Dear future APELC student,
Congrats! You are currently enrolled in perhaps the most challenging English class of your High School career. You must be prepared to read the works of Plato, contemplate the societal effects of rhetoric, and prepare yourself in early May for three hours of mental exertion and a cramped hand. But contrary to what you may have heard, this course is far from impossible. It's okay if you don't think your writing ability is up to par, or if you're not sure you have the literary insight to fully grasp every piece of writing. When you emerge from this course in mid-June (well, really more like early May), you will feel more confident in your writing ability and able to think critically on a deeper level. In between, however, it will take responsibility, determination, and hard work.
Many of you probably consider yourself decent writers. After all, that's probably part of the reason why you took this course. You are accustomed to doing well on essays, which is why getting back essays in the beginning of the year with a 4 or a 5 may be a bit of a surprising disappointment. But constantly striving to improve oneself is perhaps the most important lesson that I have learned from AP English. If at first your essays aren't where you want them to be, then keep on practicing during in class ones. Talk to Mr. Yost or Ms. Pronko. Invest time into your take-home essays. This is not a class where you can slide by and get an easy A.
A second part of APELC besides essay-writing is a lot of reading. There will be Language of Composition packets, pieces of rhetoric to analyze, Plato, and at the end of each Marking Period, a project assignment. Try to space out your reading and don't leave 20 pages for the last day. Trust me, I've done it. And the last thing you want to be doing at 1 am is sitting at your desk trying to power through 20 pages of text when even five cups of black coffee can't keep you awake. It's really a shame too, because most of the texts are very interesting. Instead, plan ahead. During group projects, find times for all group members to collaborate. Do a little bit of the reading assignments each day. In terms of workload, APELC really isn't a very demanding class at all.
The goal of every AP class is to prepare you well for the AP exam, and I can honestly say that you are in very capable hands. If you give your best effort all year, you won't find yourself trying to cram for the APELC exam the night before ( and with something like English, I feel it's pretty impossible to cram for in the first place). That being said, don't just focus your attention on the AP exam. Actually participate in class discussions, think for yourself, and share your ideas. Consider if what you want to say will actually add to the discussion, but don't be afraid to take on a different perspective. I wish you the best of luck this year in APELC and all your other classes! Don't stress out too much. Remember: it's just school.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
TOW 29: The World Before Her
Claim: Women in the "new India" are better off than women in the "old India."
The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja shows a very compelling story of a nation held in a cultural struggle between its traditions and roots and its new age of communication and globalization. This dramatic change affects all Indians, although especially the lives of Indian women. Although it is clear that the modern Indian woman, as represented by the Miss India contestants in the film, feel less constricted in what they dare to dream for their future and are more optimistic than fundamentalist Prisha, there is still a great struggle before women in either spheres can truly call themselves equal to men.
From the beginning, baby boys seem to be preferred over baby girls in India, a sentiment that almost all the women interviewed in the film confirmed. This is because when a woman got married, her family used to have to provide a sizable dowry to her husband's family. Furthermore, women usually moved away with their husbands and could not take care of their parents as easily. This is a problem that affects women all across the country, and not just in the more rural villages where traditionalism is high. In fact, there have been reports of baby girls found in trashcans in even the larger cities of India, showing that this is a problem that affects even the "modern" side of India as well, according to The Atlantic. This preference of baby boys has led to India's skewed sex ratio, where there are about 30 million more men than women currently. Clearly, this is still an issue that really affects the whole nation as a whole and is not just limited to some villages across the country.
Although women in the cities can generally find better opportunities than women in the countryside, violence against women still exists in both areas. In particular, reports of rape have raised human rights concerns internationally. In 2012, a young woman and her male friend in New Delhi were aboard a bus. She was then gang-raped and beaten severely with a metal rod. This tragic incident raised great concerns across the country, as people in New Delhi protested for days for better laws to protect women from rape. There have been rape cases in smaller villages across the country as well. This year, two teenage girls were raped in a village in northern India. It is said that authorities were notified but did not respond immediately. Although cases of rape in smaller villages may be reported less often or not get as much attention, it is clear that the country is still striving to deal with this heinous crime that affects the cities of modern India just as often.
It is true that a shift towards modernization has allowed more women to break free from the social constraints that they were bound to traditionally. However, many issues dealing with women and how they are treated are still a major problem even in the "westernized" cities across the country.
The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja shows a very compelling story of a nation held in a cultural struggle between its traditions and roots and its new age of communication and globalization. This dramatic change affects all Indians, although especially the lives of Indian women. Although it is clear that the modern Indian woman, as represented by the Miss India contestants in the film, feel less constricted in what they dare to dream for their future and are more optimistic than fundamentalist Prisha, there is still a great struggle before women in either spheres can truly call themselves equal to men.
From the beginning, baby boys seem to be preferred over baby girls in India, a sentiment that almost all the women interviewed in the film confirmed. This is because when a woman got married, her family used to have to provide a sizable dowry to her husband's family. Furthermore, women usually moved away with their husbands and could not take care of their parents as easily. This is a problem that affects women all across the country, and not just in the more rural villages where traditionalism is high. In fact, there have been reports of baby girls found in trashcans in even the larger cities of India, showing that this is a problem that affects even the "modern" side of India as well, according to The Atlantic. This preference of baby boys has led to India's skewed sex ratio, where there are about 30 million more men than women currently. Clearly, this is still an issue that really affects the whole nation as a whole and is not just limited to some villages across the country.
Although women in the cities can generally find better opportunities than women in the countryside, violence against women still exists in both areas. In particular, reports of rape have raised human rights concerns internationally. In 2012, a young woman and her male friend in New Delhi were aboard a bus. She was then gang-raped and beaten severely with a metal rod. This tragic incident raised great concerns across the country, as people in New Delhi protested for days for better laws to protect women from rape. There have been rape cases in smaller villages across the country as well. This year, two teenage girls were raped in a village in northern India. It is said that authorities were notified but did not respond immediately. Although cases of rape in smaller villages may be reported less often or not get as much attention, it is clear that the country is still striving to deal with this heinous crime that affects the cities of modern India just as often.
It is true that a shift towards modernization has allowed more women to break free from the social constraints that they were bound to traditionally. However, many issues dealing with women and how they are treated are still a major problem even in the "westernized" cities across the country.
