Think about the following list of facts. Think about different ways individuals might interpret the information. Think about how different people can interpret the same facts differently. Is one person right and the other wrong? You do not need to respond to all of the statements in the discussion.
- Microplastics, the microscopic bits shed by the plastics we use every day, have been detected in human breast milk, according to an article on WebMD. The researchers tested the breastmilk of 34 healthy mothers one week after they gave birth, and the microplastic was found in 75% of the samples.
- According to the New York Times, scientists at Stanford University have successfully transplanted human neurons into newborn rat brains in an effort to better understand the biology of debilitating neurological disorders.
- Law enforcement officials in major Texas cities, including Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales, say a law allowing adults to carry handguns without a license has led to more spontaneous shootings during arguments over driving, parking, loud music, and love triangles, according to the Houston Chronicle.
- A Fox News poll showed that 77% of Americans oppose book banning in schools. The American Library Association reported that in 2022, a record 2,571 different titles were banned or censored by school districts, states and other government entities — a 38% increase from the previous year. Some books are removed from schools if only one parent complains about the book.
- Researchers at the National Institute of Health monitored more than 33,000 women in the U.S. for an average of 11 years, and found that the women who used chemical hair-straightening products at least 4 times a year were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer than women who do not use the products.
Select one of the topics. Discuss the different possible interpretations of the statements. How and why do those interpretations differ? What different conclusions might individuals draw based on these facts?
Respond to at least one of your classmates with a substantive response to their writing. Responses that say no more than “I agree” or “I disagree” will not count.
Outside sources are not required for this assignment, but if you employ them, you must cite them properly in MLA format and include a Works Cited.
Proofread carefully. Multiple distracting grammar and punctuation errors can result in a failing grade.
EXAMPLE:
One out of four Americans between 18 and 24 said they had considered suicide during the Covid pandemic, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Do not use this topic for your discussion.)
Some people will take the stat to show that 18-24-year-old people are emotionally weak. Millennials never had to live through a hardship such as World War or the Great Depression as some older people have, so elders think the younger generation doesn’t have the emotional fortitude to hang in there and work through it. The statistic will reinforce their idea about millennials being “snowflakes” who melt when trouble arises. It may also reinforce older people’s ideas that young people are self-centered, spoiled, and pampered too much.
Others will see the statistic and think the U.S. needs more mental health care, especially for young people. They might think about the poor resources we have for mental health care. Many insurance policies don’t cover mental health and many young people don’t have insurance anyway. They might think the statistic shows we should have prepared for the emotional effects of Covid-19 as much as we did for the physical effects.
Others may interpret it as a statement about economics. More 18-24-year-olds are less financially stable, so the loss of their job could shake their world and cause them to consider suicide. This group may think free college or student loan forgiveness should be implemented to help more young people start their lives in a better financial situation so their mental health will be better.