Not the official Health & Wealth Ad. Just a teaser for the real thing below.

This is not the official Health & Wealth Magazine ad, this is just a teaser.  See the official version below.

Health & Wealth Magazine 2009

America the Beautiful: What We're Fighting For

In "America the Beautiful: What We're Fighting For" by Dinesh D'Souza, the author hopes to persuade the reader to accept his viewpoint on why Islamic terrorism exists in the world today. With an impressive resume as a policy analyst from Stanford, D'Souza's argument seems legitimate, and compelling.   However, D'Souza resides in the conservative fear camp, and his policies for Islamic fundamentalist eradication are off base.

Every time I hear an author or speaker like D'Souza talking about how the only solution to the problem with Islamic fundamentalists is totally annihilation, that concerns me.   There is no doubt that America is the greatest country on earth, and those of us lucky enough to live here should appreciate that everyday.  But, for us to impose our way of life to everyone on earth is not right.  

If it were as simple as America fighting for this grand idea of freedom for the world, without the corruption of money and power that some American politicians and big businesses strive for, then 100% of American's would support freeing the world.  However, money, power, religion, political ideals, and control of resources is still the underlying motivation.

I would love to hear D'Souza's war plan for ridding the world of Islamic extremists.  I mean, the detailed, actual war plan.  Would he just send in a couple sharp shooters and take out the few bad guys?  And after taking out that bad guy, would that bad guy's sons care?  Would he have to take them out too?   After taking out that guy and his 5 sons, would he then have to kill the mother as well?  Wouldn't she be ticked about the loss of her family as well?  How about uncles? etc. etc. etc. etc. D'Souza, and his type, are unrealistic. There is no way to strategically take out a few bad guys and rid the world of Islamic Fundamentalists.  As soon as one of the "bad guys" were taken out, another would take his place instantaneously.  

How did America become free and independent?  Did somebody come into this country and impose freedom on us?  No, it started from within.  American's wanted America to be free of any parent country or external control and we made it happen.  If people truly want freedom in their countries, then they will fight for it.  And that fight from within will be more meaningful than if we go hand them "freedom."  That doesn't mean we should let bad things happen when we see it.   We should help when it's needed, but that help must be towards a realistic end.

America will win the hearts of the world's people when we care as much about the repression in Africa, for example, as we do in Iraq or Iran.  If we are truly in the game of spreading freedom, then there are plenty more countries to spread freedom than the middle east.  Let's get to it if that's what this is truly all about. 

Final Grammar Post

Wow, where did the time go? It seems like we just started class, and now it's over.

For my final grammar post I am going to sum up my issues and show my improvement. Overall, I would say I have improved my grammar substantially. I am glad Chelsi had use do these weekly exercises on our own; I would have studied my grammar as much otherwise. These grammar posts inspired me to want to learn more about grammar.

For this week I want to share with you all an online grammar lecture that I found to be brillant. It's called "The Modern Scholar: A Way With Words Part III: Grammar for Adults" By Professor Michael D. C. Drout. The publisher gives this summary on the lecture:

Who eats shoots and leaves? A panda? Or a gunman at a restaurant? The answer to this all depends on - you guessed it - grammar. In the third part of his extraordinary Way with Words series, Professor Drout continues to explore humanity's intimate association with language, here delving into the finer points of English grammar. Since others judge you by the way you speak, the intricacies of grammar, in fact, should not be relegated to the realm of fussy "guardians of the language," but are rather essential clues all can employ to communicate more exactly. In such a light, this course forms an invaluable guide for everyone from all fields of interest.

You can find the link to purchase the audio at http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_RECO_002562&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

The price is around $49.00, but I think it is well worth it.

Grammar Post

I am a big fan of testing to see how much I know about a certain subject. I found another cool test at Grammar Mastery Test. It's kind of a long test, but it's worth it.

Michael

Comparison/Contrast

I am most intrigued to write an essay in the comparison/contrast form. I found a website that has 4 simple rules to follow when writing this style. They are:

1. 1st Compare, then contrast (or vice versa).
2. 1st do one idea, then do the other.
3. Write only about the comparable and contrastable elements of each idea.
4. Only compare or only contrast.

Each of these rules is broken down in detail on this website. Click here if you are interested to learn more about this style.

