AOW December 18

     The article, “Obesity Rate Falls for New York School Children” reports that the number of obese children in New York City fell by 5.5% over the past five years.  This is the largest decline for any large city in the United States. 

     Anemona Hartocollis is a writer for New York Times and covers health issues for New York City.

     This article is written in response to a report published by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Their studies show that declines in obesity were higher among middle class children than poorer children.  Also, declines were higher among white and Asian children, compared to black and Hispanic. 

     The purpose of this article was to offer a glimmer of optimism about one of the country’s biggest problems.  Dr. Thomas A. Farley, the city’s health commissioner talked about the 5.5% drop: “This comes after decades of relentless increases.  What’s impressive is the fact that it’s falling at all” (1).   Because this problem of obesity is so stubborn, this small reduction is an affirmation of public health initiatives (2). 

     The audience intended for this article is readers of the New York Times and people interested in learning about the effects of switching out high fat foods in school for healthy and nutritional foods.

     One major rhetorical devices used is an appeal to logos.  The author used countless statistics and facts, for example, “By age group, the decline was highest among 5 and 6 years olds, at 9.9%.  By race, the drop was highest among white children, at 12.5% and Asian children at 7.6%...” (3).  Hartocollis also references obesity experts.  She quotes doctors and authorities, for example, Marlene Schwartz, deputy director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.

     The writer does achieve her purpose.  She used so many facts and statistics for a purpose that is fairly agreeable on, so I was convinced.

http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2011/12/15/obesity-in-new-york-children-on-the-decline-officials-say/?ref=health

AOW November 11

     This article entitled “Americans, Thou Shalt Shop and Spend for the Planet” by James Livingston argues against the idea that consumer culture is bad for the environment and the economy.  Economist, journalists and  politicians make people believe that buying desired things  is “turning the earth into a landfill,” “wrecking the economy” and leading to a “vapid, empty life” (1).  However there are positives to shopping, contrary to what those authorities believe.  For example, consumers have been the first to demand alternatives to environmental problems like fossil fuels. Forty years ago, consumers switched to Japanese cars as they cost less, lasted longer and got better mileage.  The same switch has been made for American hybrid cars.  Consumer spending has also attributed to the growth to the growth of the economy, not private investments which is what many economists believe is the difference.  Though it is said that shopping leads to an empty life, it’s what you do in your free time when you’re not working.  
    James Livingston is the author of Against Thrift: Why Consumer Culture Is Good for the Economy, the Environment, and Your Soul.  In addition to being an author of four books and a contributor to History News Network, he is a Professor of History at Rutgers University.
    This article was written in response to his new book Against Thrift coming out this month.  Also, this is the time of year when people are shopping for holiday gifts, they don’t want to feel guilty about purchases. 
    The purpose of this article was to explain that economists, politicians and journalists are wrong in many ways for saying consumer spending in bad for the earth, economy and self worth. As stated in the summary, he argues against their claims and proves that people should be enjoying the holiday season.  Therefore, people should enjoy themselves, as Livingston states: “Happy holidays. Get to the mall and knock yourself out” (2).
    The intended audience for this article is readers of Wired magazine and anyone who no longer wants to feel guilty about spending extra cash for materialistic things.
    Rhetorical devices used include: parallel structure and an appeal to ethos, pathos and logos. Livingston uses parallel structure as the base of his introduction.  He uses “you feel”, “you want”, “you know” as the first part of every sentence.  This works to form a connection to the reader and is a strong appeal to pathos.  He writes, “You’ve been conditioned to feel ashamed of excess. You know that you consume too many global resources, that you save too little. You know that when equipped with credit cards or home equity, you can’t delay the immediate gratification of your desires” (3).  He appeals to ethos, again with that introduction.  He’s basically saying that he understands what you’re going through and it’s easy to control impulses based on what many people are saying.  Livingston establishes credibility with this and then goes into argument.  Logos is used in his argument with statistics and facts.   He uses “you” throughout the entire article, making himself seem relatable and more convincing.
    Livingston does achieve his purpose.  He probably could have used a few more facts for those more doubtful people.  However, I think he poses a very interesting argument and many people will be intrigued. 

