I-Search research update Post #26

I have currently found two more sources for my I-search paper. One is a pamphlet that was sent to my mom about what’s at stake for RN’s. In this pamphlet they talk about both John McCain and Barack Obama’s healthcare plans and goals to improve the healthcare system. The second was a magazine called Nursing Spectrum the October issue. There was an article about Florida primary care failing to meet children’s health needs. This article talks about what we need to do to improve children’s healthcare. The article also gives statistics that I can use to support my research.

Ch. 14 Post #25

Summary:
After reading Ch. 14 Using Strategies for Argument I know have a better understand arguments and what they are used for. To be an effective arguer you must get to know your audiences enough to understand their response. Argument is somewhat different from persuasion. When you persuade you convince but when you argue you present your side of the problem. Having an appeal means convincing your audience o agree with your argument. There are three types of appeals that will help making your writing more effective. Logical appeals are appeals made through use of solid reasoning and appropriate evidence. Ethical appeals focus on character. Emotional appeals can help readers connect with and accept your argument. There are also three approaches to argument. Classical is by listening to effective public speaking. Toulmin you use because statements to provide support for the assertions. Rogerian has a point of departure the observation that at times we will inevitably take perspectives on issues that are different from those of the people with whom we have important relationships. There are also many common flaws in arguments.

Reaction:
My first reaction to this reading was it was very informative and it helped me better understand the purpose and different types of arguments.

3 Questions:
1. How do you know when to use a different form of argument?
2. What makes argument writing effective?
3. What should argument writing include more of, research or opinion?

Presidential Debate 3 Post #24

After watching the third presidential debate I thought that I was boring. I really didn’t get into it that much. During the debate the candidates were asked about healthcare. “Given the current economic situation, would either of you now favor controlling health care costs over expanding health care coverage?” John McCain responds to the question as it is a terribly painful situation.

They're seeing their premiums, their co-pays go up. Forty-seven million Americans are without health insurance in America today.
And it really is the cost, the escalating costs of health care that are inflicting such pain on working families and people across this country. And I am convinced we need to do a lot of things.
We need to put health care records online. The V.A. does that. That will -- that will reduce costs. We need to have more community health centers. We need to have walk-in clinics.
The rise of obesity amongst young Americans is one of the most alarming statistics that there is. We should have physical fitness programs and nutrition programs in schools. Every parent should know what's going on there.
We -- we need to have -- we need to have employers reward employees who join health clubs and practice wellness and fitness.
But I want to give every American family a $5,000 refundable tax credit. Take it and get anywhere in America the health care that you wish.

McCain states that “The average cost of a health care insurance plan in America today is $5,800. I'm going to give them $5,000 to take with them wherever they want to go, and this will give them affordability.”

McCain also said “I want to leave money in your pocket. I want you to be able to choose the health care for you and your family. That's what I'm all about. And we've got too much government and too much spending and the government is -- the size of government has grown by 40 percent in the last eight years.”

Ch. 11 Post #23

Summary:
After reading chapter 11 in The McGraw Hill book I now have better understand of the rhetorical knowledge, critical thinking, reading and writing, the writing process, and conventions of writing to solve problems. In rhetorical knowledge I found out that my audience is readers who view this subject as a problem or issue and who are interested in my solution. The purpose is to convince the readers of solutions to the problem. The rhetorical situation is where I stand in relation to the subject. As for my voice and tone I should be persuasive and my tone needs to engage the readers. In critical thinking, reading and writing the learning inquiry is when I propose a solution to the problem but I will first have to convince my readers that the solution will work by the kind of evidence is present. My responsibility is to consider others solutions. Reading and research is to help support my solution so that way my readers are more convinced. Going into the writing process the inventions I will continue to use are listing, brainstorming and free writing. Before I begin to write it will be best to organize my main points and what kind of evidence I will need to support them. As for my conventions I ill need to rely on outside sources and make sure to use the appropriate documentation. I now have a better understand of what is expected in writing to solve problems.

Reaction:
My first reaction was wow this is going to be a little bit difficult but then as I started to read more I got a better understanding of how the paper is supposed to be done.

3 Questions:
1. What kind of context would help make a better writing to solve problems paper?
2. How will organization of main points help write a more effective paper?
3. What specific types of outside documentation could best be used?

