Got Milk?

The advertisement I found was a milk add supported by the cast of "High School Musical." In the add it says "The protein helps build muscle and some studies suggest teens who choose milk instead of sugary drinks tend to be leaner than those who don't." So obviously this add is geared toward a teenage audience. Not to mention the presence of the very popular actors/actressess from the Disney channel movie helps to appeal to younger audience. The claim to drink milk is implied by the milk mustaches on the upper lips of the cast. It is a policy claim because it suggests what we should do in the future.

My Plan to Save Network Television

In the article “My Plan to Save Network Television” Charlie Hauck claims that people over the age of 49 are wreaking havoc on television demographics. They are taking away from the environment that advertisers are looking for. He also mentions that younger people have a more disposable income and network executives are looking to cash in. An example from the text is the statistic of males in their 20’s being lured away from television thanks to ipods, internet, and Xbox. So, the few teens left watching network television are very valuable.

The author has to draw from the fact that all people between the ages of 18 and 49 are watching network television. He adds comic relief with his sarcastic proposal of passing a law to make it illegal for older people to watch television. The opposing views are well refuted. Hauck backs up his claim with evidence of advertisers wanting to acquire viewers buying habits early in life and not take the time or money to try converting the older audiences.

Ugly, the American

In the article “Ugly, the American” the author, James Poniewozik claims that the American public holds a complex standard for illegal immigrants. Poniewozik draws evidence from the hit television show Ugly Betty. In the show, Betty’s father is an illegal immigrant from Mexico. However, Poniewozik mentions that “our fellow citizens are boiling with resentment against people like Betty.”

The author does not warrant opposing views successfully. He draws from only one side of an argument and offers no opinions or views from the other .He points out America’s problem with foreigners, even though many of our television shows prove differently. A large majority of America’s reality shows are imported from other countries and the stars of those shows are also from other countries. However, as Poniewozik says “It’s easier to hate a straw man—than a person, even a fictional one. “

Rhetorical Analysis Claims

"Your Appearance, Good or Bad, Can Affect the Size of Your Paycheck by Stephanie Armour"

Central Claim: : "A growing body of research supports what many suspect: In the workplace, an employee's physical appearance is a powerful symbol that affects job success." (pg. 254)

My Central Claim: "Lawmakers should pass stricter laws regarding the discrimination of workers based on weight and height, since there is a direct correlation between a person's appearance and his or her paycheck." (pg. 1)

My Conclusion: "Laws should be passed to protect people from such blatant accounts of discrimination; equality in the workplace is something we should all strive for."

Rhetorical Analysis Outline

Swearing Off Swearing by Rick Reilly
I think this particular essay would be a good one to write a rhetorical analysis on. It definitely relates to my age group and is something that we tend to struggle with. This essay does a good job of engaging the reader and keeping the text interesting.

Your Appearance, Good or Bad, Can Affect the Size of Your Paycheck by Stephanie Armour
This essay would also be a good one to write a rhetorical analysis on. It’s longer than the previous one, so there would be more information to develop a paper from. It also hits home with my age group. The vocabulary is good and it took examples from all aspects of the claim.

“From Justin to Kelly”: A Criminally Misguided Musical by Heather Havrilesky
I decided to read this essay simply because I had seen the movie. I could be placed into the category of liking the movie simply because it was so bad it came off kind of good. Anyways, I don’t think it would be a good choice for my paper though. It’s very one sided and I just don’t think there is much to work with here.

Outline

Working Title: Appearances and Paychecks

Working Thesis Statement: Lawmakers should pass stricter laws regarding the discrimination of workers based on weight and height, since there is a direct correlation between a person’s appearance and his or her paycheck.

1) Rhetorical Situation
a) Target Audience
b) Purpose for writing the essay
c) Background information
2) Examples/ Points
a) Portnick and jazzercise
b) Wearing glasses/doing hair
c) Dwarfism
3) Height and Weight Factors
a) Relationship of appearance vs. paycheck
b) Statistics on relationship
c) Solution

After Virginia Tech

Callie Olive
English 101, section 056
13 September 2007
Short Writing Assignment #5

“Virginia Tech and Our Impoverished Language for Evil” by Gregg Easterbrook is an example of a text written to persuade and inform. Easterbrook looks to sway the reader towards a belief that the use of politically correct terms in the media is making light of the seriousness of situations. Easterbrook also looks to inform the reader of the effect words used in the media has on the way the American public views a situation. An example he gives is the use of the word “shooter” and “gunman” regarding the Virginia Tech shooting, as opposed to the harsher terms of “killer” and “murderer.” This particular article is geared for an audience of young adults and older. Easterbrook’s writing would most certainly not be appropriate for children. The reference to Virginia Tech and Cho Seung-Hui as well the news anchors mentioned at the beginning of the article would be over the heads of young children.
The author is most likely a white male that seems in favor of labeling a person for what they really are. He is insulted by the fact that Cho has been labeled a shooter and a mentally disturbed individual. He believes Cho should be branded for what he really is; a murderer and a madman. Easterbrook is constrained by an obvious dislike for Cho Seung-Hui. Easterbrook, unlike many others, doesn’t show any signs of sympathy for Cho’s mental state. He also is constrained by his belief that dispassionate terms should not be used unless in police investigations or legal proceedings. Some constraints that a reader would have regarding this article is perhaps an interest in psychology, therefore justifying Cho’s actions and properly labeling him as a mentally disturbed person.
Exigence in this article is the urgent need for proper labeling in the media. Easterbrook believes there is a need to call a person what they really are, and to not try to justify malicious acts of terror. I personally share a lot of common ground with Easterbrook. He makes an excellent point about how the media has been portraying such a sick individual as Cho. I do find this article very convincing. Easterbrook makes a lot of good points regarding his opinions about the situation. One of the examples mentioned is Cho turning the gun on himself to escape punishment, therefore removing all doubt that he was not insane. Easterbrook’s article was very well written and researched. Even if a person doesn’t agree with his statements, he or she must at least take into consideration the point Easterbrook is trying to make.