Monday, May 26, 2014
TOW 28: The World Before Her by Nisha Pahuja
The World Before Her is a rare film that offers a glimpse of India in the midst of a cultural crisis: should the country continue to westernize itself as its bustling cities have been doing, or should it remain steadfast to its fundamental Hindu beliefs, as many of its small villages hold on to? This big question is the basis of the film, and explored through the stories of two major female characters. On one hand is Ruhi Singh, a small-town girl who is vying for the crown of Miss India, a competition that is the epitome of western influence on India to many. Ruhi thinks like a "modern" Indian woman who wants to pursue a career outside the home. On the other hand is Prachi Trevidi, a woman working in a Hindu Fundamentalist camp for girls. This camp represents the right wing Vishwa Hindu Parishdad, otherwise known as the "Hindu Taliban". Like Ruhi, Prachi wants to be independent, but the stringent beliefs of her father make it hard for her to do so. Although the stories of these two women represent two very different Indias, the common struggles they share of being a woman in a patriarchal society, a society where boys are preferred over girls, is a common theme throughout. The audience for this film would probably be foreigners, because although it is about India, it deals with an issue that Indians are probably familiar with but Westerners most likely are not.
The most powerful strategy that Pahuja uses throughout this film is juxtaposition. The filmmaker compares "Old India" with "New India" by interweaving the stories of two girls that represent each. Ruhi and Prachi may believe in different ideals, but both girls speak frankly about feeling lucky to be alive in a culture where girl babies are sometimes even killed at birth. The stark contrast between the glamour and almost vapidness of the Miss India contest and the militant, cult-like environment of the girl's camp is very powerful in showing how divided India is. It is clear from this juxtaposition of the ideals of the "old India" and those of the "new India" that both are also flawed in their own ways. For example, the girl's camp teaches the participants to hate Muslims and Christians, while a scene in the Miss India contest has the girls walking with their faces covered just so the judges can judge their legs. Ultimately, juxtaposition effectively shows the two sides to India and each of their problems, raising the question of how this nation can possible reconcile these two opposite ideals.
Besides employing juxtaposition, Pahuja also uses anecdotes from real people to add humanity to the film. The entire film is really based on two women; their lives, their familes, and their dreams. This from the beginning adds a very personal element to the film, because Pahuja is not just introducing the two India's, but rather two people who are actually living through this cultural revolution of sorts. From Ruhi we can feel the determination and aspirations of a young woman trying to create an identity for herself in a country where women are still limited. Ruhi believes that winning the crown will give her a way to be able to prove that she is worth something as an individual. Prachi is also searching for a sense of self-worth, but she does so by teaching what she believes in, which is Hindu fundamentalism. And although the audience may not believe in what each of the women believe in, it is hard not to feel compassion for them and at least try to understand why they believe in the things they do. These two women add faces to the cultural crisis that India is currently facing, and their presence and struggle to find their place in each of their societal systems makes this story personal and powerful.
I believe that the filmmaker did achieve her purpose of letting her audience see the current cultural dilemma that India and also other developing countries across the globe is facing. The Old World and the New World are set on a collision course, and for many, the questions becomes, "which one should we follow?" Nisha Pahuja is also the director of Diamond Road and Bollywood Bound.
The most powerful strategy that Pahuja uses throughout this film is juxtaposition. The filmmaker compares "Old India" with "New India" by interweaving the stories of two girls that represent each. Ruhi and Prachi may believe in different ideals, but both girls speak frankly about feeling lucky to be alive in a culture where girl babies are sometimes even killed at birth. The stark contrast between the glamour and almost vapidness of the Miss India contest and the militant, cult-like environment of the girl's camp is very powerful in showing how divided India is. It is clear from this juxtaposition of the ideals of the "old India" and those of the "new India" that both are also flawed in their own ways. For example, the girl's camp teaches the participants to hate Muslims and Christians, while a scene in the Miss India contest has the girls walking with their faces covered just so the judges can judge their legs. Ultimately, juxtaposition effectively shows the two sides to India and each of their problems, raising the question of how this nation can possible reconcile these two opposite ideals.
Besides employing juxtaposition, Pahuja also uses anecdotes from real people to add humanity to the film. The entire film is really based on two women; their lives, their familes, and their dreams. This from the beginning adds a very personal element to the film, because Pahuja is not just introducing the two India's, but rather two people who are actually living through this cultural revolution of sorts. From Ruhi we can feel the determination and aspirations of a young woman trying to create an identity for herself in a country where women are still limited. Ruhi believes that winning the crown will give her a way to be able to prove that she is worth something as an individual. Prachi is also searching for a sense of self-worth, but she does so by teaching what she believes in, which is Hindu fundamentalism. And although the audience may not believe in what each of the women believe in, it is hard not to feel compassion for them and at least try to understand why they believe in the things they do. These two women add faces to the cultural crisis that India is currently facing, and their presence and struggle to find their place in each of their societal systems makes this story personal and powerful.
I believe that the filmmaker did achieve her purpose of letting her audience see the current cultural dilemma that India and also other developing countries across the globe is facing. The Old World and the New World are set on a collision course, and for many, the questions becomes, "which one should we follow?" Nisha Pahuja is also the director of Diamond Road and Bollywood Bound.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
TOW 27: Reflection
I notice a greater amount of detail in my TOWs as they progressed throughout the year. In the beginning of the year, I was more worried about finding rhetorical strategies, but towards the end, I was more concerned about how these strategies affected the work as a whole. I also noticed that I took bigger risks and found more varied topics as my TOWs progressed as well. I think I've mastered, or at least gotten very well, at detecting an author's central argument and also the means he or she goes about trying to achieve that argument. Furthermore, I've been able to summarize my sources more effectively and concisely as my TOWs progressed. This is very important to analyzing all forms of rhetoric. I could still work on considering the author's audience more; whether there is more than one audience and how the author's message may be different depending on who is reading it. I could also work on continuing to see the strategies the author uses as a means towards the bigger goal of achieving his or her actual argument. Overall, I think that I did greatly benefit from these TOWs. I know the main purpose was to help with analysis essays and to get varied sources for argument essays, and I think that these TOWs helped in both ways. They also taught me to be a more conscious reader and be aware of the rhetoric all around me. These TOWs really showed me how to look deeper at an argument, whether it be visual or written, and make judgments for myself about validity and impact of what the author is arguing.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
TOW 26: Checkers Speech by Richard Nixon
Reading Goal: Find something besides an opinion piece
Writing goal: Have a good intro and background
During the 1952 election, former President Richard Nixon was running as Vice President of Dwight Eisenhower. He was accused by the Democrats of taking $18,000 from his campaign funds to use for his own personal lifestyle, something that was highly illegal. Although these accusations did seem to have some merit in them, and Eisenhower was about to drop Nixon as running mate, Nixon went on national television to address the issue. In his now infamous "Checkers Speech", Richard Nixon told the American people that he was not using his campaign funds illegally, and that if he had to return his gifts he would still never return a dog that he got from a supporter named Checkers. With his skillful appeal to pathos and his question-and-answer technique, Nixon successfully convinced the American people and the Republican Party that he was a credible candidate.
Nixon uses a powerful appeal to emotion , which becomes the basis of his speech. He starts off by stating the accusation from the other side and then says, "The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details.
