C. Online chat rooms have become a great source of communication. They are very effective resources because they can allow communication to discuss lectures and labs outside of class. Some classes on campus even have private chat rooms set up for students registered in that class. Chat rooms have become a great resource due to how they can provide a learning environment both inside and outside of the classroom.
D. Dogs are a more suitable and effective alternative to weapons for law enforcement officers. An example of this occurred at UCLA in 1979, where canines were introduced to protect students from nearby gangs. The gangs eventually relocated. Suspects sometimes have claimed to be bitten, but this is extremely rare next to the good deeds and rescues preformed by these dogs. It has been concluded by the 6th Circuit Court that, “since deaths are rare in police dog cases, deploying dogs cannot by condemned as deadly force” (Savage para. 12).
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Cohesive Devices Exercise
Body image is something that almost everyone is self-conscious and aware of. @[Most people will tell you] that one of their greatest concerns is how they look, especially in the eyes of an ever-judging society like ours. It is also something that is perpetually changing generation to generation.
*Body image is something in which we, as a society, determine what is or is not acceptable. In the last few decades alone the average body image has changed considerably. @[As more and more] Americans suffer from obesity and being overweight, the average body has become slightly larger, even though the ideal body is still the skinny fashion runway model. @[We have the power to] determine what it is acceptable to look like through outlets like the media. @[By showing the "beautiful" people on things like television and movies, society is culturally setting the standard] for body image and how you should look. @[This propaganda]
also denies us of our own personal opinion of what is considered acceptable or good looking with regards to body image. @[Instead of] looking in the mirror, or even looking at others, and thinking whether or not that person looks good the way they are, we use what society and our culture has trained us as a way to judge.
Body image is also one of the great paradoxes in society today as well. @[While there] is an added emphasis on being skinnier, stronger, and tan, the obesity rate continues to rise. @[It appears as though] the ideal body becomes more and more impressive as our culture falls into becoming more and more out of shape. These are some of the ways that body image is culturally constructed.
“This exercise was pretty good at accomplishing its goals. I think it did make me go back and examine whether or not I used coherence devices and links. It was a little awkward to mark, but I understood why we did it and I think as a result of this exercise I will be more aware of using coherence devices the next time I am writing or editing.”
*Body image is something in which we, as a society, determine what is or is not acceptable. In the last few decades alone the average body image has changed considerably. @[As more and more] Americans suffer from obesity and being overweight, the average body has become slightly larger, even though the ideal body is still the skinny fashion runway model. @[We have the power to] determine what it is acceptable to look like through outlets like the media. @[By showing the "beautiful" people on things like television and movies, society is culturally setting the standard] for body image and how you should look. @[This propaganda]
also denies us of our own personal opinion of what is considered acceptable or good looking with regards to body image. @[Instead of] looking in the mirror, or even looking at others, and thinking whether or not that person looks good the way they are, we use what society and our culture has trained us as a way to judge.
Body image is also one of the great paradoxes in society today as well. @[While there] is an added emphasis on being skinnier, stronger, and tan, the obesity rate continues to rise. @[It appears as though] the ideal body becomes more and more impressive as our culture falls into becoming more and more out of shape. These are some of the ways that body image is culturally constructed.
“This exercise was pretty good at accomplishing its goals. I think it did make me go back and examine whether or not I used coherence devices and links. It was a little awkward to mark, but I understood why we did it and I think as a result of this exercise I will be more aware of using coherence devices the next time I am writing or editing.”
Freewrite
Personally I do not agree with the decision to cancel Tiger Burn before the football game this year, but I can definitly see why our university would feel the need to. Especially after Clemson already cancelled their mock burial and burning of Cocky, we were feeling pressure to act quickly in response to this. If we were to continue with our tradition, we would look like the bad guys and insensetive after Clemson already cancelled. I really think if both schools were going to cancel they should have talked it out and announced together rather then make the other school seem like the slower to act of the two.
That being said, all Clemson aside, I would have still continued the tradition. I have never experienced or been around this tradition, but I still think it should go on regardless of last months events. I have a hard time seeing how a giant burning tiger can evoke the same memories or emotions that came with the beach house fire. Maybe it is "too soon" as some people like to say, but this can also be considered a way of moving on by having both schools continue a popular tradition. Part of the healing process is getting back to a normal way of life, and by cancelling the tradition and replacing it with tractors, we are once again making note of the beach fire, and making special circumstances because of it. Its hard for me to see how Tiger Burn could offend anyone because it is all in good spirits and part of what makes this rivalry great.
That being said, all Clemson aside, I would have still continued the tradition. I have never experienced or been around this tradition, but I still think it should go on regardless of last months events. I have a hard time seeing how a giant burning tiger can evoke the same memories or emotions that came with the beach house fire. Maybe it is "too soon" as some people like to say, but this can also be considered a way of moving on by having both schools continue a popular tradition. Part of the healing process is getting back to a normal way of life, and by cancelling the tradition and replacing it with tractors, we are once again making note of the beach fire, and making special circumstances because of it. Its hard for me to see how Tiger Burn could offend anyone because it is all in good spirits and part of what makes this rivalry great.
Chapter 7, Question 5
In his essay “Going Nuclear: A Green Makes the Case,” author and co-founder of the anti-nuclear organization Greenpeace Patrick Moore states the claim that the United States should increase our reliance on nuclear power sources. Moore begins his argument by discussing how much nuclear technology has improved in the last thirty years. Much has changed since the near accident at Three Mile Island and the Chernobyl disaster. He then makes the bold statement that nuclear power is quickly becoming our only alternative. Hydroelectric power sources are nearly built to capacity, and oil and coal come with a large environmental impact, so nuclear is becoming a logical choice. To support this, he counters the popular myths about nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is in fact one of our least expensive energy sources, they are much safe than people believe they are (“no one has died of a radiation-related accident in the history of the US civilian nuclear reactor program” (310)), and they are no more dangerous to terrorist attacks than other power plants or political offices. Most importantly, nuclear power plants have lower CO2 emissions compared with coal and oil. Times have changed, and Moore believe in order to keep up nuclear energy is the way to go.
In his essay “Life in the Green Lane,” author Jamie Lincoln Kitman discusses how hybrid cars may not be all that people claim they are. He says that many people buy them based on the propaganda-fueled belief they are better for the environment. Unfortunately, many people buy hybrid models of inefficient cars, like SUV’s, which in actuality do not give much greater performance. They also have more negative feedback because of the troubles that go with hybrid batteries and their deficiencies on open highways. He believe the technology is being used the wrong way, and in some cases we may be better off sticking with an average, gas running sedan that does not have the hybrid related problems. Kitman is disgusted at the preferential treatment hybrid drivers receive, such as special parking spaces and highway lanes, when hybrid cars really are creating additional problems.
I believe the author’s biographies have a large influence of there persuasive. In the first article, Moore comes from a background highlighted by co-founding Greenpeace. One of this organizations foundation argument is against nuclear weapons and power sources. This means he clearly did his research about nuclear technology while the organization was under development. It also shows how far technology has progressed if a man so opposed to it is now a strong supporter of it. He is knowledgeable on the subject and has the open-mindedness to see and accept that the numbers do not lie; today’s nuclear plants are far more efficient. The second author, Kitman, is a high-ranking editor for Automobile Magazine, and is a self-proclaimed “professional car-tester” (306). He clearly has been around cars for quite some time, and has an extensive knowledge of the automobile industry and its political and economic ties. Moore examines cars for a living, so he would know how hybrids work and the impact the government is having on their sales and the impact they are having. Both authors use their backgrounds to their advantage when established ethos for their essays. This is very helpful in persuasive essays because it proves instant credibility and allows for a good background on the issue they are addressing.
