ARCS, pp. 364-365 #1, 3, 4

1.) A Hugo Boss women’s perfume advertisement features a black and white photograph of a woman’s face with the saying, “Life’s a journey, travel light.” The oppositie page features a large image of the perfume bottle above the words, “Don’t immitate, innovate.” This magazine advertisement is an example of a trope where a woman’s life is being compared to a journey. Therefore, the trope serves as a metaphor. Also, the phrase, “travel light,” is being used in reference to a perfume, which is not what audiences would typically expect. Still, the metaphor works to convince consumers that the only thing they need to be percieved as attractive is this certain fragrance.

3.) I am revising an e-mail I recently wrote to one of my instructors:

I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend the meeting this evening. I am obligated to work tonight from 3:00-6:00pm. I am aware that I have only been present at one meeting, and I sincerely hope that this is not a problem. If you would like me to meet with you another time, I would be very willing to do so. However, I am not having any problems with any of the students at my current location. I am occupied with my job every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Mountainview Elementary from 3:00-6:00. I do not believe that I will be working during finals week, so if desired, I could meet with you sometime during that period. Please let me know if there is anything else you need me to do. Thank you very much for your time.

4.) Other examples of tropes:

“The clouds were low and hairy in the skies, like locks blown forward in the gleam of eyes.” Robert Frost “Once by the Pacific”

“Zoom Zoom” Mazda commercial

"When I was thy years, Hal, I was not an eagle's talon in the waist; I could have crept into any alderman's thumb-ring." William Shakespeare Henry IV

ARCS p. 318 #2 & 3

2.) Through examining the speech delivered by Susan B. Anthony after being convicted of voting in the 1872 presidential election, I discovered example usages of the parts of discourse described in the chapter. Anthony begins her powerful speech by getting straight to the point. Her opening lines state:
Friends and fellow citizens: I stand before you tonight under indictment for the alleged crime of having voted at the last presidential election, without having a lawful right to vote. It shall be my work this evening to prove to you that in thus voting, I not only committed no crime, but, instead, simply exercised my citizen's rights, guaranteed to me and all United States citizens by the National Constitution,beyond the power of any state to deny.
This opening serves as a narrative, in which Anthony clearly states her issue as simply as possible. She also shows obvious favoritism towards her stance on the issue of women suffrage when she explains that it is her work to prove that voting as a woman is not a crime. I believe that Anthony’s narrative functions as a definitive narrative, because her argument is based on facts rather then the values of her audience. After offering facts and background information to support her case, Anthony concludes her case by claiming that all women are persons, and therefore should be given equal rights as citizens of the United States. In the peroration of her speech, Anthony also casts those who oppose women’s suffrage by stating, “Hence, every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several states is today null and void, precisely as is every one against Negroes.” By comparing those who discriminate towards women to those who discriminate towards African Americans, Anthony is portraying persons who disagree with her argument through a negative perspective. Anthony does not precede her narrative with an insinuation, nor does she include a partition in her argument. The absence of the insinuation in Anthony’s speech is likely because she did not feel that she was speaking to a hostile audience. I also believe that she did not include a partition because she is arguing one, clearly stated point. It seems that Anthony did not want to overcomplicate her speech. Therefore, her speech remains short, concise, and to the point. While the speech may lack some of the parts of discourse discussed in the chapter, I feel that she still argues her point effectively and provides a quite convincing case.



3.) I feel that Judith R. Shapiro arranges her arguments effectively in her editorial, “Keeping Parents Off Campus.” Since Shapiro is writing towards all readers of the New York Times, She must first introduce the topic of her argument in her introduction. Since many of her readers may not be college students or parents of college students, she then explains the situation she is addressing in detail. In her confirmation, Shapiro offers examples that describe her relation to the topic and why she is a reliable source of information. She then turns to addressing the reasons behind parents’ over involvement in their children’s’ college careers in the refutation portion of her editorial. Shapiro recognizes that not all of her readers hold the same opinions towards parents’ roles in the education of their children. Therefore, she addresses these differing viewpoints to emphasize the importance of allowing college students the freedom to grow and learn independently. Finally, Shapiro concludes her editorial by stating the positive outcome of adhering to her suggestions.
If Shapiro were writing towards the alumni of Barnard college, she would be addressing an audience with a greater degree of familiarity to the issue. Therefore, she would not have to begin her writing with a description of Barnard College in the fall because readers would have already experienced this situation first hand. Instead, she could include in her exordium a reminder of how things were when former students entered Barnard College. I do not feel that Shapiro would need to include an insinuation if she were writing to Barnard graduates, because these persons have already gone through the college experience and are not hostile towards the topic of parent involvement.

