Jack White - Lead Writer
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Debbie Penate - Research Manager
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Nate Green - Editor in Chief
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Sany Sanchez - Visual Editor
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Editors' Note
Our team has compiled different works done throughout this semester on the topic of human rights. Each member has contributed with subcategories on specific topics that all connect. Many Saturdays were spent collaborating on our themed issue and planning our public awareness campaign. Throughout the magazine you will see the work displayed by each team member on their specific issue, as well as an adaptation of our public awareness campaign proposal and the proposal in action.
How Issues Connect
Human rights are entitled to all human beings, without discrimination. These rights are interdependent, interrelated, and indivisible. Governments have to act certain ways or to refrain from certain acts to promote the welfare of humankind. We discovered that each of our issues is a human rights issue. The title of our magazine is "breaking chains for change." The reason for this is because each of our issues religious intolerance, Native American oppression, human smuggling, and legal representation of minors are long standing issues that we hope our awareness campaign will break those chains and change lives.
Our Specific Papers
All team members individual issues connected to one theme, however each issue is unique and has it's own characteristics. Each writer has chosen specific papers to incorporate into the magazine. We each clarify our reasons for why we used the papers and genres they are in. Jack's Notes ( Religious Intolerance), Debbie's Notes ( Legal Representation of Unaccompanied Minors), Nate's Notes (Native American oppression), Sany's notes ( Human Smuggling). We each feel that each piece chosen is our best and strongest work we have completed this semester. Through many revisions and peer reviews we have strengthen each others papers to help produce a quality collaboration of work.
What We Learned About The Writing Research Process
Throughout the semester we explored different genres and different mediums to showcase. One thing we learned through this process is to organizing a research project is to create a solid topic, that encompasses all our issues successfully. Research must be accurate if the project is to be successful. Without research, our protest is nothing more than unsupported opinion. The audience is much more willing to listen to statistics and information that is currently up to date. Also, it is vital to avoid fallacies and bias. The story must be told objectively. Another thing we learned about the writing process is to get the facts behind the facts. Meaning, get the whole story which includes the backstory. All witnesses, evidence, and stories must be taken into account.
The course covered form and structure in the writing and revision process. This whole section was new to each of us. We learned about scene, musing, summary, and how to incorporate them into our individual pieces. This also helps with the flow and organization of the paper. We were able to learn how to connect ideas by applying these techniques according to our genres.
When we compared our work from early in the semester to now we have seen major improvements. We learned that the revision process takes a while and that working with others helped us to convey our messages in each of our papers. We learned about citations and how to properly cite our sources in MLA format. It is very important to give credit to the authors whose work we used. We are ecstatic about the work in this magazine. Enjoy!
The course covered form and structure in the writing and revision process. This whole section was new to each of us. We learned about scene, musing, summary, and how to incorporate them into our individual pieces. This also helps with the flow and organization of the paper. We were able to learn how to connect ideas by applying these techniques according to our genres.
When we compared our work from early in the semester to now we have seen major improvements. We learned that the revision process takes a while and that working with others helped us to convey our messages in each of our papers. We learned about citations and how to properly cite our sources in MLA format. It is very important to give credit to the authors whose work we used. We are ecstatic about the work in this magazine. Enjoy!
Strengths and Weaknesses
We believed that our group intended to work together. We displayed positive habits with peer reviews, lack of drama, and acceptance of each others ideas. We met three Saturdays face-to-face this improved relationships between group members and allowed us to stay consistent with our project and to successfully complete our protest without any problems. Some weaknesses we had were with communication. Some team members only way of contact was through canvas. It was hard to get a hold of these members at times when projects were due. We managed to overcome these difficulties by consistently checking online for messages and updates from group members.
Our Advice To You
Our group came up advice to successfully work in a team environment. An open-minded atmosphere is great for ideas to flourish. In our group we were able to connect our ideas to a common theme because everyone accepted different perspectives and ideas. There are many sides to a story. It is important to get all sides of a story or event in order to avoid possible bias or inaccurate conclusions. In addition, make sure research is thorough and sources of research must be valid.
In a group it is wise to listen to other group member's revisions of your work. We were able to see in our own papers as we applied suggested revisions by our team that made our papers better. It work best when everyone participates in the group. The more revisions/ peer reviews you have per paper the easier it is for you to present and appeal to a wider audience. Also never take anything personally from the revisions. If the revision was done right they are helping you improve your work.
Finally pick a issue that your passionate about! If you are passionate about the topic you choose every assignment will be fun and you engage yourself more in the work. Also don't procrastinate! Get up and get it done! If your passionate about your topic though, you won;t have a problem with procrastination.
In a group it is wise to listen to other group member's revisions of your work. We were able to see in our own papers as we applied suggested revisions by our team that made our papers better. It work best when everyone participates in the group. The more revisions/ peer reviews you have per paper the easier it is for you to present and appeal to a wider audience. Also never take anything personally from the revisions. If the revision was done right they are helping you improve your work.
Finally pick a issue that your passionate about! If you are passionate about the topic you choose every assignment will be fun and you engage yourself more in the work. Also don't procrastinate! Get up and get it done! If your passionate about your topic though, you won;t have a problem with procrastination.
Final Evaluation
Our group is extremely pleased with the conclusion of our protest and projects. We used many creative and effective means of grabbing the audience's attention. Our page is easily accessible and provides many areas in which one can find information on this topic. It is organized in detail and provides interesting and inspirational stories and that we hope to pass on to other generations and cultures. We have become closer as a group throughout the semester because of this theme and we have become better, more knowledgeable writers in general. We hope this magazine makes you contemplate and address the issues that plague human rights in modern day United States.