Reflection on Issues Paper.

Well, the biggest paper of our Writing 150 careers is finished! Overall, I really liked this paper. Although it was long, and citing sources is at times exasperating, it was a good experience. Some of the things I liked most about this paper were....
1) I liked how we took the whole process in steps. First doing a rough draft, editing, polished draft, and then peer editing, and then the final draft.
2) I liked the fact that we got to completely choose our own topic.
3) I liked writing with approved sources that backed up my own claims.

This paper was a good experience, and I felt that I did a good job on it! Let's hope Chris feels that way too!

Issues Paper Formula.

Well today in class we talked about formulas (Which in my rush write I said made me think of math and babies!). But, we learned that there are formulas for our Issues Paper and this blog is to figure out what formula we want to follow.

I decided that my paper will be formatted along the 6 part thesis, partly because of the way I already structured my paper.

1-Intro: My personal anecdote about Proposition 8 is in here as well as my thesis, which is my map for the paper.

2- Statement and Discussion of Subject: This will be where I give a little history about gay marriage in America and specifically Proposition 8 in California.

3-Narration/Explanation: This is where I discuss gay marriage and why I feel it is more than just a question of equality, and offer some reasons that I will discuss in my reasoning and arguments.

4-Reasoning/Arguments: Focus on my research, all of the statistics, books, websites, and studies that I found that prove that gay marriage is an issue of morality and religion and how it can be solved legally.

5-Pathetic Part: This is my story of Proposition 8 in California. Use emotion here and relate it to how when the decision of gay marriage goes to the Supreme Court we need to support a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the United States.

6-Conclusion: This is where I will wrap everything up.

Well, I think this is a formula for a pretty good paper if I do say so myself! Bring it on!

Mission to Mexico!

Hey everyone! So, this blog is all about whatever we want it to be about. One of the main things on my mind right now is the opportunity that I have to serve the Lord for 2 years on a mission to Merida, Mexico. I can't wait to report to the MTC on May 23rd and be taught Spanish (We'll see how much I understand when I actually get out to the mission field). Merida sounds amazing! It is a city of several million people, surrounded by countryside with acres of farmland. The ocean is super close to it too! Cancun is also in my mission, so if you guys ever come to visit, look me up! A cool fact about my mission is that all of the elders sleep in hammocks, so I better get used to hammocks! I can't wait to serve the Lord on a mission to spread the Gospel! These are just some of the places in my mission! Enjoy!

5 Issues Paper Sources!

Well, I am writing on the controversy of gay marriage. Specifically on the case of Proposition 8 in California during 2008 and the recent overturn of the voter's decision. So, here are 5 sources that I am going to use that will both provide evidence to my argument that gay marriage is not a constitutional right and is wrong. I also have some sources for my counterargument.

1) Arana, Gabriel. "Gay on trial: why more than marriage is at stake in the federal legal challenge to Prop. 8." The American Prospect 20.10 (2009): 16+. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 3 Mar. 2012.
-This Article printed talks exactly about what the title says, why marriage is more than marriage is at stake of the challenge to Proposition 8. 
-http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/AcademicJournalsDetailsPage/AcademicJournalsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Journals&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CA214101234&mode=view&userGroupName=byuprovo&jsid=6b8579a6bb5e5e9bedd83d10855c41d9#.T1E_b6APhCg.mailto

2) Egan, Patrick. California's Proposition 8: What Happened, and What Does the Future Hold?. San Francisco: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, 2009. 1-16. Web. 
-This report talks about the statistics of the vote, and breaks down exactly who voted and why. This could be helpful in fighting for an appeal to the overturning of the voter's decision. 
-http://www.ncsu.edu/stud_affairs/glbt/pdfs/Prop%208%20Report.pdf

3) http://protectmarriage.com/prop8
-Well, I don't know exact citations for a website in general, but this website gives general information on why Proposition passed to begin with, and provides reasons that gay marriage in California should not be allowed.

4) Dolan, Maura. "Judge Strikes Down Prop. 8, allows Gay Marriage in California." L.A. Now. LA Times, 04 8 2010. Web. 3 Mar. 2012. 
-This is a blog put out by the LA Times describing in 2010 when the 3 judge panel in San Francisco declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional and reversed the voter's decisions. This article is important to my argument because it is where the fight to restore traditional marriage again began. 
-http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/prop8-gay-marriage.html

Well, there are just some of my sources so far. I am really excited to write this paper!

Issue Paper Thesis!

Well, here is a tentative thesis for my Issues Paper on the seriousness of Proposition 8.

Thesis: Proposition 8 is not over and the fight to preserve traditional marriage still continues. We need to make sure that gay marriage is made illegal in the state of California because it is not ordained of God and if legalized, could go on to legalizing the practice in the entire United States. Although the LGBT community says that it is a question of rights, it is actually a question of social morality.

Well, there it is. It needs a little work, like I need to make it more concise, and work on refining ideas, but I needed the post now!

Let's write this paper!

Oh the Issues of the World... Which one to pick to write on?

Well, the Issues Paper is here. And we have to come up with 3 Issues.... but I'm pretty set on writing on this topic. I was part of the fight to preserve traditional marriage in California during the Proposition 8 campaign, investing time, money, and effort into the campaign. My dad was a Judge very involved in the legal system and offered much legal advice. I know a lot about this topic and can't wait to find out more about it and show everyone that this issue that started in California is not just a Californian issue, but a national issue. So, here is my topic!

1) Proposition 8 in California: The Truth is, this fight is not over! The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on February 7th, 2012 just upheld the overturn on the people's decision to keep traditional marriage as the only legal marriage in California. We now have to take the fight to the Supreme Court!
-Research Questions: Why is the fight to uphold traditional marriage not over? What are the effects of gay marriage in California and why are we as members of the Church so against it?

Reflection on Rhetorical Analysis!

Well, 2nd paper is done and out of the way. Comparing it to the OpEd I must admit that I liked the OpEd better. Although, I loved writing about tennis. Both papers had their ups and downs, I just liked the OpEd style better than the Rhetorical Analysis. I like writing with my own opinion, and not just analyzing rhetoric of another writer. I'm very excited for the Issues Paper and can't wait to get working on it!