Category: First Annotation-A.B. (Page 2 of 2)

Apaak, Daniel, and Emmanuel Sarpong. Internal Challenges Affecting Academic Performance of Student-Athletes in Ghanaian Public Universities. , 2015, files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1080130.pdf.

Apaak & Sarpong is empirical research that investigates the internal challenges that affect the student-athletes performance. The study was done in Ghanaian public varsities and was intentioned to illustrate why a typical student’s athlete might face challenges in his or her academic course. Notably, the research cohort employed the descriptive survey research approach and chose 1158 student-athletes from seven public universities in the country as named above. However, the criteria used in selecting the universities are that they must have participated in the 2014 university sports at Cape Coast. Further, by using simple random sampling, 332 respondents were chosen from the seven universities, and a questionnaire was the instrument that the researchers used to gather data for analysis. Mainly, the questionnaire was purposed to obtain information regarding the internal challenges that affect the student’s athletes. 

The research findings established that the student’s athletes face a unique set of challenges than other students who do not get engrossed in sporting activities. Accordingly, they spend significant time training on the sports which may detrimentally affect their studies. Further, it was noted that much time is also spent on traveling, and since some of the athletes have poor time management skills, they miss a lot in their lectures and assignments. Furthermore, some students spent a lot of time thinking about improving their sporting activities. 

These findings will be significantly helpful in preparing my research paper. It will help in debunking how university sports permeates society politically, educationally, psychologically, and more so, financially. Accordingly, it will help showcase how the student-athletes are an image to the universities, although this comes at a high cost since most of them compromise their study time. This study will be a good basis to argue that the student’s athlete compromises their academic performance as they are likely to suffer pregnancy, learning disabilities, substance abuse, identity foreclosure, and mental health disorders. 

Indeed, the research by Apaak & Sarpong is an exposition of the challenges that university student-athletes face while attempting to balance academics and sporting activities. This research will form the basis of my recommendations as it showcases stakeholders’ role in addressing the situation. For instance, it showcases the need for the stakeholders to collaborate in creating a sports schedule that will not disrupt a student’s academic year and offer them sufficient time for study and attain commendable grades.

Your first annotation should include the following:

• 1–MLA citation of the source. For example:

Wheelis, Mark. “Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.” Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 6, no. 6, 2000, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article.

• 2–an academic summary of the source’s content
• 3–a reflection on that source which includes your opinion of what you’ve read
• 4–a brief rhetorical analysis: (1) an evaluation of the author’s credentials, (2) writing style, and (3) purpose, and (4) why you think the author is credible or not. Each of these four can be as short as one sentence
• 5–a short analysis of why you believe the author chose that genre and why it was a good or bad choice for the intended audience
• 6–You should include at least one key quote from each source

Now in baseball, there are so many unwritten rules that most people when they hear the phrase think baseball or MLB. The source I have chosen to discuss this is a youtube video from a former MLB player on his opinion named Matt Antonelli. In this video titled “top 10 unwritten rules in baseball,” this actually part two to another video of his with the same title he gives an opinion from a former play and a new fan which is giving you an opinion from both sides of the argument. Throughout the video, he touches on many of baseball’s unwritten rules, and the first I would like to discuss is the rule on not swing when the pitch count is 3-0 meaning 3 balls and 0 strikes. Matt brings up a moment where a player name Fernando Tatis jr hit a grand slam on a 3-0 count and how it sparked controversy with a lot of baseball players and baseball fans. Now, this also ties in with another rule about not running up the score in baseball because the score prior to this was 10-3 with Tatis team the padres being in the lead, Matt goes on to say how the rule is “silly” because it is not Fernando’s fault the pitcher let the bases get loaded nor was it his fault that the pitcher threw a fastball down the middle of the plate, matt also says that it is an MLB players job to hit the ball and how it is an important goal for a player to hit a home run whenever they can. Matt then explains how players, analysts, and even the coach of the padres were upset about the grand slam but they should not be. I agree with Matt on this because you can not be mad at a player for scoring in this situation because regardless if he hit the ball or got walked a run would have come in and raised the score and the batter is not supposed to just stand there and let you strike him out just because his team is winning. Another rule he speaks about is a rule about not bunting during a no-hitter. A no-hitter is when a pitcher or pitchers have not given up a hit all game, now matt does not agree or disagree with this rule instead he speaks about it being situational saying “if a guy has a no-hitter and your down 7 you can’t bunt, but if you are a regular bunter and the scores within 1-4 runs then you can”. Matt explains how this is the only time it should be accepted but most players still frown upon it no matter what the score is. I agree with matt because earlier in the video he discussed another rule about bunting when up or down by a lot and he spoke about how a player should just not give up which is why I agree because 1-4 runs can easily be scored in a game at any moment and this has happened on several occasions during a baseball game, teams have come back from higher deficits so it is unfair to get mad at someone for not giving up and trying whatever tactic to win or get on base but if the lead is much higher than 4 it is disrespectful to try and mess up someone’s no-hitter with a bunt because it is not a respectable way to get a hit and you should just swing. The final rule that he brought up that I wanna discuss is the rule on not “pimping” a home run. pimping a home run is when a player flips their bat or showboats after hitting a home run. Matt speaks about how doing this can lead to retaliation from players causing a fight or getting hit by a pitch next at-bat or next game all because it is deemed to be disrespectful. Matt also explains how he does not like the rule because he feels like a player should be able to show excitement for his home run because again this is a goal for players and that it is not fair that a pitcher can showboat after striking someone out. I agree with Matt here because in recent years this so-called pimping has brought back excitement and personality to baseball and it has become popular with many younger fans and players.

