital Association confirmed that, “ nursing staffs have been the first targets for cutbacks at hospitals…(CNN.com Sept 9, 2000)” And these cutbacks give the remaining nurses an enormous workload. This burdenous workload creates a high turnover rate. Let's face it, who wants a job with 16-hour shifts, mandatory overtime and no breaks for meals let alone coffee. This turn over rate creates its own problems. The Cincinnati Enquirer of February 21, 1999, cites Cheryl Townsend, a cardiac care unit nurse at University Hospital in Ohio. “Almost on a daily basis you have to deal with a new face on your team. We're in a chronic state of teaching and training—you can't get the work done.” A second cause is the stop-gap measures many hospitals take when they find they are simply out of nurses. They are hiring untrained individuals to fill the vacant positions. The report by the Chicago Tribune states, “at least 119 patients died under the care of unlicensed, unregulated nurses aides.” (CNN.com, Sept 9, 2000). The Seattle Times of September 10, 2000, notes, “up to one-third of nursing staffs consist of aides, many of whom are not required to have high school diplomas.” (). Some hospitals are so desperate that they will take anyone to fill the staffing slots. In at least two Chicago hospitals, members of the housekeeping staff took positions as aides to dispense medications to patients (CNN.com Sept 9, 2000). A final cause is that there are fewer simply individuals graduating from nursing school, leading to fewer nurses to work. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports enrollment in bachelor's programs has declined for five consecutive years (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ accessed Dec 31, 2000). CNN.com of August 3, 2000 notes that, “with fewer younger nurses coming up through the ranks…the nation's pool of nurses is expected to shrink in the next decade” (). This means that when today's nurses start to retire, there will be fewer nurses to hire, causing the remaining nurses to be overworked. This scenario is coming closer to reality, because, according to previously cited San Diego Union-Tribune of June 1, 2000, “nationally, the average age of registered nurses is about 47.” Clearly the problems associated with overworked nurses have reached a point where it can no longer be ignored. It is time that we take action to solve this lethal dilemma. Solutions need to be implemented on governmental, administrative, and personal levels. On the governmental level, a regulation of hours that nurses are made to work and the elimination of mandatory overtime is vital. A bill addressing this issue was introduced in the US House of Representatives, entitled Registered Nurses and Patients Protection Act (ANA press release Sept 15 2000). It states that, “no RN would be required to work beyond 8 hours in any work day…” Also, the American Nurses Association has called on the ANA House of Delegates to “declare that the refusal to accept additional hours does not constitute patient abandonment.” It shouldn't be against the law to go home when your shift is up. On an administrative level, hospitals are taking action to get nurses to their facilities. The previously cited CNN.com of August 3, 2000 states, “hospitals and other health care employers are offering nurses signing bonuses, childcare and even maid or lawn services…” to entice nurses to join their ranks. But what nurses want is a workday that does not exceed 8 hours. Finally, on a personal level, if you or your family notice that the nurse in charge of your welfare is clearly fatigued, bring it to the attention of your doctor, and if you get the chance, also to the attention of the hospital administrators. When you do so, note that these are good people who are just doing too much. By bringing the problem to light, it makes it apparent to the hospital that the patients are recognizing a problem and care about the kind of treatment they are receiving. Today, we have identified the problems of nurses being overworked, second, examined the causes of this calamity, and finally, proposed some solutions to make quality healthcare more accessible to everyone and we did it all without any painful puns. By eliminating the problem of being overworked, nurses like Kathy Cloninger can go to work without the worry of killing an innocent patient because of fatigue and patients across the nation can breath a sigh of relief. Work Cited American Association of Colleges of Nursing. 31 Dec 2000 <http://www.aacn.nche.edu/> . “American Nurses Association Applauds Introduction of Bill to Restrict Overtime for Nurses and Other Health Care Workers.” American Nurses Association Press Releases. 15 Sept 2000. “ANA House of Delegates Sends Strong Message on Mandatory Overtime and Nurse Staffing.” American Nurses Association Press Releases. 28 Jun 2000. Berens, Michael J. “Study: Nurses cutbacks kill patients.” Chicago Tribune. 10 Sept 2000. Bronson, Peter. “Nurses hurt but HMOs feel no pain.” The Cincinnati Enquirer. 21 Feb 1999. Calderone, Joe. “DA says nurses withheld patients' drugs.” New York Daily News. 2 Aug 2000: pg 12. Fong, Tony. “No quick cure: A new law will affect nurse-to-patient ratios, but shortages at hospitals persist.” The San Diego Union-Tribune. 