Category: Writing and Rhetoric II

There were many writing projects assigned for this semester while in Writing and Rhetoric II.  From papers on a rhetorical analysis of an article, to a proposal concept about a problem on VMI, and even to (in my opinion the hardest to write) a paper on fake news with a delayed thesis statement.  While in the classroom environment, we were given everything necessary for us to achieve the best possible grade and best possible information on not only each paper, but for many other things as well, including trying to answer the question “what is truth” and “what is meant by argument”.  The hardest paper overall to write, as stated prior, was the fake news delayed thesis statement paper.

I am sure that I am not the only one to say that the delayed thesis statement paper was hard.  Hard might actually be an understatement of word, even, as I probably took the most time trying to perfect this paper.  Although I did not do great on it, it was a learning experience that I am glad I accomplish.  I plan on redoing this paper before the final grades deadline comes around.  I think the problem with my paper was my understanding of the topic.  The topic itself was somewhat difficult to write about especially.  I believe this topic was difficult to write about because (ironically) it was hard to sift through the fake sources and exaggerated stories to find something that actually fit my paper.  When looking up “domestic terrorism and social media” it was hard not to get a mind-numbing number of results of the January sixth riot and most of those said stories were basically just repeating the same exact story, word for word, from the article before it, almost verbatim.  That being said, it was also a very difficult paper to get the structure and outline done for.  Although I followed the example in the book, it was difficult to stay along those lines.  Lastly, one of the hardest things about this paper was keeping my ideas straight and separating my own personal opinion from what the topic at hand that I should be writing about.  I did a very poor job of this, as I had put a block quote that described how domestic terrorists use social media to coordinate attacks.  At the time, it seemed like a good quote but I definitely should have used it in a different spot, rather than use it as the opening quote for my introduction.  This all being said, I am very happy that this a paper that I was able to write.  It tested my abilities as a writer and gave me a completely different view on how to write in general.  It also showed me my weak spots as a writer.  One of things I enjoyed most though, were the in-class lectures.

All of the in-class lectures had a purpose and led to the next writing assignment.  For example, in the beginning of the year, we had many classes on the philosophy and various prospective of truth and argument, the principles of argument, and rhetorical analysis of texts.  Every one of these classes led to the first writing assignment, a rhetorical analysis of Rebecca Mead’s article Learning by Degrees.  Although I said that the in-class were the best, I also think that our only out-of-class lecture may have the most helpful of all.  When we were taken to Preston Library and shown how to properly use a search engine, like Google or Preston Library’s very own book/article search engine, I was amazed at how much easier my life had become.

I am very happy that I took this and was able to get so much out of it.  I believe that my writing has improved and that my mind has been opened to new ways to attack papers when writing them.

Help Received: None

VMI may seem clean and decent to the outside world, but on there inside there are many problems.  Alcohol abuse, a basic lack of sleep, an obscene amount of demerits being given out, and even Crozet food.  The worst issue at VMI though should be a core issue to all who attend the Institute and value their health.  This issue is with the showers and facilities inside of barracks, specifically Old Barracks.  Although they are “cleaned” about twice a week, they still are filled with mold, muddy floors, flooding issues, and cold, unresponsive showers.  This should be a foundational issue to all cadets who value their health and safety.  The facilities in Old Barracks, although usable, possibly pose a risk to any person’s health and wellbeing.  Although the facilities and showers are an obvious issue at VMI, are there any real solutions to help fix it?

There are obvious answers to this question, although it may not be popular.  The first, and the most simple answer, is to start cleaning the facilities and showers every single day, or at the very least every other day.  This would not cause an excessive amount of extra money to be paid as the workers and cleaners are here almost every day anyway.  All that would have to be done is rotate the cleaning schedule, either per staff member or per area of cleaning, so that the

bathrooms are done every day or every other day.  This would at least start to alleviate the problem of the mold in the showers and the general dirtiness of the facilities.

