week #2 discussion
Week #2 Discussions: Aunt Jemima
While the change that is taking place in our country right now is historical and significant, the effects of the Black Lives Matter movement has reached into different aspects of our lives. Just last week, Disneyland announced that they would be changing Splash Mountain in order to further distance itself from the movie that it was based on, Song of the South, which was controversial when it was released in 1946 and has never been produced for sale in the United States. Disney stated that they had planned on reimaging the ride for the past year.
There are many other brands undergoing similar changes, including Eskimo Pies and Uncle Ben’s rice, which is closely related to what you will be writing about this week, Aunt Jemima.
Read the articles below and make your case for either changing or staying pat with how Aunt Jemima is currently produced and sold. Read all of the information carefully and then format an argument much like the one you will for the essay you will be writing this week utilizing Rogerian argument. This is a style of argument we will be focusing on this term, which addresses the counterargument as closely as it does the premises one is making for his or her own argument. Thus, when you are crafting your post, make sure you also address the best argument for the side you are against and either a) refute it—show and support the case for it being incorrect, b) partially concedethe point—reveal how the point has merit, but is not being represented in its entirety, or c) concedethe point—while you still disagree with the opposite side, you are acknowledging that the point they are making is valid.
Leave your post of no less than 300 words, with at least two (2) citations from the article, and respond to at least two (2) of your classmate posts, citing from their post at least once. All of your citations must be in MLA format. When you respond to classmates, look for those who disagree with you. That is your audience.
One last comment on Rogerian argument. Tone is paramount in being able to persuade someone to change his or her mind. If you are dismissive about this subject, e.g., “This is stupid; I can’t believe people are wasting their time on pancake syrup,” or disgusted, “People that haven’t had a problem with this are clueless when it comes to social issues,” you will lose your reader, and thus the argument. The goal of your writing in this class is to convince others that you represent the correct side of the issue. When you are writing, focus ONLY on those who disagree with you. If you are sarcastic or condescending, you won’t be persuading anyone.
That said, the Discussions Forum from last week, which covered a pretty emotional topic, was handled well. I was impressed with how articulate and communicative everyone was. I look forward to reading similar observations this week.
Your Discussions Forum post and responses must be completed by Thursday, July 2nd @ 5:00 p.m.
As always, late Discussions Forum posts are not accepted.
Change: https://news.yahoo.com/aunt-jemima-more-logo-behind-023441640.html
Stay: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2020/06/21/aunt-jemima-changes-quaker-oats-racial-stereotypes/3233423001/
