FINAL PORTFOLIO
ANDREA DEWITT A compilation of completed work for the semester in Rhetoric and Composition II
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Austin
Table of Contents Texas
About the Author
Page 3
Letter
Page 4-7
Rhetorical Analysis
Page 8-11
Final Research Paper
Page 12-16
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Andrea
DeWitt
Andrea DeWitt is a freshman at Saint Edwards University. She is majoring in Kinesiology with an Emphasis on Physical Therapy, and has not decided if she will declare a minor. She is from Keller, Texas, a small town just outside of Fort Worth, Texas and came to Austin in search of new opportunities for her continuing education. Though Andrea is a member of the Saint Edwards University Women's Soccer Team, she is committed to her studies in her free time and enjoys exploring the exciting new sites of Austin, Texas. She has always enjoyed writing and loves to read books when she can in her free time. Though she was heavily involved in outside athletics during her time in high school, she was very interested in volunteering and spent a lot of time working for different community service organizations. She believes that these experiences gave her a new perspective on life and hopes it will further her writing in the future. She is happy to admit that she thoroughly enjoyed her experiences in Rhetoric and Composition II, and she feels it improved her writing immensely.
About the Author
4 Andrea DeWitt 1527 Highland Lakes Dr. Keller, TX 76248 December 7, 2015 Beth Eakman Re St. Edward’s University 3001 South Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704
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Dear Beth: Looking back, this semester was a valuable and challenging experience that opened me up to new perspectives and expanded my comfort zone. It was strenuous, unique, and constructive in improving my ability to write successfully as a collegiate student. The purpose of this letter is to assess my progress as a sophisticated writer throughout the duration of the semester. Referring back to the course objectives in the syllabus, it is clear that this Freshman Studies course has been effective in improving the quality of my writing as a whole and preparing me for the duration of my education at Saint Edwards. During the course of the semester, our class focused on five main principles to study: Rhetoric, Composition, Research, Critical Reading, and Moral Reasoning and Civil Discourse. In Rhetoric, the class evaluated rhetorical strategies of different passages of writings to assess the persuasiveness and effectiveness of the writing as a whole. This can be seen through our extensive use of Bryan Stevenson’s book, Just Mercy, and our analytical approach to each aspect of his writing. For composition, the class as a whole identified the most effective and cohesive ways to construct pieces of writing for overall fluency and effectiveness. When studying research, we explored new avenues for discovering reliable sources so we could construct an informative and extensive research paper. We expanded on our abilities to imbed pieces of evidence within the text for a topic of our choosing in regards to the Death Penalty in the United States. We also improved on our critical reading skills as we evaluated pieces of evidence for reliability, and increased our understanding and experience of moral reasoning as we respected the differing values of others. This class was not only successful in improving our capability to perform each of the course objectives, but this course was effective at turning a difficult writing class into something enjoyable and unique. Continue
As I have evaluated the writing I have accomplished most recently in comparison to the beginning of the semester, I have noticed a drastic improvement in sentence clarity and simplicity of diction. For example, in my Rhetorical Analysis at the beginning of the year, I expand on a statistic by saying, “These high percentages emphasize the emotional sympathy Stevenson’s audience will find from the notion that hundreds of children will grow up without maternal figures because of these excessive sentences.” Though this sentence makes sense, the word choice could be far simpler which would improve on the clarity of the sentence and overall increase its effectiveness. Looking back now, it is easy to see that I was substituting complex words in the place of simpler ones because I was having to stretch to provide evidence for my point. In comparison, when explaining a piece of evidence in my research paper, I state, “Because of McDermott’s gender, she is not afforded the same rights granted to men due to her lack of representation in the California prison system.” Using simplistic and clear language, my piece of evidence is much more effective because it is direct and easy to understand. Rather than using longer words that have the potential to confuse my reader and distract from my main argument, the simplistic language
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proves to the audience that my evidence is not only solid but substantial. As I go back and read through each of my pieces of writing, it is very clear that my writing has drastically improved, and will hopefully continue to improve as I remind myself of the lessons taught throughout the course of the semester. The threshold concept I took from this Freshman Studies class is my improved ability in regards to analyzing textual evidence. Critically analyzing the evidence was not something I was confident in, and unfortunately it wasn’t until after the Rhetorical Analysis section of the semester that it became something I really understood. In my opinion, I originally had so much difficulty with it because it was hard for me to look past the text in front of me and determine the meaning and reasoning behind it. I needed to look beyond the text, and rather
