TOW #30

Dear New AP English Student,

Prepare for a year of stress and fun. I promise, that's what this class will bring you. AP English isn't a class to fret over, though, because as your very wise teacher will tell you, "It's only school". TOW's, or these blogs that you're reading now, will be a pain, but in hindsight, they do give exposure to more writing and nonfiction. That's another thing-nonfiction. I have never liked nonfiction before I had this class, and now, I can't get enough of it! I promise, whether you are a fiction person or even a romance novel person, you will enjoy at least one aspect of nonfiction before the year ends.

Mr. Yost is a pretty cool guy, so don't go too hard on him. Always remember to do homework, and if you don't, just be honest about it. He gets it. Prepare to do endless amounts of writing! In class essays are never the best days, especially if you're writing them first period, which was often the case for my class; however, as you go through the year, you are sure to get much better at them! Don't get down on yourself because of your first marking period grade, either, because let's be honest, that first summer essay most likely really brought  your confidence level down a few notches. By the third marking period, you will hopefully be on your way, or at the level of an A!

Vocab lessons are a great way to not only open yourself up to the language of english, but also to get some good prep for SATs. Pay attention to roots! Presentations always come at the end of the marking periods, and be sure to always work with people that you KNOW can get work done. Mr. Yost also happens to be the public speaking teacher, so you will be graded on posture and voice for once in your life. The class is great, and will teach you so much about how you write. Have fun with it, but know when to be serious. Laugh in class (especially at Mr. Yost's weird jokes), and be creative! It's better if you're into it, and don't forget-- IT'S ONLY SCHOOL.

Alyssa Ryan
Last TOW of APENG 2013-2014

TOW #29: Documentary (2)

Last week, I viewed the documentary "Bully". "Bully" revolves around teens and their problems with bullying. I loved it. I thought it accurately depicted some of the real struggles and dangers of bullying in high school that are seen every day. There are a few arguments that were made throughout the film, most with which I'd agreed.
   The first and probably most prominent argument I noticed was that bullying is still a big problem in high schools around the nation. The documentary argued this by exemplification of students in schools. Throughout the video, the cameramen follow a few students and go with them through their school day, making sure to capture every interaction and every encounter by other students, teachers, and family members. I completely agree with the idea that bullying still takes place in high schools today, along with the argument that not many people do anything about it. I see it in my high school occasionally. Many don't know that they're doing it, but even making fun of a girl three grades below might make an impact. It doesn't happen too often, but when bullying does occur, I know for a fact that it has more of a toll than most think. The argument that nothing is done about it is also accurate, in my book. Of course, teachers will break up fistfights and hair pulling in the hallway, but what most of them will let slide are the verbal taunts, the ones that pull the emotional strings of students. It's so easy to break down the self-confidence of a high school student who is only trying to fit in and make friends.
   Another argument made in the documentary is that the students normally do not bring the bullying onto themselves, and it is solely the other students. In some ways, I do agree with this, but in other ways, I think that this isn't completely true. I think there are definitely students who initiate arguments and bring the bullying onto themselves, which, of course, in no way makes the bullying okay in any sense. Sometimes, however, bullies don't begin to bully unless they really have a reason to. In most cases, though, it is because of a problem they have either at home or an insecurity they have about themselves.
     I remember in 8th grade when a man came and spoke to our class about his son, Patrick, who committed suicide after being bullied over the internet. I think technology has definitely opened a new road for bullies, because they can easily hide behind their screen. It's amazing that almost 75% of students in public schools have either witnessed or have been the victim of bullying. That's almost 3/4 of students across the country. It's incontrovertible that this is a huge problem, and I'm glad that someone decided to make a documentary about it.

TOW- Documentary: BULLY

As a teenager, it's astonishing to know suicides are in the top five leading causes of death for teens. At first, I thought, how could that be? I'm a relatively happy person, and I could never think to do such a thing; however, after watching "Bully", I understand what goes through the minds of the kids who make that decision, and this documentary has made a huge impact on my life and the way I will treat others in the future. Throughout the documentary, the director utilizes exemplification and a notable emotional appeal in order to make the audience aware of the dangers of bullying, and how it impacts more people in more ways than we think. 

Even at the beginning of the documentary, the director utilizes exemplifcation. In fact, the first few scenes feature a father talking about his deceased son who was bullied to the point of suicide. This use of an example at the start of the movie is extremely effective because it immediately places the audience at the scene of the consequences of bullying. Exemplification also provides intrigue for the audience. Immediately, I wanted to know more about bullying and where this movie was going to go. Even the second scene follows another boy who is being bullied, and shows the hardships he faces and the people he has to deal with jus tot get through one day of school. It's heartbreaking to know that kids actually go through this every single day. To me, it's almost as traumatizing as being bullied. 

