Critical Analysis

Bullying: 
Do you think schools are doing enough to stop bullying? Explain your answer.
   No I do not think schools are doing enough to stop bullying. Like I said before, the staff always tried to get away from conflict, so they would barely help me, explaining the number of times I stayed home, went to the counselor, or the office with parents.
  How should bullies be punished?
  Not punished, necessarily, but helped. I don't believe bullies being punished is necessarily the answer. I think they should be in a seminar weekly to see what it's like to be bullied or the consequences they face or the victims face.
What should schools do to help students who are the victims of bullies?
  STOP AVOIDING CONFLICT AND FACE THE FACTS! Schools should make more efforts. If the students are bullied at all, maybe they should be in an activity to express how they feel and help them stand up to the bullies without fighting.
What are the reasons that students bully other students? How can this behavior be changed?
  Reasons that students bully other students is that they are insecure themselves or placed into peer pressure. Maybe they are pressured to bully students by their "cool friends" or are abused emotionally or physically themselves and take out their anger on others. This behavior can be changed by explaining to them that it is not helping anyone.

Discrimination, Racial:
Why is racism so rife in the world?
  Racism is rife in the world because some citizens don't favor the change at all. I hate to say this, but that category falls under policemen as well sometimes.
How should racial discrimination be addressed?
  Racial discrimination should be addressed by the "Martin Luther King Jr. Method". If there is any segregated place to eat, go somewhere else. If there is a bus that only accepts white passengers, take a different bus.
Has the United States done enough to address the historical injustices to African Americans, Native Americans and other groups? If not, what needs to be done?
   No, they have not. There should be laws against expressed racism. Even state officials have to obey them.

Suicide, Teenagers:
Should schools provide screening for mental illnesses and suicidal tendencies?
Yes schools should provide screening for mental illness and suicidal tendencies. Since students spend more time at school than at home during the day, they can get a lot of help there.
What other steps can society take to limit the number of teen suicides?
Society can provide a mental help seminar for teen suicides and suicidal teens. Students can hear from their peers and talk it out with people closer to their age (therefore, more reliable sources). 
Is increased pressure in the school environment to blame for increased suicide rates?
Yes, increased pressure in the school is to blame for increased suicide rates. The pressure from teachers, parents, and bullying does make teens become depressed, turn to substance abuse, or end terms by their own hands when they crack.
Is the decline of the traditional family to blame for increased suicide rates?
It could be. I don't exactly know what that means, but families unwillingly pressure their children a lot.
Are mental and/or substance abuse disorders contributing factors to suicide?
Oh my goodness, YES! They are a big help to causing suicide. Pressured kids turn to drugs. Drug use becomes drug abuse. Drug abuse lead to funerals.

Freedom of Speech-
Should Holocaust denial be punishable by law?
It all depends on what is being denied. If people are denying the pain Hitler put the Jewish through, everything that he did, it is wrong and should be stopped, but I don't think it's really the law's matter.
Should Congress tighten its restrictions on lobbying?
Unless the lobbying purpose is completely immoral, like increasing racism or substance abuse, no. That is actually a violation against the Freedom of Speech.
Is pornography a form of free speech deserving of constitutional protection?
If the pornography is forced, yes, the "porn stars" should be protected. However, if the pornography is by choice, then the constitution should not be able to stop it because it is also freedom of speech and expression. 
Should student expression be restricted?
Absolutely not. That is unconstitutional, unjust, and goes against the equality this country fights for. 

Cybercrimes
What are some cybercrimes that you are vulnerable to?
There is catfishing, which is when an older person (19 to 39) pretends to be a younger teen to meet targets and produce online rape. There is also cyberbullying, which is helped by social media. Often, teens spread rumors or hate on social media sites to effect others.
What steps can you take to protect yourself from cybercrime?
I can simply block the said offenders. I can also call the police if the person does not stop or tell an adult.
Is more federal regulation needed to protect your private information? Explain.
  YES. There are far too many hackers and viruses that cause damage to innocent accounts!

Date Rape and Date Violence
How can the use of cell phones contribute to dating violence and harassment?
Abusive boyfriends, girlfriends, or rapists can text and call the victim. They communicate to make threats to the person or sexual harassing terms.
Why do some girls stay in abusive relationships?
Some girls are afraid to get out of their relationships. They are scared of the boyfriend doing something worse than what they have been enduring. Some other girls defend their boyfriends because they are blinded or manipulated by the love the boy gives them otherwise.
What can be done to educate teens and their parents about the warning signs of dating violence?
Social seminars should help abusers or victims and their families with the warning signs of dating violence. There can be classes, counselors, meetings and much more about dating violence and help the abuser stop or the victim escape.
Do you think the prevalence of sexual content in the media contributes to dating violence? Why or why not?
  Unfortunately, it does. Guys can get the wrong idea about how to treat their girls by the media or their friends who also use the site. 

Depression
Do the facts seem to support the claim that some antidepressants cause an increased rate of suicide in young people?
Yes, they do. Depressed people are subscribed antidepressants. However, they can not be trusted to follow the regulations when things get harder for them. People tend to overdose and that kills them.
Do the potential risks of antidepressants outweigh the potential benefits?
Yes, they do. Sometimes, according to the victim, they do more harm than good.
If you were a physician and chose to not use prescription antidepressant drug therapy to treat clinical depression in a young person, what alternative treatments would you choose?
I would send the person to a professional counselor or group to hopefully heal their pain. I won't allow drugs at all.
 

 

4) Prewriting Question

• What cases can be made for or against X?