Rhetorical situations

Callie Olive
English 101, Section 056
11 September 2007
Short Writing Assignment # 4


There is a significant difference between David Friedman’s blog about low cost cooling ideas and a rhetorical situation found on facebook or myspace. Unlike the high school and college aged audience facebook reaches, Mr. Friedman’s blog was intended toward a different audience. Friedman’s audience consists of homeowners above the age of twenty. Another difference deals with the “E” in TRACE. Exigence in Friedman’s blog has to do with decreasing the cost of running air conditioning in a household. However, when dealing with facebook or myspace situations, one might find themselves confronted with a problem about student parking, classes, or problems concerning the opposite sex.
However, there are some similarities between the forums of blogs and facebook. Both can be used to address argumentative views on subjects. They both reach an audience of some sort, and possess constraints. An example being the audience feels constrained to doubt the validity of something written in a blog or on a facebook. If a person has a working email address he or she could easily make a facebook, or for that matter a blog. Therefore, absolutely anyone could post ideas, thoughts, arguments, or opinions in a blog or on facebook. As we saw in class the other day the ability to post false information in one of these forums is a relatively easy task.

SWA #3

Recently I had an argument with my roommate. We have different schedules and are in and out at different times. I’ve come back after my classes to find our door unlocked everyday. I decided to confront her about this and it turned into an argument. The argument was between the two of us, no outside parties were involved. We both have valuable belongings in our room that we want to keep. Our resident advisor had already told us that some things were stolen out of a few rooms recently. I was striving for the comfort of knowing that my possessions are safe while I am out of the room.
I was very respectful when I brought the subject up. I tried to explain my point of view and convince her of my outlook on the subject. The method I used to approach her was very typical of my style of argument. I never lose my temper and I usually prefer cooperation and negotiating. I would rather come to an agreement with someone, as opposed to winning an argument.
I would definitely say my parents have influenced the way I argue. When I was growing up if I had an argument with my parents they would try to negotiate or come to a consensus instead of saying I’m right, you’re wrong. I would also think the fact that I’m a female influences my arguing methods. I know it doesn’t hold true for all females but usually we’re more passive and not as competitive or confrontational as males.

SWA #2

Matt Miller’s article “Is Persuasion Dead?” addresses the inability of the American public to be persuaded. In the article he lists a number of reasons for this. Best-selling books, radio shows, and the main one being politics. Miller mentions Politicos only associating with others who share the same opinions and views. He also points out that the purpose of political speech is not to persuade but to gain power, status, and ratings. If his theories do hold true, then he raises a very interesting point. He claims that to successfully govern a country a leader must have the capability to influence how people actually think.
I am in complete disagreement with Miller’s argument that persuasion is dead in America. I believe we as a people are persuaded each and every day in some form. Billboards, signs, books, movies, pictures teachers, and peers persuade us. Sometimes persuasion is easy to come by, and sometimes it is not. If people are already knowledgeable and passionate about certain things it is hard to sway them in the other direction. However, persuading a person into an area he or she isn’t familiar with may come a little easier. I think Miller’s article would have been more effective if he mentioned more of the everyday things that we as a people could be persuaded by. Some examples being billboards, magazine articles, our friends and family. Persuasion isn’t limited to politics and press.
My personal experience does not concur with Miller’s points. Whether I’m watching a political debate with my parents or listening to a radio show my views on issues are constantly changing. I may think one way about something but after reading an article that displays better evidence than my previous notions I find myself in agreement with what I was against in the beginning. Miller believes persuasion is obsolete in the American public. He thinks that once your mind is made up about something you can’t be convinced otherwise. I just happen to disagree. As far as I’m concerned persuasion is everywhere and more effective than ever.

SWA #1: Writing Concerns

The writing and reading habits of college students are a big concern for professor Michael Skube. Professor Skube’s essay expresses concern and sympathy for today’s students. A major problem he mentions is the fact that students don’t seem to read for pleasure. Another hindrance professor Skube states is a lack of vocabulary with students. I absolutely agree with his claims, as well as finding myself guilty of them. With the alluring draw of television, video games, and facebook it is not hard to see why reading for pleasure has become close to extinct with students. Also, with the growing rate of technological advances college students have produced a whole new language in which extensive vocabulary is unnecessary. Whether it be shortened versions of words through instant messaging or trying to cram a life story into a text message, vocabulary has become increasingly scarce.
After reading Todd Hagstette’s article, I think his idea of aggressive reading would greatly benefit the students described in professor Skube’s essay. Professor Skube’s student’s lack of vocabulary couldn’t help but improve if they simply focused solely on the text. Without the distractions of television in the background or a crowded room the students would be able to concentrate and therefore retain more information. I also think the point of re-reading the text is beneficial. Professor Skube’s students may not be capable of identifying every reference or word in the text the first time through, however they may see the word differently next time or the time after. I had an English teacher that taught The Great Gatsby every year and she said that something new was revealed to her every time she read it. I found that truly amazing and surprisingly true. All of Mr. Hagstette’s points about aggressive reading were very accurate and would serve professor Skube’s students well.