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/st_essay_consumers/

Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith IRB #1

     Anne Lamott is a novelist and non fiction writer.  Her non fiction books are mostly autobiographies and cover themes like alcoholism, single motherhood, depression and Christianity. Lamott’s first book was written in 1980 and she has continued writing popular books up to 2010.  She is the author of seven novels and five non fiction books, many of which have been best sellers. 
     In Grace (Eventually), each chapter consists of a story, all unique and different.  One was about skiing, another about teaching Sunday school, helping at a special-ed dance class.  In the chapter, Ski Patrol, Lamott describes a vulnerable and painful fall of a chairlift.  She was in need for a helping hand and eventually a “short, plump woman… with acne and chapped cheeks and small brown eyes” (1) comes to assist.  The woman warmed her gloves, gave her food and water and comforted her until she was ready to ski back down the mountain.  Lamott used this experience as a kind of metaphor for “journey” with God and faith.  She was troubled, someone helped her, she picked herself back up and continued on.
             Grace (Eventually) begins with a prelude in which she describes her life at 21.  She had dropped out of college, was heavily using drugs and being cheated on by the guy she loved.  She spent her time getting wasted and reading books, both of which, she enjoyed equally. After reaching her lowest point , she started praying everyday and stopped drinking and she’s been sober for 20 years when the first chapter begins. This plays a large part in the inspiration for this book.
     The purpose of the book is to explain to others what she believes about her faith and religion.  However, each story Lamott tells has its own purpose.  For example,  in the chapter entitled, “The Wailing Wall” Lamott is teaching a Sunday school class.  She tells her young students about the wailing wall, where people place their thoughts, worries and prayers on sheets of paper as a way of letting go.  Though she was the teacher of the lesson, Lamott leaned a few things about patience.  She had to let go of the worry that these young kids might not understand her message.  The purpose was that not everything will be easy, but you can’t obsess over it.  It’s better to leave worries behind you.  When it comes to books on religion, the purpose is often interpretive and relative.  The audience will take away what best relates to them. 
     Grace (Eventually) was written for middle aged women.  Many jokes and stories have to do with raising kids, losing weight and going through menopause.  Things that a 16 year old certainly has trouble relating to.
     Lamott uses similes and sarcasm. Examples of similes: “I felt like Icarus, near death in the snow, with melting skis instead of wings” and “I felt like a weed, like one of those orange flowers that have sprung up lately…”and “I can hardly describe how I felt when it was over: like a manatee alone in an aquarium”
Referring to an  apple fritter from Safeway, Lamott writes sarcastically: “I had not been attacked by random lust for just any old sugar-and petroleum product” Another example of sarcasm: “Sometimes I think Jesus watches my neurotic struggles, and shakes his head and grips his forehead and starts tossing back mojitos”. 
Similes and sarcasm create a humorous tone which balances with her deep analysis on faith.
     The author did accomplish her purpose.  Though I have trouble relating to her, the stories are entertaining and I can see how they are significant.  I am not a deeply religious person, so I do have trouble with cheesy metaphors about “the journey called life” however, Lamott is funny, so this is different than many other religious books.

Unit 2 Reflection

   

     There are many ties between a person and his government.  The United States government, based on elements of liberty and justice, has sustained a stable and developed country with the help of individuals bold enough to suggest change.  The philosophers of our past: Machiavelli, Rousseau, Locke and Plato wrote and expressed many ideas on government, people and their obligations to each other that have undoubtedly shaped how society functions today.  Their defiant beliefs suggest the obligations government holds to an individual as well as the obligations an individual has to their government. 
     An individual’s obligations to society revolves around being a leader in order to question or challenge the way the government runs.  Rousseau describes a Sovereign defined as citizens collectively working together.  They voice the general will or interests of the people.  It is their duty to speak out against problems in the government so that a better society can be formed.   John Locke alludes to the need for people to follow rules and laws, even if it means giving up freedoms because in return, the government will protect them.  Locke, similarly to Rousseau believed that if the government was abusing power, it is the duty of an individual to rebel against it and replace it with another government.  Locke saw tyranny as "the exercise of power beyond right.” A leader that follows his own rules is one that no longer truly benefits the community with his influence.  Therefore, an individual must join with others to rebel and reform.  Plato’s Allegory of the Cave represented misconceptions of reality.  Prisoners in a cave see shadows on the wall, of which they perceive to be real. Once one prisoner climbs out of the cave and sees the sun, he sees the things that are creating the shadows and realizes what it real and true. Upon return to the cave, it is his responsibility be a leader, as he can see better than the rest: “you have been better and more thoroughly educated than those others and hence you are more capable of playing your part both as men of thought and as men of action."  How one understands what he sees is an important qualification for being a leader.  Therefore, it is important for an individual to lend his opinions, ideas and the ways he sees things to the government because it is always necessary to change and improve.
     The government’s duty to an individual requires that power be used to create a stable environment.  Machiavelli in The Qualities of a Good Prince very thoroughly describes the obligations a  man of authority and power must fulfill in order to be an effective leader.  Machiavelli  believed that a Prince must avoid being hated in order to maintain power.  He warns princes against doing things detrimental to their image such as taking possession of a person’s land or  the disbanding of his people’s traditions.   It is a prince’s duty to understand when war is necessary and be aware of when there are threats of invasion.  He must rely on bravery  and his own natural abilities rather than money or luck to succeed against challenges or opposition.   Machiavelli states, “people are by nature changeable. It is easy to persuade them about some particular matter, but it is hard to hold them to that persuasion” however, if an authority is willing to force an idea to gain the support of his people, he will almost always be successful.  Machiavelli did not write about being a fair leader; he believed in finding short cuts to secure power.  The ideals of this prince parallels the government.  A government’s obligation to an individual revolves around protection, security and building a strong and stable society. However, the ways in which you achieve those results, are not always be honorable.  Acquiring the “goodwill” of the people does not necessarily mean ruling over a people that are all happy.  The obligation of a government to an individual is to simply maintain  status quo.
         Though Machiavelli believed that people are bad by nature, I disagree.  Though desires often bind us and influence decisions, people are honorable.  Though self interest has thrown society into times of war and destruction, courage and the ability to progress, has landed our country in a stable place.  Philosophers in the past and people even today can argue that humans are lazy or the government is corrupt, but everything is relative. The pattern has been set and history will likely  repeat itself; a person's obligations to society might change or maybe they won't.  I wonder, if these philosopher's words will be taught in classrooms 500 years from now.  Will we use their ideas to question our own roles in society?  Or maybe everything eventually becomes obsolete.

