05 Wednesday Jun 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
27 Sunday Jan 2013
In these two chapters, Grinker focuses on “autism by the book” (the DSM-III and IV) and “autism by the numbers”.
This year, the DSM V will be published. Autism has gone through many changes throughout the history of the DSM.
In the section on “autism by the book”, Grinker points out that a diagnosis of autism “gets your child better care and easier access to Medicaid.” Perhaps if children with Asperger’s Syndrome get the diagnosis of autism, they will receive more aid.
In “autism by the numbers”, Grinker notes that “with higher rates [of diagnoses] there will always be more research money and interest.” Adding Asperger’s Syndrome to the autism spectrum will increase the rate of an official autism diagnosis, thus attracting money and interest. Statistics regarding autism note that, if added to the spectrum, PDD-NOS and Asperger’s Disorder would make up as much as 75 percent of new cases. Alone, Asperger’s Disorder would count for between 14 and 19 percent of the spectrum.
It is also important to note that the current rate of Asperger’s Syndrome is 2.6 for every 10,000 people.
Combien.
13 Sunday Jan 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
Roy Richard Grinker, an Anthropologist from Maryland, wrote this novel to reveal the way autism is treated around the world, for diagnoses and responses to the disorder vary greatly in different cultures. As he wrote in the introduction, “This book is about how culture affects the way we view autism.”
In the introduction, Grinker notes that, as news of autism rates rising rapidly spreads, there is a sense of urgency and panic among Americans. To me, this begs the question: Since Asperger’s Syndrome shall now be included in the Autism Spectrum, the number of people diagnosed with ‘autism’ will increase. Won’t that just cause more panic and urgency? In chapter two, in fact, Grinker answers this question:
There is no easy answer to the question of whether the concept of autism should be more or less inclusive. Big, popular, inclusive categories like ‘autism’ can be good for advocacy, awareness, and acceptance. But they can also mask variations and lead, at times, to a ‘one size fits all’ approach to a group of distinct disorders.
It may cause more panic, but it will also lead to more awareness. The problem is not so much in the public panicking, but in the treatment of autistic people.
While much of chapter one is based on Grinker’s experiences with his eldest daughter, who was diagnosed with autism in 1994, chapter two consists of the history of autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. He focuses on the life and work of Chaskel (Connor) Leib (Leo) Kanner, an important name in autism research, and Hans Asperger, the psychiatrist for whom Asperger’s Syndrome is named after. Understanding these two men and their ideas about autism and Asperger’s are important for grasping just how much the definitions of the two disorders have changed.
I particularly liked Grinker’s comparison between the autism and color spectrums. In the color spectrum, there is no definite division between two colors. Similarly, in the autism spectrum, there are no obvious borders between different kinds of people with autism.
The color spectrum, like the autistic spectrum, has no clear-cut divisions
Interroger.
23 Sunday Dec 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
In this informational book, Echo R. Fling, the president of Asperger Syndrome Education Network, writes about the characteristics of AS in a very down-to-earth style. Fling is able to couple aspects of AS with personal anecdotes of her struggles with her Aspie son.
Though this may seem like a very clear-cut definition, AS itself is easily confused with other similar disorders. Fling mentions High-Functioning Autism, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder- not Otherwise Specified as disorders commonly confused with Asperger.
Fling also touches on the lack of knowledge in the AS category. Not only was the DSM-IV definition of the disorder a bit fuzzy, but the main modes of treatment were to treat AS as Nonverbal Learning Disorder. In her own experience, Fling had to suffer through many expensive visits with psychologists, neuropsychologists, occupational therapists, Speech Pathologists, pediatritions… the list goes on and on. It was quite a long time until finally someone gave her son the fitting diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome. As Fling describes it, many of the diagnosis turned out “close, but no cigar”.
In the end, Fling concludes that the increase in number of individuals with AS to 1 in every 300 demands that the disorder be clarified and researched further.
15 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in Autism
To read the article discussed below, click here.
Albert Einstein, Andy Warhol, Thomas Edison, Lewis Carroll, Sir Isaac Newton, and Nikola Tesla. What do all these men have in common? They all have Asperger’s Syndrome— and, now, it can also be said that they have autism.
Recently, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, or DSM, was revised to include Aspberger’s Syndrome in the autism spectrum disorder. While some are optimistic about the change, others question it.
Those in favor of the change claim that it will help to make defining the disorder easier, and, thus, get more people properly diagnosed. After all, a single category for autism can allow clinicians to “stop agonizing over which diagnostic category to put someone in and focus on their specific difficulties with communication, or social interaction, or information processing.” Also, the change will likely allow kids with Asperger’s to get more special help, as autism is more widely treated than Asperger’s.
