Archives for March 2023

The US federal debt has been a growing issue that has recently come to the forefront of the public eye. Experts now fear that the debt has reached a level at which the US government can not effectively contain its growth. More specifically, many people believe that the US will ultimately have to default on these loans. This is problematic for several reasons. Since the US will have to amass resources to fight the deficit, they will likely need to cut key social programs. This will lead to the elimination of vital services such as social security and Medicare. Additionally, to raise money the US will likely place a tax on its citizens, leading to an overall decline in average income. Finally, as the debt continues to rise, it will lead to higher interest rates. This will discourage investment in the private sector and ultimately lead to less economic growth.

How to use GPT in writing: As a whole I think there is a fine line that exists between acceptable and unacceptable use of ChatGPT. Since GPT has such a large database of information, I think it should be allowed to help people generate ideas. By plugging in one’s topic of research, a person could gain a strong baseline of information from what the AI responds with. However, I think use becomes unacceptable once a person starts copying the AI’s work directly.

Reimagined logline: A group of chess grandmasters skirt US regulations and illegally sell fossil fuels to help expand the transportation industry, leading to a climate catastrophe.

One thing that our group believes is true of the world: Climate change is an extinction level threat that needs to be solved.

Written in opposing views:

• The earth goes through natural phases of heating and cooling meaning we don’t have enough information to evaluate how serious climate change is.
• The climate has shown an ability to heal itself, meaning we do not need to take immediate action
• It is more important for people to be focusing on improving nations economies/raising the quality of life instead of solving climate change
  • How Many Live On Less Than $1 A Day? – CLJ (communityliteracy.org)
  • UN Report: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021 (who.int)
  • Benefits of economic growth – Economics Help

How Will I Use This in My Project: As a whole this activity challenged me to look at something I believed is completely true in a new way. I was forced to challenge my beliefs and really consider how other people may approach the issue at hand. I will use what I learned in my project by considering how the other side my view this issue.

Observations from the video:

• Takes place after the pandemic
• Follows how the family dog adjusts after life resumes back to normal

Log Line Activity:

How each fact shapes the film:

• Chess improves a person’s critical thinking –> The grandmasters are able to use critical thinking to understand how to solve the federal debt
• Transportation contributes more than any sector to greenhouse gas emissions –> A rising oil price due to a decreasing supply has led to overspending in the industry
• The US has suspended its federal debt ceiling 7 times since 2013 –> The US government can no longer restrain its debt which is why they must call on the chess grandmasters.

How does this shape my project: As a whole this activity challenged me in thinking about how each fact, I learn fits into my project as a whole. Throughout this activity, I have come to understand that I should be trying to create a cohesive narrative in my final project. While I am learning each fact as a separate piece of information, I need to push myself to think about how I can tie them all together and prove a larger point. Additionally, by having to create a log line that linked 3 unrelated projects together, I gained experience in drawing similarities between different sources, a skill that I will need when trying to synchronize the findings of my research.