In his essay “Life in the Green Lane,” author Jamie Lincoln Kitman discusses how hybrid cars may not be all that people claim they are. He says that many people buy them based on the propaganda-fueled belief they are better for the environment. Unfortunately, many people buy hybrid models of inefficient cars, like SUV’s, which in actuality do not give much greater performance. They also have more negative feedback because of the troubles that go with hybrid batteries and their deficiencies on open highways. He believe the technology is being used the wrong way, and in some cases we may be better off sticking with an average, gas running sedan that does not have the hybrid related problems. Kitman is disgusted at the preferential treatment hybrid drivers receive, such as special parking spaces and highway lanes, when hybrid cars really are creating additional problems.
I believe the author’s biographies have a large influence of there persuasive. In the first article, Moore comes from a background highlighted by co-founding Greenpeace. One of this organizations foundation argument is against nuclear weapons and power sources. This means he clearly did his research about nuclear technology while the organization was under development. It also shows how far technology has progressed if a man so opposed to it is now a strong supporter of it. He is knowledgeable on the subject and has the open-mindedness to see and accept that the numbers do not lie; today’s nuclear plants are far more efficient. The second author, Kitman, is a high-ranking editor for Automobile Magazine, and is a self-proclaimed “professional car-tester” (306). He clearly has been around cars for quite some time, and has an extensive knowledge of the automobile industry and its political and economic ties. Moore examines cars for a living, so he would know how hybrids work and the impact the government is having on their sales and the impact they are having. Both authors use their backgrounds to their advantage when established ethos for their essays. This is very helpful in persuasive essays because it proves instant credibility and allows for a good background on the issue they are addressing.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Chapter 7, Question 4: Global Warming
In both of their articles, authors Jeffrey Kluger and Richard Lindzen make strong claims regarding the heated issue of global warming. Both men choose to take different routes in stating their claim and supporting it, however.
In his article “Be Worried, Be Very Worried,” Jeffrey Kluger offers a very generic and common explanation of global warming. He writes in a very pessimistic tone from the get go, opening with the line “no once can exactly say what it looks like when a planet takes ill, but it probably looks a lot like Earth” (269). Kluger believes that the planet is in a freefall towards collapsing. He greatly expands on things like feedback loops and how they are the cause of the increases we are witnessing across the planet. He offers all these terrible examples of negative changes across the Earth to strike fear in the readers and alarm them, and then ends by more or less guilting them into feeling the need to change this problem. This article seems to drag on and offer a very negatively biased perspective of the problem.
In the article “Climate of Fear: Global-Warming Alarmists Intimidate Dissenting Scientists into Silence,” author Richard Lindzen offers a new perspective to the global warming issue. Instead of using the same statistics about increases in CO2, temperature, water levels, and storms, Lindzen chooses a more political route. While he does acknowledge the facts about the figures associated with global warming, he says, “what the public fails to grasp is that the claims neither constitute support for alarm non establish man’s responsibility for the small amounts of warming that have occurred” (279). Lindzen uses multiple examples of politicians and world leaders trying to “discredit anti-alarmist scientists” and intimidate scientists into not speaking out about global warming. Lindzen mentions something called the “Iris Effect” which basically claims that CO2 in fact does not increase the global temperature. As a scientist, Lindzen offers new, alternative theories in his essay.
Personally I find Lindzen’s to be the more persuasive of the two articles. Kluger seems to drag on listing statistics and figures and describing climate and environmental changes from all corners of the Earth. Even though I am sure these figures are legitimate, he uses them in a very dry manner that I found to quickly lose the readers interest. He also uses a very cliché ending where after describing what a dire situation global warming is and how at this point there is not much else we can do, he says “we’re finally coming to appreciate the knife-blade margins within which life can thrive” (277). I felt like this essay seems to follow the mold of what every politician and scientist has been discussing and reflection on for the last few years now. Lindzen offers a fresh, alternate perspective, which I found to be intriguing and better supported. It is more direct and to the point, and makes the reader think and intrigues him or her into further looking into the topic. Also, Lindzen comes with a more credible background as a professor of atmospheric science at MIT. While both essays address global warming, they use different styles of argument, and one clearly does a more effective job.
In his article “Be Worried, Be Very Worried,” Jeffrey Kluger offers a very generic and common explanation of global warming. He writes in a very pessimistic tone from the get go, opening with the line “no once can exactly say what it looks like when a planet takes ill, but it probably looks a lot like Earth” (269). Kluger believes that the planet is in a freefall towards collapsing. He greatly expands on things like feedback loops and how they are the cause of the increases we are witnessing across the planet. He offers all these terrible examples of negative changes across the Earth to strike fear in the readers and alarm them, and then ends by more or less guilting them into feeling the need to change this problem. This article seems to drag on and offer a very negatively biased perspective of the problem.
In the article “Climate of Fear: Global-Warming Alarmists Intimidate Dissenting Scientists into Silence,” author Richard Lindzen offers a new perspective to the global warming issue. Instead of using the same statistics about increases in CO2, temperature, water levels, and storms, Lindzen chooses a more political route. While he does acknowledge the facts about the figures associated with global warming, he says, “what the public fails to grasp is that the claims neither constitute support for alarm non establish man’s responsibility for the small amounts of warming that have occurred” (279). Lindzen uses multiple examples of politicians and world leaders trying to “discredit anti-alarmist scientists” and intimidate scientists into not speaking out about global warming. Lindzen mentions something called the “Iris Effect” which basically claims that CO2 in fact does not increase the global temperature. As a scientist, Lindzen offers new, alternative theories in his essay.
Personally I find Lindzen’s to be the more persuasive of the two articles. Kluger seems to drag on listing statistics and figures and describing climate and environmental changes from all corners of the Earth. Even though I am sure these figures are legitimate, he uses them in a very dry manner that I found to quickly lose the readers interest. He also uses a very cliché ending where after describing what a dire situation global warming is and how at this point there is not much else we can do, he says “we’re finally coming to appreciate the knife-blade margins within which life can thrive” (277). I felt like this essay seems to follow the mold of what every politician and scientist has been discussing and reflection on for the last few years now. Lindzen offers a fresh, alternate perspective, which I found to be intriguing and better supported. It is more direct and to the point, and makes the reader think and intrigues him or her into further looking into the topic. Also, Lindzen comes with a more credible background as a professor of atmospheric science at MIT. While both essays address global warming, they use different styles of argument, and one clearly does a more effective job.
Topic Proposal for Policy Paper
I will be writing a policy paper about why laws and regulations should be in place so that steroids are allowed in the medical field to those in need of them, yet are strictly banned and distanced from athletes and those wishing to physically benefit from them to gain an advantage. In order to support this claim, I will need more sources. I have a sufficient amount of information on the drug and some current policies, but I will need more opinion pieces from those supporting this viewpoint and why they too believe it is the correct policy.
Point IV
For my exploratory paper, I wrote about the three different perspectives regarding steroids, both for medical and athletic purposes. They were, universally banning all forms of steroids, allowing those with medical problems to have them available but not allowing them to be distributed to athletes, and not regulating steroids and having them readily available for whoever desires them.
I think the middle perspective needs to be the most dominant of the three. It most closely resembles what people prefer today, and has more common ground that the majority can agree upon, myself included.
This perspective can be enforced as policy by setting regulations and guidelines regarding steroids distribution and use. Though it will not be perfect, its what I believe to be the most effective policy and what will see the highest results.
I think the middle perspective needs to be the most dominant of the three. It most closely resembles what people prefer today, and has more common ground that the majority can agree upon, myself included.
This perspective can be enforced as policy by setting regulations and guidelines regarding steroids distribution and use. Though it will not be perfect, its what I believe to be the most effective policy and what will see the highest results.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Campus Issue Freewrite #3
The policy I believe most drastically needs to change on the USC campus is the mealplan system. After talking with my friends at other schools, all of varying sizes, I have come to the conclusion our schools mealplan is probably one of the worst in the country. I feel as though it is set up in a way where you have very limited options without going over the set meal price and tapping into your Carolina Cash funds. Personally I know I go over almost every meal. I also do not like how if you do not use a meal, you lose it. Most other schools will give credit back at the end of the semester or year for the meals that go unused. Not so at USC. This makes picking a meal plan difficult because you want to have a sufficient amount of food, but at the same time you don't want to waste meals.
