Webster's dictionary defines normal as...

People always say different behaviors, cultures and practices are "weird," "strange," or "different." If that's the case, what is normal. Is there a true normalcy that everyone can agree on, or are we just using the term as a cushion that gives us who think we are "normal" the comfort to lay back and criticize others. Within all societies there are norms: a leader, a tradition, a gathering, a feast, a language, a religion, but even if these practices are completely normal routines for one people, they can still be odd in another. Ideas have certain norms: wanting progress, making tasks easier, moving things faster, but an idea that benefits one culture might never be used in another. What is normal? To the individual, it may be how they live day-in and day-out; to a group, it may be a weekly meeting at someones house. "Normal" is circumstantial, an ideal that cannot recur without the definition of normal being changed. "Normal" is perceptual, a definition that each individual can decide for themselves. "Normal" is anything but normal.

Subcultures

The main subculture I'm thinking of doing is Mormons. My stance is that those who are adults and still follow the religion have been brainwashed and are no longer in a religion, but are simply pooling money into a large corporation. The teachings and practices of Mormons, much like Scientology's followers, are meant to lead people not towards a spiritual god, but to a materialistic and unstable belief that has no purpose other than to give the people false hope and the higher ups more money to put in their coffers. Mormons exist in groups, go to church, dress nice, and are otherwise normal people. They are not allowed to drink caffeinated beverages (except for coke, since the Mormon religion has a large share in coca-cola) and, I'm sure, other bizarre and non-religious practices that make this religion a terrible joke.

Another subculture might be college students who are recovering from drug addictions. I want to learn why they were addicted in the first place, how their personalities and lives were altered during the drug use, and if they still crave the drugs or how it feels to be living without drugs. These people are in a lot of different groups, which is my only reservation, and might not be at liberty to talk about the past. Other than hitting rock bottom, I want to know the reasons that might make a person decide to quit. Do they keep their old drug equipment or throw it all away, are the memories pleasant or painful, would they do it again if they could, etc.

Peer Review Impressions

I was happy to have my paper read and corrected, and it's helpful to know that some of my style choices didn't connect with my readers. I think peer review is more helpful with a writer/editor sit-down before/during/after reading the paper. Giving a personal opinion to a writer can only help them in the end, as long as it's constructive. It was a good experience overall, I wish I could have done more though.

How I'm putting my paper together

For anyone in the class having trouble with writing this paper and who reads my blog, here's my pre-writing before I begin my paper, it's a good reference tool and it only took me 5 minutes to write up.

Outline current highway construction methods with commentary on what materials are used and how a national reconstruction project on both highways and drivers training might be beneficial as well as a counterargument regarding financing.

History of the beginnings of the highway system and how it has changed over the years, commentary on what we can still improve on, explain German Autobahn and use increased accidents or geography of the U.S as a counterargument.

Focus on the Autobahn, give specifics on: traffic, construction, accidents, and police activity on the autobahn.

Focus on the factors that contribute to vehicle crashes on the highways, and integrate autobahn and U.S interstate into a solid argument for changing the roads and give argument/counterargument response for increasing the difficulty and age for getting a license in the U.S.

Project Proposal

My paper will focus on why we, as a nation, should reconstruct our highways to match and improve upon the German Autobahn. To support this point, I have found research comparing the traffic and accident ratios between our Interstate and those on the German Autobahn. Following this will be a historical perspective of how our interstates were originally constructed by president Eisenhower and why now, in the digital age, such technology should be considered outdated. As a final point I will address the economic ramifications compared to the future economic benefits (positives vs. negatives) of such a civil engineering project, combining my previous points into one solid argument for the development of such a project.

Research Excercise #2

Andrew Bell
Eng 1050
Research Exercise #2
Topic: Civil Engineering, renovating and re-imaging the U.S Interstate

Works Cited, Article 1:
Clash, James M. "Joy of Autobahn." New York Sept. 15, 2003: V. 172, I. 5; pg. 224

Summary
There are many positive aspects regarding the German Autobahn that could be applied to the U.S interstate, making cross-country travel faster, safer and less costly. Such a venture would be costly, but would inevitably lead to economic growth. The trouble is the cost of such a venture, but the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Response
In "Joy of Autobahn," James Clash researched and found that, to remake the 45,000 miles of U.S Interstate to meet Autobahn standards would cost approximately a half-trillion dollars (Clash 224). Such a venture looks daunting, but the U.S is already in debt over 2 trillion dollars. That's $2,000,000,000,000+ that we are in debt. We are the United States of America, but in the next fifty, or even one hundred years, will we still be the USA, or will we be considered the former-USA. A civil engineering project is just what this country needs tight now. Our highways are paramount to the success of businesses, both large and small, but they are becoming outdated in an ever quickening world.

Works cited, Article 2:
Reid, Robert L. "Paving America Coast to Coast". Civil Engineering June 2006: V. 76, I. 6; pg. 37

Summary
Back when Eisenhower initiated the building of the U.S Interstate, the design was based off of the German Autobahn. His plan was to make cross country travel easier with the use of a comprehensive system of roads that would allow people and ideas to travel from coast to coast faster than ever before. He succeeded by calling on the people of his country, people like you and me, to take up this cause and make our country a better place to live.

Response
Robert Reid explains that, after becoming the president in 1953, Eisenhower decided that the U.S needed it's own quality highway and modeled the U.S interstates after the German Autobahn (Reid 37). Since then automobiles have made leaps and bounds, computers can fit into our pockets, information can travel across the world in a blink of an eye, and no matter where you look, the world is increasing its pace at an exponential rate. While we still have cars that drive on the ground, we should invest in keeping up with the rest of the world, lest we fall behind. We are, and have been, a super power, but how long can we police the world before the world retaliates. We're only one country and not even the biggest one at that. A new interstate, a faster system of transportation, would have immediate effect on product shipping, fuel economy, auto-manufacturers, and prices of products throughout the U.S.

Carter - Just Be Nice

This is definitely a compelling argumentative piece, but by our standards there seems to be some things missing. A thesis, for one: his stance is solid and the paper flows smoothly, but there isn't any indication as to what is going to be in each paragraph based on the lead paragraph. Within each paragraph he glides seamlessly between the counterargument and his own stance, so much so that you can barely notice that the counterargument is even there. He uses colorful examples, "the fired waitress," or "the boy with droopy pants," that connect the reader to his stance; this gives his opinion a stronger foundation when he gives a comprehensive, sensible contrast between what we deem as rights and what should be considered desires. This argumentative contains enough fact, opinion, and counterargument to make it a quality argumentative piece.