Michael

Grammar Post

Ok guys, here it is, your Mid Term Diagnostic English Grammar Test (actually it is not hard at all, just good practice more than anything).  Check it out here!

Along with feedback from an instructor, tests are another good way to gauge your grammar.  Grammar is so vitally important to successful writing.  It makes sense to improve grammar as much as possible whenever you can.

My List of Questions

The Economic Crisis of the 21^st Century

 

Who is responsible for the economic disaster?

Who predicted it would happen?

Who thought it would not happen?

What were the first signs of the crisis coming?

How does it compare to the Great Depression?

What is the difference between a recession and a depression?

When did it officially become a recession?

What caused the mortgage market to collapse?

How did mortgage rates affect the real estate boom?

Was the burst of the real estate bubble the starting of all of this?

Was 9/11 the real cause, and this is just residual effects?

What government intervention has helped?

What government intervention has hurt?

Did the government do to prevent this from happening?

What did the government fail to do to prevent this from happening?

Are big corporations to blame?

Is there any “one person” or any “thing” responsible for the mess?

How did Bernard Madoff get away with a $50B ponsey scheme?

How much worse will it get before it gets better?

Will it get worse before it gets better?

Have we seen the bottom?

Where is the bottom? 

What signs will indicate we have reached the bottom?

How much money has the crisis cost America?

How much money has the average American lost?

Has America made the same mistakes of the Great Depression?

Does every generation need to make their own mistakes?

Could this have been prevented?

How much worse was the Great Depression than this?

Can any “one” country be identified as the culprit?

When this is over with, when will the next one happen?

How often do we have recessions in America?

When was the last recession?

What did we do to get out of it?

How does the media influence slow the healing of this crisis?

Do the media protract the crisis?

Is the crisis immune from Government help?

Does it just need to “run its course?”

How much do politics play in this?

Are other countries in as much pain as America?

Has the suicide rate increased from this crisis?

How many suicides can be accounted for during the Great Depression?

Does technology have any effect on the speed with which the crisis is happening?

How many people have lost their jobs?

How do the jobs losses compare to that of the Great Depression or other Recessions?

What jobs are available right now?

How do the government bailouts help or hurt?

Who has received the government bailout money thus far?

To what extent do the bailout packages affect the national debt of America?

How many bankruptcies have been caused because of the crisis?

How many foreclosures can we attribute to the crisis?

Are any industries or companies profiting from the crisis?

How bad has the stock market losses been?

Where is the stock market bottom?

What was the percentage drop in the market during the Great Depression? 

What stocks have increased since the beginning of this crisis?

Should people pull their money out of the market?

How will the crisis affect social security?

How many people are on food stamps because of this?

Does class warfare have anything to do with this?

Are the rich really hurting right now?

Are there people that have not been affected?

How will children remember this crisis?

How much have real estate values dropped?

When can real estate values expect to return?

What were the hardest hit areas of the country?

Did the price of oil have anything to do with the crash?

Will the crisis force the government to takeover more banks?

What are the negatives of nationalizing banks?

Did the Iraq War have anything to do with this?

Has spending increased or decreased in the Iraq War since the crisis?

If a decrease in War spending has happened, has it affected the ability of the troops to do their jobs?

How has the crisis affected migration to the United States?

 

 

 

 

 

Economy Poem

Poof! Goes The Magic Economy

Poof goes the magic economy Where toadstools and fairies Smoke dollar bills In trade and cap barrels While fat cat CEOs Bailout with their golden chutes The taxpayer will foot the bill!  Not to worry,  GM And its rickety products Are here to stay. And never mind homeowners Such a cliche Our father, who Wal-Mart in Heaven Target be thy name. The Toys R' Us Come Starbucks will be done On Earth, as a Mall in Heaven. Give us this day Our Panera Bread And give us our Wendy's As we forgive those Who eat at McDonald's And lead us not Into Chrysler But deliver us from GM For thine is the Republicans Democrats The two party system  Never to be broken. Transfixed upon this cross of gold.  Denis Kucharski

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/poof-goes-the-magic-economy/

 

Spelling Quiz Part II

A couple weeks back I posted spelling test part I.  Here is part II.  Try it out and see how you do.  It's never a bad time to start working on improving vocabulary and spelling.    Check this out 

Also, another cool thing some of you may have seen before is this:

I am giong to witre a praargaph prupsoely msiseplling ecah wrod.  It's amzanig how our mnids are stlil albe to raed tihs wtihuot mcuh prlboem.  Try it out on yuor frnieds.  Jsut keep the lsat two leteters of the wrod in the crorect speliling.