Exordium towards Barnard graduates:
Years ago, I joined our dean and faculty to welcome you and your families to Barnard campus as you prepared to begin your first year at our university. For many of you, it was a bitter-sweet moment, leaving behind your proud parents to begin new chapters in your lives. While your parents likely felt remorse at seeing you go, they also knew that they had to begin to let go and let you learn to live on your own. Just as parents of Barnard graduates once had to learn to let go, parents today must learn to back off.

ARCS p. 283 #2 & 4

2.) After reading about empirical evidence and its varying levels of reliability, I instantly thought of the recently released movie, The Changeling. This film tells the true story of Christine Collins, a young mother whose son, Walter, disappeared during the 1920s. Following an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, a young boy was returned to Collins who claimed to be her son. However, Collins immediately realized that the boy was not who he said he was. Despite her claims that the returned child was not her son, the LAPD insisted that she take the boy home and that his drastic physical changes were reasonable results of the amount of time and trauma he had faced while away from home. Collins soon discovered that the boy claiming to be her son was circumcised, unlike her own son, and that the new child was three inches shorter then her son was the last time she measured him. The police continued to insist that the boy they delivered to Christine Collins was her son and even sent a doctor to her house who assured her that the boy’s spine actually could have shrunk during his absence, causing his decrease in height. The doctor was clearly being coerced by the police and Collins refused to believe his claims. Despite Collin’s empirical evidence of the true identity of the boy, the police department still refused to continue the search for her son. Therefore, Collins decided to collect her own evidence through visiting her son’s dentist and teacher. Both of these individuals claimed that there was no way the child could be Walter based on his physical appearance and his dental records. Still, the police refused to hear Collin’s argument. Instead, the officers forcefully admitted her into the psychiatric ward of the Los Angles hospital, claiming that she was not mentally stable. Only when another officer discovered the remains of several children who were murdered on a ranch was Ms. Collins released from the hospital.
In this case, I felt that the empirical evidence discovered by Christine Collins was extremely reliable and convincing. Dental records, height charts, and physical appearance are difficult to prove false. I feel that the police department’s refusal to review the Collins case was motivated more by a desire to cover up the mistakes of a faulty investigation then by the lack of empirical evidence. Still, I agree that some evidence that appears to be empirical should be questioned before considered reliable. For example, the doctor’s testimony that the boy could have shrunk three inches in a matter of months is obviously unconvincing. What must truly be questioned is the doctor’s motivation. I feel that he was likely already prompted by the police to attempt to convince Collins that the boy they brought her was indeed her son. Sadly, the LAPD’s inability to recognize sufficient empirical evidence led to the unjust hospitalization of an innocent woman, as well as the discontinuation of the search for a missing boy who may have been found had the department continued to look for him rather then ignoring his mother. Despite the arrest of a child murderer, Walter Collin’s body was never found. Christine Collins continued her search for her son but was never able to uncover his whereabouts or the source of his disappearance.

4.) When I work on written arguments, I feel that I provide accurate and convincing data. I always refer to my sources in my writing and include a works cited page. However, I do feel that I could be more careful about the credibility of the authors and scholars I site in my writing. It would be helpful to read reviews of these writers’ works and see if any other authors or scholars contest their opinions. I should also be more careful about sighting information from websites. I feel that I should pay closer attention to where exactly the information came from originally and whether or not these sources are credible.

ARCS p. 263 #1,4, & 6

1.) Visiting the pet store to select a family pet is often an exciting experience for all. Meeting your new pet for the first time brings feelings of enthusiasm and joy. Choosing a family pet means selecting a new member of the family who will need nourishment and care to grow into a healthy and happy companion. The most important thing on the minds of new pet owners is the safety and wellbeing of their new family member. Proud new parents of cats, dogs, and other pets want their animals to grow up to be healthy and strong. Ensuring the health of your new pet is setting the foundation for a strong lifestyle for your new friend. However, if you fail to provide your animal with the nourishment he or she needs, you could be paving the way for health problems to arise in the future, causing unneeded pain for your pet and possibly shortening the animal’s lifespan. Therefore, it is essential to provide your new kitten, puppy, or other baby animal with proper nutrition. You must grant your pet the best, most nutritious food and plenty of water so that the exciting feelings you experience when first meeting your pet will continue to grow as your pet matures into a healthy adult!

2.) Advertisers often rely on consumers’ fear of missing out on something that is essential and valuable in the community in which they live. For example, EHarmony advertisements rely on individuals’ fears that they will never find a mate and never experience the emotions associated with love. Love, which often leads to marriage and child bearing, is very valuable within the community and is seen as essential to a person’s happiness and wellbeing. EHarmony offers resources for individuals to find “matches” and potential mates. This company highlights the importance of love in their commercials, and often makes those who have not found love feel like outsiders within the community. For example, one commercial features a couple discussing their love for one another and how they discovered each other through EHarmony. The man describes how all of his friends told him he would “just know” when he found the right woman, yet he never knew exactly what they were talking about. He then says how as soon as he met the woman he the commercial, he understood. This specific commercial demonstrates how the company’s advertisements rely on persons’ fears that they may never truly understand what love is. Therefore, EHarmony is able to sell their product by offering a means to find love for those who have previously been unsuccessful.

