MWP III Rhetorical Precis for two articles

Precis for article “Native Historians Write Back: The Indigenous Paradigm in American Indian Historiography” by Susan Miller.

In the article “Native Historians Write Back: The Indigenous Paradigm in American Indian Historiography”, Susan Miller illustrates how the subject of interpreting history through the concept of historiography needs to consider historical accounts as presented through indigenous peoples as relevant to the way historical accounts have been presented through previous historians.  Miller takes into account how historical accounts of North America have come down through the present from the time of such explorers as Columbus as to not take into consideration the accounts of indigeous peoples that were initial inhabitants.  The author takes what is seen as a discrimatory approach to the concept of how intial historical accounts would not consider the indigenous peoples in order to illustrate how all historical accounts of all peoples are important as to preserve the past in a manner that preserves culture as well as accuracy in such accounts.  The authors audience is seen as being historians interested in giving complete accounts of all peoples in the subject of North American history, as well as those interested in the subject of historiography as to minimize bias and indifference in such accounts through the examination of the accounts of past historians.

Precis for article “Exceptional History? The origins of Historiography in the United States.” by Eileen Ka-May Cheng

In an article entitled “Exceptional History? The origins of Historiography in the United States.” The author Eileen Ka-May Cheng attempts to explore how the concept of historiography would be initially developed amongst US historians.  The author defines the term historiography and how it came about  through three early American historians that attempted to examine in their own ways the interpretation of US history through earlier accounts.  The author considers the methods of each mentioned historian in order to illustrate the various logic as to how historians interpreted the subject of US History as preserved in earlier written accounts.  Cheng’s audience appears to be those inidivudals interested in how earlier historians deduced the subject of US History as seen through the concept of a historiographical approach that considers all aspects of presented historical accounts concerning the precise history of the United States.

  Delaney, Amanda, Ward, Heather, Cameron, Max, and Williams, Allen F. “Controversies and Speed Cameras: Lessons Learnt Internationally.” Journal of Public Health Policy 26.4 (2005): 404-415. JSTOR. Web. 10 March 2013.

            In an article entitled “Controversies and Speed Cameras: Lessons Learnt Internationally”, the authors Delaney, Ward, Cameron, and Williams consider the controversial subject of speeding and cameras used by municipalities to enforce speed limit laws.  They consider the subject globally in such countries as Australia and Great Britain as well as within North America in terms of parameters such as fairness, revenue, reliability, and privacy.  The authors examine the subject internationally with such parameters in mind to stress that such cameras have been successful in enforcing speed limit laws in order to counter the argument that the cameras are controversial in consideration of the mentioned parameters. The article is seen as intended for leaders of municipalities considering the use of speeding cameras in their locales considering the advantages and flaws of such technological use in enforcing speeding laws.

Gazis, Denos, Herman, Robert, and Maradudin, Alexei. “The Problem of the Amber Signal Light in Traffic Flow.” Operations Research 8,1 (January-February, 1960): 112-132. JSTOR. Web. 10 March 2013.

In an article entitled “The Problem of the Amber Signal Light in Traffic Flow”, the authors Gazis, Herman, and Maradudin, consider the dilemma created by the yellow or caution phase of traffic lights.  The authors in particular define the term “dilemma zone” as being that certain phase in whether a driver has to consider either stopping or going when the caution light appears on a traffic light.  The authors stress this aspect of driving in order to illustrate the need for traffic light systems to be designed considering the timing of the light as for a driver to decide how to proceed safely through an intersection with traffic lights.  The authors’ intended audience are those who design traffic light systems as to take into consideration the proper timing of the caution phase of traffic lights for safety purposes.

Lun, K.M., and Wong, Y.D. “Impacts on Red Light Camera on Violation Characteristics” Journal of Transportation Engineering 129.6 (November/December 2003): 648-656. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 March 2013.