At the same time, USC should keep this policy as is. If students so choose to get more food then the school recommends with the set limit then they should be charged more for it. Likewise, the excess meal plan tickets gain thousands of dollars for the school which could go towards improving meals or towards better food. So it may not necessarily be better to give credit back. That may result in more expensive individual meals.
At the same time, USC should keep this policy as is. If students so choose to get more food then the school recommends with the set limit then they should be charged more for it. Likewise, the excess meal plan tickets gain thousands of dollars for the school which could go towards improving meals or towards better food. So it may not necessarily be better to give credit back. That may result in more expensive individual meals.
Cursing Freewrite #2
II. Compare the central claims in Achenbach's and Reilly's essays from Carolina Reader. Are they arguing from diametrically opposing perspectives? What, if anything, do they share in the message they are trying get across? How do they differ? Which perspective do you buy?
Achenbach and Reilly both argue for basically the same thing in their essays. Both want to see a reduction in cursing. Achenbach focuses his essay on the F-word, and how its many definitions have made it a popular choice among people in the spotlight, resulting in teeneagers using it excessively. Reilly focuses on cursing in general across a broader spectrum, but mostly uses college sporting events as his main support. Both are trying to get across the message that our society curses too much in many unneccessary circumstances, and something has to be done about it. Achenbach stresses teaching our children about the word and its importance, and when to and when not to use it properly. He considers using it to be a "reward of adulthood." Reilly praises Boston University for starting a no cursing policy at school athletic events and feels that other schools need to create this policy as well. While his article is trying more to be funny then to get a clear policy change across, he does say how "this world is ugly enough without turning on each other." Though they are similar perspectives, I buy more into Reilly's than Achenback's. I like the idea of limiting when you can and cannot say it with rules and guidelines than trying to educate our children when to use it. Though that might be a good idea I feel like no matter what they will inevitably use it due to the frequency they hear it in popular culture, so trying to limit it is better than trying to teach when it is appropriate to use it.
Achenbach and Reilly both argue for basically the same thing in their essays. Both want to see a reduction in cursing. Achenbach focuses his essay on the F-word, and how its many definitions have made it a popular choice among people in the spotlight, resulting in teeneagers using it excessively. Reilly focuses on cursing in general across a broader spectrum, but mostly uses college sporting events as his main support. Both are trying to get across the message that our society curses too much in many unneccessary circumstances, and something has to be done about it. Achenbach stresses teaching our children about the word and its importance, and when to and when not to use it properly. He considers using it to be a "reward of adulthood." Reilly praises Boston University for starting a no cursing policy at school athletic events and feels that other schools need to create this policy as well. While his article is trying more to be funny then to get a clear policy change across, he does say how "this world is ugly enough without turning on each other." Though they are similar perspectives, I buy more into Reilly's than Achenback's. I like the idea of limiting when you can and cannot say it with rules and guidelines than trying to educate our children when to use it. Though that might be a good idea I feel like no matter what they will inevitably use it due to the frequency they hear it in popular culture, so trying to limit it is better than trying to teach when it is appropriate to use it.
Freewrite
A few years ago I started to get the feeling that the war in Iraq was maybe losing its meaning or purpose and started to become irrelevent to the point where I felt we could start bringing troops back. At first I was all for the war and fully agreed with why we were there, but after a while it seem to get a little old to me hearing about it on the news every night and I was ready for it to be over. Then my uncle was sent. After he was sent I had a rejuvenated perspective of the war in Iraq. All of a sudden I felt that we had a great cause for being over there, and we should be doing everything we could to help the troops. Having someone I knew that far across the world in harms way made me start to support the cause of the war again, and take a new interest in following the events taking place over there.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Questions for my Reviewer
At this point my paper is still very raw and incomplete. Alot of citations still need to be added in, and claims still need to be supported. However, I would like you to look at my main ideas and points, and let me know if they seem to be logical and whether or not I have a solid foundation for a paper. Check to see if the three viewpoints work for the prompt, and maybe suggest where I could take some of the paragraphs. I had a hard time writing last night, and got pretty stuck as you can probably already tell, so any suggestions would be welcome and accepted.
Freewrite
This has been a very strange week or so for me. With the events of the past weekend and all the media outlets being around campus, there is a different mood or feeling just walking anywhere near the Russell House. A lot of my friends from home and family have called or asked if I knew anybody involved, or how it is around campus, and I didn’t really know how to answer them because for the most part it still feels pretty normal to me. Maybe because it didn’t really hit too close to home I don’t feel any different about it. I guess its pretty hard to put how I feel in words online. That, plus I’m starting to feel sort of homesick again and ready for the Thanksgiving break which is fast approaching. Mood swings sort of come and go about being homesick. These factors, plus a few additional ones, have made it tough to really focus on schoolwork this week, and even sleep for that matter.
Monday, October 29, 2007
SWA 8: EofA pg. 85-6, #1-5
1) I would describe my present writing process as one of discovery. I like to start writing and figure out what I want to say as I go along. Two suggestions I would definitely consider adding to my writing process are creating an outline before I start drafting, and talking with someone while I am writing my paper if I ever get stuck or have writers block. They would help me be more organized, speed up the writing process, and help eliminate some of the post-writing revision process by allowing a peer reviewer to catch some errors and add suggestions as I am writing it.
2) There are many advantages to outlining your ideas before writing a draft. An outline helps people see the organization of ideas before they begin to write. It also serves as the “skeleton or bare bones of the paper because it provides the internal structure that holds the paper together.” Outlines can help turn the writers full attention to writing once they are complete, will tell the writer what to do, and ultimately save time and reduce frustration while writing the actual paper.
3) This chapter lists three specific suggestions for revision. The first of these is looking at your draft as a whole. I could use this make sure I have a well written introduction, well supported body paragraphs, a good conclusion, and use transitions between points. The second suggestion is ask revision questions to help you locate other problems. I would use this to make sure I am clear and concise and do not ramble or loss focus from my points, and I have said all I want to cover and do not need to add any missing information. The final suggestion is check for final errors, and or adjust the title, and type or print your paper. I would use this to make sure I use proper grammar, such as the same tenses, and everything flows and makes logical sense.
4) The exploratory argument paper features the arguer identifying not just one position, but as many of the major positions on an issue as possible, both past and present, and explains them through summaries and an analysis of the overall rhetorical situation for the issue. It paves the way for a position paper because an exploratory paper will help you look at your issue from several angles, which will help you decide which position you prefer for the position paper.
5) There are many potential ways for conducting peer review. The first is providing each member of the three or four person group with a photocopy of your paper so that as you read the paper they can follow along and mark problem areas. Another way is participating in a round-robin reading session, in which group members read the papers silently and make notes before they discuss the papers one by one. A final way of conducting peer review is for pairs of students to exchange papers to take home and read before the next class. Peer reviews offers many advantages, such as allowing another reader to add suggestions that will likely make your paper better, and making the writing task more sociable and provide immediate feedback from a audience.
2) There are many advantages to outlining your ideas before writing a draft. An outline helps people see the organization of ideas before they begin to write. It also serves as the “skeleton or bare bones of the paper because it provides the internal structure that holds the paper together.” Outlines can help turn the writers full attention to writing once they are complete, will tell the writer what to do, and ultimately save time and reduce frustration while writing the actual paper.
3) This chapter lists three specific suggestions for revision. The first of these is looking at your draft as a whole. I could use this make sure I have a well written introduction, well supported body paragraphs, a good conclusion, and use transitions between points. The second suggestion is ask revision questions to help you locate other problems. I would use this to make sure I am clear and concise and do not ramble or loss focus from my points, and I have said all I want to cover and do not need to add any missing information. The final suggestion is check for final errors, and or adjust the title, and type or print your paper. I would use this to make sure I use proper grammar, such as the same tenses, and everything flows and makes logical sense.
