3 Questions About MWP Paper

1. Is the thesis statement suppose to contain the key points of both the summary and analysis?

2. Is the essay only suppose to be 4 paragraphs, intro, summary, analysis, and conclusion?

3. Will you be able to edit our papers as well as our peers before the due date?

#muslimrage

I feel that the cover of Newsweek titled "Muslim Rage" does injustice to the Muslim people. I think that this story does not really cover the true story of why Muslims are so enraged. If the magazine possibly explained what the Muslim culture was, what sparked this rage and other things, the article would not be so bias. I believe that this picture captures all the emotions that help provoke a riot. The picture contains emotions of passion, anger, and confusion. The men in the picture seem so dedicated to the cause that it makes the viewer want to be passionate like this for a cause. Although, I do believe the picture and title do not agree with each other, they do play off each other in order to sell magazines. The tweets titled #muslimrage seemed to mock the magazine. For instance, one tweet stated that she was having a "good hair day". I think in these tweets it shows that the location you reside in definitely results in the way you are treated. The Newsweek article and twitter have two completely different views on Muslim rage. Once again I go back to the point that if the religion as well as the Muslims' local issues were highlighted instead of looked upon the tweets as well as viewers opinions would be greatly affected. The "Muslim Rage" title to me sent all the wrong messages, yet it sold to the media and publicized "drama" which is what viewers want to see.

MWP Paragraph

While watching President Obama's video called "Stronger Together" many visual aspects grabbed my attention. The first aspect that grabbed my attention was how many pictures of "average" women were flashed across the screen. These "average" women were captured in their workplace, their ethnicity all varied as well as the jobs. Obama's use of rhetoric, as well as his compassion behind the topic helped reinforce the impression that women's healthcare choices are important to him. By referring to the women as "mothers, sisters, daughters..." makes his speech more relatable for the female listeners. Since the video is short all visual aspects are important. His speech goes hand in hand with the pictures being empathized on the screen. However, more pictures would have been a little more helpful in getting the point across. Obama being shown giving the speech could have been a little less empathized since the speech is about women. The fact that the American Flag is in the background of the speech, reminds viewers this is America, land of the free. The pictures of the women are focused on them while the background is blurry. By blurring the background it empathizes the women's' role in everyday life.  Women are the key points in all of the pictures, which shows that women are important in everyday life helping make things run smoothly. By showing a mother, sister, daughter, wife etc. the pictures pull the heartstrings of the viewers because we all have a woman that is important to us. The pictures also show all the hard work women put into work/life. Soon the words "President Obama is committed to protecting a woman's right to choose" appears on the screen to target women. By using "Committed" as a key word to the phrase, it shows women his undying support for their right to choose and not their employers. The main argument is that women have the right to make their own decision. Together with Obama, as women we will be moving forward. This speech has a very credible source: President Obama. PResident Obama uses pathos in a strategic way by suggesting that women can make their own decisions. By using the terms "wives, sisters, daughters, moms" it hits home for all Americans. Women are half of this country/workforce evoke the emotion of dependability.

MWP Visual Rhetoric Sheet

What visual elements grab your attention first?

·         The pictures of "average" women

·         Women in workforce

·         Different ethnicity

 

What other details reinforce that impression? How?

·         Obama's rhetoric

·         Refers to the women as "mothers, sisters, daughters...."

·         A doctor, teacher, department store worker

 

What is more important? Less important?

·         Video is short- all aspects important

·         pieces go hand in hand

·         Obama's speech matches photos

·         However,  more pictures would have been a little more helpful, less Obama since speech is about women

 

What about color and style? What impact do they have on your impressions?

·         American Flag in background of speech

·         Pictures of women focused on them background blurry

·         Empathizes the womens' role in everyday life

 

How does the image direct the viewer’s eyes and reinforce what is important?

·         Women key point in pictures

·         Important in everyday life

·         Make things run smoothly

·         Mother, sister, daughter, wife etc. pull heartstrings, we all have a woman that's important to us

·         See the hard work women put into work/life

 

What text is included? How does the text relate to the image?

