You have had a chance to see tools of persuasion in the Three Proofs and to examine visual arguments in methods of persuasion. For this Assignment, you will compose a critical thinking analysis of two television commercials. The paper should be at least 600 words long.

You will select two television or online commercials for the project. If you do not regularly watch television, you can still complete the Assignment by searching YouTube® or individual company websites to find advertisements for products, goods, or services. Choose one commercial that you think is effective and persuasive, and another that you think fails to make a strong argument.

In the same document, you will conduct two analyses. Part I is on the effective and persuasive commercial, and Part II will cover the less persuasive commercial. You should answer the following four sections for each. Answer all of the questions for Part I first, then answer all of the questions for Part II.

1. First, you will describe what happens in the commercial. Assume that the reader has not seen it. Explain the use of words, images, and sounds. What do you see?
2. Next, use the premises–conclusion format to offer about three to four premises that lead to what you believe is the conclusion of the commercial. Label each premise and the conclusion. Then explain why you labeled each part as such. What makes each section a reflection of a premise (evidence, reason) or the conclusion?
3. Identify the use of ethos, pathos, and logos in the commercial. Use and cite the definitions of each term from the reading or your research. Discuss what the commercials have done well or what is lacking.
4. Finally, offer two suggestions that would strengthen the commercial. What would make the effective commercial even stronger? What would cause this ineffective commercial to become persuasive? Explain why this would make a difference in the outcome for the commercial.

Save Part I and Part II in the same document and submit it to the Dropbox for grading.

Task: 

This 4 – 5 full page (not to exceed 6 pages) Philosophical Essay you will be writing due Week 7 is designed to be a thoughtful, reflective work. The 4 – 5 full pages does not include a cover page or a works cited page. It will be your premier writing assignment focused on the integration and assessment relating to the course concepts. Your paper should be written based on the outline you submitted during week 4 combined with your additional thoughts and instructor feedback.  You will use at least three scholarly/reliable resources with matching in-text citations and a Works Cited page.  All essays are double spaced, 12 New Times Roman font, paper title, along with all paragraphs indented five spaces. 

Details:

You will pick one of the following topics only to do your paper on:

• According to Socrates, must one heed popular opinion about moral matters?  Does Socrates accept the fairness of the laws under which he was tried and convicted?  Would Socrates have been wrong to escape?
• Consider the following philosophical puzzle: “If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?” (1) How is this philosophical puzzle an epistemological problem? And (2) how would John Locke answer it?
• Evaluate the movie, The Matrix, in terms of the philosophical issues raised with (1) skepticism and (2) the mind-body problem. Explain how the movie raises questions similar to those found in Plato’s and Descartes’ philosophy. Do not give a plot summary of the movie – focus on the philosophical issues raised in the movie as they relate to Plato and Descartes.
• Socrates asks Euthyphro, “Are morally good acts willed by God because they are morally good, or are they morally good because they are willed by God?” (1) How does this question relate to the Divine Command Theory of morality? (2) What are the philosophical implications associated with each option here?
• Explain (1) the process by which Descartes uses skepticism to refute skepticism, and (2) what first principle does this lead him to? (3) Explain why this project was important for Descartes to accomplish.    

Your paper will be written at a college level with an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion, along with in-text citations/Works Cited page in MLA formatting.  Students will follow MLA format as the sole citation and formatting style used in written assignments submitted as part of coursework to the Humanities Department.  Remember – any resource that is listed on the Works Cited page must have an in-text citation in the paper to match or this is considered plagiarism.

Resources:

• APUS Philosophy Program Guide
• How to Write a Thesis Statement 
• Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting – The Basics
• MLA Formatting and Style Guide
• MLA Overview and Workshop
• Purdue OWL MLA Sample Paper
• APUS Library 

Discussion

Assignment: Annotated Bibliography

Submit: Annotated Bibliography

This week, you will submit the annotated bibliography introduced in Week 3. This annotated bibliography will consist of an introduction, followed by two quantitative article annotations, two qualitative article annotations, and two mixed methods article annotations for a total of six annotations, followed by a conclusion.

An annotated bibliography is a document containing selected sources accompanied by a respective annotation. Each annotation consists of a summary, analysis, and application for the purpose of conveying the relevance and value of the selected source. As such, annotations demonstrate a writer’s critical thinking about and authority on the topic represented in the sources.

In preparation for your own future research, an annotated bibliography provides a background for understanding a portion of the existing literature on a particular topic. It is also a useful precursor for gathering sources in preparation for writing a subsequent literature review.

Please review the assignment instructions below and click on the underlined words for information about how to craft each component of an annotation.

It is recommended that you use the grading rubric as a self-evaluation tool before submitting your assignment.