4) The exploratory argument paper features the arguer identifying not just one position, but as many of the major positions on an issue as possible, both past and present, and explains them through summaries and an analysis of the overall rhetorical situation for the issue. It paves the way for a position paper because an exploratory paper will help you look at your issue from several angles, which will help you decide which position you prefer for the position paper.
5) There are many potential ways for conducting peer review. The first is providing each member of the three or four person group with a photocopy of your paper so that as you read the paper they can follow along and mark problem areas. Another way is participating in a round-robin reading session, in which group members read the papers silently and make notes before they discuss the papers one by one. A final way of conducting peer review is for pairs of students to exchange papers to take home and read before the next class. Peer reviews offers many advantages, such as allowing another reader to add suggestions that will likely make your paper better, and making the writing task more sociable and provide immediate feedback from a audience.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Carolina Reader p. 260, Ques. 4: Body Image
Body image is something that almost everyone is self-conscious and aware of. Most people will tell you that one of their greatest concerns is how they look, especially in the eyes of an ever-judging society like ours. It is also something that is perpetually changing generation to generation.
Body image is something in which we, as a society, determine what is or is not acceptable. In the last few decades alone the average body image has changed considerably. As more and more Americans suffer from obesity and being overweight, the mean body image has become slighty larger, even though the ideal body is still the skinny fashion runway model. We determine what it is acceptable to look like through outlets like the media. By showing the "beautiful" people on things like television and movies, society is culturally setting the standard for body image and how you should look. This propaganda also denies us of our own personal opinion of what is considered acceptable or good looking with regards to body image. Instead of looking in the mirror, or even looking at others, and thinking whether or not that person looks good the way they are, we use what society and our culture has trained us as a way to judge.
Body image is also one of the great paradoxes in society today as well. While there is an added emphasis on being skinnier, stronger, and tan, the obesity rate continues to rise. It appears as though the ideal body becomes more and more impressive as our culture falls to becoming out of shape. These are some of the ways that body image is culturally constructed.
Body image is something in which we, as a society, determine what is or is not acceptable. In the last few decades alone the average body image has changed considerably. As more and more Americans suffer from obesity and being overweight, the mean body image has become slighty larger, even though the ideal body is still the skinny fashion runway model. We determine what it is acceptable to look like through outlets like the media. By showing the "beautiful" people on things like television and movies, society is culturally setting the standard for body image and how you should look. This propaganda also denies us of our own personal opinion of what is considered acceptable or good looking with regards to body image. Instead of looking in the mirror, or even looking at others, and thinking whether or not that person looks good the way they are, we use what society and our culture has trained us as a way to judge.
Body image is also one of the great paradoxes in society today as well. While there is an added emphasis on being skinnier, stronger, and tan, the obesity rate continues to rise. It appears as though the ideal body becomes more and more impressive as our culture falls to becoming out of shape. These are some of the ways that body image is culturally constructed.
Annotated Bibliography
Ansary, Tamim. “Have Sports Records Become Unbreakable?” MSN Encarta. 15 October 2007. http://encarta.msn.com/column_sportsrecordsmain_Tamimhome/Have_Sports_Records_Become_Unbreakable.html
This article is an opinion editorial from the author about how steroids have negatively impacted sports. His main point is how records have in a sense become “unbreakable” and there seems to be no end to where certain records will stop. There is clear bias in this piece because it is the author’s opinion. Even though it is based on facts, it lacks the credibility of other sources. Never the less, it gives examples of how many records are falling with more and more frequency, and how many can be tied to steroid use.
“MLB Steroid Law 'Minimum' Standard.” CBS News. 17 November 2005. 15 October 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/17/sportsline/main1054280.shtml
This article from CBS News, a very credible and well-respected source for news, discusses Major League Baseball’s new policy regarding steroid use. It discusses how after months of deliberating, the League has finally determined a disciplinary system for players who abuse supplements such as steroids. This source will give a good idea about the legal repercussions that come from using steroids, a different approach from the physical and psychological effects. This article, though heavily based on policy, still can be used in a basic exploration of steroids.
Nagel, Rob. "Athletes and Anabolic Steroids." Body by Design: From the Digestive System to the Skeleton. Betz Des Chenes, Editor. Farmington Hills, Mich.: UXL, 2000.
This piece discusses how steroids work, and why athletes have resorted to exploiting them in the past half century. It comes from a credible, published source whose main focus is characteristics of the human body. This article is fact based, and strictly sticks to how the drug works and how it can increase athletic performance. It too gives examples of the side effects from excessive use. This source gives a good overview of the history and effects of steroids.
“Steroids.” ThinkQuest. 15 October 2007. http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112390/steroids.htm
In this website, the author offers a basic introduction to steroids and the dangers associated with using them. The article mostly deals with real life instances where steroids had a severe impact on people’s lives. This includes examples ranging from Olympic athletes to teenage boys. Though the ThinkQuest source is credible, the website appears a little immature and not as professional as others. Likewise, some of the examples used only mention the boy’s first names, taking away from their credibility. These problems aside, the website still has valid examples that can be used to describe the consequences of steroid use.
Wells, Ken R. "Anabolic Steroid Use." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Third Edition. Jacqueline L. Longe, Editor. 5 vols. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006.
This article talks about the science behind steroids, what happens when they are used, and the effects of using them. It comes from a very credible medical encyclopedia, and contains very useful information about the topic. There is no bias coming from the author; all the information is based on scientific facts. This is a very useful source because it goes into detail about how steroids work inside of the body, and the multiple side effects that comes from usage.
This article is an opinion editorial from the author about how steroids have negatively impacted sports. His main point is how records have in a sense become “unbreakable” and there seems to be no end to where certain records will stop. There is clear bias in this piece because it is the author’s opinion. Even though it is based on facts, it lacks the credibility of other sources. Never the less, it gives examples of how many records are falling with more and more frequency, and how many can be tied to steroid use.
“MLB Steroid Law 'Minimum' Standard.” CBS News. 17 November 2005. 15 October 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/17/sportsline/main1054280.shtml
This article from CBS News, a very credible and well-respected source for news, discusses Major League Baseball’s new policy regarding steroid use. It discusses how after months of deliberating, the League has finally determined a disciplinary system for players who abuse supplements such as steroids. This source will give a good idea about the legal repercussions that come from using steroids, a different approach from the physical and psychological effects. This article, though heavily based on policy, still can be used in a basic exploration of steroids.
Nagel, Rob. "Athletes and Anabolic Steroids." Body by Design: From the Digestive System to the Skeleton. Betz Des Chenes, Editor. Farmington Hills, Mich.: UXL, 2000.
This piece discusses how steroids work, and why athletes have resorted to exploiting them in the past half century. It comes from a credible, published source whose main focus is characteristics of the human body. This article is fact based, and strictly sticks to how the drug works and how it can increase athletic performance. It too gives examples of the side effects from excessive use. This source gives a good overview of the history and effects of steroids.
“Steroids.” ThinkQuest. 15 October 2007. http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112390/steroids.htm
In this website, the author offers a basic introduction to steroids and the dangers associated with using them. The article mostly deals with real life instances where steroids had a severe impact on people’s lives. This includes examples ranging from Olympic athletes to teenage boys. Though the ThinkQuest source is credible, the website appears a little immature and not as professional as others. Likewise, some of the examples used only mention the boy’s first names, taking away from their credibility. These problems aside, the website still has valid examples that can be used to describe the consequences of steroid use.
Wells, Ken R. "Anabolic Steroid Use." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Third Edition. Jacqueline L. Longe, Editor. 5 vols. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006.
This article talks about the science behind steroids, what happens when they are used, and the effects of using them. It comes from a very credible medical encyclopedia, and contains very useful information about the topic. There is no bias coming from the author; all the information is based on scientific facts. This is a very useful source because it goes into detail about how steroids work inside of the body, and the multiple side effects that comes from usage.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
SWA 8: College Changes
One of the few consistent things about life is change is always taking place. No matter the circumstances or criteria, society is universally shifting viewpoints and ideals from those in the past. One such faction of society undergoing change is college campuses. In the last few decades, the college population has undergone changes in matters of faith, political orientation, and class. In their essays, authors Alan Finder, Richard Just, and David Leonhardt discuss these changes, and the reasons why they are taking place.