Cool huh?

Framing Class - Kendall

In a selection from the book “Framing Class: Media Representations of Wealth and Poverty in America,” the author Diana Kendall analyzes the different social classes in America, including the way they are formed, and how they continue to be formed.

Kendall examines how television shows such as “The Simple Life,” with Paris Hilton, reinforce the class system by displaying the working class and their daily lives as degrading.  The spoiled heiress, Hilton, reduces herself to jobs such as working in fast food restaurants, or on farms etc.  The people in the show are not actors.  While watching this type of show you can see how Hilton does everything she can to make it be known that she is not of this class. 

The main issue with Kendall’s rhetoric, and that of many from the progressive movement, is that they do not adequately describe solutions to the problems.  Certainly many enormous and valid issues are brought to the readers attention, however, very few if any quantitative solutions can be found.  To make this type of rhetoric far more successful, the author must demand action.  Michael Moore’s style is a great example of a “how to” manual in demanding action.

There will always be a social class division in the world.  As long as there is greed, there will be those who want the treasure, those who have the treasure, and those who just want more of the treasure they already have too much of.   

Homeless Kids.  Probably need simple things, like food, shelter, and love.

One man's "toy." Probably need simple things like caviar, a 32 person crew, and a fishing pole. And yes, there are two helicopter pads.  

Serving in Florida - Ehrenreich

In a fascinating excerpt titled “Serving in Florida,” by Barbara Enrenreich, the author sets out on an experiment where she submerges herself into the world of the minimum wage worker.  Enrenreich works as a server at a low-end restaurant, and as a housekeeper at a local motel.  Her results are sobering to say the least. 

In her experiment, Enrenreich was attempting to learn what the low-income class of Americans experience on a day-to-day basis.  She wonders how it is possible to live by making only $6.10 per hour.  Enrenreich forges minor relationships with coworkers at the places of her employment.  She relays to the reader the way these people deal with life, e.g. the lack of proper health maintenance due to lack of health insurance, the borderline homelessness, and hunger they face.

This real life documentary style of writing is very effective.  Enrenreich has a gifted way of presenting logos, pathos, and ethos throughout the text.   In one of her many vivid descriptions of Jerry’s restaurant, where she waiters for $2.10/hour plus tips, she writes how the smell is wretched (referred to "citris fart"),  the sanity is nonexistent, the management has little respect for the employees, and the customer nearly becomes "the enemy."   The visual images of her environment are brilliantly illustrated.

Enrenreich portrays how many people get trapped in this rat race for the rest of their lives.  Lack of advanced education, and the ability to achieve it, binds people to a life of wage-slave labor.  The only hope for many of these low-income wage-slaves is some sort of government support to give them a jump-start.  Otherwise, it is nearly impossible to save enough money, or find enough time, for them to break the cycle.  

Chelsi's Grammar Comments

This week I am posting grammar issues that Chelsi pointed out to me on my cartoon essay.  

The issue I'm going to focus on this week is rule 18 on Chelsi's Political Cartoon Analysis Grading Key.  Rule 18 states: Try to avoid "to be" verbs in your writing.  Review the rules about active / passive voice.  

On uark.edu I found the following rules and examples:

In active voice sentences, the verb expresses the action in the sentence, the subject performs the action, and the object is the recipient of the action. Active sentences follow the pattern: subject-verb-object.

Jill kicked Jack.

In a passive voice sentence, the subject and object flip-flop. The subject becomes the passive recipient of the action.

Jack was kicked by Jill.

My issue was I put "has" "had" "were" in several of my sentences. One of my sentences was "What has caused this massive collapse..."  I deleted has and it sounds much better.  "What caused this massive collapse..."  Sounds much better, right?