An interviewee and Brother Rat, Rhodrick Camacho was interviewed about the state of the showers and restrooms at VMI.  He states “They are very nasty, and especially after any kind of PT.  The floors are always flooded and it seems like there’s mud on the floors too.”  When asked about the showers specifically, he states “It’s like the half of the showers don’t work.  They are either missing the nozzle to start them or even the shower heads, and the other half don’t even get hot.”  Camacho was also asked what the Institute could do to better the facilities in barracks.  He responded, somewhat sarcastically, but still with seriousness “They could probably start by actually cleaning them (them being the showers) and fixing all of the broken shower heads and nozzles”.  This brings up the next point of what to invest extra money and outside help into.

Following a more regular schedule of maintenance would be to invest a little extra money to maintain the standard of decent showers and stalls.  This would start by bringing in someone to fix the hot water pumps.  As it is, the water will get lukewarm at best, and when there are multiple (read: about 30-45) cadets in the facilities and showers at a time, the water will never get warm.  As the cold, harsh winter months are coming, this could very pose a threat to entire corps, especially in the form of hypothermia.

Another upgrade to the facilities and showers at VMI could be to bring in an exterminator.  On multiple occasions, there have many bugs and cockroaches that roam the halls and floors of the restrooms.  Not only is this generally disgusting, it also poses many health risks, as some of these insects could potentially carry and transfer any kind of disease or sickness.

Next, is the state of massive flooding on the floors of the restrooms and showers every day.  There is about an inch of water on the floors at any given time, and trekking though starts to become a real problem.  Another Brother Rat, Tyler Atkinson, was interviewed about the showers, and said “I think it is a problem with the leveling of the floors.  Whenever I take a shower in one of the stalls that is the closest to the doors to outside, the water doesn’t run down in to a drain.  Instead, it hugs the wall and runs around the side of the wall to gather together and make a massive pool in the middle of the bathroom.”  When asked about a possible solution, he stated “I think that they need to find a way to level the floors.  If that is not possible, then I think they should put up some sort of short, maybe just a few inches high, barricades around the stalls to keep the water at least trapped in the shower area so it doesn’t run into the main section of the bathroom”.

Lastly, I believe that some issues with bathrooms and showers might be able to be solved with an upgrade to the workers equipment.  When watching the cleaners, it looks like they have older, outdated gear.  I believe that with newer, better gear the staff will have an easier time keeping up with the cleaning of barracks.  This would be at the bottom of the list for solutions, as the cost may outweigh its effectiveness, but it is a solution nonetheless.

Some may go against this noble cause of having cleaner restrooms, but to them I say at what cost?  If the restrooms, facilities, and showers are going to be managed the way they are right now for long term, what will become of them?  They are already flooding, dirty, ridden with insects and bugs, and many of the showers do not work.  If they stay in this state of disrepair for much longer there are two things that could come of it.

First, there could be medical problems.  With the mold in the ceilings left untouched, and wet, dark, and warm(ish) atmosphere of the facilities, the shower areas are perfect breeding grounds for even more bacteria and mold to grow and flourish.  When someone is exposed to this kind of mold, it can result in nasal congestion, rashes, wheezing, and sore throat.  The symptoms could become more severe if they prolong their exposure to the mold or if they have some kind of allergies to mold.

Next, is the student population starts to get angry.  If this happens, cadets may start to protest in the little ways they can.  Mass skipping of SRC and BRC, keeping their hays down for extended periods of time, and even missing parades and other military duty are some of the ways that the cadets of VMI can protest the grotesque bathroom and shower situation.  Although this may seem like an extreme, events like this have happened in the past, and could very well happen again if the school continues to not look after the health and wellbeing of its student population.

Considering all of the facts of the bathrooms and facilities at Virginia Military Institute (mold, non-working showers, flooding in the center of the room) it is blindingly apparent that there are updates that need to be done in order to keep the health of the Corps of Cadets.  The upgrades can be on the cheaper side, like rearranging the custodial staff’s schedule.  They can also be on the more expensive side of the spectrum, like upgrading and updating the shower pipes and shower room and bringing in an exterminator to fix the bug and roach problem.

