Let’s Have An Argument!

Barbara Wolf Shousha, UNHS Director

No, I do not mean a quarrel, a fight or a row. I mean an argument as classically defined:

“A statement or fact advanced for the purpose of influencing the mind; a reason urged in support of a proposition” (from the Oxford English Dictionary, oed.com, retrieved July 6, 2016).

Sadly, popular culture and the never-ending news cycle give the impression that an argument is a cacophony of shouting voices. It is difficult to sift through clever attacks, snark and personal insults to get to the point. What are these people really saying and why are they saying it?

Too often, what passes for news does not provide any new information but rather puts forward opinions to create a reaction. An opinion is advanced, sides form and individuals “argue” through clever turns of phrase, extraneous facts intended to undermine another person’s credibility and all sorts of inflated language. This may make for good entertainment, but has the observer truly learned anything?

It sounds something like this:

Opinion: Barbara Shousha feels that students should learn the classical form of argument.

Side A: That’s ridiculous!  Nobody cares about that old stuff.  She’s an egghead!

Side B: I think she has a point.

Side A: You only think that because you are educators and everyone knows you don’t live in the real world.

Side B: The real world?  Like where logic and reason reside?  You should visit once in a while.

This kind of back and forth can go on indefinitely with no resolution.

A true argument puts forward a point (often called a proposition or a premise) and surrounds it with supporting facts, context, a consideration of alternate views and a conclusion or call to action.

Some would say, “That seems like a lot of work.” Perhaps it is, for people who just want to hear their own voices. But have you ever listened to someone who is really passionate about their topic? A young boy I know (age 6) gave a beautiful classical argument about why dogs are the best animal. It included all of the elements including his call to action to his mother that they should get a dog!

An argument should be the start of a healthy exchange of ideas. And no, I do not mean, “Hey, your ideas are bad. You should exchange them for mine!” There should be a mutual goal of understanding. You should be able to receive an argument, hold it in your mind to evaluate and either accept it or reject it or challenge the other person to explain it. You can then put forward an argument of your own. It is possible you and the other person may come to agree. You may just agree to disagree. In either case, both of you will have learned something.

The UNHS English curriculum offers many opportunities to use persuasive arguments.  In particular Tenth Grade English 1 ENGH 035 059 asks students to write a persuasive essay using the Six Traits of Writing and Effective Speech Communication ENGH 047 059 asks students give a persuasive speech.

Travel Tips: When You Return Home

Charlotte Seewald, UNHS Assistant Director

Your trip is now over, but don’t be too sad! Now you have fond memories to look back on, and I bet it also feels good to be home. Here are some things to keep in mind as you readjust to your home country.

Remember how you had jet lag when you traveled there? Coming home may be worse! While I hope you land and feel great, it is understandable if you feel tired, irritable, distracted as your brain and body readjust to the time zone.

Be gentle with yourself—most people need a day for every hour difference to be back to their normal energy level. So if you were in a country that was 10 hours different than your home it may take 10 days for you to adjust. It is a good idea to not have big projects or stressful agendas to work on the first week of your return. Also, let your family and friends know you need some time to “get back to normal”.

After a long trip home from Malaysia, I found myself crying over a TV commercial! My friend’s husband came home from a long trip and was a grouch for 2 days. Fair warning!

Now that you’re home, here are some things to do:

  1. Store your passport in designated and secure spot for the next trip.
  2. Review credit card charges to note any errors. Contact credit card companies to inform them you have returned.
  3. Store electrical adapter where you can find them again.
  4. Download photos, edit and share!
  5. Sort through gifts and mementos you brought home to share now or later.
  6. Reflect on your travel experiences and consider where you would like to go next!

Whether you are reading these tips before you travel to prepare yourself or are using the advice now, I hope you have a wonderful experience before, during and after you travel!

Travel Tips: While You Travel

Charlotte Seewald, UNHS Assistant Director

Congratulations! Now that you’ve arrive at your destination, here are a few tips to help get your trip off to a good start.

  • Cash is always accepted! When you arrive in a new country, it is always good to have U.S. dollars on you. Get local money at an ATM or currency exchange location, and avoid getting it exchanged at the airport—they have the worst rates. It can be helpful to use a calculator or app on your phone to figure out the price of something in a specific currency.
  • If you’ve landed in a time zone that is five or more hours different than home, you may have jet lag. There are different theories on how to deal with jet lag, but it helps to try and jump into the local time and plan a not so strenuous first day. Eat and sleep on the local schedule. Here’s hoping you get a great night’s rest!
  • Remember you are always an ambassador of your country. Be courteous and respect the local culture. It may be tremendously exciting to visit a place, but may not be appropriate to do certain things. For instance taking photos, selfies, funny poses and gawking at new sights can sometimes make others feel awkward and less than respected.
  • It’s always a good idea to keep passport, money, credit cards, phone, camera, etc. close to you. Some people like money belts or a zippered pouch on a lanyard. Prevent potential problems by having items in a safe, locked pocket or bag. Also because of potential jet lag you may be more forgetful, so it’s good to have a designated place to find these items.

One more big things to remember: Just because you are in a world famous place doesn’t mean you have to do the “expected” tour. Often the most meaningful experiences are more personal. For instance, in Venice, you may find that the expensive gondola ride is eclipsed by rich gelato eaten in the beautiful sunshine.

Ask locals for advice and be genuinely open to new and different people, places, and cultures. You will make new friends and learn lots!