Project 3 Outline

In the following blog post, I will be providing an entire outline of my argument based on the different tips and guidelines provided by Writing Public Lives. 

INTRODUCTION

Walker, Samantha "Screenshot from my computer"
11/7/15

Since I'm working with a causal argument examining the reasons current school funding is inadequate and the politics surrounding it, I feel that I should focus on a "Frame the Consequences" introduction. By looking at the causes of the problem in the body of my argument, an ominous premonition of the consequences of leaving the funding situation on the track it's on would both engage the reader, grab them by their liberal beliefs and foreshadow the severity of poor funding. It allows me to access many points of the audience while catching their attention quickly. However, it could sound too preachy if I'm too condemning of the future. I can try to include some positive results if my argument is pursued. 

BODY

Walker, Samantha "Screenshot from my computer"
11/7/15

1. Major Supporting Arguments

• Current legislation led by conservative House board neglects impoverished, high-minority districts
• Funding for education is the lowest of all federal funds when it should be one of the highest
• State legislature has barely any government regulation to avoid the unfair funding of underprivileged vs privileged schools 
• Current brutal legislation has forced and encouraged school districts to cut corners and attempt to do what little they can with low funds

2. Major Criticisms

• The government should not be overbearing in the regulation of state education legislature because it is an overstep of their bounds
• To blame conservative led committees is neglectful of the point that Education Secretary Arne is liberal and has also fallen short in regulating funding
• The sweeping criticism that funding needs change fails to address the issue of the current economic situation

3. Chosen Support and Rebuttals 

Current legislation led by conservative House committees neglects impoverished, high-minority districts: Important to address because it really hits home for my liberal audience

Current brutal legislation has forced and encouraged school districts to cut corners: this is important because it looks more into the foundational causes of the issues

To blame conservative led committees is neglectful of the point that Education Secretary Arne is liberal and has also fallen short in regulating funding: It's important to address a key source of doubt for my audience and redirect the concern onto something else

4. Topic Sentences

Conservatives have held power in the House and have halted many legislative changes, including education changes, led by a conservative committee. 

Current legislation such as No Child Left Behind has districts backed into a financial corner where cuts are being forced and districts must sacrifice quality in order to abide to convoluted, restrictive legislation. 

Not all blame for either issue can be forced entirely on conservative shoulders; liberal Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is guilty of retaining educative power through legislative bail outs and lack of action. 

5. Evidence
Look at both perspectives of conservative and liberal legislation and faults

A great example of potential liberal change
Credible source reflecting on the state of education from liberal perspective

6. HERE is a link to a coggle I made of my argument as a whole

CONCLUSION

Walker, Samantha "Screenshot from my computer"
11/7/15

Positive Consequences

Since I've spent so much time in my argument discussing heavy, depressing, and frustrating concepts that have now (hopefully) generated a lot of passion in my audience, I think it's important to direct them to the positive results of what will happen when action is taken in the right direction. Rather than spending the entirety of my argument being negative, it's important to give the readers hope that the situation can improve.



REFLECTION

After reading the Visual Elements posts of Swati and Mira. After reading through both of them, I realized that, even if an article may not have an abundance of images, it really helps to be conscious of every image and organizational choice. Mira is doing a National Geographic article, renown for their imagery, but her understanding of the importance of the images helped me realized that images aren't just something to engage, but to also guide the readers feelings. Swati had a similar situation where her genre isn't one to use much imagery, but she brought to light the importance of being very conscious of the relevance of images to the argument itself.