Discussion About My Argument Paper

In my argument paper, I wrote about the unemployment and minimum wage of Memphis and how it places burden on the economy. I was very interested in this topic do to the fact that it relates to me; I was once both unemployed and making minimum wage, realizing that making a living in these situations is near impossibility. The main difficulties I had while researching my topic was basically me finding source material. The topic, in my opinion seemed fairly easy. I was motivated due to the fact that I am concerned, but it actually was harder than it seemed. It was not the fact of finding sources at all, it was the fact of finding valid sources that I could actually use. I found most of my information on the Newsbank at that University of Memphis website; it showed a lot of articles from the Commercial Appeal, which is the Memphis local newspaper. My topic did not really change besides the fact that I realized I could combine the two, both unemployment and minimum wage. Before I actually started my research, I was undecided on which one I should choose. Following through with my paper, I learned things that I had no idea about before I researched it. One thing I learned about were the changes in minimum wage over the course of years. In 2007, minimum wage was as low as $5.85/hr. Another thing I learned was how bad Memphis unemployment had actually gotten compared to the other metropolitan cities of Tennessee. Overall, I am going to stick with my topic, I want to learn more about the issue and opinions of others.

Martin Luther King

When we think of Martin Luther King, we always think of him as a famous African American who took a stand against racism, fighting for the rights of him and others. Many people don’t think of his professionalism, nor do they understand how knowledgeable and literate he is. Martin Luther King is not only literate in speeches he is known for, but he is also a great writer. In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, written by Martin Luther King in 1963, King expresses himself and responds to criticism made towards him by white men. By reading this ten page letter you can tell why King is not only important to African American History, but why he is also a civil rights leader. In the letter he uses a lot of logic, stating facts and backing up his arguments with valid information. An end of segregation and racism is a serious matter and is what Martin Luther King prides this letter on. Not only has he just written this letter though, throughout his life Martin Luther King has stood up and protested for what he believes in; making speeches, writing letters, being a part of several committees and organizations, and etc. 

Memphis Unemployment and Minimum Wage/ Research Argument

I decided to do my research argument on the unemployment and minimum wage in Memphis. I feel it is one of the most important topics to discuss when mentioning the city. I honestly don’t feel you can live off minimum wage and you definitely cannot make a living if you are unemployed. I used to make minimum wage until I got a raise at my job and depending on how many days a week you work, you are really looking at no more than a $350 check every 2 weeks,  after they take away all of the taxes. How is that supposed to last with the high expenses of gas, food, and bills? In my opinion, most minimum wage jobs are fit for teenagers, which some employers really don’t even like to hire with their lack of experience. Memphis is certainly not a city that thrives off business; therefor it’s hard to get a job in Memphis, especially if you don’t know anyone. What makes it even worse is the fact that most of the jobs available are only part time, minimum wage jobs. Writing about this topic could open up a lot of eyes on the issue. It could bring attention and a possibility of change. The creation of business or raising minimum wage could indeed better the city.

Introduction Blog/Communities

When discussing communities, I would say that I am included in a variety.  Regardless of what type of community i'm in, whether it's my school, my job, my neighborhood, my city, or others, I feel that those communities make me who I am today. Different communities create different atmospheres and different components that make them the type of community they are. However, in each community that I am apart of, they all have a similarity due to the fact that I will always meet new people. An example of me being in a community and how it differs from others could be the fact that I attend the University of Memphis and my duties are completely different than those of my work community. I work at shoe carnival so my duties are to sell shoes and work a cash register, but at the University of Memphis, I basically go to class and take notes. However, I feel that in some way all communities both differ and have similarities and every individual belongs to more than one.