3.) After examining a variety of writing selections, I discovered several common themes throughout the writing that reflects community values. I found that our countries’ values are focused around family, trust, hard work, perseverance, and love. Since these topics are relevant on various levels to almost all audiences, writers often appeal to these common values. Time Magazine features an interview with Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight saga. When asked, “Do you have a message about love that you want the reader to walk away with?” Meyer responded, “I never write messages. I always write things that entertain me, and one of the things that I find really enjoyable to explore is the idea of love. I like looking at my own life and my friends and family and how love changes who you are. It fascinates me.” Meyer’s response demonstrates how the idea of love is central to her life and the life of her readers. I also found that images of personal appearance are very important to our community. Many articles in the media focus on the fitness and diets of celebrities and how these contribute to their body image. Consequently, body image has become a common topic in written works and a valued attribute among many Americans.

ARCS p. 230 #1,2, & 6

1.)
After reviewing several selections of professional writing, I decided to analyze the foreword of the novel Beloved, written by Toni Morrison. Morrison effectively convinces readers that she is an educated and well-informed source of information by describing her background as an editor and a writer. She states, “I had written four novels and it seemed clear to everyone that writing was my central work.” Morrison also demonstrates her research into the topics surrounding the plot and themes of Beloved when she explains “Margaret Garner, a young mother who, having escaped slavery, was arrested for killing one of her children (and trying to kill the others) rather than let them be returned to the owner’s plantation.” Since Morrison’s novel centers on the lives of former African American slaves, explaining this scenario emphasizes Morrison’s efforts to fully understand the struggles faced by these individuals. Morrison displays her goodwill towards her readers when she states, “I wanted the reader to be kidnapped, thrown ruthlessly into an alien environment as the first step into a shared experience with the book’s population – just as the characters were snatched from one place to another, from any place to any other, without preparation or defense.” Morrison wants the author to experience feelings similar to those felt by the book’s characters. The book's author establishes her own character in stating, “I convinced myself that it was time for me to live like a grown-up writer: off royalties and writing only.” Morrison views herself as a writer and values her work.

2.)
Morrison writes the foreword to her novel in first person point of view. Therefore, the author does not establish a formal distance from her audience, but instead addresses them directly. She also writes in past tense, describing the events that inspired her to write Beloved. Morrison also uses fairly large words throughout the foreword. For example, when explaining the relation of Margaret Garner to her own novel, Morrison writes, “The heroine would represent the unapologetic acceptance of shame and terror; assume the consequences of choosing infanticide; claim her own freedom.”

6.)

Dear Americans,

Please log onto CBSNews.com to view our coverage of the 2008 presidential election. You can watch all of our reporting of the election on television or on our webcast. Please stay tuned in to receive up to the minute updates on the events of this momentous election.

Sincerely,
Katie Couric

ARCS p. 186 #1&3

1.) By examining the article, “We Knew This Web Thing Was Just a Fad,” I discovered that the author, Roy Edroso, made use of maxims, signs, and examples to support his argument that the internet’s powerful influence on the world is declining. He begins his article, which appears in The Village Voice, by stating, “The conventional wisdom is that the internet is all-powerful, and therefore immune from the slump that's affecting boring old companies in the tedious real world.” This statement serves as a maxim that is generally accepted by the community Edroso is writing towards. Edroso continues his argument by explaining how “Yahoo and eBay are cutting about 2,500 jobs.” This statement is a physical fact that signifies the decline in internet power. Finally, Edroso uses examples to support his argument. Edroso states, “Brand Republic reports that Amazon has just taken a billion dollars off its 2008 revenue projections.” This description of Amazon’s budget cut exemplifies the move towards a less influential internet. Edroso’s use of maxims, signs, and examples allows him to provide his readers with a stronger, more convincing argument.

3.) The slogan, “Knowledge is Power” could likely serve as a premise of an enthymeme. For example, if a parent is trying to convince their child to attend college, the parent could use” Knowledge is Power” as a premise for the argument.

Approaches to Analyzing Data

I plan to begin my data analysis by coding the data I have collected. I will read over all of the data and look for patterns, themes, similarities, and differences. I expect that I will find patterns in Mr. Manchin’s tone and formality of writing. Although I reviewed three different types of persuasive documents, they were each written for a specific court, either the Circuit Court of Marion County, or the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Therefore, Mr. Manchin used similar diction and syntax throughout his writing. I believe that I will also find patterns and similarities among the formats of the three documents. Despite their differing content, the documents were all organized with bolded headings and spacing between sections. Mr. Manchin frequently used numbering and alphabetic lettering to organize the points of his argument and to separate the supporting facts of a case. In order to accommodate the differing content among the documents, Manchin used different section headings. Therefore, I will examine his heading choices and how certain headings were more suitable for different documents.