Michael 

Spelling Time My Friends

Every year since I have been out of high school (over 12 years) I have gradually lost my ability to spell.  I was dang good at spelling all throughout my schooling years.  Once I started using the computer more and more, I began to rely on "spell check" in the software, and not in my mind.  If today, I had to hand write a document I'm sure it would be full of spelling errors.  I want to work on this. I think most people should work on this.    

I'm using the quiz website I found last week for a spelling test.  I was pretty surprised after taking a couple of the quizzes that I really could improve my spelling!  Check out it HERE 

The Roots of Debate - Tannen

In the selection “The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue” by Deborah Tannen, the author invites the reader to examine the assumed necessity of debate in our lives.  She makes persuasive arguments about how the effect of negative debate and criticism can lead a researcher, student, and/or a critic to all find frustration in the end.  Her research suggests that even in grammar school we learn to have a “tendency to value formal, objective knowledge over relational, intuitive knowledge” which trains the child to “talk in a focused, explicit way,” or in other words, the beginning of our debate yearning minds.

Tannen suggests that we most move beyond this argument culture by not looking at all issues as polar opposites.  One example Tannen points out where Mary Catherine Bateson, a teacher at George Mason University, has her class compare three cultures instead of two.  She suggests that by only using two cultures the students are “inclined to polarize them” however if they use three cultures “they are more likely to think about each on its own terms.”  Not everything has to be an argument.  There usually isn’t just two sides to an issue, and we should consider “all sides.”   Broadening our scope on ideas will lead to more knowledge gained.

Tannen has a strong grasp on her rhetoric.  As a superior writer, Tannen uses ethos appeal throughout the selection, as the reader may find themselves looking up every other word in a dictionary in order to fully appreciate the wording she uses.   Further, her descriptions of how a graduate student felt after being told her research methods were that of detritus (organic waste), sure can make one feel the pathos.  The author sums it up with point that we should use “our imaginations and ingenuity to find different ways to seek truth and gain knowledge. The overall message was delivered with consistency and logos.  The intended audience in this piece is that of students, researchers, and critics.  

I Just Want To Be Average - Mike Rose

In the story I Just Wanna Be Average by Mike Rose, the author introduces the reader to an educational system where students find being mediocre easier than trying to excel. Rose attends a school for underprivileged children in Los Angeles where most teachers had “little training” in their subjects. Rose explains how an ambitious young teacher basically saved him and “gave [him] a way to feel special about using [his] mind”.

Reading the introduction, and the use of strong vocabulary throughout the story, shows Rose furthered his education beyond this vocational school. This creates a good amount of ethos for the reader. Pathos appeal comes about when he describes how teachers “had no idea of how to engage the imaginations of us kids who were scuttling along at the bottom of the pond”. Someone who has attended a public school might be able to relate to how that might have felt to Rose. In contrast Rose introduces his best teacher who would “teach his heart out”.

The writing uses a combination of casual and formal writing. He uses “big words” throughout the story, but also uses slang and “new wave shibboleths” or trendy phrases or jargon to make his points clear.

Grammar Post - Online Quiz - Fragmented Sentence

Alright guys, it's quiz time.  Enough with the rules this week, let's put our knowledge to practice!  I found a website where you can repair sentence fragments yourself.   This is really cool.  Check it out at HERE

After you read the fragmented text selection, copy and past it to another window.  Work on making the paragraph flow.  Then click on the Grammar's Version which shows you how it should look.

Against School - Gatto

In the selection Against School by John Taylor Gatto, the author aims to convince readers that the public school system has major flaws caused by a conspiracy to keep children obedient and subservient. He shares the idea that the school system dulls down creativity, genius, and creates boredom and conformity. Gatto effectively uses pathos, logos, and ethos to deliver his message clearly and persuasively.

The essay begins by Gatto using ethos by describing his background and authority on the issue. Teaching for 30 years he claims to have become an “expert in boredom” as he watched students and teachers drudge through their days at school. Teachers would sit in the break rooms “whining” with “dispirited attitudes”.

Using historical characters like, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, Gatto shows how the lack of formal education has little, or nothing, to do with the ability to create amazing results in the real world. How much more powerful of logos can you use than introducing the reader to the educational backgrounds of men like that.