In the article “Impacts on Red Light Camera on Violation Characteristics” the authors Lun and Wong consider the subject of red light cameras from a statistical point of view with observations made at specific intersections before and after the cameras are emplaced. The authors’ research takes into account such factors as geometry, volume of traffic, speed, and signal design at the specified intersections with and without the cameras.  In considering the parameters of approach speed and distance from the stop line in terms of the specified factors, the authors illustrate statistically the effectiveness of the cameras in order to show that there is a significant difference in the reduction of crashes at intersections.  The article is seen to be intended for planners of municipalities as well as those who design traffic safety systems taking into consideration the effects of red light cameras in the promotion of traffic safety at guarded intersections.

Retting, Richard A., and Kyrychenko, Sergey. “Reductions in Injury Crashes associated with Red Light Camera Enforcement in Oxnard, California.” American Journal of Public Health 92.11 (November 2002): 1822-1825. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 March 2013.

In an article entitled “Reductions in Injury Crashes associated with Red Light Camera Enforcement in Oxnard, California”, the authors Retting and Kyrychenko statistically consider the subject of red light cameras in the specified locale.  The authors illustrate the difference the cameras make in reducing crashes at specific intersections through the use of tables and statistical data.   The authors utilize a before and after approach in terms of the cameras in order to show the significant reduction of crashes at the specific intersections and thus illustrating the effectiveness of the cameras.  The authors intended audience is seen to be those individuals that  design traffic systems as well as those that run and plan communities as to enhance safer driving conditions particularly at guarded intersections.

            In an article entitled “Controversies and Speed Cameras: Lessons Learnt Internationally”, the authors Delaney, Ward, Cameron, and Williams consider the controversial subject of speeding and cameras used by municipalities to enforce speed limit laws.  They consider the subject globally in such countries as Australia and Great Britain as well as within North America in terms of parameters such as fairness, revenue, reliability, and privacy.  The authors examine the subject internationally with such parameters in mind to stress that such cameras have been successful in enforcing speed limit laws in order to counter the argument that the cameras are controversial in consideration of the mentioned parameters. The article is seen as intended for leaders of municipalities considering the use of speeding cameras in their locales considering the advantages and flaws of such technological use in enforcing speeding laws.

In an article entitled “The Problem of the Amber Signal Light in Traffic Flow”, the authors Gazis, Herman, and Maradudin consider the dilemma created by the yellow or caution phase of traffic lights.  The authors in particular define the term “dilemma zone” as being that certain phase in whether a driver has to consider either stopping or going when the caution light appears on a traffic light.  The authors stress this aspect of driving in order to illustrate the need for traffic light systems to be designed considering the timing of the light as for a driver to decide how to proceed safely through an intersection with traffic lights.  The authors’ intended audience are those who design traffic light systems as to take into consideration the proper timing of the caution phase of traffic lights for safety purposes.

In the article “Impacts on Red Light Camera on Violation Characteristics” the authors Lun and Wong consider the subject of red light cameras from a statistical point of view with observations made at specific intersections before and after the cameras are emplaced. The authors’ research takes into account such factors as geometry, volume of traffic, speed, and signal design at the specified intersections with and without the cameras.  In considering the parameters of approach speed and distance from the stop line in terms of the specified factors, the authors illustrate statistically the effectiveness of the cameras in order to show that there is a significant difference in the reduction of crashes at intersections.  The article is seen to be intended for planners of municipalities as well as those who design traffic safety systems taking into consideration the effects of red light cameras in the promotion of traffic safety at guarded intersections.

In an article entitled “Reductions in Injury Crashes associated with Red Light Camera Enforcement in Oxnard, California”, the authors Retting and Kyrychenko statistically consider the subject of red light cameras in the specified locale.  The authors illustrate the difference the cameras make in reducing crashes at specific intersections through the use of tables and statistical data.   The authors utilize a before and after approach in terms of the cameras in order to show the significant reduction of crashes at the specific intersections and thus illustrating the effectiveness of the cameras.  The authors intended audience is seen to be those individuals that  design traffic systems as well as those that run and plan communities as to enhance safer driving conditions particularly at guarded intersections.