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than focus on the actual words in front of me. As I have improved on this skill throughout the semester, I have noticed that it is much easier for me to provide substantial evidence for my points because I am not stretching quite as much through my use of evidence. Now that I have almost completed this course, I truly believe that this is a skill that I have learned and will not forget because it is such a vital and important tool when studying here at Saint Edwards. One of the most intriguing aspects of this Freshman Studies course was the interlinked connection between the Rhetoric and Composition class and the Freedom and Rights lecture. Because we were generally focusing on several contemporary political controversies during the lecture, I was able to pull some of the information from that class into my writing while in Rhetoric and Composition. I also found that if I was struggling to provide evidence or quality reasoning, I
could use some of the information discussed in the lecture as a foundation for expanding on the topic. In comparison, often times the Rhetoric and Composition component would better prepare me for the lecture because it was such an open-ended conversation with multiple view points and ideas. If I was ever not understanding a concept discussed in lecture, I had the ability to talk to my peers in class for a better explanation on the topic discussed. Over the duration of the semester, I found that Lauren was a vital part to my success in this Freshman Studies course. She provided numerous opportunities for feedback on each of the pieces of writing and was nearly always available when it came to answering questions about a particular assignment. In addition, her information and feedback was extremely helpful because she has taken this class before and had experience with what you could be looking for. She had the unique ability to make the class enjoyable, and pushed us to expand our limits
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7 so we could become stronger writers in the end. This class was beyond valuable in preparing me for the rest of my time at Saint Edwards. It provided me with quality experience in several types of writing and improved my ability to converse with others over sensitive topics in both a respectable and assertive way. In the end, I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to make this class both enjoyable and incredibly valuable to my education here at Saint Edwards. This class opened me up to new perspectives and not only strengthened my writing, but I believe it also strengthened me as person. Thank you for everything. Sincerely, Andrea DeWitt
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
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By: Andrea DeWitt
Bryan Stevenson, in his bestand logical appeals, his credibility as selling book Just Mercy, establishes a lawyer in the field of criminal his mission to promote for the better justice, and his descriptive language treatment and equality of minority to create emotional connections with groups within the modern justice his targeted audience. system. It is commonly known Stevenson’s argument throughout the United States that regarding the mistreatment of women racism and oppression of minorities has is substantiated by the disturbing been a widely controversial topic since statistics he presents based on recent the founders first established the developments in the justice system. democracy in the 1700’s. Thousands of “In the United States, the number of people, including well known figures women sent to prison increased 646 such as Martin Luther King and Rosa percent between 1980 and 2010,” Parks, have protested for a more just which is approximately “1.5 times society in which blacks and whites can higher” than the increase in male live peacefully with equal rights and incarcerations (279). Though responsibilities. Bryan Stevenson Stevenson does not cite where he started the Equal Justice Initiative discovered his statistics, his because, despite the drastic credibility and experience in the field improvement in tensions between black of criminal justice emphasizes his and white populations, he found an argument that minority groups, in innate flaw within our society and the this case women, may be facing justice system as a whole. The purpose harsher punishments than that of the of Stevenson’s non-fiction memoir is to majority. According to Stevenson, spread awareness about the injustices “two hundred thousand women” are many minority groups, including in jails and prisons across America, women, face in the federal court system.and “the incarceration of women has Stevenson's most effective argument reached record levels” (279). The regarding the issues in the justice heavy emphasis Stevenson places on system center around the mistreatment the drastic number of women who of women through his use of statistics have been convicted for “nonviolent, Continue