19 Oct 1999: C1. “Investigation fins nursing mistakes cause thousands of deaths.” CNN.com. 9 Sept 2000. “Nurses: overworked and in short supply.” The Institute for Employment Studies Press Releases. 15 Sept 1997. “Nursing mistakes cause thousands of deaths, probe finds.” The Seattle Times. 10 Sept 2000. Sample Informative Speech Got Biodiesel? At the end of Back to the Future, Doc Brown comes back to Hill Valley in the time-traveling Deloran. However, thanks to his trip into a high tech future, Doc doesn't need to power his time machine with pesky plutonium; instead he powers it with Mr. Fusion, THE renewable energy source of 2024, which ran on banana peels and stale beer. Today, we don't have Mr. Fusion on the back of our eighteen-wheelers to keep our skies clear and our lungs clean. But, we do have biodiesel. Biodiesel has become the premier renewable energy source of the 21st century. Fueled by a need to comply with the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, everyone from Kansas farmers to Washington politicians are turning to this natural oil-based fuel to clean our nation's air. Like Marty McFly, biodiesel has come forward to meet all the expectations of a renewable energy source and can take some amazing benefits with it into the future. Biodiesel reduces carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, will give a much needed boost to the agricultural economy and even reduces the risk of cancer. In order to understand why the Omaha World-Herald of September 21, 2000 referred to the use of biodiesel as the “no-brainer” choice, we will first, pull up to the full service pump and get some of the background and information on how biodiesel is made, second, fill up our tanks with the current and future applications, and finally, sit back and time travel with the future benefits of biodiesel. Doc Brown's Mr. Fusion may have come from the future, but biodiesel is not the sci-fi fantasy that it appears to be. The US Department of Energy notes in a March 2000 press release, “ Currently, 30 million gallons of biodiesel are produced annually in the United States.” The Biofuels Program website, a subset of the Office of Fuels Development, last accessed on January 24, 2001, states that biodiesel “is… similar to vinegar that can be made from several types of oils such as soybean, rapeseed, and vegetable or animal fat” (). The process of turning oil into biodiesel is known as transesterification. The process occurs in two parts. First, a triglyceride, normally animal fat or oil is combined with a short link of alcohol, generally methanol. Next, they add a catalyst of sodium or potassium hydroxide. (Bev) When the reaction is completed, the resulting products are biodiesel and glycerine. Glycerine is the only by-product of this reaction and is sold off to pharmaceuticals and make-up manufacturers. Currently, biodiesel can take one of two forms: pure or blended. Because, according to The Independent of June 12, 2000, “…[Biodiesel] can be used in any diesel engine without modifications”, biodiesel can be run in its 100% pure form, known as neat diesel. However, that is not the only form that biodiesel can be run and still be effective. Biodiesel can be run as B20. B20 is a mixture of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel. Even in the blend, biodiesel is efficient and more environmentally friendly than regular diesel. Doc Brown had to develop the flux compastor to travel in time, but we don't have to change anything to use biodiesel. Nor do you have to be a genius like Doc to understand the applications of biodiesel. In Back to the Future's Hill Valley, everyone in 2024 ran their automobiles with Mr. Fusions. In 2001, we are coming closer to that reality. In accordance with the Clean Air Act and Energy Policy Act, the US government has been using government agencies' fleets to test biodiesel. A July 28, 2000 press release from the New Jersey Department of Transportation explains, “this summer, New Jersey Transit began running a biodiesel demonstration project for buses…”. And New Jersey is not the only place using biodiesel. Other users include the Virginia DOT, the US Postal Service, USDA, National Forest Service, and the US Army (PI). Now, biodiesel is offered to a host of other diesel-run machines. School buses and other public transportation systems, including snowplows, use biodiesel. The Plainsman of June 1, 1999 notes, “Last year, farmers used about 3.