AOW November 28

     This ad for Target is a photo of three people making snow angels. To the left is the phrase, “Dashing in the snow” and below “Santa has elves. You have Target.”  The three people all look very happy cheerful.  They are wearing bright colors and look very fashion forward, even dashing, as the ad alludes.  
     Target is an American retailing company that was founded in 1902 in Minneapolis.  It is the second largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart.  Target’s logo is a red ring with a red dot in the middle.  It is known with the phrase, “Expect more. Pay less.”
    The ad was made because of the change of seasons.  Since the temperature is dropping and snow will soon fall, customers will be needing to purchase warm clothes.
    The purpose of the ad was to remind people that is necessary to buy new clothes for the cold season, however, bulky or puffy jackets and pants should not take any space in your closet.  The ad is saying, you can look cute and stylish this season, and stay warm and comfortable at the same time.
    The ad was directed towards a younger audience ranging from teens to people in their twenties. 
    The rhetorical elements in the piece include: color and placement.  The models are dressed in bright and fun clothing and they just look like they’re having fun.  Against the white snow, the clothes stand out even more; so there is some contrast used in this ad as well.  The photo was taken above the models, so the audience is able to see every piece of clothing.  Unlike some ads, there is no specific focus on one area.  The ad is trying to not only sell shoes, but scarves, hats, sweaters and jeans.  The phrasing was also clever: “Santa has elves. You have Target.”  This makes is seems that Target has everything you need and in great quality.
    This ad did accomplish its purpose. The clothes stood out and captured my eye as I was looking through the magazine, which is really what these companies to happen.

Ad found in The Oprah Magazine- December 2011 

AOW November 21

     This commercial for Bridgestone Tires begins with a car driving along a woodland road.  The driver spots a beaver along the way and quickly swerves to avoid hitting the animal.  The beaver waves in thanks.  Six months later, this same driver is along the same road, however the weather is horrible and it’s pouring.  A tree comes crashing down in front of the car and the driver quickly stops.  He steps outside of this car to see that the river has flooded and the bridge he was about to cross over, has collapsed.  The beaver appears again and it’s shown that he was the one to cut down the tree in order to save the man from death.   A voice over is saying “for drivers who want to get the most out of their cars, it’s Bridgestone or nothing.”
       Bridgestone Tires is a company that started in 1931 in Japan.  It became Japan’s largest tire manufacturer and expanded its business overseas to the United States.
     This commercial was produced for the Superbowl of 2011.  The Superbowl attracts many viewers, so their commercial was shown at this time to get people aware of their products and increase  their number of customers.
     The audience for this commercial is anyone watching the Superbowl and for anyone who owns a car.
     The purpose of this commercial is having good tires (specifically Bridgestone tires) for your car can prevent accidents.  Also, one’s good driving does not go unrewarded.  Since the driver stopped his car and did not run the beaver over, the beaver was more intent of saving the driver’s life. 
     The rhetorical elements used include exaggeration and cause and effect.  The commercial was largely exaggerated as it involved a beaver with an ability to greet with the two-hits-to-the-chest and peace-sign. This made for a very silly tone.  The commercial also showed cause and effect: be a good driver and you will be rewarded, own good tires and you will be safe from accidents. 
     This commercial differs from many other car related commercials because it was a narration.  There were characters, a setting and a time period.  As the driver is swerving out of the animal’s way, there are different perspectives of the car, all of which are focusing on the tires.  This is one way the product is highlighted. 
     I do not think that this commercial is successful.  After watching it, all I can think about is how ridiculous the premise was, which takes away from the product. A commercial really should not distract from their purpose so in many ways, this commercial missed the mark.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bWb-WT_iNQ