There's no way the director could  have made this documentary as effective as he had without the use of an emotional appeal. The fact that in the first thirty seconds of the video, there is a father crying about his dead son is just the beginning of the rest of the emotional video. The emotional effect not only pulls the audience in, but allows them and provokes them to feel sympathy for these kids who are being bullied every single day. It's a tragedy, and the more people that are aware, the more that can help stop the bullying. It's amazing what emotions can do. I, for example, cried at least four times throughout the documentary, and call me a girl, but I know for a fact that some of the boys who watched it cried as well. The documentary hits hard on emotions, and it is one of the best strategies in getting the director's point across. 

This documentary will forever be one of the most moving things that my television has ever shown. I loved it. I hated it. I accepted the fact that I have bullied others in my life, but at the same time, I've been bullied. It taught me the dangers of even calling someone a name behind their back. Through the use of an emotional appeal and exemplification, this documentary shares and makes people aware of the dangers of bullying. 

Reflection TOW

Well, it's been a great year in APELC, and I'm proud to say my writing has definitely improved, along with my TOWs. I noticed, specifically, improvements when I looked back at my analysis of images. At the beginning, I wasn't really sure how to rhetorically analyze an image or a visual text; in fact, I didn't really know that images could serve any rhetorical purpose at all. As I learned throughout the year, however, my analysis of visual texts became much better and much more sophisticated. I think I have definitely mastered analyzing these types of texts. They are also my favorite, and I find it extremely interesting that a simple picture can convey such a large message.

Although I feel I definitely improved, there is, of course, room for more improvements. I still have not mastered rhetorically analyzing short, non-fiction texts. I have become much better at it, but finding the author's theme, message, or purpose is something I still struggle with this. I struggled with it much more at the beginning of the year, and these TOWs helped me by exposing me to tons of different types of writing, which allowed me to try and find messages of different authors and different passages. I had also never really been too into non-fiction before now, but discovering intriguing newspaper articles and even biographies have been two advantages of doing these TOW assignments over the course of the year.

TOWs were definitely one of the most time-consuming, yet beneficial aspects of this class. At first, I didn't really understand how they were going to help, but I found it so amazing that after just two or three of the entries, my writing began to change and develop. The success that I've had throughout APELC during this year is reflected by the improvements in my TOWs. It's cool to look back on the ones from the summer before junior year and get a gist of how much I really did learn this year. Thanks TOWs!

TOW #26: Argument Against Headphones (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/magazine/09FOB-medium-t.html?_r=0

Since before I can remember, headphones have been a part of any music-lover's daily lifestyle. They're easy access to a world of different music when an escape is needed. There are hundreds of different types of headphones: some that stick to the ears for runners, and some that even cancel out all noise around the person wearing them, besides, of course, the music being played. The question is, though, do headphones effect us more negatively than we are aware of? In 2011, Virginia Heffernan wrote an article for the NY Times about whether or not headphones were a good source of entertainment. Using statistics and exemplification, Heffernan convinces her audience that headphones are bad for society.

Heffernan begins her essay with an extremely effective statistic that sets the tone for the rest of her essay. By stating that "One in five teenagers can't hear whispers or rustles" (Heffernan), she automatically focuses the audience's attention on the fact that hearing problems are an incontrovertible effect of wearing headphones. the statistic is not only enough to grasp the reader's attention, but also more than enough to make a solid point, and make the rest of her argument believable. Heffernan also uses statistics when writing about how that number of teens losing hearing has jumped immensely since 1944. This not only supports her last statistic, but ends the introduction paragraph leaving the audience wanting to know more about why headphones are so bad, ultimately strengthening the argument. 

Through the use of exemplification, Heffernan connects to her audience, which is an important factor when trying to convince them of something. For example, she uses this strategy when explaining how exactly the headphones work. In some ways, this is actually ineffective, because she does use some jargon such as "diaphragm" and "conversions and compressions". Overall, though, this is good because by explaining the processes technically, she is giving herself more of a knowledgable status, and letting the audience know that there's no arguing with the science of the headphones. This essentially strengthens Heffernan's argument. 

Heffernan does a great job in explaining the headphones situation to her audience, and she convinces them with ease with her tactics. Through the utilization of statistics and exemplification, Heffernan is able to show her audience why headphones are bad, and make a clear, and strong, argument backed up by pure fact. Her argument is so good, it's almost unarguable. 

