User:JBD007/sandbox

= James Donaldson's Sandbox =

Evaluation on Hispanic Paradox Article
18 February 2020 Evaluating Content

·     Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?

Yes, everything in the article is relevant to the article topic. The only things that distracted me while reading the article were the statistics provided with regards to hispanic death rates among adults and infants.

·     Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added? Identify content gaps.

Some key information that I discovered was out of date were a couple of statistics from 2003. I think this article covers many important topics, however, I believe that the addition and elaboration on hispanic employment/unemployment is critical to the finalization of this article. The only significant content gap I noticed was the discussion of employment, as the article touches almost every other external factor facing the hispanic community.

·     What else could be improved?

Along with the addition of a new section talking about employment, I think a little more information could be added to a few sections such as Socio-economic Factors and the Barrio Advantage.

·     Review the lead section. Does it follow Wikipedia’s guidelines to provide basic information and summarizes the entire article?

Yes, the lead section follows Wikipedia's guidelines to provide basic information and summarize the entire section.

Evaluating Tone

·     Is the article neutral? Are there any claims that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?

If the facts provided are true, then yes, the article is neutral. From my own analyzation, I cannot find any bias towards a particular position. It seems as though every argument made is backed by some ethnic study or research.

·     Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?

Most definitely. I think one of the biggest issues with this article is the lack of dialogue surrounding the 'rebuttal' information. For example, I think it would be helpful to talk about all the positive occupational opportunities that the hispanic community has benefited from by living in the United States.

Evaluating Sources

·     Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?

Yes, the links work. After manual inspection, the sources support the claims made in the article.

·     Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted? For example, does the writer use signal phrases to clearly identify the source of the information?

Yes, each fact is referenced with a reliable reference (mainly '.org' and '.gov' websites).The information comes from a variety of websites and online articles, a few of which are provided by unbiased news outlets. According to my findings, most of these sources seem to be neutral sources.

Checking the Talk Page

·     Now take a look at how others are talking about this article on the talk page.

Done.

·     What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic? How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?

Behind the scenes, a few people are presenting the arguments that this topic should not be considered a paradox, the subject matter is "mis-categorized," and the article is "self contradictory." The article is rated as a "C-Class, Mid-Importance." The article is a part of three WikiProjects: WikiProject Medicine, WikiProject Sociology, and WikiProject United States/Hispanic and Latino Americans.

·     How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?

This article discusses the topic in the same/similar manner as we did in class. There is not necessarily a difference, but the article does provide more information.

Evaluation of the novel Drama
24 February 2020

2) Personally, I like the graphic novel genre a lot. I think that words and pictures combined help me learn and understand material better. When looking at the novel Drama, I enjoyed the read. I thought it the message was conveyed smoothly through the plot with the help of the characters. When thinking about the audience for the book, I thought Drama was intelligently written to be aimed at middle-schoolers. The content was understandable, yet conveyed a somewhat controversial topic. Furthermore, one can conclude that Drama is challenged because of the fact that many people that read and receive information from children's literature do not believe that homosexuality should be a topic of discussion. I think Drama is included in our curriculum because it raises many questions surrounding LGBTQ+ material in children's literature (which is a focal point of this class), as well as the ability to introduce a new conversation about the underlying racial problems that can be identified within the text. 3) For the most part, the Wikipedia article for the novel Drama follows the basic format of the template. The article includes almost all of the subtopics from the template except the section regarding publication. The publication section is supposed to talk about when the book was published, who published it, etc. Other than the missing publication subtopic, this article includes every other 'mandatory' heading. Even though it looks as though the article doesn't include an "Others" section, the information for "Others" can be found in the subtopic labeled "Awards."

26 February 2020

3b) Michelle Abate's articles are used throughout the Wikipedia article on Drama. Specifically, the article mentions Abate three times, once in the "Genre and Style" section, another in the "Analysis -- Race" section, and finally in the "Reception" section. Abate's arguments are mainly used to display the controversial overtones and complications with the novel. For example, the article mentions how Abate wrote about how the romanticization of the antebellum South contradicts Telgemeirer's progressive intentions for the book.