IRB 2

Title: Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

Author: Anne Lamott

First Section: 1-90
Second: 91- 180
Third: 180- 272

I chose this book because many people have recommended it.  I have not read any religious themed books before, so this will be something new and interesting.

AOW November 14

     Technology plays a role in nearly everything and it would seem, technology even has control in the kitchen.  With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, many people are trying out recipes and marking pages in their cookbooks.  However, it could be that the cookbooks we have used for years aren’t as informative and useful as once believed.  New cooking apps for the iPad are in many ways hinting that “books as kitchen tools are on the way out” (1).
      Julia Moskin has been a writer for the New York Times Dining Section since 2004.  She began writing about food in 1993 as a restaurant critic for the New York Press. She has co-authored nine cookbooks and has written for the magazines, Saveur and Metropolitan Home.
     The piece was written in response to new cooking apps that are available for purchase.  The new apps include, Baking with Dorie, Jamie Oliver’s 20 Minute Meals and Professional Chef. These apps animate cooking instructions. The book The Geometry of Pasta has an app in which “motion is added to the mix”: pasta butterflies flutter into boiling water, the word “Parmesan” is itself grated into a bowl, and the word “prosciutto” is sliced into slivers (2). 
     The purpose of the piece was to not only inform the audience of all the new cooking apps available, but also show that slowly but surely, cookbooks could become a thing of the past.  It is reasonable to say that eventually everything becomes obsolete with new and advancing technology making almost all aspects of life easier and more efficient.
     The rhetorical devices used in this piece include an appeal to ethos, pathos and logos and also description.  Moskin established logos as well as pathos by quoting people who have used the app before. For example Bob Huntley said, “I struggled with getting the whole recipe downloaded into my head. I kept having to go back to the page, and the interface was so difficult to manage” (3).  Also,  “You can’t hear the onions sizzling in the pan, or how to move your knife through a salmon fillet, or see how to put your pasta machine back together in a book.”  By embedding these thoughts into the article, the audience can connect and relate to those same annoyances and struggles with using a cookbook and can see logically that using a cooking app is the best option.  Moskin also describes with much detail what these apps have the ability to do which establishes credibility.
       The audience intended to read this article are readers of the New York Times and also anyone interested in or just pondering the efficiency of the new cooking apps.
     The author did accomplish her purpose.  She used quotes from various sources, included detailed information but still made the article interesting and fun.  Maybe instead of a cookbook for mom’s Christmas gift, I’ll consider a cooking app instead!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/dining/are-apps-making-cookbooks-obsolete.html?pagewanted=2&ref=technology

     In Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller looks back with happiness and also anger at her family and the extraordinary time and placed they lived.  Her life in Africa took place in a bubble of Anglocentricity. She saw Africans as servants and terrorists and did not even take notice to their culture.  Though Fuller comes to a realization that she is African by “accident” and not by birth, Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight is a love story for Africa and all the black men and women who “at the expense of so
many remained voiceless”  (1).
      The writing is incredibly effective specifically with the use of the three appeals and structure.  Fuller  uses a timeline and tells the dates of important events to move the story along and to establish ethos.   Her diction establishes pathos, including the nearly continuous dialogue and racial remarks to emphasize the negative atmosphere in Africa caused by white supremacists.  Fuller organizes her memoir by stepping back in time as a child and then going forward to being an adult.  This organization keeps the story interesting and allows even more reflection as she places current aspects of her life against moments in her childhood.
     Fuller uses informal language and concrete word choice.  The detail of the memoir includes facts of the happenings where she lived: “In March 1978, Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa of the African National Council makes an agreement with the while government…” (2).  Detail is also used in incidents: “She is floating facedown in the pond.  The ducks are used to her body by now, paddling and waddling around it, throwing back their heads and drinking the water that is full of her last breaths” (3). Fuller uses a lot of imagery: “What I can’t know about Africa as a child is her smell: hot, sweet, smoky, salty, sharp-soft.  It is like black tea, cut tobacco, fresh fire, old sweat, young grass” (4) also, “There is only one time of absolute silence.  This silence is how I know it is not yet dawn, nor is it the middle of the night, but it is the place of no-time, when all things sleep most deeply…” (5). The grammatical sentence structure is mainly long and descriptive sentences, lots of dialogue and words in the African language Nyanja.  The memoir is told in a child’s perspective and the tone is mostly light and happy as Fuller finds a way to laugh, even when there is nothing to celebrate.