·         "President Obama is committed to protecting a woman's right to choose"

·         Target audience: woman

·         "Committed" key word to phrase, shows women his undying support

·         Woman's right to choose: Healthcare no longer employers decision

 

What argument is being made? Consider: when this was made (kairos), who is the audience, what is the purpose (exigency).

·         Women have the right to make own decisions

·         Their body their decision

·         Moving forward

·         Starts of speech with his main point of speech

 

List details that provide ethos, pathos, logos.

·         Ethos: President Obama

·         Pathos: Women make decisions, "wives, sisters, daughters, moms", contraceptive  use, women half of this country/workforce, keep moving forward

·         Logos: None

MWP Video

Choices 2.0 Chapter 6

In Chapter six of Joe Hardin's Choices 2.0 he emphasizes that media has in a sense brain washed its' viewers. Hardin provides evidence such as the commercials we see while watching our favorite TV show, driving to work and simply reading the newspaper. The biasness inside the media has a strong effect on the viewer. While writing a paper one must remember to have an open mind and have an even playing field for all views to be expressed. His purpose is to show that although we have our own personal beliefs about things, our readers should be able to view all evidence before making a decision or be influenced by our own biasness. Media is a perfect example of how biasness blinds the audience and hides the truth. Hardin's tone in this chapter is very informative and over protective. He reminds the reader not to believe everything he/she reads or sees. This piece seems to hint that when writing our own personal piece to be open minded, and win the argument by providing enough evidence not but undermining the other view.

"Plagiarism Lines Blur for Studentes in the Digital Age"

In Trip Gabriel's "Plagiarism Lines Blur for Students in the Digital Age", he empathizes the fact that many students part of the digital generation do not understand what it really means to plagiarize. Gabriel provides many examples from very prestigious colleges, where students had little to no idea that simply paraphrasing something off the internet was considered plagiarism. His purpose was to show readers that whether or not it seems like you are not plagiarizing the lines are very thin when taking information from a website and making it your own. By stating that, although many students do not know the rules, many students knowingly cheat and plagiarize because they are lazy. The tone of Gabriel was very informative and caring for the students of today's society. The readers of this article can learn from Gabriel that lines are thin and to always cite, because it is better to be safe than sorry.

"It's Just A Ride"

The ever so tightening chain of society chokes and pulls at the true spirit of a human. In the photo, "It's Just A Ride" by Bill hicks was posted on Occupy Arts' Facebook page. At first, the message of this photograph was unclear. The breaking free of the horses could just be glanced upon and not have any thought put behind it. However, the colors, setting, and other visual aspects really grabbed my attention, and allowed me to brainstorm on the true meaning of this photograph. First, the horses escaping from such a beautiful structure really enforce the thought the theme of this photo is escapism. The fact that the carousel is used as part of the focus allows the view to reminisce on their childhood, and remember how simple life use to be. After, my first few minutes analyzing this photo I believe that the main concept of this photograph is that although everything seems to be beautiful and perfection the outside, on the inside the "horses" feel chained to the restriction of what is "beautiful" waiting for the chance to escape from this so called perfect life. The import visual aspects of this photograph, are the colors used, the carousel is full of bright, happy, youthful colors, and the horses as well. The weather is perfect, and the grass is green. However, if you take a closer look the "ropes" or chains of the carousel are actually black and normally they are gold. These have an impression on me by allowing me to see that the horses are escaping the norm, and breaking free from what is expected, and being able to break from the chains and restrictions of society. As I go more in depth in my analysis I realize that this picture is simply a symbolic photograph of today's' society. The carousel is actually the norm of society, the ropes are the chains that keep us inside the norm, and the horses symbolize people breaking free from society. The bench thus symbolizes the obstacles one faces when breaking free. Finally the fact that the horses are identical symbolize the identity that is missing from today's' society. There is no text included in this photograph. I believe that the photo does not need text because it is left up to the viewer to create his or her own thoughts on the piece of art. However, the title does hint at the meaning of life. Many people say life is just a ride, you have to sit back and enjoy the ride, and that is why I think "It's Just A Ride" relates to the journey of life. I believe the main argument being made in this piece of art is that one cannot be contained and trapped by society. It also shows that society "chains" us to the norm in order for citizens to not be different and do what they want. I found this argument after looking at all the details, and finding different meanings for all things in the photograph. The audience of this art is the citizens of society. The main purpose is to break free of restrictions of life and society. The ethos of the photo is Bill Hicks the creator of the piece, and Occupy Art Facebook page. The pathos that I experienced while viewing this photograph varies from feeling restricted to eagerness of what is to come. Logos was nonexistent in this piece due to the fact that it was a photograph.