Yes, I think that the Wikipedia article on Drama utilized Michelle Abate's ideas fairly and accurately. Furthermore, I don't believe that the information presented from Abate's findings needs any sort of editing. I think that whoever included the arguments from Abate clearly did their research and recognized the message being conveyed in Abate's critical essay.

After reviewing the Abate essay, and rereading the Wikipedia article on Drama, Abate's idea about the cannon that Callie constructed for the play, "Moon Over Mississippi," could be added. The inclusion of Abate's issue with the cannon would only spark further debate, bringing up why Abate thought the novel used the cannon as an object of celebration and comedy instead of the realistic purpose, which was injury and death in a war that was centered around racism and slavery. This addition could be made in the "Reception" section, as this is one of the many problems that Abate took away from the book.

Final Draft for Proposed Changes
Lead Section:

One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads is a children's book written by Johnny Valentine and Melody Sarecky.It is designed for 4 to 8-year-olds The intended audience is elementary school children, and it discusses all kinds of different fathers, including having two dads. In the book a different colored dad, a traditional family, and a family with two dads' children compare dads to find out in the end that they are not that different after all.

Its title is a play on the title of an older Dr. Seuss children's book, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

The storybook is intended to inform young children that it is okay to different types of parents, and refutes the “one size fits all model.” With both positive and negative reviews, One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads has definitely created a conflict of opinions. In fact, there was a large controversy in Canada surrounding the banning of the children’s book (No reference because it’s the Lead section?). The storybook was one of three books at the center of the 1997 Surrey book-banning controversy, alongside Lesléa Newman's Belinda's Bouquet and Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse's Asha's Mums.

Infobox (New Section):

Name ~ One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads

Image ~ Picture

Authors ~ Johnny Valentine & Melody Sarecky

Language ~ English

Country ~ United States

Genre ~ LGBTQ Literature

Publisher ~ Alyson Wonderland, Alyson Publications

Published ~ July 1994

Pages ~ 30

Background (New Section):

One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads was written in July of 1994 (Reference the text of the novel). Sasha Alyson is the author of this novel, but he goes by the pen name of Johnny Valentine (Reference the credo source). One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads was published during the middle of Alyson’s writing career (Reference the credo source). Alyson wrote books before and after the publication of One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads (Reference the credo source).

Summary (New Section):

The story begins with the protagonist, an unnamed elementary school girl, exclaiming, “I don’t know who has dads that are blue!” From there, another character named “Lou” is introduced. Lou has two “blue” dads, and proceeds to describe how “blue” they are. The plot then goes back and forth between the protagonist and Lou, with the protagonist asking all sorts of questions about Lou’s dads. After all of the questions are asked by the protagonist, Lou explains his dads are “blue,” and “they’re just like all other dads black, white, or green.” It is at this point that the protagonist realizes that just because Lou’s dads are “blue,” it doesn’t mean that they can’t do all of the things that a typical dad would do. At the end of the book, another character is brought in, named Jean. Jean invites the protagonist and Lou to come see her dad, who is green (Reference the text of the novel).

Genre (New Section):

One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads is a fictional children’s book aimed at elementary school children (Reference the School Library Journal source). The storybook combines illustrations with short text, “S. Alyson has written several children’s books under the pen name Johnny Valentine, of which this book is one (Reference the credo source).” Alyson’s children’s book has been discussed when talking about LGTBQ content (Reference the Google Book; The Advocate).

Analysis (New Section):

Many educators and scholars aim to use this book and books like it for the purpose of informing young children about “homophobia, sexuality, and gender roles” (Reference ProQuest Central No. 12). One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads has been subjected to scholarly interpretation. For example, Nathalie op de Beeck, an assistant professor from Illinois State University, claims that gay and lesbian picture books are becoming more inclusive through the scope of their titles (Reference ProQuest Central No. 17). Interpretations like Beeck’s have brought LGBTQ literature into the spotlight more than ever before.

Reception:

Book Reviews:

According to Book Links, One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads is a warming story that uses rhymes and goofiness to expose prejudice. (Reference ProQuest No. 3 book review). On the contrary, Louise L. Sherman of the Anna C. Scott School, claims that young children would take the book at “face value,” seeing only the silly aspect of the book, whereas older kids would be better off with a more clear-cut explanation of the material. This review points out the potential issues that One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads presents to differently aged children (Reference the School Library Journal source).