Fuller, Alexandra. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood. New York: Random   House, 2001. Print.

AOW

     In West Virginia’s Palace of Gold Rahul Mehta describes his past confusion with West Virginia’s Hare Krishna: an Indian religious group that established a new community, New Vrindaban, and created a vibrant part of India among the Appalachian mountains.  Mehta describes his memories of taking trips with his family to the Taj Mahal of America and even though many admired its beauty, Rahul found it to be strange and contradictory.  Though he always dreaded these trips as a child, he came to understand the opportunity it gave South Asians to pray and worship in a respectable place.
      Rahul Mehta is an opinion contributor for the New York Times.  He is the author of a short story collection called Quarantine.
     The context of this piece is  in response to the  recent death of Swami Bhaktipada who led the Hare Krishna commune and was “one of the movement’s earliest and most controversial American disciples” (1).  In 1990, Bhaktipada served eight years in prison for charges on murder for hire and racketeering and in response,  New Vrindaban lost much of its appeal.  However recently, New Vrindaban has started working towards its former glory.
      Though as a child, Mahta desired to assimilate and not participate in the Hare Krishna commune, today he no longer feels a distinction between his Indian and American culture. Mahta’s purpose was to explain how significant New Vrindaban has been to many Indians living in America and that he understands the importance of developing such places.
     Readers of the New York Times and people interested in how cultures thrive and grow in America are the intended audience.
     Mahta highlights irony in his piece. The irony of Americans modeling themselves off of their Indian neighbors: wearing saris, speaking in Sanskrit and participating in the culture and religion. The irony of his cousin, living in India, and belonging to the Hare Krishna movement that originated in the States.  He also uses parallel structure. He reflects back on a gold leaf that covered the palace.  Mehta and his brother would look all over the ground for a flake of forgotten gold to pocket; it was the only enjoyed part of the dreaded trip.  On a larger scale, his parents often felt lonely and isolated in a new country and New Vrindaba was a place that “made them feel rich.” (2).
     The author did accomplish his purpose.  By reflecting back upon his own childhood to today he showed a change of opinion.  Because he no longer defines himself by one culture, he is able to respect and appreciate the way he grew up and how he lives today.    


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/opinion/west-virginias-hare-krishna-commune.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=rahul%20mehta&st=Search

AOW # 7

Julianne Hough has quickly risen to fame. Starting with her time on Dancing with the Stars to her main role in the remake of Footloose, Hough is a name nearly everyone knows.   She acknowledges that over the years she has changed a lot from growing up in a small town in Utah to now working on a film with Tom Cruise, but despite her success, she remains humble.  
This article came from People magazine which covers celebrity news and human interest stories. It was named Magazine of the Year in 2005 by Advertising Age for its excellence in editorial, circulation and advertising.
This article was written in response to her latest film, Footloose which was a major success at the box office.  Hough is being recognized for more than dating Ryan Seacrest.  Her talents are remembered.  
The purpose of this article was to show that many of her successes are due to some struggles in the past.  As  a teenager, she spent years away from her family in England to train as a professional dancer.  At 18, she ended her engagement to Zach Wilson.  These events, though difficult, helped shape the person she is today.  
The audience intended for this article is readers of People magazine and anyone who likes celebrity news.
Rhetorical devices in this piece include dialogue and an appeal to pathos.  Because this article is about Hough and her life, the author uses Hough’s own words to make it more personnel.  The article reads as a time line, beginning with a reflection of Hough’s childhood to the present.  There is also an appeal to pathos as in the conclusion, Hough speaks of wishing to be young again and to relive her childhood.  This can inspire readers to not take things so seriously.
The author did achieve her purpose. This was more of a light and fun read, however the rhetorical devices the author used made Hough seem like a relatable  person who struggled but can succeed.

Article from People Magazine- "Dancing to the Top"

Argument Prompt

The following passage is from a Times Herald Report and is about using human skin to bind books.  Write an essay that examines the extent to which this practice in ethically correct.