Works Cited

Atkinson, Tyler.  Personal interview.  16 November 2021.

“Basic Facts about Mold and Dampness.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Aug. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm.

Camacho, Rhoderick.  Personal interview.  16 November 2021.

“Is the Black Mold in My Shower Toxic?” MedicineNet, MedicineNet, 14 Dec. 2020, https://www.medicinenet.com/is_the_black_mold_in_my_shower_toxic/article.htm.

Help Received: See Works Cited

Social media have been and are being used as tools to connect people of all different races, creeds, and nationalities from across the world.  It is being used as a tool of good; for example, to help introverted individuals come out of their shells and communicate with people around the world without having to fear face-to-face interactions.  Despite its numerous advantages, the connectedness of the internet can also be used as a tool of evil.  People can spread misinformation, cyberbully, or even sell illicit material online.  Misinformation comes in all forms on the internet, but most recently it has come in the form of lies, conspiracy theories, and even as far as plotting acts of violence.  These activities lead American citizens to ponder whether social media actually contributes to the spread of conspiracy theories and domestic terrorism.

Social media influencers may say that platforms have been nothing but a blessing to the world as a whole.  Social apps give people who are sick and in the hospital a chance to virtually visit and communicate with their loved ones.  Socially challenged people get a chance to connect with others and build their social skills.  An autistic teenager by the name of Asaka Park is one such example of social media being used as a tool of good.  Asaka struggle with being socially capable, especially in a school setting.  “Cultivating my own space on the Internet helped me thrive outside the pigeonhole. Namely, I use my blog to explain the real reason why I act the way I do. Even though not everyone will understand, I know some people will, and it gives me tremendous hope.” (NYTimes.com).  Mesfin Awoke Bekalu, a scientist at Harvard University, says that “social media use can be positive for mental health and well-being” (Bekalu).  Although there are some bad things that come of social media (racism and the like), it has ultimately been used the better the world.  Not only does social media, or even the internet as a whole, help people connect in many ways, it also serves to help the spread of free thought and ideas.  Fifty years ago, if people wanted to learn about the Byzantine government and rulers in the seventh century, they would have to go to the library and swim in books upon books until they finally found the answers they were looking for.  Today, however, people can just whip out their brand-new phone or laptop, press a few keys, or ask on a historical social media forum, and have the answer at their fingertips in a matter of seconds.

When someone thinks of the concept of conspiracy theories, many ideas may come to mind – aliens, John F. Kennedy being killed by the CIA, or even the moon landing being fake.  The problem with this idea of conspiracy theories on the internet is that it has been used as a shorthand for lies or misinformation.  Conspiracy theories (to constitute as such) have to have some gravity or real information to it, and it is of the utmost importance to draw a distinction between the two.  The ideas expressed before, while called conspiracy theories, or no more than mere than ideas with no proof, or may even be bold-faced lies.  A great example of the difference between the two is in Byzantium in the mid-700s.  The religious class did not like the emperor at the time, Constantine V, as he was very pro-iconoclasm.  He resettled many Christians from Muslim controlled lands, was an expert administrator, and won many campaigns against Byzantium’s enemies, and seemed to be on track to go down in history as a good ruler.  Although he did these great things, the religious class still despised Constantine, and decided to get the people to turn against him.  They spread rumors about his rulership and even circulated lies about his childhood.  The biggest and most spread lie was that of his Baptismal Christening.  The religious class spread a rumor that Constantine, when being Baptized, defecated in the Baptismal Font.  This rumor led to the masses, especially the devout Christians, starting to hate Constantine as well, even nicknaming him Constantine Kopronymos (a Greek word), or in English, Constatine the Dung (or feces) Name.  All this misinformation was done well before the Age of Technology, and still managed to spread rapidly throughout all Byzantium.  It is the same, even as recently as earlier this year.

