Self Evaluation

Self Evaluation 

1) What score do you think you deserve? 

2 points - The first draft is thoughtful and a good start to an effective persuasive essay. It demonstrates an understanding of the classical argument

2) What did you do well?

I chose the topic which is interesting that not only me but also a lot pf people are curious about. I also used proper articles which are related to the topic :  laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'

3) What could you have done better?

I think I was not good at writing in detail. I made a lot of grammar mistake, and I also
didn't use clear examples of mine. I only used the examples from the articles I found.
I repeated things I've already written again and again.

4) Which part of the classical argument did you use the best?

the introduction part. I suggested my topic : laughing is good for human even when it's a false laugh clearly, and I made people who read my essay have interest about it, by using proper examples and proverbs.

5) Which part of the classical argument did you use the most poorly?

I wrote the conclusion part the most poorly. It is because I only summarized what I've written. There's was nothing more than that. 

6) What's your strategy to make your second draft better? My narration is strong. I do a good job explaining the foundations of the issue, and I prepare my audience to hear my argument.

I will make it much more clearly by using proper examples and words. I will also correct my mistakes such as grammar mistakes by referring to teachers' advice. 

First draft

"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities." said Jean Houston, an american scholar and lecturer. At least one time in our lives, we might have heard proverbs such as - "If you laugh, blessings will come your way", "The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed", "Laughter is the best medicine". There's one thing in common in these proverbs around the world: Laughing is good for human. We all know that laughter is necessary for our lives. At the same time, however, laughter is one of the least understood of human behaviors. Not many of us are aware of the exact function of laughing that has tremendous effects. Furthermore, we absolutely don't know whether laughter is good only when we truly laugh, or it's also good when we're trying to laugh even if we don't feel like to. The answer starts from the clear fact - Laughter makes us feel better. If laughter can also make someone trying to laugh to get out of sadness feels better, then laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'.

"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities." said Jean Houston, an american scholar and lecturer. Considering she said, possibilities that laughing has are so infinite that it can be compared with the universe. However, most of us are underestimating the surprisingly many effects of laughing. We say, “We absolutely know that laughing is good for human.”, but that is all we know about laughter. It is ‘just’ good. But why is it good? Which functions does it lighten up? How does it affect? Is laughing still good not only we truly laugh but also when it is a false laugh?

A ‘false laugh’ can be defined in two large groups. One is when we try to laugh to get out of or forget sadness. For example, I was very sad because my puppy died, but I tried to laugh to overcome it and cheer up. The other is when we are forced to laugh not to make the one who jokes feel bad. For example, while my boss and I were talking, he made a joke that he thought funny. It was not funny at all, but I had to laugh since he’s a superior and I could not have him feel bad. In the first case, laughing is good because laughter has a healing ability. Laughter helps someone to get through the horrific sadness of trauma, grief, abuse and neglect that one hears everyday in his or her practices. It changes someone’s sorrow into happiness and hope since laughter has a ‘transformative effects’. What about the second case I mentioned? It is still good for us because it’s not a stressful acting to laugh. Laughing itself has the ability to change our moods and gives us happy energy. What’s more, there is a saying "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people, said by Victor Borge. A small laugh will help two people to become close to each other.

A laughter, which is infinite in its possibilities can never be bad for human. And a false laugh is also a laugh. It makes us feel better, and fosters another laughter, and thus help us to make healthier mind.

An article titled 'Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind' explains the benefits and some extra information of laughing :

Scientists have found that during a good laugh three parts of the brain light up : A thinking part that helps you get the joke, a movement area that tells your muscles to move, and an emotional region that elicits the "giddy" feeling. But it remains unknown why one person laughs at your brother's foolish jokes while another chuckles while watching a horror movie. John Morreall, a pioneer of humor research at the College of William and Mary, has found that laughter is a playful response to incongruities — stories that disobey conventional expectations. Others in the humor field point to laughter as a way of signaling to another person that this action is meant "in fun." One thing is clear : Laughter makes us feel better.