I believe we’ve had enough of that in the United States, particularly with the present Administration in Washington, D.C." By doing this, Nixon not only makes himself seem like a moral and righteous man by speaking "frankly" with the American people (and therefore an appealing Vice President), but he also takes a jab at the Democratic Party by insinuating that the current administration is not being honest and open with the public. He also appeals to emotion at the very end of his speech with discussion of a cute little puppy that he got as a campaign present. This story of the a puppy and also his two young children and how much the family would be saddened to have to give up this "present" is a pathetic appeal. Naturally, the audience will be horrified to imagine tearing the puppy away from the crying girls, and immediately feel sympathetic towards Nixon and angry at the Democratic Party. However, when examined closely this "Checkers" argument falls apart as it really doesn't have much to do with the missing $18,000 in funds at all.
In addition to winning the hearts of the American people, Nixon wins over their minds as well with his clear question-and-answer format of his speech. He posses two questions, "Was it wrong?" and "Was it morally wrong?", and answers both as the audience would want him to answer very clearly. Nixon points out a difference between if something was wrong or morally wrong, saying that something is wrong if it's illegal but that stealing $18,000 is not just wrong but morally wrong and that, no, he would never do something like that. Nixon states, "And now to answer those questions let me say this:Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States." His firm answer, whether or not it might actually be true, uses strong words like "no" and "never". This further convinced the public that he did not funnel $18,000 into his private lifestyle.
By appealing to the sentiments of the American public and firmly denying any accusations, Nixon was able to save his political career. Whether or not these accusations were true is still unknown; but now, an emotional speech by a politician is mockingly called a "Checkers Speech."
Writing goal: Have a good intro and background
During the 1952 election, former President Richard Nixon was running as Vice President of Dwight Eisenhower. He was accused by the Democrats of taking $18,000 from his campaign funds to use for his own personal lifestyle, something that was highly illegal. Although these accusations did seem to have some merit in them, and Eisenhower was about to drop Nixon as running mate, Nixon went on national television to address the issue. In his now infamous "Checkers Speech", Richard Nixon told the American people that he was not using his campaign funds illegally, and that if he had to return his gifts he would still never return a dog that he got from a supporter named Checkers. With his skillful appeal to pathos and his question-and-answer technique, Nixon successfully convinced the American people and the Republican Party that he was a credible candidate.
Nixon uses a powerful appeal to emotion , which becomes the basis of his speech. He starts off by stating the accusation from the other side and then says, "The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details.
I believe we’ve had enough of that in the United States, particularly with the present Administration in Washington, D.C." By doing this, Nixon not only makes himself seem like a moral and righteous man by speaking "frankly" with the American people (and therefore an appealing Vice President), but he also takes a jab at the Democratic Party by insinuating that the current administration is not being honest and open with the public. He also appeals to emotion at the very end of his speech with discussion of a cute little puppy that he got as a campaign present. This story of the a puppy and also his two young children and how much the family would be saddened to have to give up this "present" is a pathetic appeal. Naturally, the audience will be horrified to imagine tearing the puppy away from the crying girls, and immediately feel sympathetic towards Nixon and angry at the Democratic Party. However, when examined closely this "Checkers" argument falls apart as it really doesn't have much to do with the missing $18,000 in funds at all.
In addition to winning the hearts of the American people, Nixon wins over their minds as well with his clear question-and-answer format of his speech. He posses two questions, "Was it wrong?" and "Was it morally wrong?", and answers both as the audience would want him to answer very clearly. Nixon points out a difference between if something was wrong or morally wrong, saying that something is wrong if it's illegal but that stealing $18,000 is not just wrong but morally wrong and that, no, he would never do something like that. Nixon states, "And now to answer those questions let me say this:Not one cent of the $18,000 or any other money of that type ever went to me for my personal use. Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers of the United States." His firm answer, whether or not it might actually be true, uses strong words like "no" and "never". This further convinced the public that he did not funnel $18,000 into his private lifestyle.
By appealing to the sentiments of the American public and firmly denying any accusations, Nixon was able to save his political career. Whether or not these accusations were true is still unknown; but now, an emotional speech by a politician is mockingly called a "Checkers Speech."
Sunday, April 27, 2014
TOW 25: Media-Iams Pet Food Commercial
Reading Goal: Be able to clearly identify rhetorical strategies in a video media
Writing Goal: Concise summary
In this commercial, Rocky, an Irish Wolfhound, is shown eagerly awaiting and crying for his owner, Dawn. Dawn has just returned from what appears to be deployment. A voice narrates the bond that Rocky and Dawn, his owner, share. As Dawn appears, Rocky runs outside and jumps on her, clearly happy to see her back. The narrator states, "for a love this strong, Dawn only feeds him Iams". The screen then shifts into a visual that shows that Iams has more protein than the leading dog food brand. Finally, the last scene shows Rocky and Dawn happily together.
The ad. is effective because of its brilliant appeal to pathos and repetition of words. The viewer immediately falls in love with Rocky, who is a beautiful and clearly loyal dog. The meeting he and his owner have also tugs at the hearstrings, making the video highly watchable. The fact that Dawn is also in the military taps into the American conscience and the pride we have for our troops. In fact, this "Dog welcoming owner home" -style video is something highly trending on Youtube, the source of this commercial. After this is when the narrator begins talking about the product this video is selling, Iams pet food. He states the Iams slogan,"For a love this strong, [owner name] only feeds him/ her Iams". This is then continued with a repetition of the word "love" in sentences that follow. Therefore, the viewer associates Iams with happy, loyal pets and mutual love between the pet and the owner.
I think that this ad is effective in its purpose of trying to sell Iams pet food. By incorporating this product into an emotional video, Iams makes this commercial more memorable. It also makes sure to mention its slogan, which is clearly associated with the product. The audience for this commercial is probably all pet owners. Iams is a pet food company manufactured by P&G.
Writing Goal: Concise summary
In this commercial, Rocky, an Irish Wolfhound, is shown eagerly awaiting and crying for his owner, Dawn. Dawn has just returned from what appears to be deployment. A voice narrates the bond that Rocky and Dawn, his owner, share. As Dawn appears, Rocky runs outside and jumps on her, clearly happy to see her back. The narrator states, "for a love this strong, Dawn only feeds him Iams". The screen then shifts into a visual that shows that Iams has more protein than the leading dog food brand. Finally, the last scene shows Rocky and Dawn happily together.
The ad. is effective because of its brilliant appeal to pathos and repetition of words. The viewer immediately falls in love with Rocky, who is a beautiful and clearly loyal dog. The meeting he and his owner have also tugs at the hearstrings, making the video highly watchable. The fact that Dawn is also in the military taps into the American conscience and the pride we have for our troops. In fact, this "Dog welcoming owner home" -style video is something highly trending on Youtube, the source of this commercial. After this is when the narrator begins talking about the product this video is selling, Iams pet food. He states the Iams slogan,"For a love this strong, [owner name] only feeds him/ her Iams". This is then continued with a repetition of the word "love" in sentences that follow. Therefore, the viewer associates Iams with happy, loyal pets and mutual love between the pet and the owner.