9 low-level drug crimes” adds to Stevenson’s argument that the justice system is flawed and in need of change (279). He appeals to his audience with startling statistics regarding the “75 to 80% of incarcerated women” who “are mothers with minor children” (280). These high percentages emphasize the emotional sympathy Stevenson’s audience will find from the notion that hundreds of children will grow up without maternal figures because of these excessive sentences. A major issue Bryan Stevenson and many other protesters of the death penalty find is the inability of the courts to use substantial and credible evidence when convicting for capital punishment. In Chapter 12, titled “Mother, Mother,” Stevenson focuses primarily on women’s issues and their treatment within the justice system. This argument, though it can apply to all audiences, has specific appeal to women because of their personal relationship with pregnancy and childcare. Stevenson’s relationship with pregnancy and childcare. Stevenson’s main appeal in “Mother, Mother,” and the rest of the book focuses on the notion that much of the evidence presented in capital punishment cases is not credible and therefore can be easily manipulated by corrupt officials to convict innocents. In “Mother, Mother,” Stevenson focuses on the credibility of the pathologist who initially examined and autopsied the baby of Marsha Colbey. Stevenson states that “most experts agree that forensic pathologists…are not qualified to estimate survival chances,” and therefore, Kathleen Enstice, the pathologist responsible, was not qualified to determine the survival rate of Mrs. Colbey’s child (273). Not only does Enstice not have the credibility and knowledge to determine survival rates, but she has a “history of prematurely and incorrectly declaring deaths to be homicides” (273).With this evidence, Stevenson justifies that the credibility of the state is corrupted and the possibility of more women being wrongly accused is
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high. To emphasize this claim, Stevenson introduces more credible resources such as Dr. Dennis McNally, an obstetrician and gynecologist who discredited Kathleen Enstice’s work when she examined Mrs. Colbey two weeks after the birth. Based on McNally’s findings, “Mrs. Colbey’s pregnancy was at high risk for ‘unexplained fetal death’ because of her age and lack of prenatal care” (274). In addition, Mrs. Colbey “had a tubal ligation five years prior to her arrest, which made it biologically impossible for her to conceive, let alone give birth to, a child” (277). Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by Stevenson in favor of Mrs. Colbey’s innocence, the state disregarded the substantial proof due to “inflammatory evidence that Marsha was poor, a prior drug user, and obviously a bad mother for not seeking prenatal care” (274). Not only does Bryan Stevenson focus on the lack of credible evidence the state uses when convicting women, but he establishes a strong emotional appeal with his audiences through his descriptive imagery of the prominence of sexual abuse among women’s prisons across the nation. One of the most brutal offenses in our society today is the common occurrence of rape and sexual assault among women. Stevenson, in order to establish an emotional appeal of anger and sympathy with his audience, depicts the brutal conditions in which convicted women are forced to live and survive. Lack of privacy in the showering room, “dark corners and hallways —terrifying spaces”, and religious officials assaulting women are only a few of his descriptive images that promote fear and sympathy within his audience (282). The idea that a religious official, a person generally associated as holy and compassionate, could be taking advantage of women in such a demeaning way strikes a strong cord with many audiences to make a change.
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11 Bryan Stevenson’s writing holds credibility with his readers due to his personal and descriptive background in issues regarding minority groups and the flaws within the justice system. In the introduction of Just Mercy, Stevenson depicts the challenges he faced growing up in a poor family and attending Harvard University to study law. Stevenson’s background as a lawyer at one of the most prestigious law schools in the country gives credibility and emphasis to his argument that change needs to be made in the system many Americans consider to be just. Not only did Stevenson spend years studying the law, he also has personal experience with the negative effects of growing up in a poor community and facing discrimination based on his race and financial status. The evidence presented in Just Mercy appealed to Stevenson’s targeted audience through an effective balance of ethical, logical, and emotional appeals. Though Stevenson did not determine where exactly he discovered his statistics regarding many of the facts presented in his argument, Stevenson’s credibility as a distinguished writer and lawyer backed up his claims. The stories and evidence presented in “Mother, Mother” are completely relevant to his overall argument that minority groups, including women, are commonly faced with unjust conditions and morals within our legal system. In our traditional society, women are thought to be protected— but more importantly, in need of protection. Playing off these historical stereotypes, Bryan Stevenson uses the immorality of his examples to incite a passion and anger within his audience to drive them to make a change. Whether or not a person agrees with the Equal Justice Initiative and it’s purpose, it is clear that there is an innate and hidden flaw within our justice system. In order for the United States to be considered truly moral and just— a beacon for other democratic nations across the world— it is the duty of the people to stand up for what they believe in and incite a passion for change.