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel, which represents 8 percent of the diesel market” (). The article continues that 13 sites in four Midwest states became the first to offer neat diesel to farmers and other commercial users. This means a huge advantage for the biodiesel industry. A May 5, 2000 press release from the American Soybean Association notes, “According to the USDA, a modest, nation-wide market for biodiesel of 50million gallons a year could increase farm income by $160 million annually”. The previously cited Biofuels Program website comments, “neat and blended biodiesel is used in marinas, tourist boats, and launches” (). Biodiesel is also expanding out to be used in situations where “workers are exposed to diesel exhaust, in aircrafts to control local pollution near airports and in locomotives” (). And the best part is, biodiesel usage is increasing. A United Soybean Board press release on April 21, 2000 states, “Since Earth Day [1999], biodiesel usage by vehicle fleets has increased by more than 700 percent.” Biodiesel manufacturers are even toying around with the idea of using different oils in production. Currently, the most commonly used oil is soybean oil. The Alternative Fuels Data Center website, last updated January 9, 2001 notes, “Peanuts, cottonseed, sunflower seeds, and canola are other candidate oil sources” (). Doc Brown may have realized the harm that petroleum fuel could do to the air. We don't have to travel back through time to know that traditional fossil fuels are damaging the environment. But, biodiesel is a solution to that problem. US Newswire of June 22, 2000 notes, “[Biodiesel] use results in a 90 percent reduction in air toxins” (). That reduction in air toxins can have a major effect on smog in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Detroit. The National Biodiesel Board website, last accessed on January 22, 2001, points out that biodiesel “produces approximately 80% less carbon monoxide emissions, and almost 100% less sulfur dioxide” (). And the best part is, that when biodiesel does burn, that nasty diesel exhaust smell is replaced with the “pleasant smell of popcorn or French fries” (NBB). With biodiesel, the economy is greeted with some benefits of its own. By bringing biodiesel to mainstream use, state and federal economies will see an increase. An increased use of biodiesel means an expanded market for soybean and other oils, giving the agricultural economy an enormous uplift. Perhaps, most importantly, biodiesel will ultimately reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil because the US now has a renewable energy source that is effective. Also, biodiesel is cost competitive with petroleum diesel. The previously sited United Soybean Board press release notes, “biodiesel is becoming more cost competitive as petroleum fuel prices hover around $2.00 a gallon”. And in terms of renewable energy sources, biodiesel is the cheapest because no modifications to engines have to done. You can just pump and go. With biodiesel, you never have to worry about inhaling the black emission clouds from a big rig because there are no black emission clouds. Not only does biodiesel reduce just about every emission known to man, but it also has amazing health benefits. The National Biodiesel Board notes that, “ biodiesel provides a 90% reduction in cancer risks” (). And even if you were to accidentally ingest biodiesel, Bev Thessen, Information Coordinator for the National Biodiesel Board told me on January 23, 2001 through e-mail correspondence that, “biodiesel is nontoxic” (). However, Bev points out that neither she nor the National Biodiesel Board recommends ingesting biodiesel orally. Mmm. Got biodiesel? To prove biodiesel's safety, Bev points out that, “by comparison, table salt is nearly ten times more toxic” (). Doc may have had to travel to the future to find a renewable energy source, but we know we can find one in the food that we eat. Today, we pulled up to the full service pump for the background and process of biodiesel, then we fill up our tanks with the current and future applications, and finally, we sat back and traveled in time with the benefits of this amazing fuel. Back to the Future was a fantasy. However, with the applications and benefits of biodiesel, we won't need to wish that we had a time-traveling Deloran to fix our pollutant problems. Instead, we can now look to a cleaner future with biodiesel. This student omitted her works cited page. A works cited page should be included with all speeches. Sample Rhetorical Criticism Misanthropic Rhetoric “When everyone meets me for the first time tomorrow, I fear they will judge me for how I appear - Chinese, male, and untall - all attributes merely incidental to who I am. They will all have the same questions about the freshman transfer in the math department, they will not truly see me, and they will not understand.” On February 14th, 2000 the readers of the Harvard Crimson were introduced to “The Misanthropic Mister Chu.” This student-created comic strip is pseudo-autobiographical. Alexis Burgess does all of the drawing while Andrew Haiwen Chu, as he himself jokes, just lives his life (Start VA1). Here we see Mister Chu at a social function. The first character introduces himself by saying, “I'm Harry” to which Mister Chu responds, “Well, I am not hairy. I am Chinese.” Our protagonist goes on to explain the proof of quadratic reciprocity…on his shirt. The April 5th, 2001 Independent refers to Mister Chu as the most popular “Asian male at Harvard” (End VA1). The writers had no idea how popular they had become until receiving an angry letter from the Asian American Association on behalf of several ethnic student groups. These groups felt teased by “The