I think that this ad is effective in its purpose of trying to sell Iams pet food. By incorporating this product into an emotional video, Iams makes this commercial more memorable. It also makes sure to mention its slogan, which is clearly associated with the product. The audience for this commercial is probably all pet owners. Iams is a pet food company manufactured by P&G.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
IRB Intro Post 4
I plan on reading The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This novel deals about the bioethical issue surrounding cell research and race. I choose this book because in AP Biology we actually got to work with HeLa cells, which originated from Henrietta Lacks. I'm very interested to know more about the story behind this woman and also how far Mrs. Lacks's cell have come. One interesting thing about this book is that there are actually pictures of Henrietta Lacks and some of the characters the author mentions.
TOW 24: The Glass Castle By Jeanette Walls
Goals:
Find good rhetorical strategies
Have a clear thesis
Jeanette Walls has had a an unpredictable, almost fictional-sounding upbringing. With two highly individualistic parents who abhorred responsibility, she was left from a young age, to take many responsibilities onto her shoulders. Now, towards the end of the memoir Jeanette is tired of having to look after her parents instead of the other way around. Through vivid description and revealing dialogue, Walls shares her deep desire to leave but also her deep love for her parents despite everything she has gone though.
Walls uses very descriptive language in her memoir. With her words, she reveals her inner turmoil and disappointment at the actions of her father. She writes, "Dad started laughing and hugging Mom, who started laughing and hugging him. It was as if they were so happy they hadn't killed each other that they had fallen in love again. I didn't feel like celebrating. I couldn't believe that after all he had put himself through, Dad had gone back o the booze." (77). By vividly describing the unpredictable behavior of her parents, Walls clearly shows the drama and importance of this moment because it is when her father returns to alcohol, leading for her to begin to lose faith that he will actually change. The whole ridiculousness of the situation, with her parents waving knives at each other just moments earlier, also speaks to how much Walls had to go through in her childhood, though she may not blame her parents for anything.
Walls also uses frequent dialogue to add to the vividness of her memoir. Describing a conversation with a woman who oversaw the Internationalal Best Dressed List, Walls writes, "So where are you from Jeanette?' 'West Virginia.' 'Where?' 'Welch' ....'And your family owns coal mines?' (170). This conversation highlights how uncomfortable Walls felt at first being surrounded by so many people who she feels will never understand her. Walls one word answers show this. She thinks others will judge her harshly if they ever find out about her parents, but she feels happy to finally be able to not have to worry about her parents anymore.
Wall's audience is probably the general public. This book was easy to read, but also engrossing because of its vivid language and detailed dialogue. Jeanette Walls is a former MSNBC columnist who is also author of Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel.
Find good rhetorical strategies
Have a clear thesis
Jeanette Walls has had a an unpredictable, almost fictional-sounding upbringing. With two highly individualistic parents who abhorred responsibility, she was left from a young age, to take many responsibilities onto her shoulders. Now, towards the end of the memoir Jeanette is tired of having to look after her parents instead of the other way around. Through vivid description and revealing dialogue, Walls shares her deep desire to leave but also her deep love for her parents despite everything she has gone though.
Walls uses very descriptive language in her memoir. With her words, she reveals her inner turmoil and disappointment at the actions of her father. She writes, "Dad started laughing and hugging Mom, who started laughing and hugging him. It was as if they were so happy they hadn't killed each other that they had fallen in love again. I didn't feel like celebrating. I couldn't believe that after all he had put himself through, Dad had gone back o the booze." (77). By vividly describing the unpredictable behavior of her parents, Walls clearly shows the drama and importance of this moment because it is when her father returns to alcohol, leading for her to begin to lose faith that he will actually change. The whole ridiculousness of the situation, with her parents waving knives at each other just moments earlier, also speaks to how much Walls had to go through in her childhood, though she may not blame her parents for anything.
Walls also uses frequent dialogue to add to the vividness of her memoir. Describing a conversation with a woman who oversaw the Internationalal Best Dressed List, Walls writes, "So where are you from Jeanette?' 'West Virginia.' 'Where?' 'Welch' ....'And your family owns coal mines?' (170). This conversation highlights how uncomfortable Walls felt at first being surrounded by so many people who she feels will never understand her. Walls one word answers show this. She thinks others will judge her harshly if they ever find out about her parents, but she feels happy to finally be able to not have to worry about her parents anymore.
Wall's audience is probably the general public. This book was easy to read, but also engrossing because of its vivid language and detailed dialogue. Jeanette Walls is a former MSNBC columnist who is also author of Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
TOW #23: American Schools Should Teach Entrepreneurship
Reading Goal: Choose a topic very different from my last TOW
Writing Goal: Better rhetorical analysis of devices/stategies
In this article, author Dayo Olopade talks about the teaching model of the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa and how this model can apply to schools in the United States. In the African Leadership Academy, students are deeply immersed in entrepreneurship, group activities, and a hands-on method of teaching. Olopade criticizes the American education system for teaching leadership and business exercises, skills critical for any type of work, at only the MBA levels.
Throughout this article, Olopade employs quotations from students in the system and rhetorical questioning to prove that the ALA model of learning is something American schools should consider. She quotes students Akon Nelson, writing," Very schools give you the opportunity to make it where it counts- not for a grade, but for your own credibility." By showing the positive feelings of a student that is currently experiencing the ALA method of teaching, Olopade is showing that this methord is something that doesn't just sound good on paper, but is actually engaging students in real life. She also uses rhetorical questions to help her American audience consider what is lacking in our current education system. Olopade wites, " Why reserve leadership and business training to budding MBA's and leave teambuilding exercises the domain of annual workplace retreats?" Her questions help advance her argument that the ALA methord of teaching can help students gain the advantages of leadership-building and business-training before even joining the workforce.
The audience for this article is the American public, but perhaps specifically Americans involved in education. Olopade is, after all, offering new ways of teaching. The author achieves her purpose of showing the shortcomings of the American education system in leadership development, but she could have focused more on how to potentially implement more of these programs. Dayo Olopade is a journalist covering global politics and developmental policy.
Writing Goal: Better rhetorical analysis of devices/stategies
In this article, author Dayo Olopade talks about the teaching model of the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa and how this model can apply to schools in the United States. In the African Leadership Academy, students are deeply immersed in entrepreneurship, group activities, and a hands-on method of teaching. Olopade criticizes the American education system for teaching leadership and business exercises, skills critical for any type of work, at only the MBA levels.