By Day 7

• Use the Walden library databases to search for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research articles from peer-reviewed journals on your topic of interest.
• Before you read the full article and begin your annotation, locate the methodology section in the article to be sure that it describes the appropriate research design.
  • For quantitative research articles, confirm that a quantitative research design, such as a quasi-experimental, casual comparative, correlational, pretest–posttest, or true experimental, was used in the study.
  • For qualitative research articles, confirm that a qualitative research design or approach, such as narrative, ethnographic, grounded theory, case study, or phenomenology, was used in the study.
  • For mixed methods research articles, confirm that a mixed methods research (MMR) design was used in the study. There are several design classifications in MMR; some examples of MMR types or families of design are parallel, concurrent, sequential, multilevel, or fully integrated mixed methods design.
• Prepare an annotated bibliography that includes the following:
  • A one-paragraph introduction that provides context for why you selected the six research articles you did: two quantitative, two qualitative, and two MMR.
  • A reference list entry in APA Style for each of the six articles that follows proper formatting. Follow each reference list entry with a three-paragraph annotation that includes:
    • An application as illustrated in this example
    • An analysis
    • A summary
  • A one-paragraph conclusion that presents a synthesis of the six articles.
• Format your annotated bibliography in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced. A separate References list page is not needed for this assignment.
• Submit your Annotated Bibliography.

 DISCUSSION MUST BE AT LEAST 300 WORDS

MUST INCLUDE SCHOLARLY RESOURCES WITHIN LAST 5 YEARS

APA STYLE

Before you start: Please watch the Movie Moments videos — they provide information you should know before you make your argument one way or another.
1. Try to define ‘justice’ regarding ‘crime and punishment’ in our society.  What is justice, in essence, within that framework? Punishment? Retribution? Deterrence? Correction? Protecting society from harm? Maintaining the status quo (a tradition and social order to be upheld and continued unchanged) and, if so, can it be separated from another concept, ‘social justice?’

2. Is our justice system ‘just,’ according to the definition you find relevant, and also, is it so according to its moral definition in our society? What can be the reason for ‘injustice’ (if there is any) within our justice system?

3. There are all kinds of talks about the need for prison reform — why? Is there anything wrong with it? And if so, how could the system be improved (in case it should be improved)?

PLEASE USE THE VIDEOS BELOW TO HELP MAKE THE DISCUSSION

Why innocent people plead guilty? http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2014/11/20/why-innocent-people-plead-guilty/

It is not so simple: Why people keep returning to prison? http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35263313/ns/business-careers/t/unable-get-jobs-freed-inmates-return-jail/#.WUdK_-vyuCo

The difficulties of parole. https://people.missouristate.edu/michaelcarlie/what_i_learned_about/pp/difficulties.htm

Responses:

1. Click Reply when in a post to nest your responses under that main post. 
2. Your post must be highly organized, thorough and accurate.
3. Advance the discussion or extend discussions already taking place.
4. Responses must add new information not previously discussed. Pose new possibilities or opinions not previously voiced. Consider new factual information tied with critical thinking. Interesting and current research on the topic.
5. Do not simply summarize another student’s post and agree/disagree. Consider starting out posts with, “A research article I found said, Did you know, 3 things I found interesting were…”
6. How to Post: Click Reply when in a post to nest your responses under that main post. 

Greetings everyone!

For our second week discussion I have chosen to talk about the dermis, its functions, its layers, the papilla, and the hypodermis. Before I begin, I feel it is important to mention some interesting facts about our skin. At the beginning of chapter 6 our textbook mentions that our skin it is the largest organ of our bodies and its responsible for sensation, vitamin D synthesis, functions as a barrier against many potentially harmful substances, and it is also responsible for thermoregulation (Saladin, 2018). Therefore, in my opinion we should take good care of our skin since it is the largest barrier we have against infection.

            While I was researching for my post, I came across a very interesting journal that in my opinion was easy to read and understand. The dermis is a thick layer of connective tissue located just below the epidermis and above the subcutaneous layer (Smith, Y., 2019).  The dermis is the thickest layer of the skin and it is responsible for thermoregulation, sensation, and protection.  It is also made of fibrous and elastic tissue which provide strength and flexibility to the skin (Smith, Y., 2019).

The dermis contains collagen, elastin fibers, nerves, glands, and hair follicles. According to our text the dermis is divided into two other layers call the papillary layer and the reticular layer (Saladin, 2018).  Smith, Y. mentions that the papillary layer is the more superficial of the two layers and that it is made of loose connective tissue such as capillaries, elastic fibers, reticular fibers, and collagen (2019).  She also states that the reticular layer is deeper, thicker, and contains dense connective tissue such as blood vessels, elastic fibers (interlaced), collagen fibers (in parallel), fibroblast, mast cells, nerve endings, and lymphatics (2019).

Our text defines dermal papillae as the boundary between the epidermis and the dermis. It describes the dermal papillae as usually wavy upward waves finger like extensions of the dermis (Saladin, 2018).  Our text also talks about the Hypodermis and it describe it as a layer beneath the skin or subcutaneous tissue (Saladin, 2018).  The Hypodermis contains mostly adipose tissue and sweat glands. The adipose tissue it is responsible for production of vitamin D, and triglycerides. The subcutaneous fat also serves as an energy reservoir and thermal isolation. Children and old people have less subcutaneous fat, so they tend to be more sensitive to cold weather (Saladin, 2018).