ARCS p. 153 #4

Deforestation in the Amazon

The Common Topic of Conjecture
1. What exists?
Amazon rainforest in the Amazon Basin of South America
2. What does not exist?
Huge amounts of land are being cleared every year, and species of animals are becoming extinct every day.
3. The size or extent of what exists.
The size of the Amazon is 5,500,000 km².
4. How things used to be (past conjecture).
The Amazon rainforest was approximately 6,200,000 km² is the early 1990s.
5. How things will be in the future (future conjecture).
The size of the Amazon will continue to decrease rapidly unless serious action is taken against deforestation.

The Common Topic of Degree
1. What is greater than the mean or norm?
Conditions in the rainforest were better when land was not being cleared for logging, agriculture, and urban expansion.
2. What is lesser then the mean or norm?
Conditions will continue to worsen unless action is taken.
3. What is relatively greater then something else?
Although conditions will not likely show great improvement at first, measures can be taken that will gradually decrease deforestation in the Amazon resulting in conditions that are relatively better then in the past.
4. What is relatively lesser then something else?
Deforestation rates are worse in Brazil, one of the countries where the Amazon rainforest is located, then in other South American countries.
5. What is good, just, beautiful, honorable, enjoyable, etc.
The Amazon rainforest is a beautiful place that is full of biodiversity. It is the honorable and just thing to do to help prevent deforestation so that the diversity of species can flourish.
6. What is better, more just, etc.
It is better to prevent the killing of innocent animals then to destroy their ecosystems for our own benefit.
7. What is less good, less just, etc.
It is less just to overlook deforestation so that we can have more room for agriculture and urban development.
8. What is good, etc., for all persons?
It is good for all persons to become active in the movement to stop deforestation.
9. What is good, etc., for a few persons or groups?
Some people may think that deforestation is beneficial because it provides more land for their industries. However, deforestation is not beneficial for all persons.
10. What has been better, etc., in the past?
Had we stopped deforestation in the past, we would not have lost the amount of land or the species of animals that are gone today.
11. What will be better, etc., in the future?
It is best to take action against deforestation now to provide for a better future.

The Common Topic of Possibility
1. What is possible?
It is possible to take action to help prevent deforestation in the future.
2. What is impossible?
It is impossible to undo the deforestation that has already happened.
3. What is more or less possible?
It is more or less possible to inform industries of the harm they are inflicting on the rainforest and discourage them from continuing their actions.
4. What is possible in the future?
It is possible to save species of animals that would have become extinct.
5. What is impossible in the future?
It is more or less impossible to prevent all industries from continuing destructive behaviors.
6. What was possible or impossible in the past?
It was possible to have helped prevent the deforestation that has already occurred.

ARCS p. 153 #5

In an effort to examine liberal versus conservative views in today’s media, I examined two editorials that discuss presidential candidate Barac Obama and his standpoint in relation to the Iraqi war. The two articles, appearing in The American Spectator and The Nation offer opposing perspectives on Obama’s insistence that American troops should be pulled out of Iraq as soon as possible. The article in The American Spectator, titled “Obama, Iraq, and Reality,” expresses the opinion that Obama has not thoroughly considered the consequences of pulling out of the war. George H. Wittman, the author of the article, maintains that, “the Obama campaign has created a fictionalized Iraq political scene in which there are virtually no consequences to America leaving Iraq effectively on its own.” Bittman reasserts his stance by proclaiming, “The fact is that Obama and his left-wing, anti-war supporters want to get out of Iraq as soon as possible at any price.” Writing from a conservative point of view, Bittman believes that Obama’s intentions to end the war in the Middle East are unrealistic because the conflict between the Iraqi people is deep-rooted and cannot be resolved in a matter of months.

John Nichols expresses his opinions on Obama’s plans bring the war to an end in his article, “A Debate on Iraq Benefits Obama.” Nichols, who writes for The Nation, agrees with Wittman that the Iraqi war is a key issue in Obama’s campaign. However, Nichols adopts the view that Obama’s opinions about the Iraqi war benefit his campaign. Nichols explains how Obama emphasizes why it is essential to leave Iraq because of “the need to bring the conflict to a rapid conclusion in order to save more mothers from having to bury their sons and daughters.” Moreover, Nichols summarizes his positive views of Obama by stating, “Barack Obama debated as the man who won the Democratic nomination in large part because he had the wisdom to oppose launching an unnecessary preemptive war, and who scored points throughout the primary fight by promising to renew America's commitment to diplomacy.” By describing Obama as wise, Nichols asserts his belief that Obama has a reasonable and effective plan for ending conflict in Iraq.