Throughout this article, Olopade employs quotations from students in the system and rhetorical questioning to prove that the ALA model of learning is something American schools should consider. She quotes students Akon Nelson, writing," Very schools give you the opportunity to make it where it counts- not for a grade, but for your own credibility." By showing the positive feelings of a student that is currently experiencing the ALA method of teaching, Olopade is showing that this methord is something that doesn't just sound good on paper, but is actually engaging students in real life. She also uses rhetorical questions to help her American audience consider what is lacking in our current education system. Olopade wites, " Why reserve leadership and business training to budding MBA's and leave teambuilding exercises the domain of annual workplace retreats?" Her questions help advance her argument that the ALA methord of teaching can help students gain the advantages of leadership-building and business-training before even joining the workforce.
The audience for this article is the American public, but perhaps specifically Americans involved in education. Olopade is, after all, offering new ways of teaching. The author achieves her purpose of showing the shortcomings of the American education system in leadership development, but she could have focused more on how to potentially implement more of these programs. Dayo Olopade is a journalist covering global politics and developmental policy.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
TOW #23: Lessons From the Little Ice Age by Geoffrey Parker
During the 17th century, the world experienced longer winter and shorter, cooler summers in what scientists now call a "mini" Ice Age. This period of cooling lasted from 1620-1690's. The effects were devastating to the human population, causing famine. floods and disease. But more interestingly were the political events tied with this climate change, including riots, rebellions, and catalysts to later major events in history.
In this article, Parker argues that climate change is closely linked with political and economical turmoil. He supports his argument with the use of statistics and logical reasoning. Parker writes, "In Japan, a mass rebellion broke out on the island of Kyushu following several poor harvests. Five years later, famine, followed by an unusually severe winter, killed perhaps 500,000 Japanese." By using statistics to illustrate the scale of the rebellions, Parker highlights just how bad the poor harvests that resulted from this drastic climate change were. Parker also uses logical reasoning to qualify his argument. He writes, "Climate alone did not cause all the catastrophes of the 17th century, but it exacerbated many of them." But admitting that climate change was not solely responsible for every bad thing that happened in the world at that time, he is avoiding the hasty generalization fallacy. However, he follows up to this to clearly outline how the poor harvests and floods because of the period of cooling led to less food, hungrier and sicker people, and desperate and angry citizens.
The audience of this article would probably be the American public, because almost every American, to some extent, is aware of the idea of Climate Change. Of course, the current trend is global warming rather than cooling, but Parker seems to foresee many of the same consequences. Overall, he is effective is showing that that we must be careful about the potentially disastrous effects of global warming, but he does not attempt to address any different effects it would have than global cooling or give any potential solutions.
Geoffrey Parker is a History Professor at Ohio State University and author of "Global Crisis: War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century".
In this article, Parker argues that climate change is closely linked with political and economical turmoil. He supports his argument with the use of statistics and logical reasoning. Parker writes, "In Japan, a mass rebellion broke out on the island of Kyushu following several poor harvests. Five years later, famine, followed by an unusually severe winter, killed perhaps 500,000 Japanese." By using statistics to illustrate the scale of the rebellions, Parker highlights just how bad the poor harvests that resulted from this drastic climate change were. Parker also uses logical reasoning to qualify his argument. He writes, "Climate alone did not cause all the catastrophes of the 17th century, but it exacerbated many of them." But admitting that climate change was not solely responsible for every bad thing that happened in the world at that time, he is avoiding the hasty generalization fallacy. However, he follows up to this to clearly outline how the poor harvests and floods because of the period of cooling led to less food, hungrier and sicker people, and desperate and angry citizens.
The audience of this article would probably be the American public, because almost every American, to some extent, is aware of the idea of Climate Change. Of course, the current trend is global warming rather than cooling, but Parker seems to foresee many of the same consequences. Overall, he is effective is showing that that we must be careful about the potentially disastrous effects of global warming, but he does not attempt to address any different effects it would have than global cooling or give any potential solutions.
Geoffrey Parker is a History Professor at Ohio State University and author of "Global Crisis: War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century".
Saturday, March 15, 2014
TOW #22: Nike; Find Your Greatness
This simple Nike commercial shows an overweight boy running down a country lane. There is no sound except for the scuffling of his shoes and the narrator in the background. As he is running, a narrator discusses what "greatness" is, and how anyone can be great. This implies that by having the motivation to keep running, the kid is showing greatness. Throughout the commercial, Nike employs an appeal to pathos and a testimonial of sorts to show the importance of its product.
The most effective aspect of this commercial its appeal to pathos. There is no doubt that many people struggle with their weight but feel like they lack the motivation to go out and exercise. By showing this young teen who has the drive to keep on running, Nike immediately creates an ad that is connectable and relatable to a large chunk of its audience. And the uplifting message of working towards a goal is something that all people can relate to. Nike also uses a real person to further the connectability of this ad. In the left-hand corner of the ad is a link that leads to the teen's actual TV interview and progress after this commercial was filmed. This shows that he actually achieved his goal, and that you can too. It is also important to note that there really is no mention of Nike or really what this commercial is advertising for except until the very end. This is effective in that the audience can take the time to relate to the commercial on a personal level without any brand being peddled in front of their face. However, this may detract slightly from the beginning since the audience is not aware what the commercial is for at first. The audience for this commercial is probably all Americans who exercise or want to get into better shape.
Nike is a sportswear company that specializes in shoes. Founded in 1964, its current CEO is Mike Parker.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
TOW 21: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
In this memoir by Jeanette Walls, the author and her family constantly move during her childhood across the West. Both her father and mother are free-spirited souls who seem unable to completely settle in one place, partly because they were constantly accumulating debts. Her mother is an artist and her father works odd jobs to make money. Jeanette was forced to grow up fast as a child, learning to take on responsibilities such as managing money and getting food for the family. However, she still loves her parents despite their irresponsibility. Currently, the family is staying at Battle Mountain, their longest place of residence.
Throughout the story, Walls uses imagery and metaphors to vividly describe her experiences. She writes, "Brian and I loved to go to the dump. We looked for treasures among the discarded stoves and refrigerators, the broken furniture and stacks of bald tires. We chased after the desert rats that lived in the wrecked cars, or caught tadpoles and frogs in the scum-filled pond." This detailed imagery gives the memoir an almost fantastical quality, adding to the story-telling element of it. Walls recounts her life as the adventure it truly was, full of constant action. Even though her story itself is interesting, these devices make it easy to imagine her as a child, searching as all kids do for treasure, only in the middle of a small desert town while constantly on the move.
Jeanette Wall's purpose is probably to tell her story and share her unique childhood with her readers. She achieves this marvelously, partially through her undoubtedly interesting experiences but also through her vivid descriptions. This also makes her memoir suitable for all audiences because it is very readable and suspenseful. Ms. Walls is a regular contributer to MSNBC and won the 2006 American Library Association Alex Award with The Glass Castle.