TOW #25: Divergent Movie Review

Yet another Dystopian movie was recently released a few weeks ago, featuring a girl and her journey in a society where everyone is told who they are. "Divergent", which was a novel in a trilogy before in was shown in the movie theaters, was written by Veronica Roth. In a movie review written by a New York Times publisher named Manohla Dargis, "Divergent" is just another dystopian movie that will never amount to assisting women in their breakthrough of strong and adventurous roles in movies. Through the use of comparison and negative word choices to imply that writers and directors have been attempting to put women warriors on the pedestal and use a female as the strong lead role, but "Divergent" doesn't help this cause at all.

Throughout his article, Dargis consistently juxtaposes Roth's "Divergent" with Suzanne Collins's "The Hunger Games". While they are both set in a dystopian society, the plots are very different; Collins's book is much more violent, while Dargis argues that "divergent" was rather "anticlimactic" (Dargis 1), which didn't allow the true nature of Tris's (the female lead) courage to shine. Additionally, the female lead in "The Hunger Games" doesn't really have much time for romance, as claimed by Dargis, but the fact that Tris keeps wondering why her male instructor pays attention to her really puts the stereotypical teenage girl right back in her place. Using this juxtaposition allows the audience to make comparisons in their minds, and better understand where Dargis comes from.

Dargis also uses a method of negative word choices. For example, he uses "ill-served", "uncomfortable", and "anticlimactic" when describing the plot, characters, and movie itself. Each of these words clearly carries a negative connotation, which makes the audience think worse of the movie.   Because the amount of negative words compared to positive is such a high ratio, the positive ones are barely noticed, and the negativity is retained. Not only did he negatively describe the plot, but he did so with the characters, including the female lead. By doing this, he underscores the ineffectiveness of Tris as the main character, which completely takes away from the writer's goal of creating this new era of female warriors in movies and books.

Although I thought this movie was very good, maybe a little bit long, I must agree with Dargis in that Tris was not a good representation of female warriors of the 21st century. Through the use of comparison and negative connotations, Dargis attempts to inform his readers of the flaws within "Divergent", and convince them that it does not effectively display the breakthrough of women's lead roles in action/adventure movies.

TOW #24: Non-Smoking Ad

Nowadays, most people know that smoking is detrimental to one's life. It's both surprising and disturbing, especially, to witness an adult smoking around children. Not only are the children watching their "role models" smoke a cigarette, but they are also absorbing that nasty second hand smoke. This was an ad that appeared on a billboard that told people to stop smoking near children, if at all. The image uses allusions and an emotional effect in order to display to its viewers that secondhand smoke has a great effect on children, and can cause them to have health problems as well as the person actually smoking.

It's amazing what the effect of a child can do for an image. The picture of the innocent little girl plastered on the billboard automatically drawn the viewers' attention. Without even thinking, the billboard bring in the effect of an appeal to pathos, one that touches the hearts and consciouses of its audience members. As the billboard reads "Children of parents who smoke, get to heaven faster", it's hard to interpret the message wrong. Children are affected by the smoke that their parents bring into the household, and could essentially affect the health and life of the child as well. The Child Health Foundation does a great job of making sure that people get the message by basically telling its audience that children can die because people are being ignorant and smoking around young kids. The little girl portrays every young child in this situation, and the cute look on her face will touch the emotional strings of the audience every time, making the message that much stronger.

Interestingly enough, the ad also alludes to a religion. In the Christian faith, halos are widely used to represent angels. Angels are usually representative of people who have already died. This ad was clever, in that there is a halo above the little girl's head, but the halo is formed by the smoke around her. This is not only a bit horrifying, but it tells the audience that she is going to "heaven" for the wrong reasons. She shouldn't have a halo of smoke around her head, because it isn't she that smokes. It is her parents. It almost brings about a sense of unfairness, as the girl isn't committing the crime, but she is going to have to pay the price. Both the work heaven and the halo contribute to this allusion, which overall may make the ad easier to understand for the audience.

In conclusion, the ad is effective. If anyone saw this on a billboard, they would feel bad for the little girl, and understand that smoking does not just effect the person with the cigarette in their hand. Through the use of religious allusions and an emotional appeal, this ad effectively displays the horrors of smoking and the terrible effects it can have on children with parents who smoke.

IRB Intro: Devil In the White City

For my next IRB, I have decided to reread a historical nonfiction book called, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I have read it in the past, but I remember liking it, and have decided to read it again for rhetorical purposes, as well as the fact that I know I will enjoy reading it. The book takes place during the early 20th century, and revolves around a "fair", that takes place in the heart of Illinois- Chicago. at this time period, there was dancing and parties and women who found their independence, and overall, it was a time period of innovation and recreation. As the fair is being built over this time period, there is a murderer on the loose in Chicago. Like the wind, he is heard but not seen. He moves swiftly without a trace, and no one suspects him because he is a doctor. This not only adds a more intriguing plot to the book, but also provides the reader with insight about the downsides of the glamour and fabulousness that was the early 1900s.

