"Respond" Question #2

Write short paragraphs describing times in the recent past when you've used language to inform, to convince, to explore, to make decisions, and to meditiate or pray. Be sure to write at least one paragraph for each of these purposes. Then decide whether each paragraph describes an act of arguement, persuasion, or both, and offer some reasons in defense of your decisions.


Last May I graduated from my high school, at the top of the class. Being in that position I had to give a Valedictorian speech in front of my entire school. Three days before the commencement ceremony, I wrote my speech and practiced vigorously. When graduation day came, I stood up on the stage and told everyone my plans for the future. I informed my entire family that I loved them. Informed my friends how important they were to me, and how much their presence helped me endure the drama of high school. I informed my classmates my wishes for them to succeed in life and gave them advice. That speech had persuasion in it. Being able to tell my family and friends in front of a large crowd of people convinced them that their importance is genuine to me. Also to my classmates, having a successful person giving advice and wishes persuaded them to think they are able to do whatever they desire to do.

In my Government class during my sophomore year in high school, I would engage into debates with my classmates about certain topics. One day, abortion was brought up. We debated whether it should be the individual’s choice or the government’s. I am pro-life but agree that it is every woman’s choice. One of my classmate declared it is every woman’s choice but she isn’t pro-life. We both debated with each other about the moral value of abortion, we both had entirely different views on it. The debate was both an argument and persuasion. It was argument because we disagreed with each other and it was persuasion because we tried to change each other’s views.

I have been dating hearing guys since I was sixteen years old. The first one had hearing parents , so he was fluent in sign language. I was able to explore and understand his lifestyle by speaking to him in sign language. My second and current boyfriend has no deaf background. I am the first deaf person he has ever met; I had to teach him sign language and the aspects of my culture. I explored his world by talking to him verbally. He explored my new, different world by learning my language and talking to me in American Sign Language (ASL). By exploring each other’s life in that style, we had to persuade each other to be open-minded and willing to explore.

Since I first heard of Gallaudet’s easy access to communication and understanding for deaf individuals, I immediately decided Gallaudet would be my college. My language is very important to me, without it I wouldn’t be able to communicate freely or understand others. That barrier doesn’t exist at Gallaudet. That fact is persuasive to me because I would feel comfortable in that zone. At the same time it is an argument with myself because if I immerse completely into the deaf world at Gallaudet, it would decrease my ability to communicate verbally and visually with the hearing world.

I was raised a Christian by my parents. I would go to church on Sundays and I was taught to pray often to talk with God and read the Bible. As I got older, I lost my faith with God because I don’t like how he works. I still pray and talk to Him about how I feel. I argue with him but also with myself because I am not certain about my feelings towards Him. I also try to persuade myself to think of Him better. I read the Bible every once in a while, trying to find a way to discover faith again through His words.