While these two writers focus their articles on the same subject, they possess very different opinions about the quality and potential success of Barac Obama’s views on the Iraqi war. The article in the conservative paper, The American Spectator, is skeptic of Obama’s intentions for the future. Yet, the article appearing in the liberal paper, The Nation, examines Obama’s plans from a more positive perspective. While these differences may represent the personal opinions of the writers, they also likely reflect the differing ideologies among the liberal and conservative publication.

Research Abstract

While a substantial amount of studies have been conducted on the processes of writing and composing within the academic environment, little research has been completed on the professional and technical writing that takes place in today’s job market. Therefore, this ethnographic research study will closely examine how lawyers use rhetoric methods in their writing to communicate within the legal realm and develop compelling arguments for specific cases. This study will explore the writing processes of lawyers through personal observation and interviews with one or more attorney. Through focusing on actual documents written by lawyers, the study will offer insight into the writing methods and decision making tactics used by these professionals. This study will explore lawyers’ use of the written word to advocate cases and defend clients.

Intertextuality and Genres

I feel that the concept of intertextuality may be useful when writing my final ethnographic project because I will likely be incorporating outside sources into my report. I plan to read over and analyze the documents written by lawyers, and I will likely discuss these documents in my final report. Therefore, I will be able to use the information I have learned about intertextuality to compose my report.

Page 94, Activity #3

As an English major, I have written numerous papers that have required me to draw on outside sources as well as personal experience. One particular paper that stands out in my mind is an essay I wrote for my political science course last fall. For this assignment, I was required to read two essays by different authors about the question, “how democratic is America?”. I was then instructed to decide which of the two authors I agreed with, adopt that writer’s viewpoint, and write a persuasive essay arguing my opinion on American democracy. In composing the essay, I was required to include at least one outside source as well as one incident from my own personal experience that supported my stance on the issue.

I found this assignment somewhat difficult because I did not entirely agree with either writer. I found that my beliefs concurred with some of the points from both essays, yet also differed from other details of the two passages. I decided to pick out the essay whose details I most strongly agreed with and write from that perspective. After researching the role of democracy in American government, I realized that I had a vast number of resources to sort through. It was essential to select the source that best supported my argument in order to form a credible argument.

Once I had decided on which outside source I wanted to incorporate into my paper, I had to contemplate my own personal experiences and decide how they related to American government. This assignment was slightly less difficult because I was better able to organize my own thoughts then the immense amount of resources I encountered through my research.

After selecting my outside and personal sources, I was left with the task of composing my essay. Even though I had already planned how to incorporate my sources into my writing, actually putting the words on paper was still challenging. I decided to begin my essay by introducing the differing views of both writers. Therefore, I also had to integrate these two sources into my writing. I then delineated which perspective I would be adopting and how I intended to support my opinion.

Once my introduction was complete, the rest of my essay came much easier. I found that I built on the opinion of the writer while also including my own thoughts and beliefs. I feel that this was an important aspect of my paper because it added originality to my work. Although I adopted the viewpoint of another writer, I supported this view with unique and personal sources. Therefore, I was able achieve creativity while still maintaining a convincing and compelling argument.

Freewrite on Observing

I collected data based on how I saw the two writers interacting with one another throughout the writing process. The writers broke down and discussed the two questions in the writing prompt before deciding which question to address in their letter. The students then brainstormed about the PWE concentration and took notes. One student began to type the letter while talking with the other student and discussing the letter’s content. Both students read off their notes in order to help compose the letter. The students communicated continuously by asking questions and offering suggestions.

As an outside observer of the students’ writing process, I was not able to ask questions or converse with the two writers. Instead, I watched as they spoke with each other and completed the letter. Had I been able to speak with the writers, I feel that I would have had a clearer understanding of their writing process. As the writing activity evolved, I began to be able to see which students were taking on which roles. While the one student typed the letter, the other student monitored the writing process and tried to contribute to the composition of the letter verbally. Once the students had finished the letter, they both made final revisions.

Freewrite: Research Methods

I now have a clear sense of the methods we are supposed to use in our research projects. Although I undersand these methods, I am still not sure how they will apply to my research subject. If the lawyer that I observe does not use freewrites, rough drafts, or any other documents before composing a final draft, will I still be able to understand his or her writing process?

Rhetorical Activity 3

In her article, “Flex your young muscles: register to vote this election,” Alyson Murphy urges young people to take an active role in the 2008 presidential election. Murphy encourages young people to “[join] a club of one’s political party affiliation, [go] to political rallies or merely [register] to vote.” Appearing in the editorial section of the September 16, 2008 edition of the Daily Athenaeum, the article emphasizes importance of the freedom to vote in America and how young adults must take advantage of this freedom in order to help influence the shaping of the government now and in the future. Murphy believes that young people should make an effort to stay informed about political matters, especially those particularly relevant to the upcoming election.

