Saturday, December 4, 2010

Remarks on the Struggle for Citizenship and Math/Science Literacy


Remarks on the Struggle for Citizenship and Math/Science Literacy
Robert P. Moses
Journal of Mathematical Behavior 13, 107-111 (1994)

Word Count: 329


1.      Argument:   Minorities should enter high school with the skills necessary to begin and finish the standard college-track mathematics courses.
2.      Audience:  Mathematical professionals, primarily math educators who read scholarly mathematic journals and probably conduct research of their own.
3.      Goal:  To show that the effects of junior high school math programs can be far reaching and due to this, should be focused on and highly valued.  By doing this the author hopes to gain support for his organization, The Algebra Project.
4.      How:
·        Logos:   The author uses statistics to support his findings, and his conclusions are very logical.  The sequences of events  that he uses, such as getting behind in junior high causing a ripple effect throughout the rest of a child’s education, are logical as well.
·        Ethos:  By using findings from several universities and examples of his own dealings with the National Democratic Party and launching a campaign in Mississippi adds to the author’s ethos.  The audience will generally respect their peers findings from other universities, and the authors’ personal experience will help to convince them that he has put a lot of thought and effort into his claims.
·        Typical:  The issues about citizenship and the statistics given seem to be typical of the majority of minorities’ experience.  Mathematic and scientific literacy do a lot for professional progression in the United States, and often language and other cultural barriers make it more difficult for immigrants and minorities to keep up.
·        Relevant:  This is a very relevant topic for today’s math educators.  Citizenship is a big issue in politics today, and finding ways to help these immigrants succeed in the U.S. is important to consider.
Effective or Not:   I think the argument is very effective.  It not only addresses some very big issues facing America today, but gives some helpful suggestions on how to help fix them.  It is also very logical, with will appeal

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