The idea here is to learn how to find patterns in the evidence you find in your research on a multiple-source essay and to develop an argumentative point of view.
In class, we'll look at the arguments you have found and figure out the best way or organizing and developing such an essay, so when you blog, develop a point of view based on
1. the best available evidence from the sources in front of you and
2. your own opinion.
Note that if the evidence doesn't support your point of view, you'd have to go searching for more evidence or change your point of view.
Note also that you should be prepared to refute the opposite point of view based on the research materials you see before you.
Good luck. Have fun -- and don't worry about the grammar.
Tom Burns
1. ‘Need’ is irrelevant
ReplyDelete2. We have spare change/goodwill
3. It’s easy to give money
4. It doesn’t solve their problems- long-term
5. Beggars should leave giving up to the giver
6. Donating to agencies or charities is better
7. There are other ways to help besides money
I am undecided about giving money to beggars. While I think it is a good gesture, it really doesn't help solve any problems. I think that there are better ways to help the poor, and they are much more effective, but I do not see the harm of donating whatever coins I have in my pocket or a dollar or two. I don’t think it matters if they are nice or not, or ask politely everyone deserves to have money, and I don’t know their personal stories. Serious drug addiction or not, I have no problem giving my spare change to someone. I don’t think there is some magical feeling you are supposed to get after you give charity and if there was it wouldn’t change how I give. It is awkward when you feel forced into giving, but these are people that do need help, regardless of health situations. I think the government and other social agencies should be doing more. And I also think that people that are homeless or need money should be looking for more than just spare change, but that does not mean giving up some change is a bad thing.
1. Can afford to give 50 cents here and there
ReplyDelete2. Give to those less fortunate, feel sorry for them
3. It is quick and easy to give loose change
4. Process is embarassing for all concerned
5. Depends on if beggar is "legitimate" or not
6. Giver should not feel entrapped into giving money
7. Money a giver gives just helps kill them (alcohol), so it is better to give directly to agencies used to help homeless
8. Volunteering is another way to help, do not have to just give money
I do not agree with giving change out to beggars simply for the fact of my own personal experience. My mom and I used to give change out all the time whenever we would see a beggar; and we always gave change to the same guy, a couple quarters here and there. Turns out, he had a night job and would stand there during the day, and gained so much excess money from givers that he took a vacation. I used to always agree with giving a little money here and there, why not help the less fortunate? That guy ruined it for me, now I do not know who is really homeless and needs the money and who is just a fake. Therefore, I have volunteered and donated to agencies like in the last source. I agree that there are other ways to help out than by just donating loose change.
1. loose change is easy to give
ReplyDelete2. one doesn't think about what loose change means to them
3. people feel bad for beggars snd sympathize with them
4. humiliating for everyone
5. selective about giving change to certain people
6. give money to a legitimate organization
7. volunteer rather than give change
I think there are some homeless people who have genuinely undergone misfortunes and there are others who are scheming and will do anything for more money. I rarely see beggars unless I go into a city so it often comes as a shock to me and I feel bad for them so I do give them my spare change without thinking much about the consequences. I would much rather donate to an organization where I know my money will be helping a good cause.
-Molly
1-being able to afford the contribution asked for deems it ok to give away sometimes.
ReplyDelete2-loose change can generally be parted with easily, but is very valuable to some.
3-people understand the hardships of someone who is in a position where they must beg for money.
4-no one should feel forced into giving money, it is a donation which is a personal choice.
5-you never know if a beggar is legitimate or not, so never give too much money.
6-there are charities and foundations for this exact reason, to legitimately help the poor.
7-Its unsure if giving is helping or hurting some beggars but the choice to give is personal.
I personally support giving to homeless because if they are willing to put themselves in a humiliating situation such as this, chances are its out of desperation. I am lucky enough to have a lifestyle where giving away spare change is something I can afford and should be doing, because those who are less fortunate need it. I agree that not all beggars are legitimate, and some may be scheming but that is why I never give to much, just enough to hopefully help someone who needs it to get something like food. There are certainly other ways to help the less fortunate, such as charities and volunteer services, but the government should be doing more to assist the homeless that populate cities and beaches.