In his essay “Matters of Faith Find a New Prominence on Campus,” author Alan Finder writes about how religious affiliations are increasing across campuses. One interviewed professor estimates a “more active religious life than there has been in 100 years” (75). Finder attributes this to a number of factors. One of these is the rise of the religious right in politics, which “has made questions of faith more talked about generally” (68). There is also an increase of religion on world affairs, making it more in the spotlight. A final reason for this religious boom is due to how parents, in an effort not to force religion on their children as their baby boomer parents did to them, have allowed their children to find religious experiences on their own. Once in college, they have decided to pursue religion.
A second change among college campuses has been the political orientation among students. Author Richard Just, in his essay “Schools of Thought: The Liberal-Conservative Divide on College Campuses” examines this change. Just claims that conservative beliefs are on the rise on college campuses. He attributes this to a rise in conservative student organizations, such as newspapers. In many instances, certain liberal student groups tend to be too radical or extreme. Many students do not like this and would rather pursue a more open and welcoming environment more and more conservative groups are promoting. While liberals still have the majority on college campuses, the gap between them and conservatives have narrowed compared with years past.
The third major change discussed in these essays is the increasingly high college dropout rate. In his essay “The College Dropout Boom,” author David Leonhardt examines this growing trend among students. Leonhardt writes that many students would rather start working right out of high school for a salary than go to a high priced college. The average college graduate is coming from a more wealthy and affluent family and area. Many students from rural towns do not have aspirations to look towards higher education and leave town. Some are happy where they are and getting on with their lives.
These are some of the major changes occurring across college campuses throughout the country. As supported by all of their authors claims, the increase in religion, conservative morals, and college dropout rate have all become trademark changes among college campuses in recent years.
In his essay “Matters of Faith Find a New Prominence on Campus,” author Alan Finder writes about how religious affiliations are increasing across campuses. One interviewed professor estimates a “more active religious life than there has been in 100 years” (75). Finder attributes this to a number of factors. One of these is the rise of the religious right in politics, which “has made questions of faith more talked about generally” (68). There is also an increase of religion on world affairs, making it more in the spotlight. A final reason for this religious boom is due to how parents, in an effort not to force religion on their children as their baby boomer parents did to them, have allowed their children to find religious experiences on their own. Once in college, they have decided to pursue religion.
A second change among college campuses has been the political orientation among students. Author Richard Just, in his essay “Schools of Thought: The Liberal-Conservative Divide on College Campuses” examines this change. Just claims that conservative beliefs are on the rise on college campuses. He attributes this to a rise in conservative student organizations, such as newspapers. In many instances, certain liberal student groups tend to be too radical or extreme. Many students do not like this and would rather pursue a more open and welcoming environment more and more conservative groups are promoting. While liberals still have the majority on college campuses, the gap between them and conservatives have narrowed compared with years past.
The third major change discussed in these essays is the increasingly high college dropout rate. In his essay “The College Dropout Boom,” author David Leonhardt examines this growing trend among students. Leonhardt writes that many students would rather start working right out of high school for a salary than go to a high priced college. The average college graduate is coming from a more wealthy and affluent family and area. Many students from rural towns do not have aspirations to look towards higher education and leave town. Some are happy where they are and getting on with their lives.
These are some of the major changes occurring across college campuses throughout the country. As supported by all of their authors claims, the increase in religion, conservative morals, and college dropout rate have all become trademark changes among college campuses in recent years.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Exploratory Paper
Steroids and their Detrimental Impact on Sports
It seems as though every time we open up the newspaper to the sports section, another extremely admirable sports record has fallen. Sports such as baseball and track and field have had their record books rewritten multiple times in the last ten years. Likewise, the controversy about athletes using performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids has also exponentially increased as more and more media attention is focused on these new athletic feats. What exactly is the advantage of using these substances and how can they increase athletic performance? Why should things like steroids be banned from both professional and amateur?
My paper will first explore the assets of taking substances like steroids. It will then address the detrimental side effects that come from steroid use, and the impact they have on athletes in the long run. I will then discuss the increase in athletic performances, and how more historically long-standing records are fallings faster than ever. This includes some of the more recent scandals and controversies surrounding sports such as baseball and track and field. My paper will end with possible solutions for this problem, and what can and should be done to preserve the honor that comes from athletic competition.
I plan on using a wide variety of supporting materials for my paper. First I will use a well-respected medical database or website to find the scientific effects of steroids on the body, and the side effects that comes with there use. I will also cite numerous athletic scandals related to performance enhancing drugs. These can be found in most major sporting newspapers and magazines.
My papers main purpose will be to inform readers about the problems of steroids in sports, and then to convince them why there should be stricter testing and enforcing of anti-doping rules. My audience will be my peers and classmates, many of whom have participated in some sort of competitive sports and have knowledge of the steroid controversy. My goal is to write a paper that will inform the audience of new information, and to address what should be done about this problem.
Nagel, Rob. "Athletes and Anabolic Steroids." Body by Design: From the Digestive System to the Skeleton. Betz Des Chenes, Editor. Farmington Hills, Mich.: UXL, 2000.
Wells, Ken R. "Anabolic Steroid Use." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Third Edition. Jacqueline L. Longe, Editor. 5 vols. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006.
“Steroids.” http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112390/steroids.htm
“MLB Steroid Law 'Minimum' Standard.” CBS News. 17 November 2005. 15 October 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/17/sportsline/main1054280.shtml
Ansary, Tamim. “Have Sports Records Become Unbreakable?” MSN Encarta. 15 October 2007. http://encarta.msn.com/column_sportsrecordsmain_Tamimhome/Have_Sports_Records_Become_Unbreakable.html
It seems as though every time we open up the newspaper to the sports section, another extremely admirable sports record has fallen. Sports such as baseball and track and field have had their record books rewritten multiple times in the last ten years. Likewise, the controversy about athletes using performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids has also exponentially increased as more and more media attention is focused on these new athletic feats. What exactly is the advantage of using these substances and how can they increase athletic performance? Why should things like steroids be banned from both professional and amateur?
My paper will first explore the assets of taking substances like steroids. It will then address the detrimental side effects that come from steroid use, and the impact they have on athletes in the long run. I will then discuss the increase in athletic performances, and how more historically long-standing records are fallings faster than ever. This includes some of the more recent scandals and controversies surrounding sports such as baseball and track and field. My paper will end with possible solutions for this problem, and what can and should be done to preserve the honor that comes from athletic competition.
I plan on using a wide variety of supporting materials for my paper. First I will use a well-respected medical database or website to find the scientific effects of steroids on the body, and the side effects that comes with there use. I will also cite numerous athletic scandals related to performance enhancing drugs. These can be found in most major sporting newspapers and magazines.
My papers main purpose will be to inform readers about the problems of steroids in sports, and then to convince them why there should be stricter testing and enforcing of anti-doping rules. My audience will be my peers and classmates, many of whom have participated in some sort of competitive sports and have knowledge of the steroid controversy. My goal is to write a paper that will inform the audience of new information, and to address what should be done about this problem.
Nagel, Rob. "Athletes and Anabolic Steroids." Body by Design: From the Digestive System to the Skeleton. Betz Des Chenes, Editor. Farmington Hills, Mich.: UXL, 2000.
Wells, Ken R. "Anabolic Steroid Use." The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Third Edition. Jacqueline L. Longe, Editor. 5 vols. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006.