From this fact that laughing affects people’s moods positively, another question that most of us did not know - whether laughing it still good not only we truly laugh but also when it's a false laugh - was able to be resolved. The reason why a false laugh still functions positively for human is that laughter itself has a positive energy, regardless of the circumstance one is involved in.

As we can find out in the article 'Laughter as Nutrition' (written by Jeff Schweitzer, Scientist and former White House Senior Policy Analyst), humor is an essential part of the human experience. It is possible that humor can often be seen as a prerogative of the privileged. For instance, the poor are difficult to have a sense of humor because of their hard lives. But It is not right. Humor can ease even the greatest suffering. Without the ability to laugh, in the face of tragedy and deprivation, our human experience would be terribly diminished. Therefore, It is possible to get out of sadness quickly when we try to laugh or force a smile.

Whether it is a false laugh or not, laugh is laugh. No matter what kind of laugh is, laughing is good for us.

Perhaps there may be plenty of people who dispute my argument. They might claim that If we Laugh when we don't feel like to laugh, it can be rather a stress to us. Though many people really think like that, It is not true. It is because laugh itself gives us happiness and joy.According to the article I found,  it was written : Play Pretend. Even when facing serious illness, we have to give ourselves "permission to play," which will lighten the mood and, hopefully, cue the laughs. It suggests that no matter how we laugh, that is, whether it is a false laugh or not, any laughter will lighten our mood and makes us happier, not makes us stressful.

Another problem they might suggest to oppose my opinion would be incredible ability of our smart brains. That is, Our brains have the ability to distinguish whether it's a false laugh or not. Even though It is a absolute fact, It does not matter. Despite the brains' ability, laugh still can function positively. I can give an easy question that helps understanding this. Are the benefits of laughter disappear because our brain can distinguish whether it is a fake or not? No, Absolutely not. It is because a false laugh is still a laugh. Therefore It still has same benefits of laughter. It is not important that our brains can distinguish our minds or not. No matter what 'kind' of laugh is, laugh is always a laugh. Laughing is good for human also when it's a 'false laugh'.

As the proverb said, If you laugh, blessings will come your way. Maybe some people would concede this, but argue that a false laugh cannot be good for human. However, Even if it is a false laugh, you will be blessed and become happier than before because laughter itself has a tremendous effect : It heals us, It gives us joy, It cue the laughs, It lightens our brains, and so on. What if people avoid laughing because of the wrong information about laugh that It can rather be a stress when it's a false laugh? It should not happen. It will only make people more difficult to get out of their hardships. The easiest way to forget difficulties is to laugh out. Thus, don't hesitate to laugh. No matter it's a false laugh or not, the more you laugh, the more you will be happier. Love your laugh, embrace positive laughter, hang out with people who have a sense of humor, and laugh out loud!

 

 

 

 

 

 

conclusion

Instructions:

1. Read the conclusion instructions here.
2. Write your conclusion and all the drafts like this example. 
3. Don’t delete the old conclusions! Keep a record of them so I and your peers can see your progress.

 

My conclusion

 

As the proverb said, If you laugh, blessings will come your way. Maybe some people would concede this, but argue that a false laugh cannot be good for human. However, Even if it is a false laugh, you will be blessed and become happier than before because laughter itself has a tremendous effect : It heals us, It gives us joy, It cue the laughs, It lightens our brains, and so on. What if people avoid laughing because of the wrong information about laugh that It can rather be a stress when it's a false laugh? It should not happen. It will only make people more difficult to get out of their hardships. The easiest way to forget difficulties is to laugh out. Thus, don't hesitate to laugh. No matter it's a false laugh or not, the more you laugh, the more you will be happier. Love your laugh, embrace positive laughter, hang out with people who have a sense of humor, and laugh out loud!