1.  Bullying- People can say that bullying is a sign of weak insecurity (PRO) however, it is still wrong and can lead to indirect murder (CON). Schools do try to prevent bullying and conflict (PRO) however, they are not doing enough or what they are promising. I was actually yelled at or looked down upon by the staff at my old school because I was the victim. They actually tried defending the bullies! (CON)
2. Discrimination, Racial- People in America are agreeing to try to pay reparations for slavery (PRO). However, some argue that enough has been paid for compensation (CON). 
3. Suicide, Teenagers- Mental health screening can help professionals and parents identify children at risk for depression and suicidal urges (PRO). Mental health screening in schools violates family privacy and unfairly labels children as depressed or suicidal. (CON). Preventing suicide is not a bad thing (PRO), but some institutions call it impossible. (CON)
4. Freedom of Speech- Freedom of Speech is one of the Amendments and should be respected for all ages (PROS). However, some schools are questioning whether student expression should be restricted.
5. Cybercrimes- The government is working on laws to protect people from cybercrimes (PROS). But, some debate that it is the companies who created said websites are to blame for the hacking cybercrimes instead of those who act it out, therefore, contemplating on taking the enjoyment away from everyone (CONS). 
6. Date Rape- There is counseling for those who cause the problems of rape and abuse, or the victims (PROS). However, the rapists in the relationships disobey the counseling, so it won't stop them. School officials or state officials can give the victim a restraining order to protect them (PROS), however, forms and threats alone won't stop the other if they don't respect the victim or the law.
7. Depression- Antidepressant drugs can improve their quality of life (PROS), however substance abuse can cause suicidal thoughts or suicide (CONS). Counseling is provided to help depression (PROS), however some deny the help or have an emotional breakdown before the help gets to them (CONS). 
8. Dating Abuse-  There is counseling for those who cause the problems of  abuse, or the victims (PROS). However, the abusers in the relationships disobey the counseling, so it won't stop them. School officials or state officials can give the victim a restraining order to protect them (PROS), however, forms and threats alone won't stop the other if they don't respect the victim or the law. Girls can have someone nearby or on speed dial to call for help (PROS), but girls are always afraid to stand up against their abusive boyfriends or they tend to deny the abuse. (CONS)

3) Potential research topics

Choose five topics that you think are potential research topics for your paper and briefly (in 2 to 5 sentences) explain why these topics are of interest to you.

• Bullying- Bullying interests because I used to be a victim. Now I use this issue as a research topic to determine how to end it and help victims as myself. I'm trying to use this as a future goal.
• Discrimination, Racial- This is a form of bullying that is worldwide. It started from workplace discrimination when different races had to join together. It goes on and on today even though segregation laws have been terminated. I hate bullying, so I hate bullying, so I hate this too. My friend is actually a victim of this abuse.
• Suicide, teenagers- Thanks to so many things, mostly bullying, teenagers have taken their own lives. I am completely and utterly disgusted by this. I want to help decrease suicidal rates.
• Freedom of Speech- While the constitution has given all Americans this right, apparently it only applies for adults. I believe in equality and some, no ALL adults have treated us teenagers like we're not as good as them. Even parents tend to look down on children. If they see one bad thing, they only listen to their side of the story, even if it's not true. Students and teenagers are never able to speak their mind.
• Cybercrimes- Such as catfishing and cyberbullying, cybercrimes have a long rage of consequences. There is rape, suicide, and bullying involved in social media.
• Date Rape- Dating needs to slow down, especially when one half does not want to go to the next level. Most victims are normally females because the males want to move ahead and "be cool" like their friends.
• Depression- A huge lead to suicide. It is like the next level before suicide. This is resulting from trauma, bullying, abuse, pressure, and much more causes. It is a psychological disease. People have died from it. I almost did, too. That's why it is one of my key interests.
• Dating Abuse- Dating abuse is the dangers behind the closed doors of relationships. It normally results from short tempers or substance abuse. The abuses will have death threats, violence, or emotional scarring. This also involves rape.

2) What "ticks you off"?

Make a list of four or five things that "tick you off." Explain why. (Choose significant things that others might experience as well. For instance, your little brother might tick you off, but there is little chance that this annoyance will yield a possible paper topic). It is possible that one of these annoyances can be transformed into an interesting, engaging, and researchable project.

1) Slow walking in the Hallways: I hate this kind of traffic because
     A) I want to go to class
     B) I have no patience if I am late
     C) I want to go home!!!
2) When people say things they shouldn't say to me: My family and friends do this all the time, like talking about my late father carelessly. They know they shouldn't say these things, yet they do.
3) Guy friend girlfriend's jealousy: This prevents me from talking to my best guy friend because the girlfriend feels insecure and "threatened" by me. Like, I know him. He's faithful and the girl already has him. Why attack ME?
4) Bullying: Hate, hate, HATE bullying because it causes unneeded drama and conflict. people do it because they would feel good about themselves? They should know that is DISGUSTING AND STUPID.
5) Drama: This has got to annoy me the most because it mostly happens with girls acquainted with me or relationships who, both of the people, are acquainted with me because I get dragged into it.

(For possible extra credit or fun)

6) Bad Timing: As in "wrong place at the wrong time" or being late. I am ready to go, but I have to wait for other people to take FOREVER to get ready.
7) Getting yelled at for something someone next to me already does: This upsets me because I don't even do anything bad or wrong. For example, for the littlest things, my parents yell at my sister. I scold her for doing those things and they yell at ME.
8) When the radio only has commercials: I listen to the radio for new songs, not the news. End of story.
9) Sexists: Girls can do things guys can do. I demand equality.

 I would explain more, but that would takeover this whole blog, not the post.