After describing her own experience in examining the issues and debates surrounding the election, Murphy asserts that the first step in becoming involved is registering to vote. By stating that “voter registration has never been easier,” Murphy highlights the simplicity of becoming involved in politics. Murphy further emphasizes the importance of the 2008 presidential election by stating that it will be “absolutely epic and will go down in history, spanning race and gender, an economic downward spiral and a troubling war.” Murphy ends her article by explaining how the election is one place where young people truly have the opportunity to influence political decisions that will greatly shape the future. According to Murphy, the opportunity to vote “gives a voice to every American – young, old, black, white, male or female.”

The stasis of Alyson Murphy’s argument seems to lie in her belief that young Americans should make an effort to participate in politics by at the least, registering to vote. While opponents to Murphy’s argument may contend that one young person’s vote cannot truly influence an election, or that young people who are not thoroughly informed about candidates should not take an active role in selecting future office holders, the argument seems to rest at quality in that voting is a good thing and that all citizens should have a say in a democratic government. The argument also lies in policy whereas all Americans should fulfill their duty as citizens by voting in elections.

It is not apparent whether Murphy is attacking a particular position against the participation of young people in American politics. However, it is clear that her argument is attempting to refute any beliefs associated with the inability of young people to influence their government. Murphy argues a valid point by supporting her opinion with examples and outside sources. Murphy uses the website rockthevote.com to exemplify the positive influence that technology has had on information communication. This website not only helps young people register to vote, but also “includes information on the candidates and the issues, and also information on how to obtain an absentee ballot.” Additionally, Murphy refers to a quote in Time Magazine to enforce the importance of the racial and age differences among the presidential candidates. Although Murphy’s opponents may not change their opinions after reading her article, Murphy has likely still achieved stasis with these individuals.

Weekend Review #2

I feel that I am starting to understand the ethnographic report assignment more and more as the semester continues. I am excited to visit a professional writer in his or her workplace and to get started on my observations and research. After reviewing the job application packet, I have a better understanding of how we are supposed to analyze the writers work and what details are important to pay attention to. However, I am still confused about the time frame of our project. I am not exactly sure when we are supposed to visit our research subject. I believe that I should first visit the workplace after I have completed and turned in my proposal. Yet, I am not certain.

The Writing Process for my Exploratory Essay

When I started to brainstorm ideas for my exploratory essay, I immediately focused on my future career and what type of work I am interested in doing after graduation. Since I have always been interested in becoming a lawyer, I began to think about how lawyers function as professional writers and how big of a role writing plays in their daily lives. I soon realized that I knew very little about what actually went on in a law firm and what types of procedures lawyers use when researching cases and defending clients. Therefore, I decided to research the occupation and explore lawyers as professional writers. I sorted through many different articles in search of an explanation of lawyers’ writing methods. Although I found several articles about lawyers and their work, I realized that few of these articles were related to professional writing. After discovering that there were few resources available on lawyers and their writing, I became increasingly interested in exploring the writing processes within a law firm first hand.

I then decided to focus my paper on the work of lawyers in order to gain a better understanding of legal writing. Since I only found a few online articles about the writing of lawyers, I decided to review the class reading assignments and decide if any of these exerts were relevant to my essay. When looking through the book Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students, I was reminded of Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric. I decided that Aristotle’s view of rhetoric as “the power of finding the available arguments suited to a given situation” was an interesting approach to the type of writing lawyers compose. Therefore, I decided to include this definition in my essay and use it to expand on how lawyers use words to form arguments. I also incorporated other sources from my research into my paper and purposed questions that I am interested in exploring through my observations. I described what I would do while in the law firm to make the most of my time and gain the greatest amount of information for my final project.

Although I suggested various questions about the legal profession and the function of writing within this occupation, I did not attempt to answer these questions. Instead, I described the process I would go through to explore possible answers and eventually form conclusions. I ended my essay by explaining why it is necessary to investigate the writing processes that take place in the legal sector and how lawyers use written documents in their cases. This explanation will help to keep me motivated and remind me of my goals while visiting the law firm and arranging my project. I also feel that this edition helped to clarify my essay by giving my project purpose.

Chapter 2 Rhetorical Activities 1 and 4

1. For years, standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT, have played key roles in determining the admission of high school students into the nation’s colleges and universities. However, certain U.S. institutions are going test-optional, forgoing standardized test scores as admission criteria and instead focusing on students’ high school GPA, achievements, and performance in college-prep courses. The decision to not require applicants to take these standardized tests is based on the belief that SAT and or ACT scores do not accurately predict students’ performance in college. Various writers have published articles on the issue of test-optional admissions at colleges and universities. The writers do not need to include a great deal of explanation in their articles about standardized testing and college admission because the majority of their readers are familiar with the admission process. However, the writers must define test-optional admissions and explain how this process changes college’s selection of future students. Without this explanation, most readers would not likely be able to fully understand the topics of the articles. These writers create kairos in their works by noting the urgency of the current subject, focusing on the interests of the parties involved, and considering recent events.