Controversy:

The picture book was met with challenges primarily for its inclusion of homosexual parents. One such example was when One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads, Asha’s Mums, and Belinda’s Bouquet were brought into question in the Canadian school system. James Chamberlain, a gay teacher within the Surrey School District, fought to have these three books approved by the school district (Reference ProQuest Culture, Religion, and Curriculum). Chamberlain and four fellow litigants spent $400,000 of their own money to challenge the banning of the book. When brought forward to the Supreme Court of Canada, the following was stated, "No age is too tender for children to learn the value of tolerance." The resulting challenge has allowed free access to the book, as the morals teach tolerance, regardless of how different one is from another.

Final Annotated Bibliography
"Alyson, Sasha." Marquis Who's Who in the World, edited by Marquis Who's Who, Marquis Who's Who LLC, 33rd edition, 2016. Credo Reference, https://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/marquisworld/alyson_sasha/0?institutionId=702. Accessed 17 Apr. 2020.


 * This source provides significant background information for my article, especially with regards to the author of the book, Sasha Alyson. This Credo source helped me answer most of the questions in the background section on the Wikipedia Book Article handout.

Valentine, Johnny, and Melody Sarecky. One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads. Alyson Wonderland, 2004.


 * This is simply the citation for the picture book itself. I was able to construct a strong, desperately needed summary section with the help of the primary text.

Sherman, Louise L. "Fiction -- One Dad Two Dads Brown Dad Blue Dads by Johnny Valentine and Illustrated by Melody Sarecky." School Library Journal, vol. 40, no. 9, 1994, pp. 200. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/211637390?accountid=11091.


 * The School Library Journal was an awesome source for me because I was able to gather information for my Genre section, as well as my Reception section. It included and easily conveyed important details about One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads.

Barrett, Jon. “School's OUT.” Books.Google.com, The Advocate Newsmagazine, 16 Sept. 1997, books.google.com/books?id=MmMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=one%2Bdad%2Btwo%2Bdads%2Bbrown%2Bdad%2Bblue%2Bdads%2Bcontroversy&source=bl&ots=WX02UdYIz0&sig=ACfU3U0SV9beUKO-HRczDoKHBeWywhBCVQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiImeH6lNroAhWXKM0KHcyLDeIQ6AEwEXoECBwQKA#v=onepage&q=one%20dad%20two%20dads%20brown%20dad%20blue%20dads%20controversy&f=false. Mentioned on page 39 of the document.


 * I found this source to be very interesting because it is a document that displays a gay/lesbian magazine that published an article that demonstrated how Alyson’s picture book had become a topic of conversation on a larger scale within the LGBTQ community.

Swartz, Patti C. "Bridging Multicultural Education; Bringing Sexual Orientation into the Children's and Young Adult Literature Classrooms." Radical Teacher, no. 66, 2003, pp. 11. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/218782851?accountid=11091.


 * There are many educators that have used this book to help them relay a point in an educational setting, however, this ProQuest source provided me with a broad example of what the majority of educators use this picture book for.

Nathalie op, de B. "Diversity Breeds Controversy." Publishers Weekly, vol. 252, no. 17, 2005, pp. 32-33. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/197085778?accountid=11091.


 * A book like One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads could have a profound impact on young children. I thought it was not only important, but necessary that I talk about that very impact.

Kupetz, Barbara N. "One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads." Book Links, vol. 8, no. 5, 05, 1999, pp. 49. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/197198459?accountid=11091.


 * There are many negative book reviews out there, but I remembered when we discussed in class that it is smart to include both positive and negative reviews of an article or piece of literature; this source helped me do so.

Collins, Damian. "Culture, Religion and Curriculum: Lessons from the 'Three Books' Controversy in Surrey, BC." Canadian Geographer, vol. 50, no. 3, 2006, pp. 342-357. ProQuest, http://proxy.library.georgetown.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/228316165?accountid=11091.


 * There was a large controversy in British Columbia, Canada surrounding this book and others. The Wikipedia article for this book already had quite a bit of information on the controversy, however, I found a ProQuest source that will further enhance the Controversy section under the Reception subtopic.