Article of the Week #6

     Self magazine specializes in health, fitness and beauty for women and has been in publication for over thirty years.   Lauren Graham, the writer of this article, is an actress best known for her main roles in Gilmore Girls and Parenthood.
      In the article, “Lauren Graham's Five-Week Slimdown”, Graham describes her short-term journey to better fitness.  With true commitment, Graham fought temptations against enticing carbs and accomplished the fitness goals she set for herself.
     Graham was asked to pose for Self magazine and in preparation, decided to challenge herself physically so to look toned and healthy.
     The purpose of the article was to inspire others to take control of their health and to let people know that as long as they stay completely committed to a fitness regime, they will see results.
       The audience intended for this article is women who are looking to find a new way to exercise.
      Some rhetorical elements in this piece include a humorous tone and dialogue.  As a comedian, Graham uses humor to make light of the hell exercise and dieting can be. This humor also makes the writing very informal, making the audience connect with her easily. For example, “It's 87 degrees, and I am on my 14th lap around a high school track. Whose idea was this?  Oh, mine” and  “I'm in New York City to visit my sister. Unfortunately, my dear friends Bagel and Cream Cheese live here, too.”  She makes a joke out of the struggles with weight loss and through this, establishes credibility because she doesn’t seem like a perfect celebrity.   Graham also uses dialogue with her personal trainer to make experiences come to life.  Graham would often seek her trainer out for advice:  “I call Michelle. ‘You're in insane heat. Drink more water,’ she says. ‘I only like water when it tastes like a margarita,’ I whine.” 
     Graham did accomplish her purpose.  Through humor, she discarded the celebrity image and made herself appear like a casual and relatable person.  Because of this, she speaks to the audience’s inspiration and makes the challenge of weight loss seem possible. 



http://www.self.com/healthystars/2011/10/lauren-graham-slimdown-slideshow#slide=5

Assignment Question Reflection

One activity that really helped and continues to help is the article of the week.   My first week as an AP English student was difficult and I spent hours trying to perfect my analysis on the article I chose. However, with several weeks past, I have become quicker in determining the various rhetorical devices used, as well as context (the thing I struggled with the most).   I enjoy being able to pick  articles with topics of my interests but also trying new genres of writing. With every passing week, I am becoming more familiar with many rhetorical devices and I am finding the entire process less difficult.

Essential Question Reflection

How does the language we use impact our citizenship within a society?

The language we use impacts our citizenship within society as the more clearly and correctly we speak, the better our opinions and ideas are received.  It is important to not rely solely on emotions, rather consider the benefits and drawbacks in all tasks.  In one group assignment, we discussed how appeals to certain audiences differ.  For example, when asking a bank for a loan it is more important to speak to credibility rather than emotions. On the contrary, when advertising for a school club, it's important to focus on engaging the audience and speaking to their curiosity.  In David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day, he reflects on how his struggle with learning a second language impacted his citizenship in French society.  The fear of making mistakes accompanied him everywhere. Sedaris went as far as removing himself almost entirely from the rest of the world: ignoring phone calls and pretending to be deaf.  Though his beginners French did at times create a communication barrier, his increasing comprehension sustained a larger confidence.  It is obviously important to be aware of the language one uses because it supremely affects how we participate and how we are perceived in the world.

AOW # 5

     In this political cartoon, Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. is standing before the gates of Heaven.  Standing before him is God who is obviously struggling with his computer as some kind of bug messed up his “book of life” and caused Jobs to die a little bit too early. 
      Frederick Deligne is an artist and editorial cartoonist of La Croix. His work is also present in several magazines, such as Infirmières Magazine, Panorama (the 'Vivre et Croire' section) and Autos-Infos.
     This cartoon is response to the death of Jobs, who died October 5, 2011 seven years after being diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer.  He is remembered for creating the iPhone, iMac and iPad: technology that affected the world.
     God is using Windows 7 (Job’s main competitor) to manage the "book of life" however, Windows is not as stable as Job’s OSX.  The purpose of this cartoon was to humorously blame the Job's premature demise on  his competition's management of the "book of life".
     The audience intended for this cartoon is the general public.
     One rhetorical element is irony. It is ironic because the glitch with the computers up in heaven caused Jobs to die early, even though he had so much to do. Another rhetorical element is exaggeration.  The cartoonist wanted to exaggerate the technology in heaven being extremely behind.  Drawn is a very boxy computer connected to floppy disks, which were used to store data starting in the mid 1970s.  Behind is the gate to heaven with a sign above saying “angel inside” in reference to an old Intel advertisement (“Intel inside”) for an processor. 
     The cartoonist did accomplish his purpose.  Though various rhetorical elements like irony and exaggeration, it was obvious that he wanted to humorously blame Windows for the demise of Steve Jobs.