Misanthropic Mister Chu,” which they claim entrenches negative stereotypes. After repeated criticism, Chu and Burgess relented in The Crimson of April 21st, 2000 (Start VA2). To prove that race was irrelevant to the comic strip Mister Chu became Mr. Whitman. In this panel our protagonist transforms from Asian to Caucasian. According to Andrew Chu, “we changed the race and name of our main character, but nothing else.” This move effectively placated the ethnic student groups (End VA2). The April 9th, 2001 London Guardian reveals that Asians are the most underrepresented group in the media. Given that mass media shapes social reality, the racial discourse at Harvard University, which is perceived as an intellectual leader, is worthy of our analysis. In order to understand this unique rhetorical strategy we will first, adopt a framework of teasing; second, we will apply this perspective to “The Misanthropic Mister Chu;” finally, we will draw some critical conclusions. In the authors' own words, “we just wanted to end up posted on doors in the math department.” “That's Not Funny: Understanding Recipients' Responses to Teasing” by Jess Alberts, Yvonne Kellar-Guenther, and Steven Corman appeared in the Fall, 1996 edition of the Western Journal of Speech Communication. The authors explain that, “while teases function as a form of humor, they are also inherently aggressive.” This dual nature makes the meaning of a tease ambiguous. The article specifically notes that, “Teasing may cause problems when it is used to influence identities.” In personal correspondence with Alexis Burgess from April 9th, 2001 he writes, “I thought the only people we were teasing were ourselves, but others took the strip as an attack on their identities.” Since “The Misanthropic Mister Chu” is a humorous message that has influenced identities Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman's method is appropriate for our analysis. The writers suggest that responses to teasing depend on three cues. The first is background knowledge. Histories of certain interactions help to define relationships as joking or serious. The authors posit that, “a history of teasing influences the likelihood one will interpret a given [message as humorous]”. In this way background knowledge informs recipients about the intent of teasing. The second cue is context. Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman contend that, “some [situations] …are more likely to influence recipients to interpret a statement as humorous than are others.” Readers, for example, will focus on the playful element of teasing if found in MAD Magazine and the aggressive element if found in The Wall Street Journal. The third cue is self or internal perceptions. The authors hold that, “respondents perceive positive or negative intent because of their own predisposition toward humor.” Groucho Marx, for instance, would be more prone to find a joke funny than would Karl Marx. Now that we understand these cues, we can proceed to apply them to “The Misanthropic Mister Chu.” For a comic strip the first cue of background knowledge consists of the byline, which indicates the history behind the creation. The strip was first published under the pen name Andrew Burgess. In an article by Andrew Haiwen Chu in the summer, 2000 Harvard Advocate, he explains that they combined the authors' names “to see if the strip could stand on its own.” The Asian American Association was afraid, however, that the byline suggested a Caucasian reinforcing Asian stereotypes. In a letter to the Crimson on April ninth, 2000 the AAA recommends changing the byline because, “Knowing that the cartoonist is Asian will help readers understand that the stereotypes are self-inflicted.” On April 13th the by line was changed to A. Chu and A. Burgess. These events are consistent with Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman when they note that, “Ethnic group members assume similarity of background with ingroup members, which influences the likelihood that they will perceive humorous intent.” The second cue of context comes as a result of the comic strip being a comic strip. The April eighth, 2001 Washington Post states that since Asians are rarely represented in media, the fact that they are Asian assumes disproportionate importance. This conflict was played out in this strip (Start VA3). The first character represents the best interests of the Asian community. He asserts that, “Asians deserve a richer image than a math-obsessed nerd.” To which Mister Chu replies, “Absolutely. But I never agreed to represent all Asians.” The first character interrupts, “That doesn't matter. For most who see you without much analysis will take you only at face value.” The strip ends with the first character suggesting that, in order to transcend stereotypes, Mister Chu study Sanskrit (End VA3). Andrew Haiwen Chu argues; “I don't believe in the social responsibility that our detractors have waved against us - it is a sad day when we look to comic strips to educate.” In this case Chu assumed that context would accentuate the playful component of his teasing. Conversely, the ethnic student groups believed