Chapter 13 Rhetorical précis

            In Chapter 13 of the book Good Reasons the authors Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer define the concept of Proposal Arguments.  The authors give definition to this type of paper through a flow chart diagram as well as an outline.  In illustrating the process of how a writer should pursue a proposal argument, the authors state how to define a problem and its solution in order to draft an effective argument making a case for action to the problem of interest.  The concept is seen to benefit research writers in finding and proposing solutions to problems that are of the public interest.

Sources for Major Writing Project I

Sources for Major Writing Project I and corresponding rhetorical precis for each source.

Blake, Kevin “Lighthouse Symbolism in the American Landscape” Focus on Geography 50.1 (Summer 2007): 9-15. JSTOR. Web. 29 January 2013

In this article the author considers lighthouses for their aesthetical appeals in addition to the practical purpose they serve for navigation.  The author considers various aspects of lighthouses in terms of their structure as well as to geographical setting.  The author considers the aesthetical aspects of lighthouses in addition to their practical purpose of navigation in order to illustrate that technologies such as GPS cannot completely replace such navigation markers in terms of marking off the boundary where water and dry land come together. The article adresses the aesthetical and practical issues of lighthouses particularly for those interested in navigation as well as the preservation of lighthouses.

Bruun, Per “Navigation and Sand Bypassing at Inlets: Technical management and Cost Aspects.” Journal of Coastal Research 23. (1996): 113-119. JSTOR. Web. 12 February 2013.

In this article Bruun discusses how tidal entrances to harbors and inlets are affected along sandy shores due to the effect of littoral drift of beach sand.  The article specifically considers the sandy coastline regions of Florida and the Carolinas. The author discusses the need for the dredging of these inlets in order for there to be safe navigation of inlets and harbor entrances by shipping and boating interests where sand could create a blockage through drifting by what is known as littoral drift that is caused by wind, waves, and tides.  Because the article addresses the issue of sand dredging at inlets, the primary audience being addressed  are those interested in safe navigation as well those interested in the use dredging equipment to keep sandy inlets safe for navigation purposes

Kite, Hauke L. Di-Jin, Powell and Farrow, Scott “Safety benefits of Electronic Charts and Integrated Navigation Systems.” Journal of Transport Economics and Policy 31.2 (1997): 147-162. JSTOR. Web. 12 February 2013.

In this article the authors discuss the benefits of Electronic Charts and Integrated Navigation Systems (EC/INS).  The article discusses this through the use of mathematical formulae specifically formatted to have an electronic system as to keep up with the rapidly changing variation of coastlines and sea hazards.  The authors present Electronic Charts as an up to date system in order that the navigation of vessels be such as to avoid collisions, shipwrecks, etc.  The article addresses those individuals interested in using such a means as electronic mapping for the purposes of safe navigation of the seas.

Krauskopf, Sharma Irish Lighthouses Guilford CT: Globe Pequot Press, 2002. Print.

In this book covering the subject of lighthouses in Ireland, the author discusses the individual histories of 36 lighthouses in Ireland as well as the history of the organization that maintains these in terms of The CIL (Commissioner of Irish Lights).  The author considers the history of the lighthouses from their very beginning as an iron basket atop a tower with a fire that would be kept going with whatever could be used as fuel.  The author presents the history of Irish lighthouses in as developed a chronological manner in order to show how the CIL would be formed as to maintain the latest aids to navigation for all mariners operating in the region.  This book is for an audience that takes an interest in the history of the lighthouses of Ireland and their pratical purpose of safe navigation of the inlets and obstacles all along the Irish coast.

Roberts, Bruce, and Jones, Ray American Lighthouses: A Definitive Guide. Guilford CT: Globe-Pequot Press, 2002. Print.

In this guidebook to lighthouses in America, the authors give directions to all these along both Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Coasts as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Great lakes.  In addition are descriptive histories of these along with a general history of lighthouses in the introduction and the continuous need for lighthouses as navigation guides.  The authors stress the continuous need for lighthouses as visual aids to navigation in addition to such technology as radar and GPS in order that the visual element of navigation will always play a role in safe navigation efforts by all mariners. The authors address an audience that is primarily interested in lighthouses for navigation purposes along the both ocean coasts of the Continental United States as well as Hawaii and Alaska with coverage of the Great Lakes as well.