Gatto uses pathos several times as well throughout his work. Comments and statements like “boredom”, “trapped inside structures” and “childish adults regularly conflate opposition with disloyalty” can dig at the reader and produce images of our own past experience in the “mandatory public education system”. Some readers may be able to relate to a grandfather similar to the authors. One day in front of his grandfather he mentioned the word “bored”. His grandfather quickly “battered [him] hard on the head” and told him never to say that again.

The motivation in this selection is to convince readers to “teach your own to think critically and independently”. He also says, “…urge them to take on the serious material, the grown-up material”.

Exclamation Point - Don't Overuse

It drives me mad when I get and email from somebody that looks like this:  "Hi Michael!  How are you!  What's the latest!?  How's the fam!?  I can't believe it's been so long since we've talked!  You should move back up north!"      

Do you see what I'm getting at?  The overuse of the exclamation point is a rampant disease that has affected our generation of text and email junkies.  

Definition of an exclamation point from The National Punctuation Today website is: The sign used in writing after an exclamation or interjections, expressing strong emotion or astonishment, or to indicate a command.

Please read this website if you suffer from this illness.  It is treatable. http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/exclamationpoint.html

“Cut out all those exclamation marks. An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own jokes.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald —

Idiot Nation

Yes Mr. Moore, for the most part we are living in a nation of idiots.

Nobody can deny that Michael Moore's style is that of extreme sacrasm backed up by partially exagerated factual data. I've seen each of his documentaries and they are all brilliantly done. Idiot Nation was just as good as any of his movies, and hopefully opened some people up to new views.

I love that only in America could you voice your extreme take on issues, bash on the former President, and bash over half the country and still make millions of dollars per year, and keep living for that matter. His most popular production, "Fahrenheit 9/11" was the highest grossing documentary in history. Grossing over $119M, yes that's in millions. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=documentary.htm

Michael Moore uses shock and awe to attract attention to himself. Like when he got up in front of the Oscar's and said, "Shame on you Mr. Bush!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Is43K6lrg You should take the time to watch this to get to see how bold and daring this guy is. He has no shame.

Even if you don't agree with his stance on issues, it's awesome to see how he is allowed to do what he does in America.

Also, for a list of all his references used for Idiot Nation check out http://2010thursdaynights.blogspot.com/2009/02/lets-talk-rhetoric.html#comments

Michael

Grammar Post: Then/Than etc.

So often I see the wrong use of the words then and than.  Since I couldn't think of something specific that I want help on this week I thought it would make sense to share these rules.  The rules state that: "Than" is a comparative term. Use it only when you're making a comparison between two or more things. "Then" is a temporal term. Use it to indicate that something happens after something else, often with a cause-and-effect relationship. Also use it in conditional statements (after "if" clauses)." http://www.englishchick.com/grammar/grconf.htm

"Than" comparisons:

I am shorter than Xena. There are more cherries in my bowl than in Gabby's.

"Then" comparisons:

Xena looked around and then mounted Argo. Xena entered the room. Then everyone else left. If you're traveling with Xena, then you must be pretty brave.

This website also helps with other words that are often confused words.  Words like accept/except, affect/effect, and their/there/they're. http://www.englishchick.com/grammar/grconf.htm 

1950's - Coontz

In the politically motivated piece “What we really miss about the 1950’s”, Stephanie Coontz introduces the idea that the 1950’s were not all they are hyped up to be in our modern times.  She goes into great detail, and uses a plethora of resources to back up statistical data about the 1950’s.  The “Leave it to Beaver” days that most of us think of as what it was like in the 50’s may not be all that accurate.   She points out that “there was tremendous hostility to people who could be defined as "others.” (39) Others being blacks, possible communist supporters, the poor, gays and lesbians, and certain religious affiliates.  

 

The author presents her case very persuasively, and by the end of the reading I feel like the times we live in now are certainly better than they were then. This article challenges the cultural beliefs about American families by opening up several hidden issues of the times.  All generations seem to want to make their own mistakes and learn from their own challenges, and in 50 years from now I’m sure there will be writings stating how our current behavior as a society is similar to the way we look back at the 1950’s.