Throughout the story, Walls uses imagery and metaphors to vividly describe her experiences. She writes, "Brian and I loved to go to the dump. We looked for treasures among the discarded stoves and refrigerators, the broken furniture and stacks of bald tires. We chased after the desert rats that lived in the wrecked cars, or caught tadpoles and frogs in the scum-filled pond." This detailed imagery gives the memoir an almost fantastical quality, adding to the story-telling element of it. Walls recounts her life as the adventure it truly was, full of constant action. Even though her story itself is interesting, these devices make it easy to imagine her as a child, searching as all kids do for treasure, only in the middle of a small desert town while constantly on the move.
Jeanette Wall's purpose is probably to tell her story and share her unique childhood with her readers. She achieves this marvelously, partially through her undoubtedly interesting experiences but also through her vivid descriptions. This also makes her memoir suitable for all audiences because it is very readable and suspenseful. Ms. Walls is a regular contributer to MSNBC and won the 2006 American Library Association Alex Award with The Glass Castle.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
TOW # 21: Ukraine's Drama, Obama's Weakness by John Bolton
In this article about the recent Russian invasion of the Crimea Region in Ukraine, author John Bolton discusses the Obama's Administration's ineptitude at handling this crisis as well as previous internaitonal issues. He goes into the history surrounding the previous Soviet region and also discusses the failure of the EU to fully incorporate the country after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Through his appeal to logos and detailed timeline, Bolton explains why Ukraine is currently in the situation it is and why the those in power are not doing enought to address the issue.
Bolton begins with some examples of the failings of those in Washington in terms of international affiars, such as how Obama's vision to "fundamentally change" America has caused a lack of focus outside of the borders. He argues that the president has not done enough when faced with previous issues similar (Syria comes to mind). He compiles the inadequecy of the administration with the failings of NATO and the EU in general to help Ukraine transition into a more Westernized country. He writes, "Ukraine's turmoil shows why. When the Soviet Union dissolved at the end of December 1991 and its constituent republics, some unwillingly, split off, the West had an enormous opportunity to bring these newly independent states into its orbit. The path was clear, as the central and eastern European states freed from the Warsaw Pact's chains demonstrated by immediately seeking NATO membership." When NATO and the EU did not follow this plan, Ukranian president Viktor Yanukovich then began having increasing ties with Russia rather than the West. It is ultimately, as Bolton spells out, these chain of events that led to the current situation today.
Overall, the author did not fully address his purpose because he didn't focus enough on what the Obama administration should actually do. It's easy to say that Washington isn't doing enough: but how exactly it should procede given the circumstance of this extremely sensitive sitation with Russia is a much harder arguement to make. This article was probably meant for a layperson as it gives a detailed history of Ukraine and the region to give background information that is affecting the issue. John Bolton is a former U.S Ambassador to the U.N
Through his appeal to logos and detailed timeline, Bolton explains why Ukraine is currently in the situation it is and why the those in power are not doing enought to address the issue.
Bolton begins with some examples of the failings of those in Washington in terms of international affiars, such as how Obama's vision to "fundamentally change" America has caused a lack of focus outside of the borders. He argues that the president has not done enough when faced with previous issues similar (Syria comes to mind). He compiles the inadequecy of the administration with the failings of NATO and the EU in general to help Ukraine transition into a more Westernized country. He writes, "Ukraine's turmoil shows why. When the Soviet Union dissolved at the end of December 1991 and its constituent republics, some unwillingly, split off, the West had an enormous opportunity to bring these newly independent states into its orbit. The path was clear, as the central and eastern European states freed from the Warsaw Pact's chains demonstrated by immediately seeking NATO membership." When NATO and the EU did not follow this plan, Ukranian president Viktor Yanukovich then began having increasing ties with Russia rather than the West. It is ultimately, as Bolton spells out, these chain of events that led to the current situation today.
Overall, the author did not fully address his purpose because he didn't focus enough on what the Obama administration should actually do. It's easy to say that Washington isn't doing enough: but how exactly it should procede given the circumstance of this extremely sensitive sitation with Russia is a much harder arguement to make. This article was probably meant for a layperson as it gives a detailed history of Ukraine and the region to give background information that is affecting the issue. John Bolton is a former U.S Ambassador to the U.N
Sunday, February 23, 2014
TOW #20- Challenger Speech by Ronald Reagan
Reading goal: Analyze a piece besides a regular a news story
Writing goal: provide detailed but concise analysisThere can be no progress without sacrifice. On January 28th, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded upon take-off, killing all seven astronauts aboard. In his speech later addressing the nation about this tragedy, President Ronald Reagan expressed his grief and condolences towards those affected, as well as the impact of the legacy left by the astronauts. He spoke of the bravery of the astronauts and also the future of the United States space program. Through his use of empathetic diction and appeal to pathos, Reagan effectively consoles a nation shocked by such a tragedy.
Reagan’s uses powerful diction throughout his speech. He says, “For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit …They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us.” By directly addressing the families of the seven astronauts and using the unifying word “we”, Reagan echoes the sympathy felt by all Americans . He also repeats the word “special” and “serve”, acknowledging the astronauts as invaluable individuals who exemplified service. Reagan furthers the power of his speech by appealing to emotion. He says “Nancy and I” when talking about his own reaction to the tragedy, making the statement seem more personal with the mention of his wife’s name. He also ends with a poignant allusion to a poem by John Gilliepie Magee Jr., an American aviator who died before his time as well. Reagan says, “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."” By ending his speech on a uplifting note, Reagan is telling the nation that the space program will not be shaped by this disaster and will continue to advance into the future.
Ronald Reagan was the President and speaker, and therefore the figurehead of American exploration and advancement. The audience of this speech is the American public, most of whom had seen the take-off on television. In his speech however, Reagan especially addresses the children, the future explorers and pioneers of the nation, who had watched the tragedy unfold while at school. In a fatherly way, the president explained that the future belongs to the brave, and that unfortunately accidents happen. The occasion is the Challenger tragedy, which happened to coincidently be on the same day as the State of the Union Address. This is why Reagan uses a solemn and grave tone throughout. Reagan’s purpose was to eulogize the astronauts and assure that the United States would continue to expand its space program. Despite the great loss, seven heroic men and women died for the sake of something they loved and believed in.
Monday, February 10, 2014
TOW #19: Media-Coca Cola Ad
In this Superbowl Coca Cola advertisement, the song "America the Beautiful" is sung in quite a few different languages. Accompanying the song are images of American families of all different ethnicities. The advertisement displays just typical scenes like people eating, playing, or traveling. It begins with a classically "American" scene of a man in a cowboy hat and ends with a symbol of a Coca Cola bottle with the #AmericaisBeautiful. Throughout the ad., there is also subtle Coke advertising as the people are portrayed holding Coca Cola bottles in some scenes.
