Some Thoughts

Ok, so after giving my presentation yesterday, I had some things to think about. Here's what I've concluded.
First- I am DEFINITELY going to take Samm's idea into account and include some info about the role whales play in the oceans and what would happen to the oceans IF the whales were in fact permanently removed. I'm sure the extinction of whales would have a dire outcome, and the portrayal of this outcome, I believe, is a strong argument for WHY whaling needs to be stopped.

Secondly- Jim Ridolfo sent me (and told me during my presentation) some info about the rhetoric of protesting and arguing for the environment. While a pretty interesting read, I had to keep in mind that my research paper topic is "The Japanese Whaling Industry" and not "The Whaling Practices of the World" nor is it "The life and times of Paul Watson". Watson DOES play a factor in the Japanese whaling industry, and that is why he made it into the paper at all. While the story about Watson gaining the support of the US government through his video of the Soviets whaling is a brilliant and interesting one, it does not pertain to Japanese whaling.

NO TIME!!!

HOLY MOLY!!! Writing these next five pages has been agonizing. Not only am i so unbelievably pressed for time, but the more I write, the more ideas I think of to explore and I feel like there's way too much to say and I just kind of freeze up and don't say anything. That's stupid and makes no sense.

Remarking on what I said last time, I highly doubt I'll have any time to make any kind of successful remix of my research paper, but if I had it my way, I think maybe some kind of visual/video production could be EXTREMELY effective in portraying my argument. But I've never made a video before in my life, so that's just not going to happen.

Progress

So, heeeeeere's the story. Research is well under way. I'm coming up with lots of useful information and I've added probably 6 or 7 sources to my Bib already. The first five pages weren't too rough and I'm pretty confident that I'm going to have plenty of content for the whole 20. AS TIME PERMITS I am toying with the idea of turning this paper into a whole project... perhaps using one of the mediums we have learned about. I'm not set on this idea, though, and don't know what my scehdule will allow.

WOAH!!!

WOAH!!! Looking for sources is overwhelming. I guess choosing a topic that has A VAST ABUNDANCE of information about it has its down side. There are so many books and articles to choose from, I'm really going to have to look carefully at the possibilities and really try to pick the best ones.

Watkin's video

Ok, I must say that I have been pretty resistant to all this new technology trying to break into the world of essay, argument, and rhetoric, but after watching the Watkin's video, I think I'm beginning to soften to the idea. The video in itself is a compelling form of rhetoric that carries a very persuasive argument very much enhanced and strengthened by his mixed-medium of text, audio, and visual.
Having so far considered myself to be old-fashioned and only holding a written work on a page to be a "true" form of text, I must admit that after viewing this piece, I DO in fact agree with Watkin's argument about students and new media. I believe there is a lot to gain from a combination of media, especially in this technologically over-loaded world.
Having said that, I remain resistant to technology being forced upon me, especially when it appears an inconvenience rather than any kind of help.