Log 2

At this point, my SIPs paper is mostly complete. I have written the rough draft and edited it twice. My MLA citations are correct, along with my works cited, which is a real weight off my shoulders. As of now, I can focus on the content of the paper, which is easier for me to deal with. However, I have not yet started on my visual, which I feel is an acceptable place to be at this point. With AP exams looming I feel like I should now focus my energies elsewhere than SIPs, so I intend to not deal with SIPs again until after they are over.

Actually writing the paper was more difficult than I originally anticipated. While writing, I began to better explore my topic, “Is consumerism good for society,” and better understood which aspects of the topic interested me the most—namely the environmental impacts and impacts on the global poor of consumerism, rather than the psychological effects of consumerism. My paper has thus focused less on these latter points, such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and more on the environmental impacts. My most used source was “Effects of Consumerism” webpage, which was an ultimately negative article on consumerism. However, my paper itself took a mostly positive stance on consumerism. I find this interesting because I began the project with a more negative view of consumerism, but was forced to revise my position due to the numerous positive goods that consumerism has wrought in the world.

Log 1

My project is, thus far, on schedule. I hope to begin the writing of the draft tomorrow, April 13^th, as my research is finished today (to the best of my knowledge).

Up to this point, all my work has been consigned to research rather than writing and analysis. But even throughout this early process I have had to change the way I am thinking about the essential question, “Would society be better off without consumerism?” I originally intended to explore the psychological side of consumerism, but have instead found aspects of greater interest to me.

For example, I originally intended to discuss solely the effect of consumerism on the consumer, as in the average American. But over the course of my research I have begun to consider that society consists not only of consumers, but also of producers. One of my favorite sources is a TED talk by Leslie T. Chang, who spoke to Chinese factory workers and found most of them content with their work and their progress towards enriching themselves. While this will still not be central to my piece, I intend to better explore the benefits of consumerism for workers.

Further, I did not expect to concern myself with the environment and distribution of resources as central issues. While reading an online article “The Effects of Consumerism” which I will further use in my paper, I began to see these as central topics to the consumerism debate.

Lastly, I have read several articles that laud consumerism as a positive good. Due to these I intend to write my paper in a pros-vs-cons format, rather than an argument for one side. Despite my natural predisposition to despise consumerism, many of the pro arguments are quite convincing.

I intend to have the first draft finished by the end of spring break. Following is my bibliography (not properly done yet).

Chang, Leslie T. Leslie T. Chang; The Voices of China's Workers. TED. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

     <http://www.ted.com/talks/leslie_t_chang_the_voices_of_china_s_workers>.

Wente, Margarete. "Consumerism is good for the soul." The Globe and Mail 15 Dec. 2012: n. pag.

     The Globe and Mail. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/

     consumerism-is-good-for-the-soul/article6387110/>.

Lewis, Paul. "In Buying We Trust." New York Times 30 May 1998: n. pag. New York Times. Web. 12            Apr. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/30/arts/

     in-buying-we-trust-the-foundation-of-us-consumerism-was-laid-in-the-18th-century.html>.

Shah, Anup. "Effects of Consumerism." Global Issues. N.p., 10 Aug. 2005. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

     <http://www.globalissues.org/article/238/effects-of-consumerism>.

Novotney, Amy. "What's behind American consumerism?" American Psychological Association. N.p., July

     2008. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/07-08/consumerism.aspx>.

Etzioni, Amitai. "The Crisis of American Consumerism." Huffington Post. N.p., 4 Sept. 2012. Web. 12

     Apr. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amitai-etzioni/

     the-crisis-of-american-co_b_1855390.html>.