Assessment #10: Facts and Fake News: How to tell the difference
The pandemic and political polarization have made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between credible information and disinformation. Two Wake Forest University librarians, Rosalind Tedford and Hu Womack, are experts on the use and consumption of disinformation and its impact on the world.
fake:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/health/
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/243333/prioritise-tackling-toxic-emissions-from-tyres/
real:
What’s depression?
In the American Psychiatric Association web site they explain what’s depression. Depression (major depression) is a common and serious condition that negatively affects the way you feel, think and act. Luckily, it’s also treatable. Depression makes you sad and/or you lose interest in activities you used to enjoy. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and affect your ability to perform at work and at home.It is estimated that depression affects one in 15 adults (6.7%) each year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some point in their lives. Depression can occur at any time, but on average it first appears between the late teens and mid-20s.Women suffer from depression more often than men. Some studies show that a third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. First-degree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have a high heritability (approx. 40%).
The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person. It is normal to feel sad or sad in such situations. People experiencing loss can often describe themselves as “depressed.” But being sad is not the same as being depressed. The grieving process is natural and unique to each person and shares some of the characteristics of depression.Sadness and depression can involve intense sadness and withdrawal from daily activities.Sadness and Depression Can Coexist For some people, the death of a loved one, losing a job, being the victim of a physical attack, or a major catastrophe can all lead to depression. When pain and depression coexist, the pain is more severe and lasts longer than pain without depression. Distinguishing between grief and depression is important and can help people get the help, support, or treatment they need.
Depression is one of the most easily treatable mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients experience relief from their symptoms. Prior to any diagnosis or treatment, healthcare professionals should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including history and physical examination. In some cases, a blood test may be done to make sure the depression is not caused by a medical condition, such as a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency (reversing the medical cause would relieve depression-like symptoms).The evaluation will identify specific symptoms and examine medical and family history, as well as cultural and environmental factors to create a diagnosis and treatment plan.Brain chemistry can contribute to a person’s depression and affect their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants may be prescribed to alter brain chemistry. These drugs are not sedatives, “superior” or sedatives. They don’t form habits. In general, antidepressants do not have a stimulating effect on people who are not depressed.Psychiatrists generally recommend that patients take their medication for six months or more after their symptoms improve. Long-term maintenance therapy may be suggested to reduce the risk of future episodes in some high-risk individuals.
Listening-Speaking Task #9: Podcast Episode 80: “The Empty Chair”
pro and con Banned Book
The American Library Association (ALA) has tracked book challenges that attempt to remove or reduce material since 1990. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the challenges hit an all-time high in 2021 with 729 challenges containing a total of 1,597 books. In most years, about 10% of reported problems relate to school or library drop-out or expulsion. However, in 2016, five of the ten most controversial books were removed.The ALA estimates that only 3-18% of complaints are reported to the Office of Freedom of Thought, meaning the actual number of attempted book bans is likely much higher. In 2021, challenges were most frequently raised by parents (39%), followed by leaders (24%), board or administrator (18%), librarians or teachers (6%), elected officials (2%), and students (1st %). Books were consulted most frequently in school libraries (44%), public libraries (37%), schools (18%) and university libraries (1%). Sexually explicit content, offensive language, and “not appropriate for any age group” were the three most common reasons for asking for a book to be removed. According to The Harris Poll, the percentage of Americans who think all books should be banned has increased from 18% in 2011.A 2022 poll found that 71% disapproved of attempts to remove the books, including 75% of Democrats, 58% of independents, and 70% of Republicans.
Reading and Writing Task #13: NPR News Article on Shooting in Dadeville, Alabama
People have normalized the violence, the guns and firearms. In the present murders, gunshots, shootings have become something you see on your everyday, why normalize it? Because you can’t do anything to stop it? Does that Mel it right? Or people are scared to say something because the agresor can hurt them? Start talking about this, rejecting it, and even though it’s going to be hard and difficult, someday it’ll make the difference.
Special Assessment: “Spring Break”
Listening-Speaking Task #8: A Memorable Field Trip
Special Assessment: “Lessons from Silent Spring for Controlling Disease” (video)
In April 3, 1963, it was one of the best sales in the nation. It was a book that sold more than 500,000 copies and the book. The book, titled Silent Spring, was named the most controversial book of the year. DDT is a company that helps the transportation industry to the United States. But the one who made it all happen was Rachel Carson, a person who came into the world to change things.
Achel Carson has been labeled a murderess because her industry appears to produce a lot of pollution and millions of children in the Third World are getting sick and dying. The person who called her a murderer was Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and media outlets like reporter Stossel Take. Explain the following statement: “Man is part of nature, and his war against nature is necessarily a war against himself.” This means that you can turn the world against you by building an industry, not on them be aware of the effects it may cause.The hidden damage was that the industry was causing malaria, a disease caused by mosquitoes.
Run as an error that nothing is true and everyone has stopped using the DDT. The number of cases grew at an alarming rate until his theory turned out to be true. The virus has continued to adapt as mosquitoes are a nuisance themselves, and due to slavery and shipping with Africans, the virus has continued to spread. What I see is a clear reaction from people who believe in the media without knowing the facts or experiencing them firsthand.Over time, the truth emerged, but the media was so misinformed at the time and even more misinformed because people believed they had more power, so it was understandable.
DDT, 1963, Malaria, WWII