 

One of the things I found interesting is women went back to work in large numbers after the 50’s because their children that they had in quick succession were grown up and out of the home. Also, Stephanie points out that a lot of what we think about the 1950’s comes from a few television series of the time, such as “Father Knows Best” and “Leave it to Beaver.”   This article confirms my idea that we are on the right track in history.  Woman and people of ethnic origins have made large strides in breaking the bonds of repression.  I would be even further interested if the author has made an update to this reading.  From 1995 when the article was written, until now, we have made some dramatic shifts in our entire society.  A Black man is now our President, a man who has a lot of the same ideals as FDR and the New Deal.  

"Leave it to Beaver" family portrait

Looking for Work - Soto

In the piece Looking for Work by Gary Soto, the author shows us a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in a minority family in the 1950’s.   He shares some stories of being poor, yet still was able to find happiness at the dinner table with his family and swimming with friends at the community pool.  You’ve got to love the enthusiasm and persistence of this kid.  Not once in the story do you feel like he felt sorry for himself.  He is not afraid to ask for work.  Looking at this story from my perspective as a white American, I am humbled.  I have never felt the racism or poverty that he refers to.

I believe the author was trying to get across that as a child he felt at a lower class than the families he would watch on the TV, or some of his neighbors.   He mentions that, “This was the summer when I spent the mornings in front of the television that showed the comfortable lives of white kids.”   He grew up in a neighborhood where it appears racism was alive as he says “[Mr Jackson] saw me he turned away to wash off his front steps.”

In Soto’s eyes, the white American Family in the 1950’s was perfect, and was the way he wanted his family to be.  I think he saw more opportunity being white than Mexican.  He wanted to blend in, not make a big statement.  He wanted him and his family to be accepted and liked by the whites.

I loved this story.  I felt inspired by it.  I feel like happiness can be found at any level of life.  The last sentence of the book he says, “I felt suddenly alive as I skipped down the block in search of an overgrown flower bed and the dime that end the day right.”  Isn’t that great! 

Photo of Gary Soto

 

My Economic Cartoon Finds

Grammar Post 2: Active Voice vs Passive Voice

In reading some guidelines on the MLA format, I ran across how to effectively write in active voice, or in passive voice. I've never really looked into the definitions of either.  However, once I did I was able to clearly point out the difference.  Here are two examples from Tina Blue in the online article Active vs. Passive Voice.  Here is an example of the active voice; "With the money from her mother's life insurance Diane bought a new car and took a trip to Europe."  Now, compare that to the passive voice, "With the money from her mother's life insurance a new car was bought and a trip to Europe was taken by Diane."  The passive voice just sounds way to complicated, and backwards.  Tina says, "In the preceding examples, which are in the active voice, the agent of the action is the subject of the sentence.  But in the next set of examples, which are in the passive voice, the receiver of the action is the subject of the sentence."

According to article, you should try to write in the active voice 95% of the time. Tina Blue says, "In fact, even that may be too generous.  No passive voice verb should be allowed to stand unless it can justify itself.  In other words, every time you use a passive verb, ask yourself why you are using a passive construction there.  If you don't have a good reason for it, then rewrite the sentence to use the active voice."  Read more from Tina Blue HERE.

Now I don't feel like this anymore:

Proud to be an American - Intro to Rereading America

In the introduction to Rereading America the author introduces us to college level thinking and writing.  It prepares us for what is going to be presented in this book and the best way to study and soak in the information. 

As for me, being an American is probably the luckiest part of my life.  I look at different places around the world, and am always consumed with the feeling of how much we take for granted what we have here in the United States.  We have security, freedom, money, and find me a grocery store that is ever lacking with as much to consume as we wish.  If we dial 911 we have help just a moment away. I am proud to be an American, as the song goes.  But along with this pride I want others to experience it as well.  I wish people throughout the world could experience what it is like to have what we have here in America. 

I think it is our duty as Americans, as a very fortunate group of people during this time in history, to provide as much help and support to our neighbors throughout the world.   You never know when the tides of fortune may turn, and we one day end up as “one of those other countries”.  Rome didn’t last forever.

Treat others as we want to be treated.  Show respect to all.  We are all in this thing together, why not make it work?

Grammar Post: The Apostrophe

My goal for this week is to fully understand how and when to appropriately use an apostrophe.   For some reason I have always had a problem with words that end in S.  For example, where does the apostrophe go on the word "days"?  Well I learned that just add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in "S".  I researched a website created by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab, which can be found by clicking HERE.