I predict that the author will definitely utilize a dark tone throughout the book. As the book takes place in a fast-moving setting, Larson will have to sneak in the ominous tone in order to encapsulate how mysterious and dangerous this new serial killer was. Because the killer was one of the first to ever cause the death of a high number of people, it was a shock to not only Chicago, but to the entire nation. Many women and children were killed, and it was, as it says on the cover, madness. Larson will also need to change his tone throughout the book because each chapter changes topics. I mean this in the sense that one chapter will take place somewhere relating to the building of the fair, and the next will relate to the killer. The building of the fair should be more of a rushed feeling and less dangerous, but the killer's chapters should obviously be darker.

I can also predict that the author will definitely use references and maybe even allusions. Because this is a historical focus, I figure that these references will support the author's story, and give the story more of a background. It will also establish more credibility for the author, while also giving context to the reader.

I have read this book before, and I know it is good, but I feel as though reading it again for a different purpose will give me an even better understanding of how the author thinks, and maybe even make me realize things about the book I hadn't noticed before. I'm excited to read it again, and I hope it's worth it!

TOW #23: O Captain! My Captain! (Walt Whitman)

O Captain! My Captain!, a poem written by Walt Whitman, stands today as one of the most famous poems in America. It was the death of Abraham Lincoln which inspired this poem to be written. In order to memorialize and celebrate Abraham Lincoln,  Walt Whitman uses extended metaphors and specific word choice throughout his poem. 

Abraham Lincoln was, and still is, an iconic figure in America. In the poem, the "captain" mentioned is actually a metaphor for the great figure of Abe Lincoln. Not only is he represented as a person that the country admired, but more specifically, as a person that he admires. This further enhances the purpose of the poem because it adds in the perspective of the poet. Another extended metaphor throughout his poem would be the "fearful trip" that Whitman refers to in his first line. This trip represents the Civil War. Whitman's style of writing seems to be to allude to certain historical events, people, and places. Another example of this would be the metaphor of the "ship", which represents America in the Civil War. All of these metaphors add to the essence of the poem in that it embellishes Whitman's style, while also proving the importance and commemorating the life of Abe Lincoln. 

Whitman's word choice also greatly contributed to the style and purpose of his piece. He uses the word "father" as a substitute for "captain", ultimately displaying his deep respect that he has for Lincoln, otherwise known as the father of the union. In contrast, Whitman also uses the words "grim" and "daring" along with phrases such as "cold and dead" to overcast the celebration of Lincoln, and memorialize the sorrow of his death. These words are a great appeal to pathos, as well as gives the poem multiple tones in order to both encapsulate his audience while also keeping Lincoln's death in mind. 

Whitman's poem is a great example of an effective poem, because not only is it short and sweet, but it also shows Whitman's respect and need to honor one man. In order to memorialize and honor Lincoln, Whitman uses specific word choice and extended metaphors. In this regard, he successfully gets his message across to his audience, and honors one of our greatest presidents. 

TOW #22: McDonalds Ad at Bus Stop

Advertisements. They draw us in as an audience, and make us into consumers. What's interesting about the McDonalds advertisement is its placement. I hadn't really thought about how important the placement of an ad is. For example, a fast food commercial would be completely ineffective on a television station that airs fitness programs. Some ads just don't fit. This McDonalds Ad certainly does. Through the use of strategic placement and clever color schemes, McDonalds succeeds in creating a good advertisement for their food franchise.

The Ad was located at a bus stop on the back window of the area that covers the bench where one would sit. Notably, the ad might assume that the people who take the bus as transportation might be coming home from work or school after a long day, and might definitely be hungry for a pre-dinner snack. The ad is so well placed because the company thought through the day of the consumer, and where one is most likely to go after work. The ad may also assume the people who take the bus might be low to middle class people, AKA, the people who might go to McD's more often than those of higher class. Although this is in no way true for every case, the Ad does cleverly address this idea, and because McDonald's is a very cheap and affordable fast food eatery, it would appeal to those respective  classes successfully. In this way, McDonalds succeeds in its mission for advertising.