Schiffer, Michael Brian “The Electric Lighthouse in the Nineteenth Century: Aid to Navigation and Political Technology.”Technology and Culture 46.2 (April 2005): 275-305. JSTOR. Web. 29 January 2013

In this article, the author discusses the development of electric means for the lights utilized in lighthouses.  While the article presents how such a means of illumination by electricity would be complicated as compared to oil burning lamps, the technology would eventually be simplified as into the modern means of automation of most all lighthouses in the present day.  The author stresses the difficulties of illumination by electricity in order to cultivate the technology that would be well utilized in the modern visual navigation aids of the present day that have no need for lighthouse keepers that would be necessary to tend oil burning lights.  The author addresses an audience consisting of those individuals interested in the historical development of electric apparatus lights used in lighthouses during the nineteenth century and considering how those aspects apply to the present day from a technological point of view.

Van Zandt, David E. “The Lessons of the Lighthouse: "Government" or "Private" Provision of Goods.” The Journal of Legal Studies 22. 1 (January 1993): 47-72. JSTOR.  Web. 29 January 2013

In this article the author discusses the economic advantages and disadvantages of lighthouses being funded either publicly or privately.  The author considers the argument from both sides as to funding through either tax dollars or private dollars spent by maritime interests to provide safe navigation of the seas.  The author considers both public and private funds as a means of funding lighthouses in order to show the reader the advantages and disadvantages of both means n terms of the subject of providing safe navigation.  The author addresses those individuals interested in the economic aspects of lighthouses concerning how funding should be obtained to keep the lights maintained for safe navigation of the seas.

 

 

 

 

 

Rhetorical Précis: Lighthouse Symbolism in the American Landscape by Kevin Blake

            In an article entitled “Lighthouse Symbolism in the American Landscape” by Kevin Blake, lighthouses are considered for their aesthetical appeals in addition to the practical purpose they serve for navigation.  The author considers various aspects of lighthouses in terms of their structure as well as their geographical setting.  The author considers the aesthetical aspects of lighthouses in addition to their practical purpose of navigation in order to illustrate that technologies such as GPS cannot completely replace such navigation markers in terms of marking off the boundary where water and land come together.  The article is written considering both an audience of geographers that appreciates lighthouses for their geographical setting as well as for those individuals interested in maritime issues and the purposes of sea navigation.

Citation Quote:  “But, first, what is a lighthouse? It is a structure built to display a maritime beacon as an aid to navigation that marks a known point an important place, such as a

Headland, shoal, or harbor entrance.”(10)

Source: Blake, Kevin “Lighthouse Symbolism in the American landscape.” Focus on Geography 50.1 (2007): 9-15. Web. 29 January 2013.

(Left out page number in initial blog posts and wanted write better precis)

Citation Quote:  “But, first, what is a lighthouse? It is a structure built to display a maritime beacon as an aid to navigation that marks a known point an important place, such as a

headland, shoal, or harbor entrance.”

Source: Blake, Kevin “Lighthouse Symbolism in the American landscape.” Focus on Geography 50.1 (2007): 9-15. Web. 29 January 2013.

(Forgot to put page number on quote as required for MLA format)

Citation Quote:  “But, first, what is a lighthouse? It is a structure built to display a maritime beacon as an aid to navigation that marks a known point an important place, such as a

headland, shoal, or harbor entrance.”

Source: Blake, Kevin “Lighthouse Symbolism in the American landscape.” Focus on Geography 50.1 (2007): 9-15. Web. 29 January 2013.