TouchEmAllBaseball. “Top 10 Unwritten Rules In Baseball.” YouTube, YouTube, 19 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmV90dgn1wQ&t=881s.

Giorgi Goletiani

Professor Sean

                               Racism 

The belief, which embraces superiority over other races by expressing violent and abusive behavior, quietly aberrates our society. Over time, racism has transformed from a blatant and overt form into a passive style of prejudice and discrimination It all has started long time ago, when skin color was taking over people’s faith. Enslaved people were viewed as objects to be purchased, sold, and abused rather than as people. Despite the fact that society of African origin — both free and enslaved — have been present in North America since the 1500s, the sale of the “20 and odd” Africans set the tone for what would become slavery in the United States. Brutality, degradation, and inhumanity were part of their lives as a slaver. They were spending almost the entire day, by working at cotton plantations at dreadful heat;enslaved people’s diets were either insufficient or scarcely adequate to satisfy the demands of their heavy workload. They lived in filthy conditions that exposed them to poor weather and disease. Their clothes and bedding were all very simple. Slaves who served as domestics did better in some situations, obtaining their masters’ discarded clothes or getting easy access to food stores. They were punished by whipping, executing, and murdering. Additionally, they  were often refused educational facilities, such as learning to read or write. 

The United States, is federal republic and representative democracy, which claims being civil and equal to citizens, despite race, sex, gender, and orientation. Such structure provides the constitution, responsible for human rights protection. African-American people were denied educational opportunities and prohibited from any religious parties. The freedom of speech and expressing personal opinions are part of our fundamental rights; White supremacy was taking intense effort to violate them. 

The first amendment can be considered as the first step of creating an equal union, as the way of gaining justice for all. Every citizen is obligated to vote and express their opinion for a better future, they can own property, choose their own religion and utilize other fundamental one. However, how far can all of these be achievable? How can white supremacy “allow” and admit the nonexistence of the racial authority even nowadays. Recent events,starkly demonstrated the unfortunate reality we all are facing, after terrible murder of George Floyd. He was victimized by the system we live in; As Dr. King believed, every citizen living in the same land must be supporting each other, because the name of the country tells us to “unite”. Such blind acts are taking place every single day in America, and we all are responsible to speak up for gaining justice. People supporting white supremacy, have been told to think so since their birth, the families which are responsible of child’s development, are teaching them hate language, which will grow over time. Racism creates many other enduring issues affecting a person’s mental health. For instance, so many children are bullied at school, just because some parents could not raise their child properly and teach the right lesson.Prejudice and hatred are learned behaviors. They are acquired habits that can be modified. Children pick up on prejudices from the people of their lives, as well as the newspapers, books, and their peers. At a young age, the process of countering negativity with positives starts. Children’s bias is not intensified when mentioning discrepancies. 

In conclusion, humanity should evolute not only physically, but mentally as well. Time does not pass by for waste, we should educate and support each other in the ways of achieving the dream Dr. King had. The unity is full of justice, fairness and pursuit of happiness for all. There have been created many anti-racist organizaitons, such as : “black lives matter.”, “Campaign zero”, “Community movement builders”.. Etc. It is more critical than ever that we all stand in unity with one another during this global crisis. Human rights are a pledge taken by all nations around the world, including those in need. Children of all ethnic backgrounds, especially those who have been uprooted due to crime, conflict, or famine, need our assistance wherever they are. Every child has the right to be viewed with compassion and empathy, as well as to grow up in a stable and secure atmosphere.

References:

1. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/19/magazine/history-slavery-smithsonian.html
2. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ushistory/chapter/slavery-in-the-u-s/#:~:text=Treatment%20of%20slaves%20was%20characterized%20by%20degradation%2C%20rape%2C,people%20without%20defense%20or%20recourse%20in%20any%20case.
3.  https://www.brookings.edu/blog/how-we-rise/2020/06/11/systemic-racism-and-america-today/
4. https://www.theclassroom.com/effects-racism-schools-8703390.html
5. https://cfgreateratlanta.org/2020/06/24/anti-racism-organizations/ 
6. https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/5-ways-fight-racism-and-xenophobia/34567 

Hi Class,

This is the Category in which to post your first annotation.

-Prof. Scanlan