McDonald's also placed a very consumer-friendly color scheme on its ad. Thee colors are very bright and outstanding, drawing the audience's eyes straight  to the display, making sure that no one can miss it. The ad is designed as if the person on the bench is actually sitting in the restaurant, making it that much more desirable. The menus are plastered on the top, creating a mouth-watering view, and the cashiers painted on the wall are all smiling, inviting their customer to come to their restaurant. Overall, the ad does a great job of appealing to almost any audience, and the colors and pictures make it that much better.

McDonalds must have a tough time placing their advertisements, because most know it for the fattening food and 3$ meals. This, though was a great idea. Through selective placement and clever color schemes, McDonalds was able to make its mark and succeed in its advertisement.

TOW #21: Zoos or no Zoos? (MIchelle Carr)

http://www.peta.org/living/entertainment/reality-zoos/

Michelle Carr, an extreme animal-lover, wrote an article about the horrors and misconceptions of zoos. After reading the article, I felt guilty about the times in which I visited the zoo with either a class or with my family. Carr utilizes the emotional appeal and the use of "you and "I" in order to inform her audience that zoos should not be legal, and that they are harmful to animals.

Throughout her article, Carr manages to tap into the emotions of the audience by explaining how the animals are treated and what conditions they are forced to live in while in zoo captivity. She specifically mentions how the animals must be extremely bored, because in some cases, they are only left with an old tire to play with. She also mentions how the animals can become ill or even go mentally unstable because of the small environment they have to live in. For example, a gorilla attempted to escape out of its walls and ended up being shot by the police. As Carr gives these examples, her audience will feel sympathy for the animals and how they are treated in captivity. These emotions will help the audience better understand why zoos should not exist, and Carr will have proven her point.

Also in Carr's article, Carr talks directly to the audience, as if her article is a speech. She also uses first person, particularly at the end of her article, when she offers the audience an alternative to going to zoos. She tells her audience that she no longer goes to the zoo, but instead, encourages her friends and family to boycott the zoo. It was also interesting how she told her audience that watching documentaries about animals or going to see them in their natural habitats is much more interesting and would help the animals so much more than if they went to the zoo to watch them. She claims that at first, she thought zoos were fun and entertaining, but when she got to know the animals "up close", she learned that zoos are chambers for the poor creatures, and that zoos are essentially in violation of the animals' rights.

I thought Carr was very effective in her article because not only did she teach me facts about zoos that I had never thought about or known, but she used these facts to portray her message. Through the use of pronouns and the appeal to emotion, Carr effectively persuaded her audience to stop attending zoos and to think about the animals and what they go through in captivity.

TOW #20: Ronald Reagan "Challenger Distaster" Speech

In the mid-1960s, a space shuttle was launched. This was a big milestone for America, and a big loss. They'd never lost an astronaut in flight, and it was a tragedy. 73 seconds after the flight launched, the shuttle exploded, and seven astronauts were killed. Ronald Reagan, the president at the time, felt more than compelled to provide the mourning citizens with a speech. The speech lasted a little over two minutes long, and was very well delivered. Reagan used metaphors, references, and collective pronouns in his speech to remind the nation that although there will be struggle and there will be hard times, the lives lost will never be forgotten, and they will motivate the nation to keep moving forward.

   

Several times throughout his speech, Reagan uses metaphors. For example, at one point, he refers to the seven astronauts as pioneers. Not only does this show respect to the lives lost, but it also makes it evident that these people were of high importance. Pioneer represents the beginning of a movement or even the leaders of a ship, and Reagan wanted to make sure the American people understood how influential the astronauts were. 

Reagan also used references in his speech. He made a particularly interesting reference to an episode that had occurred many years before but on the same date; this event was Sir Francis Drake dying aboard ship off of the coast of Panama. Then, he connects the incident to Drake's by saying that the people who dies aboard the shuttle, "Challenger", were just as important as Sir Francis Drake. Because many know that he was, and still is, considered legendary for circumnavigating the earth, the people can realize how enormous of a point that Reagan is making by comparing these people on the shuttle to this man who has made such a difference in the world. Reagan attempts and succeeds to make the nation consider how important these lives were, and how important it is to keep moving forward,

Finally, Reagan uses collective pronouns. This is the most prominent strategy Reagan utilizes because it can be seen in almost every other sentence. His uses of "we" and "us" substantiate the idea that Reagan wants this tragedy to be seen as an opportunity, not as a dramatic ending to the hopes and dreams of the nation's space program. Reagan also directly speaks to a few groups of people; one of these groups being schoolchildren who were watching the shuttle explode on live television. He has to announce that he knows it is difficult to understand. He also addresses the men and women of NASA, and commending them for their work and dedication. The way he goes about speaking to all of these people and creating a unifying feeling for the American people definitely makes his speech recognizable. 