Just Mercy Bryan Stevenson
More than Just an Execution
Research PAPER By: Andrea DeWitt
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As of December 31, 2014, there were only 56 women convicted to capital punishment in the United States. This compares to the 2,946 men who are currently housed on death row today (Death Penalty Information Center 2). Yet, women on death row facing capital punishment are subjected to more than just an execution. The inadequate living conditions, high rates of sexual abuse, and unequal access to programs available to men violate the constitutional rights of condemned women in prison systems across the United States.Starting in the late 1900’s, the number of women sentenced to death row increased dramatically due to faulty testimonies from forensic professionals and inflammatory evidence presented in cases involving child victims and abuse. According to Bryan Stevenson in his memoir, Just Mercy, the “child-victim category” of homicides in the United States “resulted in a tremendous increase in the number
of young mothers… sent to death row” (274). This “criminalization of infant mortality” is often based on inflammatory evidence and inaccurate forensic investigations that discriminate against poor women who cannot afford adequate health care during pregnancy. In the case of Marsha Colbey, a client of the Equal Justice Initiative who was later acquitted in the murder of her still-born child, the state had “no credible scientific evidence” to convict Mrs. Colbey; therefore, it claimed that Marsha was “poor, a prior drug user, and obviously a bad mother for no seeking prenatal care” (Stevenson 274). Women in increasing numbers face capital punishment in the United States based on their inability to pay for adequate health care—not the capital offense for which they have been accused.
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Due to this mass increase of incarcerated prisoners in the late 1900’s, many of the prison systems across the United States have surpassed their capacity limitations resulting in inadequate living conditions for women on death row. Because of a lack of facility space available, condemned women are placed in substandard living conditions and isolated from the rest of the population because of the risk factors surrounding their imprisonment. A report in the Los Angeles Times depicted how women are placed in “highly restrictive ‘lockdown’ conditions” to protect them from sexual assault and abuse by other inmates and prison officials (Corwin). Yet, due to these protective regulations, women are not given the same rights and liberties granted to men on death row. Miles Corwin, a former crime author for the Los Angeles Times, uses the example of Maureen McDermott who has “fewer privileges, greater restrictions and is more isolated than any other condemned inmate” (Corwin). She is the only female prisoner facing capital punishment in California, and is housed in a “6-by-12-foot cell…23 hours a day” with no contact to other inmates (Corwin). However, Corwin goes on to compare that men are “allowed to leave their cells from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.” to play various card games or work out. They have access
13 to typewriters, contact visits, and telephone calls— all mandated by a court order that does not apply to “condemned women” (Corwin). Because of McDermott’s gender, she is not afforded the same rights granted to men due to her lack of representation in the California prison system. Prison officials and institutions are not willing to make the effort to grant McDermott, and other women on death row, the same rights as men because it is inconvenient and costly. In addition, according to a survey by the American Civil Liberties Union, “nearly half [of the women] reported that their cells lacked adequate ventilation, and most reported the presence of rodents or insects” (15). In some cases, officials make the claim that the poor living conditions condemned women face in prison are a violation of the 8th amendment. Based on previous Supreme Court cases, such as Gates v. Cook and Jackson v. Duckworth, failure to provide adequate air flow and protection from pests and rodents is considered “cruel and unusual punishment,” if it undermines the health and sanitation of the incarcerated inmates (American Civil Liberties Union 27). Women housed on death row are subjected to unlawful risks of diseases and harm based on the inadequate living spaces available within the overcrowded prison institutions. Continue