“Antifa supporters conduct counter-protests to disrupt far-right gatherings and rallies. They sometimes organize in black blocs—ad hoc gatherings of individuals who wear black clothing, ski masks, scarves, sunglasses, and other material to conceal their faces—use improvised explosives and other homemade weapons, and resort to vandalism. In addition, Antifa members organize their activities through social media, encrypted peer-to-peer networks, and encrypted messaging services such as Signal.”  (Center for Strategic and International Studies)

There is definitely a negative effect of social media and the internet on many people.  According to the Mayo Clinic, social media usage can lead to “disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people’s lives and peer pressure” (MayoClinic.org).  Again, in a study from 2016, it was also found that those with a high usage of social medias had a considerable worse quality of sleep, even leading them to experience anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts and actions.  It is a well-known fact that social media will lead to a negative effect on a person’s health and wellbeing, but does it actually contribute to domestic terrorism?

“The report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI)… warns that some left-wing groups have embraced similar social media tactics, including memes and humorous catchphrases, to spread their messages and possibly help coordinate offline activity. The researchers pointed to possible signs of such coordination associated with riots in Seattle, Portland and other cities on July 25, involving fires, looting and property damage.” (WashingtonPost.com)

This event stemmed directly from the use of social media.  Although many domestic terror groups may not even use social media (perhaps there is an Amish domestic terror group somewhere in the United States), social media has laid a foundation where one’s already radical views can be bolstered behind the mask of anonymity in the sphere of the internet.  One such example is that of Nikolas Cruz.  Cruz had recently lost his adoptive mother and sank into a depression, but was brought in to live with a helpful family.  The family helped Cruz get a job at Dollar Tree and helped him sign up for adult GED classes, and even drove him to said classes.  The family thought that Cruz was doing better, but failed to see through the veil of social media.  On his social media, Cruz had close ties with White supremacists, threatened people with shootings, and threw around racist slurs against Blacks and Muslims.  His actions were so intolerable that he was even reported to the FBI.  Cruz, on February 14, 2018, entered his former school with a rifle and killed 17 people.  Although Cruz was ultimately to blame, his social media usage also played a major part in his plot, pushing him further towards his radical views.

Works Cited

Confronting the Rise of Domestic Terrorism – Congress. https://www.congress.gov/event/116th-congress/house-event/LC64275/text?s=1&r=14.

“Examining Extremism: Antifa.” Examining Extremism: Antifa | Center for Strategic and International Studies, 23 Sept. 2021, https://www.csis.org/blogs/examining-extremism/examining-extremism-antifa.

“Home Security & Governmental Affairs.” Majority Media | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee | Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, 20 Sept. 2021, https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/majority-media/as-part-of-ongoing-domestic-terrorism-and-january-6-investigations-peters-presses-top-social-media-companies-for-information-on-efforts-to-monitor-and-remove-violent-extremist-content-.

Kunkle, Joseph. “Social Media and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat.” Policechiefmagazine.org, https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/social-media-and-the-homegrown-terrorist-threat/.

“Media Literacy & Misinformation: How It Spreads – Social Media & Conspiracy Theories.” LibGuides, https://guides.monmouth.edu/c.php?g=706299&p=6903890.

Network, The Learning. “I’m a Disabled Teenager, and Social Media Is My Lifeline.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 June 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/learning/im-a-disabled-teenager-and-social-media-is-my-lifeline.html.

Ramage, John D., et al. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings, Pearson, 2019.

“Social Media Use Can Be Positive for Mental Health and Well-Being.” News, 28 May 2020, https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/social-media-positive-mental-health/.

“Teens and Social Media Use: What’s the Impact?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Dec. 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437.

Timberg, Craig, and Isaac Stanley-Becker. “Violent Memes and Messages Surging on Far-Left Social Media, a New Report Finds.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 17 Sept. 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/09/14/violent-antipolice-memes-surge/.

“Use of Social Media by US Extremists – Start.umd.edu.” The Use of Social Media by United States Extremists, https://www.start.umd.edu/pubs/START_PIRUS_UseOfSocialMediaByUSExtremists_ResearchBrief_July2018.pdf.

Help Received: See Works Cited