“Steroids.” http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112390/steroids.htm
“MLB Steroid Law 'Minimum' Standard.” CBS News. 17 November 2005. 15 October 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/17/sportsline/main1054280.shtml
Ansary, Tamim. “Have Sports Records Become Unbreakable?” MSN Encarta. 15 October 2007. http://encarta.msn.com/column_sportsrecordsmain_Tamimhome/Have_Sports_Records_Become_Unbreakable.html
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Smoking Ban Brainstorming
Smoking Ban:
-Effects of smoking
-Effects of second hand smoke
-Human rights
-Rights in public
-Past cases of similar bans
-History of the popularity of smoking
-Lung cancer prevalence
-Court cases over smoking rights
-Effects of smoking
-Effects of second hand smoke
-Human rights
-Rights in public
-Past cases of similar bans
-History of the popularity of smoking
-Lung cancer prevalence
-Court cases over smoking rights
Post Secret Reflection
The post secret card I made features a famous scene from the movie The Sound of Music with the caption “When I can’t sleep at night…I listen to The Sound of Music soundtrack.” The message I was trying to get across was pretty straightforward and blunt. My post secret card was actually true, (though not for 4 plus years) so I really was not trying to trick or confuse the reader. The background and imagery was not too difficult to select because I wanted to choose an image that people easily related to that movie. My classmates all seemed to get the basic message. There was no subliminal message hidden in the card, and all of the content was in the text. No one saw beyond what I was trying to say because the message in the card was pretty direct, so there was not much else to dissect. I was intrigued to see that there were no surprised reactions to the card. I guess when compared with some of the other messages in the actual post secret cards, mine does not seem too crazy or out of the norm.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Post Secret
The Post Secret card that caught my attention was one with a plain white background except where the lone text on the page states, “I think they should make cards that say fuck you.” The last two words are emphasized because they are larger and outlined in red. The explicit verbal claim is pretty clear in this instance. The author of the card is explicitly upset that all Hallmark-like cards are cheerful and upbeat, and wishes they would make more negative cards, like ones that say, “fuck you.” There really is no implicit claim in this card. There are no subliminal messages hidden in the background or in the way the text is displayed; the author is very straightforward and blunt with his opinion in the text. The author can be anyone in this case, but probably would be someone who is or just finished going through a depressing or traumatic experience and is mad at the world. The intended audience is anyone willing to listen or hear the author’s plea. There is not one specific targeted group of people. The visual component works because by leaving the background blank, the text is emphasized and has nothing to distract the viewer from the message. Though it is one of the more “unoriginal” Post Secret cards, it still gets its point across and stirs up emotion in the reader.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Advertisement Analysis
My advertisement was originally from Sports Illustrated, but I found it on the Internet. It is for Three Olives brand Vodka, and consists of a beautiful woman in high heels and a black dress seductively crouching in a martini glass next to the caption “What’s in your martini?” This is a very effective advertisement for its intended audience. The audience, men between the ages of 21 and 40, will notice this advertisement even casually flipping through the magazine. The dark backdrop makes the martini glass stand out and draws the viewers’ focus to it. After spending a few seconds looking at the woman, the viewer’s gaze will then move to the lettering. This phrase implies that by drinking this particular brand of vodka, you too can have a woman as gorgeous as the one in the glass. The reader’s eye will then continue down the same line to the actual bottle of vodka. This is where the advertiser shows its label and presents the numerous awards they have won.
If you’re a member of the desired audience, the advertisement is very effective. The claim is implied with the cause and effect that if you drink this brand of alcohol, you will be with beautiful women. There is not much evidence, but then again not much is needed. The ad is very straightforward and to the point for the viewer. The entire message comes back to the picture of what is in the martini glass. That one image warrants the claim and makes the ad work. The quote is just a piece of support that serves as a transition between the image of the glass and actual bottle. Readers of Sports Illustrated are most likely going to overlap with the ad’s intended audience, so the ad turns out to be extremely effective.
If you’re a member of the desired audience, the advertisement is very effective. The claim is implied with the cause and effect that if you drink this brand of alcohol, you will be with beautiful women. There is not much evidence, but then again not much is needed. The ad is very straightforward and to the point for the viewer. The entire message comes back to the picture of what is in the martini glass. That one image warrants the claim and makes the ad work. The quote is just a piece of support that serves as a transition between the image of the glass and actual bottle. Readers of Sports Illustrated are most likely going to overlap with the ad’s intended audience, so the ad turns out to be extremely effective.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
SWA 7
Charlie Hauck develops a revolutionary plan to help major television networks in his essay “My Plan to Save Network Television.” Simply put, he suggests that all those over the age of 49 be banned from watching television. Hauck sites that though the Nielson television ratings report is divided into demographics, the most important one is far and away the 18-49 year olds. They have significantly more spending power and have more disposable income to use on products. Major advertisers want to lock into these spending habits early in life so they can follow the trend for the years to come. This is seen as inviting to advertisers and make commercial spots during primetime network broadcasts more appealing. Hauck would know; he is a television writer and producer used to appealing to certain types of audiences. If only those in that particular age group were allowed to watch, the cost to advertise would increase and thereby save the four major broadcast networks.
While at first glace this seems like a ridiculous idea and something that would never be approved, Hauck has some surprisingly good support for it. On top of the aforementioned financial benefits, he also mentions that the age restrictions for retirement communities are never called into question or disputed by younger Americans. Older people should likewise accept age restrictions on television. Though this seems borderline uncivilized, the author presents his case in such a way that the reader can easily see benefits in following his guidelines.
While at first glace this seems like a ridiculous idea and something that would never be approved, Hauck has some surprisingly good support for it. On top of the aforementioned financial benefits, he also mentions that the age restrictions for retirement communities are never called into question or disputed by younger Americans. Older people should likewise accept age restrictions on television. Though this seems borderline uncivilized, the author presents his case in such a way that the reader can easily see benefits in following his guidelines.
SWA 6
In their article “Gen Y’s Ego Trip Takes a Bad Turn,” authors Larry Gordon and Louis Sahagun make the claim that today’s Millennial Generation, also known as Gen Y, are more self-absorbed and full of themselves then generations in the past. The article begins with a reference to YouTube’s rise in popularity. This site allows anyone to post videos of themselves doing an infinite range of things just to gain popularity and attention. The authors also reference a thirty percent rise in narcissism among college students since 1982, and include quotes from many high-ranking university professors. They also use common personal objects, such as cell phones and iPods, to show the peoples increased egos and their necessity to be in “their own little world.” The common theme among all the interviewed professors is that our society is moving more towards a me-first idea, which will inhibit the success that comes from cooperation.
While the authors are quick to mention the negative path our generation appears to be heading down, they neglect to mention how changes in society require this influx in self-absorption. One example that comes to mind is college applications. Guidance counselors encourage students to inflate their resumes, emphasize the littlest things about themselves, and talk themselves up to admissions reviewers. Essentially, society, like college admissions, has become so competitive that students need a slight ego and self-esteem boost just to be able to compete in it. While the author’s claims are justified, they do not do a good job in mentioning changes in our culture that influenced this change.
While the authors are quick to mention the negative path our generation appears to be heading down, they neglect to mention how changes in society require this influx in self-absorption. One example that comes to mind is college applications. Guidance counselors encourage students to inflate their resumes, emphasize the littlest things about themselves, and talk themselves up to admissions reviewers. Essentially, society, like college admissions, has become so competitive that students need a slight ego and self-esteem boost just to be able to compete in it. While the author’s claims are justified, they do not do a good job in mentioning changes in our culture that influenced this change.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Rhetorical Analysis
Essay "Dropping the F-Bomb"
Central Claim: "We may be entering an era in which this fabled vulgarity is on its way to becoming just another word. For the good of human communication we must come together, as a people, to protect this word, and ensure that, years from now, it remains obscene." (p. 394)
My Central Claim: "The f-word has its place in proper society, however we must teach its proper meaning and limit its exposure to children." (p. 2)
My Revised Central Claim: "The author, after establishing proper credibility, argues that the word can be responsibly used, but over the past 20 years it's meaning has become so manipulated and twisted that it is now shunned by most. We as Americans need to change the frequency and context with which we use it, particularly in front of our children."
My Conclusion: "I believe Achenbach has some very valid points in his article."