Those in opposition to the change have two main concerns. Some are caught up in the name itself. “Autism” has a very extreme definition to many people, but the truth is that autism defines a wide range of people. “I personally am probally going to have a very hard time calling myself autistic,” said one Aspie. Furthermore, those opposed worry that the definition of autism has become far too broad. Autism can now define anything from a slightly quirky kid to an adult in diapers with a head restraining device. In trying to clarify the definition of certain disorders, could psychologists really have made it more blurry?
Pense.
08 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in Teens
Read the article discussed below by clicking here.
Recently, on a YouTube video, “Two and a Half Men” star Angus T. Jones bashed his show, calling it “filth” and begging viewers to stop watching it. Since the video, Jones has been attacked from all sides. In his article “Actor rips his show– with good reason”, Mitch Albom defends Jones’s actions.
Albom’s article is written as a persuasive piece, though it strays from the classical model. He begins with a very short introduction, the line “He’s got a point” serving as his thesis. Then, Albom delves into concession/refutation. His arguments are directed towards those who have attacked Jones in videos like this:
Albom proceeds into his confirmation, suggesting that attackers are pointing their arrows at the wrong person and bringing out the real reason why Jones’s video has become so controversial. Albom’s conclusion is short and pointed. He ends with the lines, “And you know who you’d be agreeing with? Angus T. Jones.”. In closing his piece in this manner, Albom efficiently leaves readers who previously disagreed with Jones wondering about why they truly argued against him.
I found some of Albom’s research to be new and surprising. My favorite remark of his was in his defense of Jones’s celebrity status and his new title of “hypocrite”: “George Clooney once called his Batman movie ‘a waste of money.’ Bob Hoskins called ‘Super Mario Bros.’ the worst thing he ever did. Nobody demanded they return a paycheck.” I felt that this bit of information would have shocked other readers, as well. It will remind his attackers that Jones is not the only “hypocritical celebrity” out there; an important point that cannot be forgotten.
Where do you sit on this whole argument?
Combattre.
01 Saturday Dec 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
How much sleep did you get last night?
Probably not enough.
In this piece, journalist and author Mitch Albom notes the importance of sleep and the methods Americans use to fight it.
Albom uses very informal language, addresses to the reader, and personal anecdotes throughout this article. He begins with admitting his own caffeine addiction, thus putting him on level with many of his readers. His frequent use of the word “we” makes it less of a personal attack on the reader and more of an objective criticism about the habits of many Americans. A major part of Albom’s article is the telling of his sleep history– how he gently descended into a life dependent on caffeine. His tales of early middle school wake-ups and college all-nighters also ring true in many of his readers. Overall, the honest, informal attributes of his article bring him down to the reader’s level, making the piece more thought-provoking than accusatory.
Albom’s use of tropes (figurative language) greatly enhance his article, as well. To draw attention to one short paragraph, Albom utilizes the techniques of metaphor simile, and hyperbole: “Sleep is a natural healer, a true friend to the body. But we fight it like a foreign army. We yawn all day.” Albom calls sleep a “true friend” and a “natural healer”– terms that enforce his point that sleep is not only important for our mood, but necessary for our health. This also buttresses the idea that sleep is something sweet and full of good intention; that sleep is innocent. Thus, when Albom claims that “we fight it like a foreign army”, the impact is much greater. The word ‘foreign’ implies that we are unfamiliar with sleep, as we have ventured so few times into its territory when we ought to be living in it. The idea of us “fighting” such an innocent, unfamiliar land as sleep makes us seem silly and pathetic. This is a fight we are destined to loose. We will find ourselves asleep in the middle of office meetings or unable to go a day without being hopped up on caffeine. Albom’s hyperbole of “we yawn all day” backs this idea up. We can battle sleep all we want, but it is a loosing fight, and we will not be true without its friendly, healing nature.
This being said, Albom and I would both like to ask you to attempt a longer night of undisturbed sleep tonight. 🙂
Dormir.
15 Thursday Nov 2012
Posted in Le Francophone
Tags
Read the article discussed below.
Haiti, Live the Experience.
That’s the new tagline for Haiti’s valiant attempt to stimulate the nation’s tourism industry. In the article, “Haiti campaign targets tourism dollars”, journalist Nadege Green reports the opinions of those for and against the tourist attempt.
The mood of this article is one of surprise. Readers are likely to be shocked at the prospect of Haiti- the country the media often addresses negatively- appealing to tourists. The author, Nadege Green, encourages this mood of shock through the photographs incorporated into her article. Beneath each photograph is an informative caption. Between the scenic landscapes and a brief history that gives deeper meaning to several of the photos, readers are taken aback that the country home to such horrors and tragedies as seen on the news can also have such beauty and serenity.