Rhetorical Precis: Lighthouse Symbolism in the American Landscape by Kevin Blake

            In an Article entitled “Lighthouse Symbolism in the American Landscape” by Kevin Blake, lighthouses are considered for their aesthetical appeals in addition to the practical purpose they serve for navigation.  The author considers various aspects of lighthouses in terms of their structure as well as to geogpaical setting.  The author considers the aesthetical aspects of lightouses in addition to their practical purpose of navigation in order to illustarte that technologies such as GPS cannot completely replace such navigation markers in terms of marking off the geographical boundary where water meets dry land.  The article is written considering both an audience that appreciates lighthouses for their geographical setting as well as for the purposes of sea navigation.

For the first Major Writing Project for the class the following question comes to mind:

 Question: Can Lighthouses ever be completely replaced as visual guides to sea navigation by such new technologies as Electronic mapping of the seaways as well as sand dredging technology used to keep sand bars from blocking sea lines for shipping?

Rhetorical Precis: Chapter 7

            In Chapter 7of the book Good Reasons the authors Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer give descriptionhow to go about finding a purpose as to write an argument.  As an example they use the example of yourself buying a new car and having it wrecked by a drunk driver.  In this they give several examples of how an argument could be written in order to consider the many topics that could be chosen as arguments.  This serves as an guideline for writers of research papers in considering the many topics that could be covered from the example given above.

Rhetroical Precis: Chapter 9

            In Chapter 9 of the book Good Reasons the authors Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer define the concept of Casual Arguments.  The authors give an outline to six steps in the process of writing a casual argument. In illustrating the process of the steps, the authors use diagrams showing the ways causes and effects are related in order that the reader may get an understanding of how to go about writing a casual argument.  The concept is illustrated to show writers of research papers the process of writing effective casual arguments.

In Consideration of Monetary Value

In answering the question of whether or not information should or should not be free, there is a mixed reaction to this issue.  In writing accounts of myself and my life as a cyclist, there is the hope of publishing as to be able to collect royalties.  However there is also the issue of where this writer accesses new and other info pertaining to everyday life and feeling somewhat hypocritical in wanting free info but yet wanting to charge for their personal publications.  In this is to be considered the privilege of being able to access through the University Libraries databases in order to find articles for research purposes.  However, just recently, this writer was willing to pay $40 to a railroad archives in order to access documents that could be of importance to a class in the current semester as well as to gain a significant insight to the history of a company known as ART.  This company served the specific purpose of hauling local perishables during the last century through the use of ice bunker refrigerator cars.  There is a possible chance that the info could be found online or at a specific railroading library such as the John Barringer Library of railroading in St. Louis.  But because of such an intense interest and having an archivist go to effort to dig up this info prompts the ideal of having to pay for the labor or get a bad rap.  In considering entertainment this writer enjoys the sport of cycling and being able to freely ride.  However, one of the bikes used by this writer had to have a chain replaced with the possibility of replacing the rings and cogs as well.  While the chain would be for a reasonable cost, the other components would have had to come at great cost, which thankfully did not.  And so for this writer it is mixed issue of whether or not stuff should or should not be free.  We don’t necessarily want to be “jacked” for things, but then we all to consider how to make a living as well.

Precis for article, “The Rhetorical Précis”

In the article “The Rhetorical Précis”, Margaret K. Woodworth describes a concept to actively read and summarize books and articles as to be able to interpret the main ideas presented in such writings.  The author illustrates the form of the rhetorical précis in an outline that can be easily interpreted by her readers.  This outline is presented as a four sentence paragraph in order to illustrate how to go about summarizing the important aspects of any written work.  In illustrating the concept in a scholarly manner, Woodworth’s method appeals to those educated individuals who desire to read actively in a manner as to be able to summarize and interpret the main idea of any book or article.

Aaron Swartz Tragedy

In Kevin Poulsner’s article “Aaron Shwartz, Coder and Activist Dead at 26” there is the argument as to how costly documents should be able to be accessed freely.  Poulson examines the controversial argument that would tend to justify hacking efforts as to gain free access to documents that are sometimes expensive to obtain.  Poulson’s purpose is to illustrate that prosecutors should consider both sides in Swartz’s attempts to gain free access to costly articles.  Hence, users of the internet desiring access to scholarly articles will appreciate Aaron Shwartz for his attempts at gaining free access to such databases