Central Claim: "We may be entering an era in which this fabled vulgarity is on its way to becoming just another word. For the good of human communication we must come together, as a people, to protect this word, and ensure that, years from now, it remains obscene." (p. 394)
My Central Claim: "The f-word has its place in proper society, however we must teach its proper meaning and limit its exposure to children." (p. 2)
My Revised Central Claim: "The author, after establishing proper credibility, argues that the word can be responsibly used, but over the past 20 years it's meaning has become so manipulated and twisted that it is now shunned by most. We as Americans need to change the frequency and context with which we use it, particularly in front of our children."
My Conclusion: "I believe Achenbach has some very valid points in his article."
Monday, September 17, 2007
Outline
I chose the article "Dropping the F-Bomb" by Joel Achenbach because I feel like I can closely relate to this article. Over the last few years I have become quite guilty of overusing that word in particular at times. I believe I would have alot to say about this article, and have a good background to use while writing it.
Introduction
-Author and Title
-Explain TRACE and ethos/pathos/logos
Text
-Newspaper article from The Washington Post
-Informal and straightforward
Reader
-Meant for the casual reader glancing through the paper
-Mostly aimed at upper society who notices the words use in public
Author
-Male who does not outright admit to using the word excessively
-Well informed and connected with politics
Constraints
-Most people guilty of using the word in multiple contexts
-Some have no problem with it or grew up using it casually
-Others still unsure of what is so wrong about it
Exigence
-The overuse of the word
-The many different meanings that have come out from overusing the word
-How it has gone from being a mature word to being used by youths without knowing its definition
Personal Response
-How I feel about the use of the word and what could be done to limit its use
Introduction
-Author and Title
-Explain TRACE and ethos/pathos/logos
Text
-Newspaper article from The Washington Post
-Informal and straightforward
Reader
-Meant for the casual reader glancing through the paper
-Mostly aimed at upper society who notices the words use in public
Author
-Male who does not outright admit to using the word excessively
-Well informed and connected with politics
Constraints
-Most people guilty of using the word in multiple contexts
-Some have no problem with it or grew up using it casually
-Others still unsure of what is so wrong about it
Exigence
-The overuse of the word
-The many different meanings that have come out from overusing the word
-How it has gone from being a mature word to being used by youths without knowing its definition
Personal Response
-How I feel about the use of the word and what could be done to limit its use
Potential Articles
"Dropping the F-Bomb" by Joel Achenbach
This article discusses the increased usage of the f-word in our society. It uses references from popular culture such as movies where the word now has multiple uses and meanings far different than its original one. The author stresses the conservation of the use of the word, and restraining from using it as often. I enjoyed this article and could see myself writing a rhetorical analysis of it.
"Which Came First: The Lyric or Libidos?" by Mark Morford
This article discusses the impact of music on teenagers. Depending on what genre or type of music one listens to will have an impact on their social life and choices. The author uses the example of his childhood and the sexually explicit lyrics he listened to versus the softer lyrics of a different genre of music. This article would also be interesting to write an analysis on because it shows both sides of the argument before the author states how he feels about it.
This article discusses the increased usage of the f-word in our society. It uses references from popular culture such as movies where the word now has multiple uses and meanings far different than its original one. The author stresses the conservation of the use of the word, and restraining from using it as often. I enjoyed this article and could see myself writing a rhetorical analysis of it.
"Which Came First: The Lyric or Libidos?" by Mark Morford
This article discusses the impact of music on teenagers. Depending on what genre or type of music one listens to will have an impact on their social life and choices. The author uses the example of his childhood and the sexually explicit lyrics he listened to versus the softer lyrics of a different genre of music. This article would also be interesting to write an analysis on because it shows both sides of the argument before the author states how he feels about it.
SWA 5
The Virginia Tech shooting will forever be remembered as one of the most tragic moments in American history. Years from now it will still be analyzed in many different ways. What inspired the shooter? What could have been done to stop him? What changes do we implement across college campuses to prevent a future incident? No matter how many ways we scrutinize the event, the one conclusion we can always come to is that the shooter was more then just that; he was a killer. In his article Virginia Tech and Our Impoverished Language for Evil, author Gregg Easterbrook addresses our countries problem of not labeling things for what they really are, even if it means being bluntly honest about it.
Easterbrook wrote this article for audiences across the country. There is not one specific targeted group. Though he primarily calls out media outlets for not calling murderer Cho Seung-Hui what he really is, he subliminally lectures all Americans about not “calling a thing what it really is.” Easterbrook goes into great detail describing the mass horror of the act of murder, and how Americans should not beat around the bush when talking about it. To use the term “shooter” or “gunman” overlooks the true character of Cho. He was a murderer and a killer, and those should be the words used when reflecting on the event. From this article we learn about Easterbrook’s frustration over people mislabeling others in a kinder light. He cites examples such as “shooting spree” instead of “rampage,” and “troubled mental state” in the place of “madman.” He strongly believes that until we can address incidents like the Virginia Tech shooting for what they are, we cannot gain a better understanding of it or be able to prevent them in the future.
Readers will probably have a constrained viewpoint while reading this article. Many are still very bewildered by the whole incident, maybe still in disbelief that something like this could really happen. After reading the article, they could emotionally become fired up and side with Easterbrook in calling Cho a murderer, and his act of evil. I personally knew many people on the campus that day, so after reading Easterbrook’s justifications for revising what we call Cho, I full heartedly agreed and became flat out angry about how the media treated the tragedy.
The article, clearly sparked by the media’s tenderness in not speaking up about what Cho was, addresses that very problem. I find myself in agreement in much of what Easterbrook says in the article. I believe we share a good deal of common ground, and after he pointed out what so many of us were overlooking, I hope the next time a media outlet reports on a similar tragedy they will treat it for what it really is; an act of evil. Easterbrook made multiple valid points in defending his argument, and definitely persuaded at least one reader to see the same thing he sees.
Easterbrook wrote this article for audiences across the country. There is not one specific targeted group. Though he primarily calls out media outlets for not calling murderer Cho Seung-Hui what he really is, he subliminally lectures all Americans about not “calling a thing what it really is.” Easterbrook goes into great detail describing the mass horror of the act of murder, and how Americans should not beat around the bush when talking about it. To use the term “shooter” or “gunman” overlooks the true character of Cho. He was a murderer and a killer, and those should be the words used when reflecting on the event. From this article we learn about Easterbrook’s frustration over people mislabeling others in a kinder light. He cites examples such as “shooting spree” instead of “rampage,” and “troubled mental state” in the place of “madman.” He strongly believes that until we can address incidents like the Virginia Tech shooting for what they are, we cannot gain a better understanding of it or be able to prevent them in the future.
Readers will probably have a constrained viewpoint while reading this article. Many are still very bewildered by the whole incident, maybe still in disbelief that something like this could really happen. After reading the article, they could emotionally become fired up and side with Easterbrook in calling Cho a murderer, and his act of evil. I personally knew many people on the campus that day, so after reading Easterbrook’s justifications for revising what we call Cho, I full heartedly agreed and became flat out angry about how the media treated the tragedy.
The article, clearly sparked by the media’s tenderness in not speaking up about what Cho was, addresses that very problem. I find myself in agreement in much of what Easterbrook says in the article. I believe we share a good deal of common ground, and after he pointed out what so many of us were overlooking, I hope the next time a media outlet reports on a similar tragedy they will treat it for what it really is; an act of evil. Easterbrook made multiple valid points in defending his argument, and definitely persuaded at least one reader to see the same thing he sees.
Monday, September 10, 2007
SWA 4
In today’s modern, computer based society, it has become easier and easier for everyday people to post essays of opinion on the internet. Anyone can create an account or an alter-ego at various blogging and social networking website, such as Blogspot and Facebook. On these sites people can post how they feel about certain rhetoric situations, which requires taking a position or viewpoint on a debated or argued topic. Two examples of online rhetoric situations are David Friedman's blog "Ideas,” and a classmate from my high school’s facebook page.