Coke mainly plays upon an appeal to pathos in this ad. Through the use of "America is Beautiful" and its depiction of the "American melting pot", it strikes a feeling of patriotism. The strong emotion associated with patriotism then serves to make the ad. more memorable.What's interesting about Coke is that it doesn't need to use explicit advertising, since most of the world already knows its product. The more understated ways the product is expressed in the commercial give the ad. a somewhat bigger purpose of celebrating the diversity of America, and not just promoting Coca Cola. At the same time, this ties Coca Cola with being truly an "American" drink.
Coca Cola's ad. is effective mainly because it targets the right audience. This ad. was shown during the Superbowl, which is considered as a pretty important yearly event in the U.S. Americans all over the country are watching, so the ad. is very easy to relate to since it's celebrating the beauty of the very country that the most of the ad's audience is from. And just as America is proud of its football, it's also proud of its diversity. By basing the ad. off this fact, Coca Cola successfully creates a strong emotional association with its product. Of course, it also adds the #AmericaIsBeautiful to keep people buzzing about the ad. on social networking sites even after the superbowl, further spreading the product.
The Coca Cola company was founded in 1892 Asa Griggs Candler. The current CEO of the company is Muhtar Kent.
Coke mainly plays upon an appeal to pathos in this ad. Through the use of "America is Beautiful" and its depiction of the "American melting pot", it strikes a feeling of patriotism. The strong emotion associated with patriotism then serves to make the ad. more memorable.What's interesting about Coke is that it doesn't need to use explicit advertising, since most of the world already knows its product. The more understated ways the product is expressed in the commercial give the ad. a somewhat bigger purpose of celebrating the diversity of America, and not just promoting Coca Cola. At the same time, this ties Coca Cola with being truly an "American" drink.
Coca Cola's ad. is effective mainly because it targets the right audience. This ad. was shown during the Superbowl, which is considered as a pretty important yearly event in the U.S. Americans all over the country are watching, so the ad. is very easy to relate to since it's celebrating the beauty of the very country that the most of the ad's audience is from. And just as America is proud of its football, it's also proud of its diversity. By basing the ad. off this fact, Coca Cola successfully creates a strong emotional association with its product. Of course, it also adds the #AmericaIsBeautiful to keep people buzzing about the ad. on social networking sites even after the superbowl, further spreading the product.
The Coca Cola company was founded in 1892 Asa Griggs Candler. The current CEO of the company is Muhtar Kent.
Friday, February 7, 2014
IRB # 3 Post: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The book that I plan to read this marking period is The Glass Castle. This is a memoir by an author who had a very unconventional upbringing. She and her family constantly moved when she was a child, traveling from the deserts of the mid-west to Phoenix to Tennessee, often living in abandoned houses. Jeannette's mother was a free-spirited artist and her father a brilliant man who also drank and lied. One of my friend's recommended me this book, which is why I plan to read it. The author's adventures sound almost fantastical. Sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I would have an interesting upbringing like her.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
TOW # 18: To Help the World's Poor, Give them Real Jobs by Charles Kenny
There is a discrepancy between what statistics show and what
developing countries experience. In this article, Charles Kenny describes the
world's "self-employed"- people who often make little money and are
part of an unseen "informal sector". Most of the 1.3 billion workers
who make less than $2-a-day work in this sector. Understanding the "self-employed"
in developing countries is crucial to tackling the big problems of economy
development and poverty and helping citizens who continue to depend on informal
occupations that make volatile pay.
Throughout the essay the author uses various rhetorical devices and strategies. Primarily, he focuses on statistics to make a cohesive logical argument. He writes, "That low productivity helps to explain why, even though only around 200 million people in the world are considered unemployed by the ILO, 1.3 billion workers lived in families below the $2-a-day poverty line." This includes statistics from various countries as well, which adds to the broader importance of his argument. For example, Kenny cities statistics from India's shop-owners to Chinese farmers. Kenny also uses a rebuttal-style organization, where he states what opponents may believe can help the economy of these countries and then uses statistics to back why they are either wrong or to show a better method of action.
Overall, Kenny does make a convincing argument. His audience was probably Americans who care about business, as the article appeared in BusinessWeek and was also fairly easy to understand. The use of statistics really added to the author's credibility. However, he doesn't really cite a viable solution to this issue. Although he says the current method of helping economies in developing countries is not working, his solution is vague, which detracts from his credibility.
Charles Kenny is a senior fellow at the Center of Global Development and author of The Upside of Down: Why the Rise of the Rest is Great for the West.
Throughout the essay the author uses various rhetorical devices and strategies. Primarily, he focuses on statistics to make a cohesive logical argument. He writes, "That low productivity helps to explain why, even though only around 200 million people in the world are considered unemployed by the ILO, 1.3 billion workers lived in families below the $2-a-day poverty line." This includes statistics from various countries as well, which adds to the broader importance of his argument. For example, Kenny cities statistics from India's shop-owners to Chinese farmers. Kenny also uses a rebuttal-style organization, where he states what opponents may believe can help the economy of these countries and then uses statistics to back why they are either wrong or to show a better method of action.
Overall, Kenny does make a convincing argument. His audience was probably Americans who care about business, as the article appeared in BusinessWeek and was also fairly easy to understand. The use of statistics really added to the author's credibility. However, he doesn't really cite a viable solution to this issue. Although he says the current method of helping economies in developing countries is not working, his solution is vague, which detracts from his credibility.
Charles Kenny is a senior fellow at the Center of Global Development and author of The Upside of Down: Why the Rise of the Rest is Great for the West.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
TOW # 17: Ukraine Shows the "Color Revolution" Model is Dead by Anne Applebaum
Recently, the Ukrainian government has passed some dubious legislation that seems aimed at suppressing any recent civilian resistance. Some of the new legislation criminalizes all forms of "slander", which might include disagreement with the government, or a right to assemble. These new laws seem to reflect a growing Russian influence that the Ukranian government seems to have had. When citizens took to the streets to protest these new laws in Kiev, things turned violent and so far five people are dead. The surprising strength and ruthlessness of the Ukranian government seems to show that the "color revolutions", or more peaceful overturning of power, is in the past. So far, the United States has done little to address this issue, which may make the citizens want to use more violent means. The United States needs to reconsider its policies when it comes to dealing with governments like these.
The author uses various rhetorical devices in her argument. She uses the repetition of the word "they" when talking about the Ukranian government. Applebaum writes, "They have the cash to bribe a parliament’s worth of elected officials. They have the cynicism to revive the old Soviet technique of selective violence....They have also learned to manipulate media (as the Russians do) to multiply their money in Western financial institutions (as the Russians do), even to send threatening text messages. They have crafted a well-argued, well-funded, alternate narrative about Western economic decline and cultural decadence." This repetition acts as a sort of list to show how powerful the Ukranian government has become. Applebaum also uses humerous quotes to mock the lack of U.S response to this issue. Quoting a Canadian diplomat, she writes, "It's like watching a hockey game with only one team on the ice."
