Discussions

A. Let’s talk about the SNS (Sympathetic Nervous System) and PNS (Parasympathetic nervous system).

Assignment Instructions

Please describe both systems and give examples of action items that represent each.

What is the main function of each system?

What are the main components that make up each system?

Give examples that demonstrate the difference between SNS and PNS systems. 

B. Damage to specific regions of the cerebral cortex, such as through a stroke, injury, or infection, can result in specific losses of function.

For this discussion, you will choose a condition that effects the brain and answer the following questions about it:

What different anatomical parts of the brain are affected by it?

What other parts or systems of the body can be affected as a result of it? 

C. Loaded words elicit an emotional response—positive or negative—beyond their literal meaning and can significantly contribute to persuading others to adopt our point of view. Consider this article from CNN.com (Links to an external site.)

Do some research and find a news article on any topic which has a good example of biased/loaded language in the headline and/or in the body of the article. Then, using a formal writing style, rewrite the headline to present a balanced perspective.

• Explain your choice of article, why you feel it is biased, and how the language impacts the messaging. Detail your approach to the rewrites. Where did you start? Where did you find difficulty? Did you have a hard time conveying the original message in unbiased terms? Why or why not?
• As you get started on this, I’d ask that you do two things before selecting your articles:
• 1. Define what biased language and/or loaded language is.

2. Determine criteria for assessing it – decide on how you identify it based on your definition.

The biggest issue I see here is that learners will claim that an article is biased/loaded but, unless it’s very obvious, it’s not clear how. So, make sure you explain if necessary.

2. Language check.

When we write, we sometimes craft language that is close to what we mean, but not quite right. It’s the job, then, of editing and proofreading to catch those weak bits and strengthen or remove them. Sometimes, that faulty language is either biased or loaded, meaning it infers a message that we don’t mean and don’t want soiling our intended meaning. These terms may contain or imply sexism, racism, or ethnocentric views, or may suggest to the reader that “this writer isn’t telling the truth.” In any case, language like this is bad news, and it’s important to catch and fix language that might be misinterpreted in such ways.

Step One:

For this week’s Self Check assignment, you’ll be revising a problematic statement and giving a sentence or two explaining why you changed what you did. Here’s a sample of a problem statement, as well as the rewritten line and a bit explaining the changes:

Dr. Steven Grant, a paleontologist and poor conversationalist, agreed with the findings.

• This is biased text, as mentioning that Dr. Grant was a poor conversationalist can call into doubt his credibility without using any facts to back it up. Here’s that same statement with the biased language removed:

Dr. Steven Grant, a paleontologist, agreed with the findings.

• Step Two:

Using the above example as a guide, rewrite the following 3 lines of biased or loaded text to remove any bias or loaded effect.

Problem Sentences:

If you meet a nurse, tell her how important her      job is.

Democrats fail 50% of the time.

Students performed better on the test—even those      from foreign universities.

Step Three:

Submit your document. Your document should:

Be 12 pt, Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins,      and double spaced.

Consist of at least 6 sentences (3 rewritten      lines, and 3 lines explaining the original lines’ problems).

Be saved and submitted as a Word document (either      .doc or .docx).

Rubric

GE Self-Check Rubric_ENG120

   

GE Self-Check Rubric_ENG120

 

Criteria

Ratings

Pts

 

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCompletion (100%)Submission   is on-time.
 

  Assignment meets required length and setup expectations as outlined in the   assignment description.
 

  Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are correct. Both sentence and paragraph   structures conform to current conventions.

   

10 to >5.0 pts

Exemplary (100%)

1. Meets all guidelines with no errors.

1. 5 to >0.0 pts

Acceptable (50%)

1. Meets some of the guidelines; contains major errors.

3. Essay outline.

• This week you will write the outline for your persuasive essay.

Persuasive writing is meant to convince a reader about a particular idea or focus, usually one that you believe in or one you have an opinion on. Whether you are arguing against junk food at school or petitioning for a raise from your boss, persuasion is a skill that everyone should know.

To write a persuasive essay, follow this outline:

Introductory Paragraph

Body Paragraphs

Concluding Paragraph

Here’s an example of the structure for this essay:

  

Introductory Paragraph

Body Paragraphs

Concluding Paragraph

(Links to an external site.)

Your topic is: “ANCC Magnet Hospitals”

Here is a great article if you need some ideas to get started. (Links to an external site.)

Use the LIRN to find sources which support your paper. Click on the “Library” course link in your Canvas page, and then use the “LIRN Library” link on the home page to get to the Database search engine. If you are prompted for an access code, use: 42142.