http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/a9e3a8dc-817f-4af6-a304-3ee09909115b.html

IRB #1 Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

    Alexandra Fuller has written four non-fiction books.  Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight was her first and it received great reviews, having won the New York Times Notable Book for 2002, the 2002 Booksense best non-fiction book, the 2002 Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize and was a finalist for the Guardian’s First Book Award. Her other books are called, Scribbling the Cat: Travels with an African Soldier, 
The Legend of Colton H Bryant and  Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness.  Fuller also has written for the New Yorker Magazine, National Geographic Magazine, Vogue and Granta Magazine.  She married an American river guide in  Zambia and now resides in Wyoming with her husband and three children.
    Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight is about Alexandra Fuller’s African childhood: her memories of growing up in Rhodesia with her mother, father, and sister Van amidst a civil war.  It reveals the history and geography of Africa in 1970s and 80s and is told in a different perspective, through the eyes of an English little girl.
    The context of this book is in accordance with the civil war between the Renamo rebels and the Frelimo government in the Mozambican hills, an area starting where her farmland ended. Because of the violence surrounding her, her childhood was supremely affected.  She had to live with fears of raids, land mine explosions, of terrorists and many other things children should not be concerned of.
    The purpose is to inform readers of how different life is like in Africa and how unique Fuller’s childhood was because of where she lived and the violence that ensued there. She grew up on constant watch for cobras, scorpions and wild dogs. Her family had to drive in a mine-detecting vehicle (called a pookie) in case of an explosion.  As a child, she grew up with racial superiority as she went to a different school than most of her neighbors and had black maids and cooks.  Fuller wants to tell her audience a story of things that seem so eccentric, but were in fact a normal and true to her.
    The audience intended for this book is anyone interested in the history of Africa and also what life was like for people who immigrated there.
    The rhetorical devices used in the passage include: diction, simile, allusion and juxtaposition.  Diction included words in Ndebele, an African dialect, for example, Kadoma meaning “does not thunder or make noise”, dzimba dza mabwe meaning “houses of stone” and chi murenga meaning “war of liberation.” Fuller uses many similes to better describe people or geography: “ men in camouflage breaking life a ribbon out of the back of an army lorry…” (1), “her school looked like a bomb bunker” (2), “they only swished their tails and jerked their heads at the sound, as if trying to get rid of a biting fly” (3). Fuller also alludes to popular childish games or songs but twists them to her unique situation.  For example, the song “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” was changed to a different version: One hundred little baboons playing on the minefield.  One hundred little baboons playing on the minefield.  And if one little baboon should accidentally explode, there’ll be ninety-nine little baboons playing on the minefield.  She also uses juxtaposition by comparing her world in Africa to the world of Narnia, saying that “Narnia is more real and wonderful than the world I am alive in” (4).
    The author accomplished her purpose.  She uses information to explain the status of Rhodesia and tells many amusing stories and moments with her family to depict her childhood in an engaging  and genuine way. 

Fuller, Alexandra. Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood. New York: Random House, 2001. Print.

Article of the Week # 3 "Standardized tests for everyone? In the Internet age, that’s the wrong answer."

Cathy N. Davidson, Professor at Duke University and author of Now You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and Learn expresses her concern towards the institutions of education and the manner in which students are tested.  In 1914 because of the growing number of students for whom a two year education was required, the system of schooling needed to be refined.  Frederick J. Kelly invented the Kansas Silent Reading Test, also called the “item-response” or “bubble” test so students could be educated and then tested quickly and efficiently. Even though we are living in an internet age, “students can’t escape Kelly’s century old invention (1). This type of testing was never intended to become so widespread, however today, its has been adopted as the footing for the SAT and exams in high school, graduate and professional schools. 

The context is represented through the history of the multiple choice testing.   Bubble tests were meant for the industrial age when efficiency was key, but now that were are living in an age modeled on technology, Davidson can further support her purpose to voice concern that institutions should be testing to prepare students for the future and not the past.   Davidson argues that the educational system used today was “designed for the industrial age, modeled on mass production and designed for efficiency, not for high standards” (2).  She believe that because we are living in a digital world, it is of ample importance to change the way in which learning is assessed.

This piece was written for teachers, professors, et cetera, involved in any educational institution as it questions the significance of the popularly given multiple choice test.