Refutation and Concession

Instructions:
1. Answer the following questions.
2. Write your own refutation and concession.

 

 

1. What is my thesis?

Laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'.

2. What is the opposite position?

A false laugh is not good for human.

 

3. What arguments can I anticipate?

a) If we Laugh when we don't feel like to laugh, it is rather a stress to us. b) Our brains have the ability to distinguish whether it's a false laugh or not.

 

4. How will I counter those arguments?

a) Laugh itself gives us happiness, regardless of the way people laugh b) Despite the fact, laugh still can function positively.

 

My Refutation and Concession

 

Perhaps there may be plenty of people who dispute my argument. They might claim that If we Laugh when we don't feel like to laugh, it can be rather a stress to us. Though many people really think like that, It is not true. It is because laugh itself gives us happiness and joy. According to the article I found, it was written : Play Pretend. Even when facing serious illness, we have to give ourselves "permission to play," which will lighten the mood and, hopefully, cue the laughs. It suggests that no matter how we laugh, that is, whether it is a false laugh or not, any laughter will lighten our mood and makes us happier, not makes us stressful.

Another problem they might suggest to oppose my opinion would be incredible ability of our smart brains. That is, Our brains have the ability to distinguish whether it's a false laugh or not. Even though It is a absolute fact, It does not matter. Despite the brains' ability, laugh still can function positively. I can give an easy question that helps understanding this. Are the benefits of laughter disappear because our brain can distinguish whether it is a fake or not? No, Absolutely not. It is because a false laugh is still a laugh. Therefore It still has same benefits of laughter. It is not important that our brains can distinguish our minds or not. No matter what 'kind' of laugh is, laugh is always a laugh. Laughing is good for human also when it's a 'false laugh'.

 

 

 

confirmation

 

1. What is my thesis?

Laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'.

 

2. What types of source am I using to defend my thesis?

I am using the articles from reliable website, expert opinions, and a relivant and famous proverbs or a saying. I am also using many examples.

 

3. Are my arguments mostly based on evidence, logic or emotion?

My arguments are mostly based on logic and exact research results. I’ll use emotional appeals if I need, but until now there are no emotional appeals, and I think it’s good because if I rely too much on it, the reliability of my article will decrease.

 

My Confirmation

 

 

An article titled 'Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind' explains the benefits and some extra information of laughing :

 

Scientists have found that during a good laugh three parts of the brain light up : A thinking part that helps you get the joke, a movement area that tells your muscles to move, and an emotional region that elicits the "giddy" feeling. But it remains unknown why one person laughs at your brother's foolish jokes while another chuckles while watching a horror movie. John Morreall, a pioneer of humor research at the College of William and Mary, has found that laughter is a playful response to incongruities — stories that disobey conventional expectations. Others in the humor field point to laughter as a way of signaling to another person that this action is meant "in fun." One thing is clear : Laughter makes us feel better.

 

From this fact that laughing affects people’s moods positively, another question that most of us did not know - whether laughing it still good not only we truly laugh but also when it's a false laugh - was able to be resolved. The reason why a false laugh still functions positively for human is that laughter itself has a positive energy, regardless of the circumstance one is involved in.

 

As we can find out in the article 'Laughter as Nutrition' (written by Jeff Schweitzer, Scientist and former White House Senior Policy Analyst), humor is an essential part of the human experience. It is possible that humor can often be seen as a prerogative of the privileged. For instance, the poor are difficult to have a sense of humor because of their hard lives. But It is not right. Humor can ease even the greatest suffering. Without the ability to laugh, in the face of tragedy and deprivation, our human experience would be terribly diminished. Therefore, It is possible to get out of sadness quickly when we try to laugh or force a smile.

Whether it is a false laugh or not, laugh is laugh. No matter what kind of laugh is, laughing is good for us.

Narration

Narration Example

Instructions:
1. Write your thesis.
2. Answer questions 1, 2 and 3.
3. Write your Narration.