In her article, “Test-optional colleges won’t require SATs; shift to ‘holistic admissions,’” Amy Fagan states that, “about 739 accredited bachelor-degree-granting colleges have adopted "test-optional" policies - several of them recently.” According to Fagan’s article, which appeared in the July 17, 2007 edition of the Washington Times, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) director, Bob Schaeffer, “called [test-optional admissions] a ‘rapidly growing trend’ with 30 schools adopting such policies in the past few years and almost the same number mulling the idea.” Fagan is able to create kairos in her article by drawing attention to the immediacy of the issue of test-optional institutions. Fagan succeeds in making the matter appear current and progressive by using words such as “recently,” and quoting Schaeffer’s use of the phrase, “rapidly growing trend.”

In Stacy Teicher Khadaroo’s article, “Does new S.A.T. help with admissions decisions?” Khadaroo identifies the act of “playing down the SAT as part of [the] commitment to a fair playing field for low-income and minority students.” Writing for The Christian Science Monitor, Khadaroo notes that, “Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Smith College in Northampton, Mass., both cited the correlation of high SAT scores with high family income when announcing their recent decisions to no longer require standardized admissions test scores.” Khadaroo draws on kairos by addressing low income families and students, parties which are affected by the issue of test-optional institutions.

In the USA Today article, “Wake Forest joins schools dropping SAT requirement,” the writer explains how “The Winston-Salem school, which admitted just 38% of its 9,000 applicants for this fall, is the latest in a string of colleges that no longer require standardized tests.” The writer goes on to tell how Wake Forest’s decision is especially significant because the school is one of the few selective colleges to follow the test-optional trend. The writer states that, “Most other colleges that have dropped standardized testing have not been highly selective and accept most, if not all, qualified applicants.” The writer of the article creates kairos by describing the recent decision and explaining how it is relevant to the issue of test-optional admissions. By concentrating on recent events surrounding the issue, the writer emphasizes the urgency of the topic.

As an increasing number of colleges and universities are deciding to go test-optional, the writers are taking advantage of the opportunity to write on the issue. Throughout their articles, these writers concentrated on the subject of test-optional admission processes and very rarely strayed from the topic. The writers demonstrate the importance of finding the critical time to express their feelings and offer information on the matter.

2. The start of the fall semester at West Virginia University is an exciting, enjoyable, yet often stressful time for students, especially freshmen. For many WVU freshmen, the beginning of the new school year means leaving friends and family members, meeting new people, adjusting to a new environment, and living away from home for the first time. With many new worries on their minds, incoming freshmen may overlook the health risks that come with living in a dormitory. However, living amongst thousands of other students can increase students’ risk of contracting life threatening diseases. Fortunately, vaccinations are available to help prevent students from contracting these types of diseases, specifically Meningococcal disease. This disease is a bacterial infection that can cause meningitis. The disease can be difficult to diagnose because it begins with symptoms that closely resemble the flu, yet can quickly lead to severe swelling of the brain and spinal cord. According to the American College Health Association, approximately 125 college students contract meningitis each year, with 5 to 15 of these cases resulting in death. The association also states that the risk of dieing from the disease is six times higher for students living in dormitories, and that up to 80 percent of meningitis cases are preventable by vaccine. There are currently 30 states that require freshmen and transfer students to either receive the meningitis vaccine, or to become educated about the disease before they start school. However, despite the obvious severity of this disease, West Virginia is not one of these thirty states. Therefore, it is essential that West Virginia University students are educated about the risks associated with meningitis and the measures that can be taken to prevent it.

Weekend Review

After this week of reading and discussion, I am more familiar with the process of professional writing. I feel that I now know the nature of the work and how the writer prepares for his or her assignment.

However, I am still confused as to how a professional writer differentiates between textual, individual, and social prospective.
Is it important to focus on one of these prospectives when analyzing writing, or can a writer use a combination of perspectives in one work?

The Process of Communication in the Workplace

In order to participate effectively in “the continuous process of communication,” a professional writer must be able to efficiently correspond with his colleagues in the workplace through documents and other written works. The writer must consider who he is writing to and what type of language will be best understood by this particular audience. When considering audience, the writer should be aware of what knowledge his readers already possess and what material will need the greatest amount of explanation. It is valuable for the professional writer to consider what type of discourse community he is directing his writing towards. The writer must consider the ideologies of the particular community and how these beliefs will influence audience perception of a document. These considerations will aide the writer in deciding what types of language to use.

Once the professional writer has obtained the necessary information on his audience and material, the writer must use his knowledge to write a document that will be easily understood by his or her colleagues. If the writer uses overly complicated diction or sentence structure, the audience may become too concerned with deciphering the structure of the document and overlook its meaning. Therefore, the professional writer must create a document that communicates his purpose without confusing readers.