Overall, I think Applebaum achieved her purpose of attempting to show this problem and urging the United States to reconsider its policies in that area of the world. However, I think she underestimated the difficulty of the situation, especially the power of Russia. Her position, though well-intentioned, seems a bit naive.
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer-winning author and the director of the Global Transitions Program in the Legatum Institute in London.
The author uses various rhetorical devices in her argument. She uses the repetition of the word "they" when talking about the Ukranian government. Applebaum writes, "They have the cash to bribe a parliament’s worth of elected officials. They have the cynicism to revive the old Soviet technique of selective violence....They have also learned to manipulate media (as the Russians do) to multiply their money in Western financial institutions (as the Russians do), even to send threatening text messages. They have crafted a well-argued, well-funded, alternate narrative about Western economic decline and cultural decadence." This repetition acts as a sort of list to show how powerful the Ukranian government has become. Applebaum also uses humerous quotes to mock the lack of U.S response to this issue. Quoting a Canadian diplomat, she writes, "It's like watching a hockey game with only one team on the ice."
Overall, I think Applebaum achieved her purpose of attempting to show this problem and urging the United States to reconsider its policies in that area of the world. However, I think she underestimated the difficulty of the situation, especially the power of Russia. Her position, though well-intentioned, seems a bit naive.
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer-winning author and the director of the Global Transitions Program in the Legatum Institute in London.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
TOW # 16- Hiroshima by John Hersey
Hiroshima follows the lives of six people who survive the desolation of the atomic bomb on their city. The first character introduced is Reverand Mr.Kiyoshi Tanimoto, followed by Mrs. Hatsuyo Nakamaru, Dr. Matasakazu Fujii, Father Wilhelm Kleinsorge, Dr. Terufumi Sasaki, and Toshiko Sasaki. This section picks up to trace the lives of the people after the initial dropping of the bomb. Many of the major characters suffer minor injuries, but there are descriptions of those who have died and those who are gravely ill due to the fallout. It ends with a epilogue that includes a visit by the author many years later to see how each of the characters has been affected.
It seems clear that the author's purpose in writing Hiroshima was to inform the American public about the effects of the decision to drop the atomic bomb. This book, published in 1946 a year after the event occurred, sought to put faces on those who suffered at Hiroshima. There is a great appeal to pathos in this second section. For example, Hersey writes, "Mrs. Nakamura lay indoors with Myeko. They both continued sick, and though Mrs. Nakamaru vaguely sensed that their trouble was caused by the bomb, she was too poor to see a doctor and so never knew exactly what the matter was. " (pg 99). Hersey achieves his purpose by factually detailing the events that occurred and leaving out his own emotions in favor of the much more powerful emotions of his six characters. This is what ultimately affects the audience more.
Overall, I think that Hersey did achieve his purpose of objectively describing the lives of people affected by the dropping of the atomic bomb. He never once inserted his own opinion into the piece, he merely shared their stories. And that was a more powerful force than anything just one opinion could evoke.
John Hersey was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist who wrote for Time Magazine and The New Yorker.
It seems clear that the author's purpose in writing Hiroshima was to inform the American public about the effects of the decision to drop the atomic bomb. This book, published in 1946 a year after the event occurred, sought to put faces on those who suffered at Hiroshima. There is a great appeal to pathos in this second section. For example, Hersey writes, "Mrs. Nakamura lay indoors with Myeko. They both continued sick, and though Mrs. Nakamaru vaguely sensed that their trouble was caused by the bomb, she was too poor to see a doctor and so never knew exactly what the matter was. " (pg 99). Hersey achieves his purpose by factually detailing the events that occurred and leaving out his own emotions in favor of the much more powerful emotions of his six characters. This is what ultimately affects the audience more.
Overall, I think that Hersey did achieve his purpose of objectively describing the lives of people affected by the dropping of the atomic bomb. He never once inserted his own opinion into the piece, he merely shared their stories. And that was a more powerful force than anything just one opinion could evoke.
John Hersey was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist who wrote for Time Magazine and The New Yorker.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
TOW #15: "How Can We Help Men? By Helping Women" by Stephanie Coontz
In her article about the position of women in today's economy, Stephanie Coontz argues that rather than first looking to help women shatter the glass ceiling (the forces keeping women from entering the higher rungs of the corporate ladder despite their accomplishments) the nation should focus on "the sinking floor", which is the growing problem of both men and women struggling with poverty. She says that female-based models to address this will be more effective, rather than the former masculine-based model constructed around the idea of a male breadwinner. In the past, it was mostly women who have worked the lower-wage jobs, but now, an increasing number of men are facing the same problems. By helping reduce the wage gap through implementing a "livable" minimum wage, establishing a wider safety net, and prioritizing child care, both men and women can be helped.
Coontz appeals to logos and uses repetition to further her argument. She says, " 2009, one in every four American workers earned less than two-thirds of the national median hourly wage, the highest proportion of low-wage work in 19 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, according to the economist John Schmitt of the Center for Economic and Policy Research." Coontz also establishes that the highest proportion of stay-at-home moms are married to men in the bottom 25% of wage earners. These statistics show that by helping the lower wage earners, men and women can both be helped. Towards the end she repeats the phrase "putting women first", which means that these policies are directly linked to putting women first but will greatly benefit men at the same time.
Coontz does not fully achieve her purpose because her "although" type thesis spends too much time on the "although" part and therefore slightly confuses her reader as to whether or not we should continue to pursue female-oriented policies even though women seem to be clearly doing better despite after the recession while men are still struggling. Her audience is probably policy-makers but also the general public.
Stephanie Coontz is an author, historian, and faculty member of Evergreen State College.
Coontz appeals to logos and uses repetition to further her argument. She says, " 2009, one in every four American workers earned less than two-thirds of the national median hourly wage, the highest proportion of low-wage work in 19 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, according to the economist John Schmitt of the Center for Economic and Policy Research." Coontz also establishes that the highest proportion of stay-at-home moms are married to men in the bottom 25% of wage earners. These statistics show that by helping the lower wage earners, men and women can both be helped. Towards the end she repeats the phrase "putting women first", which means that these policies are directly linked to putting women first but will greatly benefit men at the same time.
Coontz does not fully achieve her purpose because her "although" type thesis spends too much time on the "although" part and therefore slightly confuses her reader as to whether or not we should continue to pursue female-oriented policies even though women seem to be clearly doing better despite after the recession while men are still struggling. Her audience is probably policy-makers but also the general public.
Stephanie Coontz is an author, historian, and faculty member of Evergreen State College.
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