Visual Rhetoric

The ultimate symbol that reminds Americans of freedom is fireworks. Mitt Romney uses this symbol in the opening of his political video, and it draws in the viewers to listen and watch the video. Fireworks seem to have an influence on me because it hints at rising from the ashes, and symbolizes all of the aftermath of war. Keeping with the theme of flames and rising from the ashes Romney then uses the lighting of the torches at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City as the chanting of U.S.A. is highlighted in the background music. As soon as the pictures of the Olympics ends the visual aspect of freedom and the meaning of an American disappears. Soon the screen is filled with family pictures and home videos. By doing this Americans seemed to be put on a back burner, and his family life was overly emphasized. Many of the pictures used in the video were in color, which affected my view by having all the pictures blended together. To me it would seem with more strategy some of the more important pictures were in black and white in order for them to stand out. Not much text was utilized in this video; the only text I noticed was the names of the speakers. If there was any more text, I did not notice it, which could only mean it, was not emphasized enough. The argument being made in this political video is that Mitt Romney is a family man that has good American values. As this message is being stated to the audience victorious music starts to play. His wife, along with a few other officials and Olympian athletes, relay this message throughout the video. The purpose for this argument is to show Americans that Romney is a trustworthy man with family values. This video did not have much ethos or logos it rather focused on family and not anything that affects Americans. In my opinion, this video was not aesthetically pleasing and did not provide good evidence that would lead to him making a good President.

 

Although President Obama already has four years experience as the President, I believe his video portrayed all things that I believe motivate America. For example, the pictures of Hurricane Katrina, 9-11, the death of Osama Bin Ladden, landing on the moon and pictures of the 9-11 memorial. Although not all of these pictures are hopefully they show how strong the American spirit is and how we can prevail out of any situation. The pictures of Americans living their life also grab my attention because it captures the Americans in their true spirit. This video had an equal balance between personal life and business. I believe that this video captures Obama's family life by using family pictures, pictures of him and his wife in the White House, images of his wedding ring, and a picture with Obama and his mom. He also highlighted his political career by using the images of the Americans prevailing as stated above. Obama had a few photos in different colors in his video. However, the one that captured my attention was the final picture of the video. This one has Obama walking outside the White House and it is in black and white. The images reinforce that Obama has had many struggles to overcome in his presidency, although at the end of the day he has made headway in the past four years. I once again in this video did not notice any text rather than the names of the speakers. The argument being made is that Obama has made many accomplishments in his presidency and that he has many plans for the future, he also makes the argument that he truly cares about the Americans safety. The argument was woven throughout the video. Obama's speech was filled with many logos that help boost Obama's credibility. Although, Obama has more experience, I believe that his video was more organized and really said what Americans wanted to hear.