Rhetorical Methods Throughout Our Country and Our Communities

2. John Stewart feels that the state of argument in America has become theatrical and has began to serve as a form of entertainment where neither party listens or responds to the other. Instead, both parties shout their opinions at each other and rarely succeed at changing the minds of their opponents. I have witnessed similar arguments among my peers and classmates that strongly resemble the description of the television show Crossfire. These young people tend to declare their opinions through yelling at others and are more concerned with asserting their own opinions then changing the views of others.

I can distinguish these types of theatrical arguments from the rhetorically engaged by paying particular attention to the strategies used by those participating in the argument. Rhetorically engaged individuals support their opinions with testimony and facts. These individuals also use rhetorical proofs, such as ethos, pathos, and logos, to prove their own credibility while also appealing to the emotions and reason of their audience. Theatrical arguments differ from rhetoric in that they lack sufficient support for their main points and opinions. Therefore, they are less able to influence and change the opinions of their audience.


4. There are several means of persuasion used throughout my community to influence the opinions of its members and persuade individuals to change their views about particular issues. I feel that some of the most persuasive means are issues present in the media, especially those enforced and supported by celebrities or political figures. Members of my community are influenced by people they admire and respect. Parents, teachers, coaches, and other family members play a key role in influencing political, religious, and moral values. If a child is raised by family members who hold negative feelings or resentment towards a certain race, the child is more likely to develop racist beliefs.

I also feel individuals are greatly influenced by issues present in the media, especially those enforced and supported by celebrities or political figures. If a person greatly admires a movie star or professional athlete who speaks out about wildlife conservation, that person is more likely to support and defend the protection of wild animals. This type of influence can also sway a person’s decision whether or not to smoke or consume alcohol based on the behaviors of a celebrity whom they admire. Political figures can have similar impacts on members of a community. If a woman respects her governor or congressman, she is more likely to support the political decisions and viewpoints of that individual.

Arguments:

My mother and father are both Catholic and were both raised in Catholic families. Therefore, I am a member of the Catholic Church and a strong follower of their faith.

My history teacher is a democrat and I agree with his beliefs on most political issues. Therefore, I will register to vote as a democrat.

My older sister has never used drugs and insists that they are wrong. I respect my sister and value her opinion. Therefore, I do not use drugs.

I admire Kate Hudson as an actress and enjoy watching her movies. She is very thin and follows a strict diet. Therefore, I will go on the same diet as Kate Hudson so that I can be as thin as the actress I look up to.

I am a fan of Lance Armstrong. I admire his efforts to overcome cancer and raise money to support the fight to find a cure. Therefore, I volunteer through that LIVESTRONG Lance Armstrong foundation and strive to find new ways to help fight cancer.

Jack Selzer "The Composing Process of an Engineer"

1. Why did Selzer want to study how an engineer writes?

Selzer decided to study how an engineer writes because he felt that little research had been done on scientists, engineers, and other professionals who are not necessarily classified as professional writers. Selzer felt that by completing this research, he could help to discover methods for teachers to instruct students on how to write in a scientific environment, and therefore better prepare students for future occupations.

2. What did you find interesting/unique/suprising about Selzer's answer to the question of how engineers plan, arrange, write, and revise? How did Selzer convince you he was correct or on target?

I found it interesting how Selzer discovered how Nelson refered to and incorporated previously completed works into new projects and proposals. I also thought it was interesting how little revising Nelson did aftre completeing his work.
Selzer's arguement is convincing because he thoroughly explains his procedure and methods for investigating the writing process of an engineer. He then goes on to explain how he carried out his procedure and how his results reflected his earlier opinions.

Careers of Professional Writers and Editors

The field of professional writing and editing encompasses a wide variety of occupations within an array of different organizations. Employment opportunities for professional writers and editors stretch from self employed freelance writers to software publishers. The majority of these professionals work in the information sector, which includes newspapers, periodicals, books, radio, television broadcasting, software publishing, motion pictures, and Internet publishing and broadcasting. Professional writers and editors hold positions as technical writers, communications managers, automotive technical writers, translation coordinators, and medical writers.
However, since the positions held by professional writers and editors are quite diverse, it becomes difficult to distinguish the specific duties and responsibilities of these individuals. While professional writers and editors perform a variety of tasks, each writer must conduct research on specific topics through personal observation, interviews, and internet and library sources. Editors perform the tasks of reviewing, rewriting, and editing the work of other writers. The work environment of professional writers and editors varies with the positions they hold. Some writers and editors may work in a quiet, private office, while others write and edit from home and on the road. Though the career path of a professional writer or editor may not be entirely clear, opportunities continue to arise in the fields of business, science, communications, entertainment, politics, law, psychology, multi-lingual corporations, publishing, and freelance.