1. Beggars need the lose change more
ReplyDelete2. Want to be sympathetic
3. Give to people that need the help
4. Identify with the beggars
5. If someone is begging, they need the money
6. Impossible to know if a beggar is legitimate
7. Volunteer rather than giving out money
I think in today's society, money is seen as a quick fix. I'm not arguing that giving money to beggars is wrong, spare change can be the difference between someone going a day without food or being able to afford one meal. However, I think that a greater impact can be made through volunteering at food pantry's or donating food. I've always been one to believe that someone's time is much more valuable than money, after all, how hard is it to reach into your pocket for a couple of quarters in comparison to spending five hours volunteering? But more than the effort that must be put forth, when I put myself in a beggar's shoes, I would be much more touched by actually feeling like someone cared than by someone's pity.
1. Beggars need it more than givers do.
ReplyDelete2. Givers can generally afford spare change donation
3. Givers pity beggars
4. Is the beggar really needy, or a fraud?
5. Givers shouldn't feel obligated
6. Voluneetring is a better way to give.
I agree with Paige, in that volunteering is better, but that can be elaborated upon by maybe saving money you would have given to beggars for a couple months or a year, and give it to a soup kitchen, or a similar organization instead. these places need volunteers, but money is much more valuable, as they can buy more food, or hire more capable labor for the work they need done. That being said, I find it difficult to turn down someone asking for change on the street. However, to avoid the drug use arguement, I usually just buy them some food instead of giving them money. The poor are rarely taken care of properly in the U.S. and I feel obligated to do something immediate when I see these citizens.
1. It's easy to give loose change
ReplyDelete2. We feel for the less fortunate
3. It's embarrassing
4. Is the person worthy of the given change
5. Giving makes you feel better
6. You shouldn't feel forced into it
7. Donating to agencies and volunteering helps too.
I am much more likely to volunteer than to give out change. My church has a program called "Take it to the Streets" for high schoolers to donate food and time to the homeless of downtown Columbus. High School students spend one evening a week, when they can, packing about 100 paper bags with fresh warm food, chips, cookies, and juice boxes or what ever else has been donated to the church for that purpose. Then after loading the tubs of paper bags into the big tubs, the tubs are carried out and placed in the church vans. Those who have time, go along to several locations in downtown and hand out food, clothing, propane, batteries, and sometimes things that have been requested on a previous week. When the vans roll up, people are always waiting. They gladly take the food, but don't open the bags until they've talked to us about our lives and their lives, and shared some stories with us. On the occasions I visited, none of them ever opened their bags while we were still there. That experience really opened my eyes. Some of them did have jobs and they just weren't making enough to live steadily somewhere, and there was one group that lived in a grouping of tents in a wooded area. They had their "camp" covered with OSU stuff, and had a tv in one of the tents. Everyone that I ever met was really nice. We did run into some interesting characters a few times. There was one guy (who was obviously drunk)and he kept telling us that he was the nicest guy you'd ever meet, but if he woke up at 3 in the morning and you didn't have a beer waiting, he would punch you out, but he was still the nicest guy you'd ever meet.
I also just recently had an encounter with a homeless man in Madison a few weeks ago. We were sitting in the theatre lobby and a group of homeless people had come in to escape the cold. We were sitting on a bench, people watching, and this guy approached us and asked us if we had done a good deed for the day. He then asked us if we believed in God, and told us that he was homeless and asked us for money for food. He was sitting right across from us and we could smell the alcohol on him. We didn't have a lot of money to begin with, and after he talked to us for a while and was ready to go, we offered him the remains of our pizza from earlier (which we weren't sure what we were going to do with anyways since we were getting ready to go in. He thanked us and walked away. It was an interesting but slightly scary experience.
1. I can easily afford to give.
ReplyDelete2. Is the beggar really in need?
3. It makes me feel good.
4. Humiliating.
5. There are other ways to help out.
6. May support bad habits of homeless (Drinking).
Personally I do not give change to homeless. With many of the homeless using the money to buy drugs and alcohol and many of the beggars being con men out for a free lunch, there is simply too much risk. The best way to help a beggar would be to give him food or some other kind of substantive help, but even then I believe people should make some attempt to earn money. For instance, I an far more likely to give money to a street person if they are playing an instrument or providing some manner of service. Many are also unable to get work. In that case there are many charity organizations that exist to help them, which would be far more effective than shelling out whatever loose coins I had. I believe the most important way to help with the problem of homelessness is to improve the school system so that more people can be educated and have to ability to get jobs.