Rhetoric Skills of Michelle Obama and Ann Romney

Michelle Obama and Ann Romney's speeches both pulled at the heart strings of America. By sharing difficult stories of their childhood and the hardworking family they were brought up by show the true American dream. Although, both their speeches were based around hard working Americans that deserve a President that knows what it is to work hard to make something happen, the delivery in my opinion is what swayed me to be more interested in Michelle's speech. In order to be an excellent speaker and gain the attention of the audience one must use rhetoric, along with passion for what they are speaking about. In Ann's speech, she had no ethos whatsoever. Her speech was rather a story that bragged about her husband and ranted about how great of a mother she thought she was. The speech did have a lot of pathos, but these emotions she evoked were from mothers and grandmothers. Her speech was too rehearsed as well as it seemed fake. With Ann's fake laugh and stone looking face I was unable to really make a connection with her as well as her speech she was trying to give. Michelle, on the other hand, seemed to feel at home in front of the podium. Her ability to use rhetoric to gain the attention of the audience was evident in her first few sentences of the speech. She had a glowing smile and a sincere laugh. Michelle was able to effectively use her hands and facial expressions throughout the speech to elevate her point. During Michelle's speech her ethos contained President Obama, the Senate, along with other government officials. She was able to effectively establish logos without seeming to brag. One logos Michelle brought up was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. By reminding the audience of this act she evoked emotion from most of the women since this bill created equal pay for women. Although Michelle's speech contained ethos, pathos, and logos some might criticize both her and Ann for not using as much as they should. However, I believe that as a First Lady a speech should not be all about business and statistics but rather hit the tip of the iceberg of the issue. My biasness did not affect the way theses speeches were viewed. I am politically inclined. I choose not to get involved in politics due to the fact that there will always be criticism. No one is perfect and most importantly one person cannot fix problems that have been here for 50+ years. Due to the fact that I stay away from politics and have not heard any of Mitt Romney or President Obama's speeches I can honestly say my own beliefs did not poison my thoughts of the speeches of Ann and Michelle. With Michelle's heartwarming smile and the personality of a go-getter she made for a much better public speaker than the rehearsed, emotionless Ann Romney.

Chapter 3: Choices 2.0

In chapter three of Joe Hardin's Choices 2.0 he emphasizes the point that writing is a structure and must be done in steps. Hardin provides many scenarios where structure is key to building a plausible story or a riveting article. For example, Hardin repeats multiple throughout the chapter that support, and evidence provide a backbone or rather a structure that a reader can grasp and formulate questions from. His purpose to the reader is to show that there is a meaningful reason for analyzing and creating a backbone for the text itself. By stating that if your opinion or thought in the text is well thought out and has a structure then many people will learn from your text as well as formulate opinions about the topic. With Hardin's use of rhetoric, he was able to set a meaningful, educational tone that will help show readers what he feels can create a meaningful piece of writing. With his uses of variation in examples he is able to create a he knows best tone, and that the readers should trust him.

"Web Means the End of Forgetting"

"Web Means the End of Forgetting" published in the New York Times by Jeffrey Rosen brings to light a problem of the modern age. The author utilizes ethos, logos, and pathos to make his argument stronger and more relevant to today's society. He states in the article that a Facebook user creates about 70 pieces of content monthly. With this statistic, Rosen made me more interested due to the fact that I use Facebook daily, and thus making me a statistic. Through his use of logos, the statistics were able to help strengthen his point that the web does not forget. For example, 75% of U.S. job recruiters look at Facebook pages in the course of hiring someone. 70% of these recruiters have rejected job candidates due to the material on their social networks. Although this seems like a violation of the first amendment, in my opinion it is not. If you can post something on Facebook with the intentions of your friends seeing it, then your employer has the right to see it as well. What you post on a social network can give a person an insight in the type of person you are and how you act on a daily basis. Many people do not realize what they post can be quite deadly to their future. Many kids I know willingly post pictures of themselves drinking underage, or post statuses such as "let's get faded tonight". Although, some kids may think this is cool frankly it isn't. Posting things like this can ruin your life since once something is on the internet it cannot be taken back. The story about the teacher whose degree was taken away from her really pulls my heartstring, but then yet again I think of how she could have approached the situation differently and then don't feel so bad. The credible sources used in this article only support the fact that the internet is unforgivable. Rosen took advantage of ethos, logos, and pathos and made this a successful article that was interesting and hit close to home for many of its' readers.