Green’s introduction, which consists of the first four paragraphs of the article, fuels the readers’ surprise, as well. She utilizes a surprising/shocking statement to appeal to readers. She describes a billboard on I-95 that displays a typical tropical beach, then adds, “the tagline might be surprising to some: Haiti, Live the Experience.” Because American public opinion of Haiti is generally one of negativity, the idea of Haiti having a ‘good side’ may shock them. All too often, we hear news of another natural disaster in Haiti or more political corruption and crime sweeping through the Caribbean nation. Most of us have only seem Haiti’s dark side.
It is time we try to see the light in the nation and hope that it can overcome the crowding shadows.
If you are interested in visiting Haiti, visit this site.
Visiter.
10 Saturday Nov 2012
Posted in Uncategorized
To read “If only a president sounded like this”, click here.
This 2012 election has been extremely heated, with both Republicans and Democrats making their campaigns much too personal.
This 2012 election has been a brutal one. That is something I think we can all agree with.
Before President Barack Obama was announced to be the winner of the 2012 presidential election, Mitch Albom wrote what he hoped the winner would say in his acceptance speech. He focused on the personal attacks made throughout the presidential campaigns and the laws that ought to be put into place to prevent elections from getting out of hand again.
As usual, Albom’s writing techniques are commendable. In three different locations throughout his “speech”, he utilizes anaphora in a very effective manner. In his first use of the rhetorical device, Albom wrote, “I’m sorry this election turned into a campaign of hate. I’m sorry every ad was dipped in venom. I’m sorry we called you at all hours. I’m sorry we hounded you until you wanted to blow up the TV and pull the phone from the wall. It’s wrong.” Here, Albom pairs anaphora with a staccato sentence. The anaphora emphasizes the apology of the newly-elected president; if the speech were delivered in the proper tone of voice, this anaphora would also assure Americans of the president’s sincerity and candidness. Also, in pairing the anaphora with a staccato sentence, Albom draws attention to the speaker’s own opinion–one that would likely match up with those of most Americans, no matter their political party.
Throughout this piece, Albom also uses several similes. He is able to compare what the president says to what the People could relate to: “We talk about campaign finance reform, but we don’t do it. We don’t want to. It’s like a kid cutting his own allowance.” Through this simple simile, Albom successfully brings politics down to a level almost every American can understand. It also shows that Albom personally understands the difficulty and pain that such an act would put a politician through despite his simple role as a columnist. There is the slight implication, however, that if a kid can manage to cut his/her own allowance, why can’t a politician? Sure, the allowance is a whole lot bigger in a politician’s position, and the work is much harder, but the idea is still the same: Sacrificing selfish desires for the good of others. A child’s cut allowance could save his/her parents money. A politician’s cut ‘allowance’ could save America money. As Albom concludes, “After all, I work for you, don’t I?”
Défier.
Obama’s acceptance speech was not exactly what Albom had hoped for. To read the transcript of the speech he gave last week in Chicago, click here.
01 Thursday Nov 2012
Posted in Le Francophone, Nature
To read this article, click here!
“Lapli ap tonbe”– The rain is falling.
This week, Hurricane Sandy brushed up against Haiti, causing at least 52 deaths. The article “Yet Another Blow to Haiti, From Hurricane Sandy” focuses on the effects of the Hurricane on Haiti and what it could mean for the nation.
Throughout this piece, Elisabeth Malkin personifies Hurricane Sandy along with past disasters Haiti has faced. This gave the overall effect that the disasters had taken a vendetta of sorts against Haiti– that they have come together consciously and paced themselves just so that Haiti would be hit with maximum force by each disaster. It is very effective in gaining the reader’s sympathy of Haiti.
Malkin structures her article so as to build up the pains of Haiti and make the conclusion sentence pop out at readers. She begins telling of homelessness in the nation, with “the homes of as many as 200,000 people… damaged– on top of almost 400,000 people still homeless from the January 2010 earthquake.” Malkin adds that the “dramatic level of deforestation [in Haiti] magnifies the effects of storms”. She then proceeds to add to the list of damage done by Hurricane Sandy: “The greatest immediate concern is to prevent a new spike in cholera cases”. Lastly, Malkin notes the “many crops destroyed” in the hurricane, which will undoubtedly cause famine in the nation. After piling the shattered bits of Haiti on readers, Malkin reports that the Haitian government has been “attempting to wean itself from international aid”. Readers are left wondering how a shattered government can ever hope to save such a shattered country without outside help.
Pleuvoir.
C'est la Vie 