This was a tragedy among tragedies, and at this time period, not many people knew what to do about it. However, through metaphors, references, and the use of collective pronouns, Ronald Reagan made evident that the lives lost were not the ending of hopes and dreams, but possibly the start of a new beginning. He succeeded in letting the people know this, and even in the short time that the speech was given, he may have managed to help many, many people respect the lives of these seven astronauts, and maybe shed a glimpse of light on the hope that the people should still have.

TOW #19: MAC vs. DELL advertisement

   The competition between Mac and Dell computers has been around for the last ten years, with competing advertisements being thrown into TV stations left and right. One recent ad features a Macbook laptop calling a Dell laptop a "nerd", and a the Dell calling the macbook a "pretty boy". This advertisement was for Dell. With use of clever word choice and personification, Dell essentially argues that their computers are better.

    The Ad provides clever word choice to the audience, as "nerd" and "pretty boy" are often said in the gossip going around high schools or even to label someone. The terms are not only relevant to the computers, but the word choice was perfect because it is easy for the audience to understand. For example, the Dell laptop calls the Mac "pretty boy" to show that the Mac is loved so much because it is designed to be a more visual appealing computer. On the other hand, Mac calls Dell a "nerd", because although it may be smarter, the computer is less attractive. So, Dell provides the underlying yet ultimate question: when it comes to computers, which aspect is more important, the visual aspect or the intelligence of the technology? Dell figured that most would choose the intelligence aspect because computers are made to provide information among other things. Because the two terms "nerd" and "pretty boy" are the only text on the ad, it is impressive that Dell is able to make such a solid argument.

  The ad also utilizes personification. The audience is perfectly aware that computers technically can't talk to each other, but the ad jumps at the chance to allow the devices to speak to each other, not only for a bit of humor, but also to represent the rivalry between the two companies. Dell wants to make its position clear and the company does so by allowing their computer to speak. This makes it much easier for audiences to comprehend, and also gives the technology a personality. The personification allows Dell to cement its argument.

The Dell and Mac rivalry will continue, but this ad provides a new perspective and raises that question of whether the value lies within the attractiveness of the laptop or the intelligence. Dell uses personification and clever word choice to make it clear to the audience that Dell is the better laptop, because it is smarter, and because the looks of the laptop doesn't mean much in the long run.



 

TOW #18: How to Say Nothing in 500 Words

(Link)

Recently in class, we were told to read George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language". This essay set a couple of standards and rules to adhere to when writing in politics- or any pieces in general. An essay I found, written by Paul McHenry Roberts, has a similar purpose. I thought that I might be able to compare and contrast the two pieces while also analyzing the new one I have read. In his essay, Roberts uses humor and enumeration in order to provide his audience with a better understanding of how to write short essays.
   The text begins by giving an example of an English teacher who assigns a 500 word essay about college football to his students. Right off the bat, Roberts connected with me, as I am a student and I understand the difficulties of writing about such a broad topic in such a small amount of words. Roberts then goes on to give a sample essay written at 10 PM the night before it was due (also a relatable asset...) and explains why it was unthoughtful and worthless- deserving of a "D". Here, Roberts uses a little bit of humor when describing the common student and how they write heir essays. Keeping in mind that this essay was written in the 1950s, Roberts claims, "Saturday night you have a date, and Sunday morning you have to go to church. (You can't let English assignments interfere with your religion.) What with one thing and another, it's ten o'clock Sunday night before you get out the typewriter again. You make a pot of coffee and start to fill out your views on college football." (Roberts, 1). His relatable humor here is very effective because he is able to connect with the reader, and gives the audience something to relate to. 
   The essay then goes on to list some of the ways to avoid getting that "D" on the assignment. Similarly to Orwell, he tells his audience about the importance of eliminating any kind of abstraction. He writes, "Look at the work of any professional writer and notice how constantly he is moving from the generality, the abstract statement, to the concrete example, the facts and figures, the illustrations. If he is writing on juvenile delinquency, he does not just tell you that juveniles are (it seems to him) delinquent and that (in his opinion) something should be done about it." (1). Not only does Roberts refer to yet another topic that I can relate to (delinquents...not that I am one), but he is explaining to his reader that great writers use legitimate examples, instead of abstract ideas. In contrast to Orwell, Roberts also writes about "taking the less usual side" in writing. He goes on to say that he best essays go against the common public opinion. He wants his audience to get a bit risky while also being smart about it. Roberts also uses many examples to explain why the simple can be so much better than the complicated- just like Orwell. One clear similarity between the two essays was that both authors made a point to explain to the audience that before taking any advice for the essays, make sure the advice taken will help, not hurt. It is better for writing to make sense than to try and follow every rule that has been mentioned. These are suggestions, not necessarily guidelines. The listing of these strategies made the essay extremely easy to follow, while also keeping it organized. 