Davidson organized her piece with the classical model: introduction, narration with background information on the test and its inventor and confirmation through proof from statistics and examples. She refuted her argument by addressing at the beginning of the text that standardized tests do serve as a way to measure success and concludes with an obvious appeal to pathos stating, “it’s not as simple as filling in the bubbles” (3).

I certainly feel that Davidson had a clever argument, however, she did not support it well.  She never clearly defined the significance of the “internet age” on education and so I never quite understood why teaching about the web in school would be so important.   Her diction kept me engaged, but after reading I realized much of the article was redundant.  Therefore, I do not feel like her purpose was accomplished.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/standardized-tests-for-everyone-in-the-internet-age-thats-the-wrong-answer/2011/09/21/gIQA7SZwqK_story_1.html

Article of the Week # 2 "One Word that Can Save Your Life: No!"

Instead of the intended aim to prevent diseases and improve the quality of life, recent studies have shown that new procedures and screenings can have negative affects on our health.  Sharon Begley, the writer of the article entitled, “One Word Can Save Your Life: No!” is the science columnist and  science editor of Newsweek.  Begley is the coauthor of the book The Mind and the Brain and is the author of Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain.
    The context of this article is a response to a series of  different studies on how medical treatments can affect our health.  One study Begley wrote of involving heart patients with mild chest pain, showed that invasive procedures did not improve their quality of life more than a healthy diet or exercise can.  Other studies came up with the same result; patients who undergo screening and treatment have no fewer strokes or heart attacks than people who do not.  However, the drugs, radiation and procedures of all kinds have side effects that can be dangerous. 
    The purpose of this article was to inform readers that advancing technologies and treatments seem to guarantee the prevention of disease and the extension of life, however, these progressive drugs and tests may be hurting us.  Begley aimed to give a new perspective that, at times, it is best to say “no” to some of our doctor’s suggestions because they may be unnecessary.  
    This piece was written for an audience interested in medical studies.  Also, people questioning a procedure should read this article for a different perspective.
     Some rhetorical elements in this article include formal diction, appeals to logos, ethos and pathos and syntax.
 The author, Sharon Begley accomplished her purpose.  She used a variety of evidence to support her claim including the experiences of individuals as well as studies from major hospitals.  Never once did I question her credibility.  Her article was complete with so many facts, statistics and interviews that I can’t help but look at medical experts in an entirely different way. 
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/08/14/some-medical-tests-procedures-do-more-harm-than-good.html

Independent Reading Book

 Title: Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight
 Author: Alexandra Fuller

I chose the book Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight because it was highly recommended by my brother.  It has also been compared to Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen and because I read that last year and loved it, I think Fuller's diaries of her childhood in Africa will be just as engaging.

First Section: pages 1-77
Second Section: pages 78-148
Third Section: pages 149- 228
Fourth Section: pages 229- 301

Article of the Week #1 "Forever Wild"

      “Forever Wild” written by Verlyn Klinkenborg, a writer for National Geographic (a magazine and internet source known for its coverage on daily news, the environment, geography and cultures of the world) describes the state of Adirondack Park: an extraordinary forest preserve that has survived centuries of artificial intrusions.  Despite years of the land being used for industrial purposes like mining and logging, the Adirondack Park has reached a balance between preserving the primitive forest and developing civilization in its place.  
     The context is represented through historical patterns of the Adirondack Park.  The forest went through a series of drastic stages, alternating between years of preservation and development. With the history going back and forth between these stages, Klinkenborg can support her purpose: to inform readers how the protection and development of the land are balanced today.  Klinkenborg remembers how the forest changed from a state of destruction to a “resilient landscape” (Klinkenborg) and is reassured that no matter the affects of modern interests, the future image of Adirondacks looks just as beautiful as that of a century ago. 
      This piece was written for an audience interested in nature as well as those interested in biological studies and how the environment is affected by humans and their actions.
     Klinkenborg’s diction describing Adirondack, “timeless mountains”,  “an endless beaded chain of new perspectives,” “a gravity as strong as Manhattan’s” certainly expresses emotion and suggests a strong passion she has for this place.  She also used juxtaposition as a way to contrast how civilization has grown over miles in Adirondack yet, the forests have a way of “cutting you off from the present,” as if you have stepped back in time.
     The author accomplished her purpose with thorough evidence.  She appealed to pathos with strong diction, to ethos with sources varying from the chairman of the Park’s agency to residents of Adirondack and to logos by admitting people's actions do have an influence on the environment.


http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/adirondack-park/klinkenborg-text