My persuasive argument thesis is: Laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'.

 

1. What do people already know about my topic?

 

Everyone knows that laughing is good for human. It has a lot of positive effects.

Also, even though we know the fact that laughing is good for human, it should be noted that many people have no idea how laughing affects to us exactly, which functions it lightens or whether it is good even when it's a false laugh or not. Some people think laughing when we don't feel like to laugh is not good because it can rather be stressful to us. Other people still think laughing in this case is still good because our moods can be better by laughing.

 

2. What research has already been done about my topic?

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-tileston/this-therapist-gets-laugh_b_5501637.html?ir=Healthy+Living&utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

- 'transformative effects of laughter' in this article means laughing has the ability to change our sorrow or depression into happiness and joy. Thus it can be useful sources that explain even a false laugh can change people's feelings.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/18/tips-lighten-up-laugh-more_n_4619912.html

- Lots of methods to lighten up for people to laugh more. I can use it in my essay when I persuade people to laugh a lot more than now they do.

Also, there's a research result about fake laugh - it can also lighten people's moods and cue the laughs.

 

3. What are the implications of my argument (What if I'm right? What if I'm right and people ignore me?)

 

Lots of people will try to laugh often more than they did before. They will be able to overcome their hardships faster than before because laughing has the ability to change our sorrow or depression into happiness and joy. If many of us try to laugh, our society will be much more healthier than now because of the happy energy of laughing. If people ignore me, when they are in serious circumstances, they’ll not try to laugh and be constantly in sadness, thus it will be hard for them to forget their sadness.

 

 

My Narration

"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities." said Jean Houston, an american scholar and lecturer. Considering she said, possibilities that laughing has are so infinite that it can be compared with the universe. However, most of us are underestimating the surprisingly many effects of laughing. We say, “We absolutely know that laughing is good for human.”, but that is all we know about laughter. It is ‘just’ good. But why is it good? Which functions does it lighten up? How does it affect? Is laughing still good not only we truly laugh but also when it is a false laugh?

 

A ‘false laugh’ can be defined in two large groups. One is when we try to laugh to get out of or forget sadness. For example, I was very sad because my puppy died, but I tried to laugh to overcome it and cheer up. The other is when we are forced to laugh not to make the one who jokes feel bad. For example, while my boss and I were talking, he made a joke that he thought funny. It was not funny at all, but I had to laugh since he’s a superior and I could not have him feel bad. In the first case, laughing is good because laughter has a healing ability. Laughter helps someone to get through the horrific sadness of trauma, grief, abuse and neglect that one hears everyday in his or her practices. It changes someone’s sorrow into happiness and hope since laughter has a ‘transformative effects’. What about the second case I mentioned? It is still good for us because it’s not a stressful acting to laugh. Laughing itself has the ability to change our moods and gives us happy energy. What’s more, there is a saying "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people, said by Victor Borge. A small laugh will help two people to become close to each other.

 

A laughter, which is infinite in its possibilities can never be bad for human. And a false laugh is also a laugh. It makes us feel better, and fosters another laughter, and thus help us to make healthier mind.

 

first draft introduction

At least one time in our lives, we might have heard proverbs such as- "If you laugh, blessings will come your way", "The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed", "Laughter is the best medicine". There's one thing in common in these proverbs around the world : Laughing is good for human. We all know that laughter is necessary in our lives. At the same time, however, laughter is one of the least understood of human behaviors. Not many of us are aware of the exact function of laughing that has tremendous effects. Furthermore, we absolutely don't know whether laughter is good only when we truly laugh or it's also good when we're trying to laugh even if we don't feel like to. The answer starts from the clear fact - Laughter makes us feel better. If laughter can also make someone trying to laugh to get out of sadness feels better, then laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'.

 

1. Attention grabber -
I attracted the audience by the proverbs that are widely known to all over the world. I derived one thing in common from the proverbs : Laughing is good for human as everybody already know. Then I shifted attention to what most of us do not know about laughing.