Both websites share some things in common, however are very different. The first clear cut difference is the type of text. Friedman’s article “Low Cost Cooling” is a short blog in which the author gives an obvious alternative to air conditioning units which society for the most part has ignored. My classmate’s facebook page has a section in her “Notes” in which she discusses her feelings about coming out, and how she does not care how other people view her as a result of it. These are two very different text sources to write about. One involves an environmental alternative, the other an alternative lifestyle. However both texts aim to stimulate discussion and encourage change. One wants a more fuel and cost efficient source of cooling, the other to encourage tolerance among her peers. Both have similar cores that inspired the author to write them.
These two articles also have very different targeted audiences, authors, and constraints. Friedman intended for his piece to be read by homeowners; both those having difficulties with cooling and those who use air conditioners and may want an alternative. My classmate intended for basically everyone she was “friends” with on facebook to see and read it. The author of the first piece is a professor with a background in economics, while my classmate is merely a confused teenager possibly trying to find herself. Finally, the Friedman article is constrained by the idea that the newest technology belongs in homes even if it may not by the best alternative, and those who may not have the luxury of this low cost cooling. This includes, for example, people who do not receive much of a cross breeze by their home. My classmate’s facebook post is constrained by the conservative, homophobic viewpoint that this alternate lifestyle makes you an outcast in society and results in a shunning by many of your peers. Though she wrote it without this opinion in mind, it is still a constriction that will influence reader’s opinions.
Though both authors had different exigencies for writing their internet articles, they still share some similarities. Friedman wrote his out of disgust for people committed to air conditioning units when there is a much more cost and environmentally efficient way to cool buildings found in nature. My classmate wrote hers as a coming out statement. She did it to inform others of her decision and that she did not care how they felt about it. These are two very different situations that signal a problem in the author’s life. However both were written to inform their readers of the opinions, and to let the internet world know something about the way they felt. These are just a few similarities and differences from two of the billions of rhetoric situations found on the World Wide Web today.
Both websites share some things in common, however are very different. The first clear cut difference is the type of text. Friedman’s article “Low Cost Cooling” is a short blog in which the author gives an obvious alternative to air conditioning units which society for the most part has ignored. My classmate’s facebook page has a section in her “Notes” in which she discusses her feelings about coming out, and how she does not care how other people view her as a result of it. These are two very different text sources to write about. One involves an environmental alternative, the other an alternative lifestyle. However both texts aim to stimulate discussion and encourage change. One wants a more fuel and cost efficient source of cooling, the other to encourage tolerance among her peers. Both have similar cores that inspired the author to write them.
These two articles also have very different targeted audiences, authors, and constraints. Friedman intended for his piece to be read by homeowners; both those having difficulties with cooling and those who use air conditioners and may want an alternative. My classmate intended for basically everyone she was “friends” with on facebook to see and read it. The author of the first piece is a professor with a background in economics, while my classmate is merely a confused teenager possibly trying to find herself. Finally, the Friedman article is constrained by the idea that the newest technology belongs in homes even if it may not by the best alternative, and those who may not have the luxury of this low cost cooling. This includes, for example, people who do not receive much of a cross breeze by their home. My classmate’s facebook post is constrained by the conservative, homophobic viewpoint that this alternate lifestyle makes you an outcast in society and results in a shunning by many of your peers. Though she wrote it without this opinion in mind, it is still a constriction that will influence reader’s opinions.
Though both authors had different exigencies for writing their internet articles, they still share some similarities. Friedman wrote his out of disgust for people committed to air conditioning units when there is a much more cost and environmentally efficient way to cool buildings found in nature. My classmate wrote hers as a coming out statement. She did it to inform others of her decision and that she did not care how they felt about it. These are two very different situations that signal a problem in the author’s life. However both were written to inform their readers of the opinions, and to let the internet world know something about the way they felt. These are just a few similarities and differences from two of the billions of rhetoric situations found on the World Wide Web today.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
SWA 3
After reviewing my answers to the questions on the list, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer an adversarial style of argument. Though I had answers in both the adversarial and consensual categories, there was a clear majority to one side over the other.
When I argue, I argue to win. I will come out with my viewpoints and ideas, and support them and back them up until I believe I have convinced the audience or my opponent that I am correct. This is probably a side effect of my natural stubbornness, but that is still the way I approach an argument. I am also a very blunt and honest person. This means I will speak whatever is on my mind and what I feel about a certain topic. This has sometimes gotten me in trouble in the past; however it can be effective during an argument. I typically will not hold back, and am sure to completely address what I feel about the debated subject. Both of these traits fall under the adversarial style of argument. Also a side effect of my character, I like to fight and be aggressive. As bad as that sounds, it is very true. This does not necessarily hold true in the physical sense, however emotionally and verbally I can be very forceful. This too is a foundation for the adversarial style of argument.
There are certain items I checked off that relate to the consensual style of argument. I would rather see a group consensus over turning an individual’s opinion. I also prefer personal examples in arguments, and will try to make connections. It’s my personal opinion that these are both very essential elements for a successful argument. However, when push comes to shove, I am more of an adversarial arguer. I prefer the emotion, in-your-face type of argument where there is a clear cut winner to the cooperative, more negotiating type of argument where many views are solicited. I have always been this way and never really gave it much thought prior to this activity. After reviewing my style of argument, I believe that I can change somewhat and grow more accepting not just of others viewpoints, but of others styles of argument.
SWA 2
Kathleen Parker’s article “Seeking Balance in an Either-Or World” dives into the political picture in our country today. She discusses how in a political arena seemingly dominated by far-left Liberals and far-right Conservatives, a growing number of Americans are choosing to align themselves as Independents, associating with neither of the two parties. These Americans, now a majority at thirty-nine percent, choose the more central path without leaning too far to either side. Parker notes how nothing can really be accomplished with either party’s radicals in power because the spirit of compromise is completely eliminated from all debates. She believes that in the future, a more moderate approach will be necessary to continue to pass legislature in our government.
The primary example used by Parker to assert her claims is abortion. This is a sticky issue to choose, particularly because the media often portrays it as you’re either on one side or the other; there is no middle road on the subject. It is also an interesting issue to us as the article’s support, because a central, middle compromise has yet to truly develop on this topic. Parker summarizes her abortion point right where she started it; “adrift” between both sides. The author should have chosen a recent issue where a central viewpoint has developed and resulted in a successful compromise between both sides. It is easy to understand why Parker chose abortion, but leaves the audience waiting for a concluding viewpoint after she finishes discussing it.
I too have personally witnessed this extremist society when it comes to politics. Coming from a very liberal community just north of
SWA 1
Professor Michael Skube has many concerns regarding today’s college students. His biggest concern, simply put, is that students are not good readers and writers. Even coming from high school with solid grade point averages, students still lack basic reading and writing essentials. This includes a weak vocabulary. For example, Skube mentions in his article how he could not carry on a conversation with a student a semester away from graduating college because the student did not understand some of the vocabulary. Skube attributes this to student’s lack of outside, casual reading.
Based on my own experiences, I full heartedly agree with Skube that students do not like to read just for the sake of reading anymore. I will admit that at times I too am one of these students. Whether it is because of a lack of free time, or just a general disinterest in reading, students do not think twice about opening a book anymore. For me personally, it is a little of both. During the school year especially, I was very crunched for time with sports, normal homework assignments, and other extracurricular activities to squeeze in time for casual reading. School reading assignments over the years have also driven me to the point where I do not want to read for fun anymore. I still very much enjoy reading, especially during the summer, but certainly not critically or analytically like we are asked to do in school.
Todd Hagstette’s “aggressive reading” could very well be the solution to some of the students, myself included, problems mentioned in Skube’s essay. Hagstette calls for readers to buckle down, focus, and re-read the text in order to gain a better understanding of it. If students were to do this, not only would they be able to better understand and interpret what they read, but they will also pick up on more of the vocabulary terms that can be used in everyday conversation. Students would benefit in many different ways by just taking a little extra time and putting in a little extra effort while reading.
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