         Roberts was definitely successful in getting across his message to the reader. His full-circle ending with the inclusion of the college football essay mentioned in the beginning was perfect. Through a bit of humor and enumeration, Roberts was able to suggest ideas and maybe provoke some change in the way short essays are written. Just as Orwell wrote, clear and concise is best.

IRB Preview

Through tons of consideration and overthinking, I have decided to read Aron Ralston's 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place. First, I'd like to point out that in no way, shape, or form, will I have the stomach for this book- but I'm trying something new. I have not seen the movie, and I predict that the story will not only be intriguing, but also horrifying. Needless to say, I'm excited... and nervous.

Aron Ralston's Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    The well-known author, Ralston, wrote the book in 2004, after the tragic incident by which the book was inspired. Aron Ralston was hiking when his arm was caught under an 800-pound boulder, and there was no escaping it. Telling no one where he was headed, Ralston faces reality: there's one way to get out, and it will hurt. Personally, I am not too ecstatic for the gory details, but I have always been interested in the story ever since I had heard about it, but I never got around to learning about he sequence of events that this man suffered through. Luckily, Aron had a video camera on him to tape his dreadful six days, with little water, and almost no food. I chose this book because although it is a memoir, it is smaller-scoped because it will take place in a small amount of time, instead of over a lifetime.
    If I had to predict some strategies that Ralston will use to make his book interesting, two obvious candidates would be the appeal to pathos and ethos. Ralson has probably told his story over and over again, and because he suffered the pain and he wrote the book, it will be that much more believable. The emotional appeal is automatic. How can one not feel for a man who was closer to death every second? In my opinion, I guarantee some of the emotional appeal won't even be intentional, but through the plot line, it will just come. I also predict the use of similes and metaphors to express the pain he went through during his 127 hours. Last but not least, I can't even imagine the imagery that will be splattered on the pages of this book. This will be his most powerful tool. The imagery provokes the reader to react to the situation, and to imagine what it would be like to be there in the canyon- stuck between a rock and a hard place. I hope I am not let down by this book because I'm extremely excited (and nervous, of course) to read it!!

TOW #17: Superbowl commercial (Budweiser)

In light of the recent football game, I decided to analyze the Budweiser superbowl commercial. This commercial is difficult, because, as adorable as it is, it does not relate to the product whatsoever. In a way, the commercial is both effective and ineffective at the same time. Coincidentally, most of the superbowl commercials are like this, including the ones about Bud Light and Doritos.

    In the commercial, it begins with a puppy at an adoption farm. One of the puppies escapes its little pen and runs off under a fence and into a barn- only to see it's much bigger friend, a horse. This automatically attracts the viewer not only because the puppy is adorable, but because the relationship between the horse and the dog is strange, and it leaves you wanting more out of the story. As the commercial goes along, the viewer sees that a young man owns the barn with the horse, and a young woman owns the puppy and the puppy farm. And surprise, surprise, they end up together at the end of the commercial, because the man has to repeatedly return the puppy back to the puppy farm. Ultimately, this commercial touches on the emotional and "aw
www" senses of the audience, but is that enough to sell the product? My answer is no.
   The commercial's goal is both to be entertaining and sell the product- beer from Budweiser. The thing is, though, not a single beer is seen throughout the entire commercial. In this sense, the commercial loses its effectiveness. Some may argue, though, that the commercial does leave a mark in the audience's mind because of how emotional and cute it was, but at the same time, you may remember the commercial, but not what the commercial is for. I will agree, though, the slogan "Best Buds" does put a reminder in the viewers' minds about what the commercial advertises. Personally, I do remember because every year, Budweiser has the same kind of commercial- with an emotional appeal. It also features the same actor as well.
    This was definitely a tricky commercial to analyze because it had many factors that could have went into making it effective or ineffective. Overall, though, I think in its purpose, the commercial was completely ineffective, and would leave the audience with no remembrance of what the commercial was actually advertising- but instead, leaving the image of a cute little puppy dancing with a horse, which makes no connection with beer at all.

TOW #16: IRB Final Review

Three Little Words  was a phenomenal book. Ashley Rhodes is one of my new favorite authors, not only because of the plot and storyline, but because of her style and the way she writes. She writes as though the reader is sitting there in the situation, not as if the reader is an outsider looking into an foggy window. I  would definitely say, above all, her descriptiveness and metaphors were the most outstanding elements of her book. For example, one way she described herself in the book was, "As we pulled out of the driveway, I heard a shattering sound inside my head as if a glass had broken between my ears...I was escaping, and yet, I felt as worthless as the junk in my trash bag. Once again, I was the one being tossed and thrown away." (Rhodes, 74) As the author describes herself as a piece of trash being tossed into the garbage can, the audience can imagine how small and worthless she had been feeling. 

