Chapter 16 Lunsford et al

The main point of chapter 16 is about different kinds of evidence and how you can utilize them in your writing or your arguments. In every argument it is crucial that you have a reliable source of evidence or there would be no point in arguing. Whether you’re arguing or debating it all boils down to the evidence you have. Think of evidence as your ammo for the war.

On pages 470-471 Lunsford et al. talks about Evidence and the Rhetorical solution. It talks about how we use a variety of evidence to make or support claims. The main focus is that evidence is judged on how it was collected, who collected it, and why. Sometimes the evidence you use can work in one place and not in the other. For example in Lunsford, tells us that a Marine general should employ the same tactics or strategies that George Washington used to win the Revolutionary war. I’m sure you can figure out the problem here. How can a military general use the same tactics as George Washington did 233 years ago? Technology has vastly evolved from the good old’ days. No one uses cannons any more or gunpowder. This reveals that some evidence can be very irrelevant.

From Lunsford et al I learned about Firsthand Evidence and Research. To me, this is the most important tool to use in your writing. Firsthand evidence comes from research that you have done yourself and collected data from. I had one life experience similar to what Lunsford teaches us about Firsthand Evidence and research.

When I was a junior is high school, teachers and parents were bugging me about which college I wanted to go to, RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) or Gallaudet University. My friends were telling me which college I should go to and why. I was stuck between the two since both universities fits my needs and wants. For example, RIT has the hearing interaction that Gallaudet doesn’t. I want that but at the same time do I really want that? On the other hand, Gallaudet is based on deaf history and Liberal Arts. To solidify my decision the summer of my junior year, I went to EYF (Explore Your Future) program offered by RIT to give sophomores and juniors a taste of what college life would be on RIT’s campus for 5 days. I went last summer and I loved it. I met people from all over the world ranging from Zimbabwe to Hawaii. You only experience that once in a lifetime. I was so sure that I was going to be a RIT freshman.

That same year I attended Gallaudet’s open house in November with friends. When I first set foot on Gallaudet’s campus, it felt as if I was walked into something “supernatural” and I just felt like wow there’s no hearing people its just you, yourself, and your signs. To me, Gallaudet is my own personal deaf island. After the open house visit, I was still awestruck about the history of Gallaudet and the accessibility around campus. Which concluded my decision why I’m here before you today.

Basically, what I really have to say is that evidence you gather from yourself is better from getting it from other people because if you consider evidence from others to make a decision, you’ll be making a decision based on THEIR point of view and needs instead of YOURS. So always base your decision on first-hand evidence it’s the best way to go.