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Not only are women being subjected to unconstitutionally poor living conditions, but women do not receive equal funding for programs and medical care because of a lack of representation within the criminal justice system. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, men account for approximately 93% of the prison population in the United States (Inmate). As a result of this, women do not receive equal funding for programs—such as job training and recreational facilities because it is not “economically feasible” (Corwin). In one prison in California, Associate Warden Ross Dykes claims that providing equal rights for women “is not a matter of sexism; its a matter of finance” (Corwin). It is “too time consuming” for prison officials to provide equal amenities to women because of their lack of numbers within the system. Recent surveys by the American Civil Liberties Union show that women on death row reported a “shocking [deficiency] in the treatment of [their] unique medical needs” despite a “high prevalence of HIV infection, tuberculosis, [and] Hepatitis B and C” (15). The enhanced risk of disease and infection would call for an increased need of health care for women within the prison system, yet in most cases, women do not even receive the basic necessities required by law. In addition, women are not granted equal opportunity to receive treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, depression, or mental health issues that are granted to men through funding programs that do not include coverage for women. These inconsistencies in the prison institution’s treatment of men and women are a direct violation of the Equal Protection Clause granted in the 14th amendment of the constitution. Women—regardless of their crime, race, economic status, or religion—are supposed to be granted equal rights to promote for the equality of all individuals in the United States, yet because of their gender, they are limited in their opportunity for basic living necessities while convicted on death row. Another area of inequality that women face within the prison system is the frequent sexual harassment and assault charges by prison officials. It is estimated that “1 in 5 women” are sexually assaulted or harassed in prison and a third reported being observed while “they used the toilet, showered, or dressed” (American Civil Continue
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Liberties Union 14). This frequency of sexual abuse and harassment would never be permitted in the general public, yet because it takes place within the prison system, the assault is often ignored. In 1996, Congress passed the Prison Litigation Reform Act in an attempt to protect incarcerated women from sexual abuse by prison officials; however, in most cases, the strict requirements and standards set within the legislation actually limited the prisoner’s ability to have their complaints and grievances heard (American Civil Liberties Union 15). In 2014, due to pressure from Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative and other human rights organizations, the United States Department of Justice officially opened an investigation into the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women— one of the top ten worst prisons in America (Stevenson 283). The Department of Justice concluded that prison officials “raped, sodomized, fondled… [and] coerced prisoners to engage in oral sex” during their time at the Tutwiler institution (Samuels). The “staff also [harmed] women prisoners through a constant threat of sexual violence…subjecting them to a constant fear of sexual abuse” (Samuels). Many of the women facing capital punishment have previous experience with sexual abuse, and this constant fear of reoccurring sexual assault can lead to an increased risk of mental health problems during their time on death row. Demeaning language, inappropriate gestures, and a constant lack of privacy all contribute to a dangerous environment in which sexual assault and harassment is rampant and uncontrolled. The Department of Justice later determined that the conditions found within the Julia Tutwiler Prison violated the “prisoners’ eight amendment rights to be protected from harm” (Samuels). For the safety and security of the people, the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the constitution protects American citizens from unnecessary and excessive brutality during imprisonment. This includes rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. Regardless of the crime for which these women have been convicted, sexual abuse is illegal in the United States, but it is permitted within the prison institutions because of a lack of effective correctional policies.
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16 The death penalty in the United States has been a highly controversial topic for hundreds of years, but women on death row are subjected to more than just a painless execution. The inadequate living conditions, high rates of sexual assault, and unequal access to funding for programs affect more than just the women themselves — it affects the families and communities of the women incarcerated. Regardless of the crime for which these women have been convicted, it is the government’s obligation to protect these women from the violation of their constitutional rights. America is founded upon the principle of equality, but the discriminatory policies and unequal opportunities promoted within the prison systems violate the very foundations of our country as a whole. The death penalty in the United States is a problem, but the treatment of women while they await their execution is an even greater issue that needs to be addressed to preserve the equality of America again.
Death Penalty More than Just an Execution