    A recurring theme throughout the book was the idea of these "three little words", thus, the title of the story. As I read, I began to learn that the three words were "I love you", and the book helped define what that actually means- to love someone. Ashley had been abused for half of her life by foster mothers, never understanding the true meaning of love. She didn't belong anywhere, and she never had a home. It took over 195 people to find the two people who would save her from foster care. When she said those "three little words", it altered her life, as well as the world's life because she was able to put it into words and publish it. I think what Rhodes was trying to teach her audience was that life will throw struggles out that don't seem fair. There will be times where you won't  know if you'll survive this time or make it to tomorrow. The only thing that keeps you from jumping off of that mental cliff is hope. Love teaches hope. As Rhodes crawls her way to the appallingly flawed American foster care system, the audience is taken along for the ride, and Rhodes doesn't fail to convey her strength over and over again. By the end of the book, the reader realizes that not only did Rhodes make it through all of her struggles, but she was able to do more than that- she was able to live a part of the American dream by writing her book. It's incredible that after nine traumatic years, Rhodes was able to accomplish writing a book and overcoming her battles. I respect her not only as an author, but as a person.

TOW #15 School Uniforms: Yes or No?

         
It's an age old debate; it's a debate on which  I have been writing TEAC and 5-paragraph sample essays  for probably about the last five years of my life. School uniforms. Do we need them, or are they just a hassle? Noelle McGee, who writes for a local Illinois newspaper, wrote an article about the pros of a school mandating uniforms. Sandra Chereb, who writes for a local Carson City, Nevada paper, wrote an article about a hearing at the Nevada Supreme Court in which two parents were having issues paying for uniforms, and listed the cons. Because one article was written distinctly better than the other, my opinion about uniforms changed. Because

 of bullying in school, a necessary professional atmosphere, and the flexible price offers, uniforms should be enforced in public school districts and will positively effect the students and the learning environment. 
              Noelle McGee writes, "'We believe that will help eliminate some of the time spent on correcting the dress code and decrease other problems like bullying and gang violence.'" This is a quote from the principal of a middle school principal in Illinois. When I read this, I immediately thought of how people dress in the halls of Wissahickon High School. While some students dress very conservatively, covering almost every inch of their bodies, some walk into the building with shirts that barely cover half of their torso. It's an extremely interesting concept, that of the dress code. It raises the question of whether or not disallowing students to wear inappropriate clothing will create a more business-like and professional environment for students to learn. It will also eliminate the bullying that subsequently appears because of name brands. Many can not afford it. 
             Sandra Chereb made the same argument, about the parents not being able to afford school uniforms, but it wouldn't matter, as long as they would fit the dress code. This could be a collared shirt and khakis. IT wouldn't be an insane price like some uniforms are. This actually made me overthink uniforms. It would prevent bullying, and I think the professional atmosphere would be better for students to learn. 

TOW #14 AT&T Commercial

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijeg-jeTUBs

The AT&T commercial never fails to have my family and me glued to the screen because it's so adorable, but as I continue to learn about logical fallacies, I have to begin to question: how effective is the ad? Of course, the commercial changes every so often, and normally, it is the same actor sitting with a group of four or five very young children in a classroom at a table. The whole idea of the commercial is that switching to AT&T is not complicated, and neither is having AT&T. What doesn't make sense, though, is the fact that the commercial takes the idea from little children, and then transposes it to the oh-so-powerful phone company. Although extremely adorable and occasionally humorous, it is hard to take this commercial and say it's effective. This fallacy would be called false authority, because this would make better sense if it was a toy store company or even an ad for juice boxes or something more immature, but making it about a phone company doesn't make much sense. Another example of this fallacy would be celebrities who have nothing to do with a certain product, being advertised with it or even advertising it themselves. 

         Rhetorically analyzing the AT&T commercial, though, the commercial does have it's humorous moments, and the children on it are usually extremely adorable. It leaves me wondering if the commercial is scripted. In this way, it is extremely effective because it definitely catches the audience's attention while also keeping them interested. I'm starting to understand that this applies to many commercials, in the sense that even though many ads and commercials contain logical fallacies, these logical fallacies may actually help contribute to the commercial. While straying a bit from the commercials purpose, it may keep the audience entertained, and give them something to remember by the end of it.