2. Explains the topic -
In the attention grabber part, I mentioned the positiveness of laughing by introducing famous proverbs and the things we don't know well about laughing (such as the exact function of laughter or a false laugh)

3. My thesis -
At first my argument was "Laughing is good for human", but it's too obvious and nobody would dispute it. I changed it to a better argument, laughing is good for human even when it's a 'false laugh'.

Classical Argument Outline

1. The introduction

Most people know that laughing is good for human. But why is it good? Which functions does it lighten up exactly? Then I will shift attention to whether the audience know it is good if it's a 'false laugh'. I'll end up with the thesis of my argument 'Laughing is good for human even when it's a false laugh'.

2. The narration 

I will summarize the research I've done and provide an explanation to the audience of the positive effects of laughing. I will also explain the definition of a 'false laugh' under two large groups : When we pretend to laugh even if we're sad in order to forget or get out of it, and when we are forced to laugh (not to make people who joke feel bad), and why laughter is good even in this kind of laughter. 

3. The confirmation

       I will start by a lot of effects of laughing that helps and heals people's minds. 

       Then I'll give the examples of how people can get out of sadness or depression by laughing faster than when people do not laugh. Additionally, I will reinforce my        argument by using the opinion from authority.

4. The refutation and concession

I will concede that if we're pretending to laugh, or when it is a false laugh, it can be rather stressful to us sometimes. But according to the research i found, laughing has the ability to change our sorrow or depression into happiness and joy. Thus if a person who is sad pretends and tries to laugh can also be happy and delightful because laughter lightens people's mood.

5. The summation

I will close with the fact that summarize my main points. And I'll persuade the audience strongly with the fact that people cannot live a healthy life without laughter, and use memorable sayings or proverbs. I will end with an emphasis of my argument. 

Articulation

1) My argument 

I want to argue that Laughing is good for human even when it's a false laugh. Most of us know the fact that laughing is good for our health, but we do not know exactly why it's good or on which functions it lights up. Neither do we know whether laughing is always good without exception or it can be bad when it's a 'false laugh' or when we pretend to laugh in order to get out of sadness. I want to emphasize that laughing is good for human even when we're pretending to laugh and thus perceive people to laugh more than now. 

2) How I found my argument 

My first research question was, Why is laughter good for human? Everyone knows the fact that laughing is good for human. At first, I want to know why it is good and how exactly does it affect to us. Through the article I found out (Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind), I came to know 3 functions that a good laugh lights up - a thinking part, a movement area, and an emotional region, and the fact that laughter makes us feel better i. Then I became curious whether laughing is good even when we're pretending to laugh. According to the article (This Therapist Gets Laughing: The Transformative Effects of Laughter), I found out that Laughter brings us joy even someone in sorrow, and it has a ability to heal us. Also, I knew that If we laugh, even when we face serious (bad) circumstances, it affects positively to us because it lightens the mood and cue the laughs. Eventually I decide my argument 'Laughing is good for human even when we're pretending to laugh'. I thought this is a interesting argument to make.

3) New research questions 

a) Which organs does laughing affect?

b) How does laughter affect positively to human?

c) Is laughing good even when it's a false laugh?

I'll continue researching the internet and looking for articles to find out what i need. Then I'll rearrange my thoughts through researches I found out. 

4) Connections to the Harvard Sampler 

My argument has many connections to the Harvard Sampler. First, Laughing is related to the human mind. It is because Human's happiness are always connected to laughing. Furthermore, in explaining the human mind, laughing is necessary since it is a basis of human emotion : happiness and joy.

Research 3 : 10 Tips To Lighten Up And Laugh More

Source:

10 Tips To Lighten Up And Laugh More

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/18/tips-lighten-up-laugh-more_n_4619912.html

My Topic:

Laughing is good for human even when it's a false laugh.