that the casual comic strip context lead to stereotypes being adopted subconsciously. The third cue of self refers, in this case, to racial identities. The Harvard Independent of April sixth, 2000 reports the AAA's argument that, “Mister Chu reinforces stereotypes of his heritage.” This criticism is likely due to the fact that, as Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman point out, “tease recipients respond to their own internal states and perceptions.” To appease these perceptions Mister Chu became Mister Whitman (Start VA4). In this installment Mister Chu is “transmogrified.” As he puts it, “They want me to be a good little Asian, but I can do them one better. They just aren't ready for me yet.” After the transformation Mister Whitman comments, “I don't feel any different at all.” When a friend remarks that he looks different Whitman responds, “I look just the same as you” (End VA4). Even though this sequence, as Andrew Chu writes, was intended “as a slap in the face,” the AAA regard it, in the April 27th, 2000 Independent, as a “dramatic metamorphosis.” Once the racial connection between the character and the students was broken the cue of self no longer shaped their reaction. So, despite the fact that the teasing became more pronounced, their response shifted from negative to positive. Based on this application we can, finally, draw three critical conclusions. Initially, the transformation from Chu to Whitman entrenched whiteness as the norm. Chu and Burgess “transmogrified” their character in order to remove the issue of race from the comic strip. Thus, they established white as the non-race. Harvard sociologist, Orlando Patterson, warns that whenever whiteness becomes the norm, any deviation from it becomes abnormal. Even though the ethnic student groups welcomed the change, it sends a message contrary to their goal of racial equality. In addition, intention is not necessary for teasing. Andrew Chu explains, in personal correspondence from April 11th, 2001, that they did not mean to tease Asian Americans; our intention was “to prove that I am strange enough to be a comic strip character.” When you saw the first panel you may not have felt that anyone was being teased, but the point is other people did. Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman discuss that “recipients respond to their perception of the teaser's intent. Individuals who perceive aggressive intent respond with aggression.” Our final conclusion is methodological. The cue of self needs to be expanded to include ascriptive characteristics such as race. Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman define this cue most broadly as “internal states that affect recipients' perception of teasing.” Their research, however, functionally treats the cue of self merely as “predisposition toward humor.” The case of Mister Chu indicates that a wide range of internal states influences reactions to teasing. Harvard's newest two-dimensional transfer student has caused quite a controversy. In order to analyze “The Misanthropic Mister Chu” we adopted a framework of teasing, applied it to the comic strip, and drew conclusions about this rhetoric. Alberts, Kellar-Guenther, and Corman counsel caution because whether a tease is perceived as humorous or aggressive is in the eye of the recipient. Before anyone is transmogrified, however, tease recipients should endeavor to understand authors' intentions. Without such discourse, Mister Chu's fears will become real, “they will not truly see me, and they will not understand.” Limited Preparation Events Limited prepartion events include extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. The following link contains a .pdf file with recommendations for both events. Click here. Oral Interpretation Events Coming Soon Parliamentary Debate--Traditional Style Parliamentary Debate, as practiced in the United States, takes a variety of different forms. The dominant form Truman participates in is associated with the National Parliamentary Debate Association. For the organization's rules, Click Here. For a copy of a draft textbook for learning basic parliamentary debate rules, Click Here. To view a sample NPDA debate, click here. Select debates labeled as NPDA...preferably the ones with Truman in the round :-) Parliamentary Debate--Four-Team/British Style Four-team parliamentary debate appears in a number of forms as well. The British practice a variant of it. Some Canadian tournaments use it, too. Even NPDA has contemplated incorporating a similar format into some of its tournaments. This is also the format used at the World Championships. Here are some links that are helpful in learning about this format. World Debating Website (focusing on British style parliamentary debating) Click here for an article comparing the style and substance of British debating with that practiced in America by Marc Whitmore, formerly of the English Speaking Union. For information on CUSID and Canadian Debating, click here. For information on the World's Tournament, click here. To view a sample 4-Team debate, click here. Select debates labeled as 4-Team, British or World's Format. |
|---|