Presidential Debate 2 Post #22

Watching the second presidential debate I was not very impressed by the way the candidates performed. In this debate the topic of healthcare is brought up a great deal. All of this information from the debate was very helpful. During the debate John McCain was asked to put healthcare, energy, and entitlement reform: social security and Medicare into an order of priorities. He replied back saying that all three of them could be worked on at once and that the reform of our entitlement programs was very important. He says “As far as health care is concerned, obviously, everyone is struggling to make sure that they can afford their premiums and that they can have affordable and available health care. That's the next issue. But we can do them all at once. There's no -- and we have to do them all at once. All three you mentioned are compelling national security requirements.” Barack Obama is then asked to for a comment and he says that healthcare is his second priority “because that broken health care system is bad not only for families, but it's making our businesses less competitive.” McCain later says that healthcare and energy can be dealt with at the same time with the participation of all Americans working together to solve the problems. John McCain is then asked about his two years for reform of entitlement programs. He says that social security is not tough because we know what the problems are and how to fix them. He then talks about Medicare which is a little tougher. Its tougher because of the very complex and difficult issues. He says that with Medicare we have to have a commission, the smartest people in America, come up with recommendations and then base-closing commission idea and have Congress vote up or down. The question on whether or not healthcare should be treated as a commodity came up. McCain says “And we need to do all of the things that are necessary to make it more efficient. Let's put health records online, that will reduce medical errors, as they call them. Let's have community health centers. Let's have walk-in clinics. Let's do a lot of things to impose efficiencies.” Following this questions they are asked if healthcare is a privilege, right, or responsibility. John replies with, it’s a responsibility because we should have available and affordable health care to every American citizen, to every family member.

John McCain Post #21

In today’s New York Times I found an article about American businesses and their John McCain’s and Barack Obama’s healthcare proposal. They talk about the differences that John McCain and Barack Obama have. Obama says that McCain’s plan would accelerate the erosion and do little to reduce the number of uninsured Americans. While McCain says that Obama’s would undermine employer coverage by mandating the medium and large companies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/us/politics/07health.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Another debate between the two presidential candidates will take place tonight and there are some questions I have before the debate starts. What will they say about healthcare? Will this be a topic they spend a decent amount of time on? How would John McCain’s plan in his eyes help improve our healthcare system?

VP Debate (10-2) Post #20

After watching the debate between the two vice presidents I didn’t really feel that one side was better than the other. They were both equally argumentative and had good points, opinions, and reasons. When watching the debate I was listening for their comments on healthcare. While talking about Wall Street running wild senator Biden brought up McCain’s healthcare reform saying that he wants to deregulate it and let the free market move. Governor Palin comes back with information about the largest tax increase that Obama and Biden supported. During the debate Governor Palin is asked if she wants to defend Senator McCain’s healthcare plan and she says yes. She says that he has a “good plan and it is detailed.” He’s proposing a $5000 tax credit for families so they can purchase their own coverage. She says Obama’s plan to mandate coverage and have a universal government run program will cost money and is only satisfying if you like how the government has been run lately. McCain also wants to erase the lines between states so that way if a better plan is offered somewhere else you could cross state lines for it. Affordability and accessibility are the keys to healthcare reform.

John McCain Post #19

Reading through more articles from the University of Florida’s online library, I found another article on the candidate’s stances regarding adjusting tax code insurance. In the article “Check the right box” from Modern Healthcare on April 14, 2008 they say John McCain is the only one left who has signaled his flat tax credits might replace the entrenched tax preference extended to employer-sponsored premiums, a notion likely to inspire fierce resistance. Barak Obama is going under income-based credits. Major healthcare stakeholders are coming up with their own healthcare tax code coverage instead of following a candidates’. Their tax code encourages employers to drop coverage even while helping more people get coverage in the non group market is a decidedly mixed bag for all of them.

John McCain Post #18

After looking through the University of Florida’s library I found an article about what people should take into consideration about healthcare and the plan to fix it. The article “A Business Proposal” from Modern Healthcare on August 4, 2008 gives Andrew Webber’s opinion about healthcare reform. He talks about how candidates should look to businesses for a part of the solution. Investing in technology, re-engineering, and workforce productivity could lead to improvements in product quality at a lower cost and overall cost control. Healthcare reform shouldn’t just be looked at for universal coverage but for quality and affordability equally as well.
Key Reform:
* Providing consumers with the information they need on provider price and quality, as well as the comparative effectiveness, of medical services, so they can make wise choices and better navigate their healthcare journey. * Changing payments and incentives to reward both providers and consumers for achieving improved health outcomes. * Adopting health information technology and interoperable systems by all providers to include passage of legislation that creates uniform HIT standards to enable a fragmented healthcare system to become connected and support patient-centered healthcare. * Shifting greater focus toward health promotion, disease prevention, and primary and chronic-care management rather than the current system's orientation toward "sick care." This focus should be promoted by payment reform initiatives.