What I hope to learn from this source:
I want to know how to lighten up for people to laugh more

in order to persuade people who read my essay to laugh more.

Notes:

1.  Laughter may be a blood-pressure reducer, an immune-system booster, a stress buster and a friend maker. But because we're serious adults with jobs (or without jobs) and responsibilities and bills and meetings, it's sometimes hard to remember to loosen up with a load of laughter now and then. We'll help.
2. "1" ▶ Positive effects of laughter  * a blood-pressure reducer,  an immune-system booster => positive to physical health * a stress buster and a friend maker  => positive to mental health
3.  1)Love Your Laugh 2)Embrace Positive Laughter  3)Don't Worry About Being Funny  4)Hang Out With People Who Have A Sense Of Humor 5)Know Your Sense Of Humor   6)Look For Humor 7)Play Pretend  8)Fake It  9)Adjust Your Environment  10)Don't Force The Laugh
4. 7)Play Pretend - Even when facing serious illness, she urges members to give themselves "permission to play," which will lighten the mood and, hopefully, cue the laughs. For example, sometimes Laughter Club participants will have a fake snowball fight, in which they throw, duck from and get hit by fake snowballs. ▶ If we laugh, even when we face serious circumstances, it lightens the mood. Then does it mean false laugh or pretending to laugh can also be positive?                                                                         
5. 10)Don't Force The Laugh - "Laughter should always be invited and never demanded," Wilson says. Similarly, Puckett never waltzes into the hospital room of a cancer patient and tells a joke; Laughter Club is voluntary. If your co-worker seems bummed, or your mom’s facing illness, don’t assume they want to laugh. Start with a smile, and go from there. ▶ it is saying us not to force the laugh. Then laughter of someone who are forced to laugh (false laugh) cannot be positive. 
6. "4", "5" => I should reconsider my thoughts 

Final Thoughts:

Now I know 10 ways to laugh more so I am able to use this facts in my essays to persuade people. But I'm still curious about whether a 'false laugh' is positive. This article says Pretending to laugh can also be positive because it lightens our mood, and cue the laughs. But it also said not to force people to laugh. I should define the 'false laugh' clearly.

Research 2 : This Therapist Gets Laughing: The Transformative Effects of Laughter

Source:

This Therapist Gets Laughing: The Transformative Effects of Laughter

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-tileston/this-therapist-gets-laugh_b_5501637.html?ir=Healthy+Living&utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

My Topic:Laughing is good for human even when it's a false laugh.

What I hope to learn from this source:

I want to know the positive effects of laughter. How does laughing affect positively to human?Is false laughter also positive?

Notes:

1. the title of this article : The transformative effects of laughter                                       ▶ 'TRANSFORMATIVE' means changing something into another. What does laughter changes?
2. "At the height of laughter,
   the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities."
   -- Jean Houston                                                                                                       ▶ I think it means the effects of laughter is infinite and it makes a lot of possibilities. Then, i should find out through this article what its possibilities are.                       "Laughter connects you with people. It's almost impossible to maintain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you're just howling with laughter. Laughter is a force for democracy."
   -- John Cleese
3. If a few simple improvisation and breathing exercises could loosen inhibitions and help my clients connect with each other with such delight and playfulness, I wanted to know more!  
4. I notice that one of the women is quietly crying. I silently guide her hands so that one hand rests on her chest and the other on her belly. Eventually a smile slowly dawns on her face through the tears. … Laughter softens armor and invites healing in.                                                                                                     
5. ▶'3', '4' → Laughter brings us joy even someone in sorrow, and it has a ability to heal us.

Final Thoughts:

I think 'transformative effects of laughter' in this article means laughing has the ability to change our sorrow or depression into happiness and joy. Now i know laughter can make people happy not only the normal, but also people in sadness. From now on, I should find a bit more researches about the positive effects of laughter and then focus on finding researches about whether it affects positively even who are making false laugh.