TOW #14 "The Crime of the Ages- Who Did It?" (political cartoon)

                This World War I era political cartoon portrays the major European countries involved in the foreground. Each of them, represented by people, are pointing towards whomever they believe is the most responsible for causing the war. Most countries are pointing at Germany as it was thought to be the main aggressor in the war when it invaded neutral Belgium. The Allied powers showed this clearly when they forced Germany to give up land and pay reparations when the war came to an end with the Treaty of Versailles. However, what is in the background is a large hand that represents other countries’ views on the situation, is pointing towards an impaled body labeled “The Peace of Europe.” This shows how others think the main problem of this war is that it has killed off the peacefulness of Europe. The author’s choice to have that in the background could represent how the finger pointing and naming of names being done by the Allied and Central powers has overshadowed the real problem of peace, which is why the countries are in the foreground. The crime of the ages is that the peace in Europe died all on account of one assassination. The soon to be Austria- Hungarian leader and his wife were killed by Serbians, which triggered Austria- Hungary to take action, as well as Germany, Serbia, Russia, and eventually many more. The tangling alliances and militarism brought the rest into the war. The spider web of connections is shown in the pointing of hands. Blame cannot be placed on only one country.

TOW #13 "Facebook Preventing Drunk Photos" (article)

                In this BuzzFeed article, the author talks about the topic of Facebook having a new ability to tell the difference between a drunk picture of you and a sober picture of you, and prevent the drunk ones from being uploaded. They had an interview with the person that oversees the Facebook Artificial Intelligence Research department, Yann LeCun. This qualified person explained how the technology that would be in use is the same as the technology they use to suggest things you might like. This technology is composed of deep learning algorithms that will be able to decide whether you will regret the image you are uploading the next morning. “’Imagine that you had an intelligent digital assistant which would mediate your interaction with your friends,’ he says, adding, ‘and also with content on Facebook.’” The upside is obvious. Imagine how much embarrassment would be saved when you don’t have to worry about your boss or family members seeing you absurdly drunk in pictures you uploaded on a whim. There are many different kinds of people that would benefit from this. The downside is, with a little added humor on the author’s part, would be that “after the machines get so clever that there’s an inevitable robot uprising, there probably won’t be any photos of you at all.”

TOW #12 "Gunn's Golden Rules" (IRB- 1st half)

Tim Gunn wrote the novel, Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work (with Ada Calhoun), with a definite purpose in mind. From reading it, the message is quite clear. In the book, Gunn takes you through moments in his life that changed his ways of thinking. He explores positive moments as well as some negatives, hoping others can learn from his own mistakes. A main component to the message is his view on manners. “Good manners lead to better relationships, more career success, and less personal stress.” (Gunn, 5). He then continues to portray the purpose of his writing. Even with the multiple events he recalls, the point is never lost. Each experience reflects his intentions on the reader learning from his mistakes and moments, while being able to connect with some as well. The author’s interpretation of things plays a great role in the book. Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work is a non-fiction book that is written from one point of view, so it is bound to have somewhat of an opinion behind things. For example, Gunn talks about why he loves to receive gift cards. “…they’re way better than crazy objects that I then have to move around my house and hide in closets.” (Gunn, 105). Not everyone would agree with that statement, showing that it is clearly his opinion about receiving gifts. Other things that are of his own interpretation are his descriptions of other people. Gunn loves fashion and can therefore describe a person’s outfit accurately, along with his opinion on it. He is careful not to allow his opinion to skew the visualization of the person, though. Since it is autobiographical, there are plenty of opinions about things, situations, and people he encounters.

TOW #11 "Mockingjay- Part 1" (article)

                In this BuzzFeed article, Adam B. Vary talks about how low the debut of the newest Hunger Games movie, Mockingjay: Part 1 is in relation to the other two movies. Outlining the claim with facts such as the 22% drop in the price of Mockingjay from Catching Fire. So far Mockingjay has made a total of about $123 million, while Catching Fire had made $158.1 million by this time last year. It is still the highest debut of 2014, but is a great deal less than the others. This grabs people’s attention because so far the debut values have been rising for the series, then they suddenly dropped. That is something unexpected. Most would expect the prices to keep on rising like usual, but instead they plummeted. Though, it is still quite impressive that it has only been a few days and Mockingjay: Part 1 has already made $123 million dollars in American box offices. More numbers are then added to sugar coat the slight disappointment. On the international stage, Mockingjay is doing much better. In international box offices, the movie has made a total of about $152 million this past weekend. So, that’s good news, right? Maybe if it was not still lower than the others. Still below the first film’s $283.2 million and the second’s $440.2 million, the oddity still prevails. All of these facts make a fan wonder why this newest movie is not selling as well, or at least as quickly, as the rest. We’ll just have to see if this downward trend will continue with the final movie, Mockingjay: Part 2 that comes out in theaters November 20, 2015. Let’s hope we get some answers to our question of why.

TOW #10 "No coins, it's change I need" (visual)

                This image shows two people protesting about global warming, and how it is affecting polar bears. One of them is dressed as a homeless polar bear and holding a sign that says “No coins, it’s change I need.” The play on words is a great way of getting peoples’ attention because at first glance, one might think he is contradicting himself, but in actuality, he is asking for change and not in the way of ‘change’ being another word for currency. He wants the people and the government to realize that the climate changing issue is a huge problem. He is dressed homeless because the ice caps are melting causing many polar bears and other wildlife to lose their homes. It would have a great impact on the environment and society if this was allowed to continue and worsen. The woman next to the man dressed as the bear, holds a sign that states “I’m with the bear” and this shows that people are interested in changing what is causing global warming and want to save the polar bears. It also can show that it does not just affect the bears and life that relies on the cold weather and ice, but it also affects people everywhere. People love polar bears. The thought of them losing their homes makes people want to take action. Alongside that, anyone who may not jump at the change to help the bears, would more than likely then take action when they realize it affects them directly too.

TOW #9 "I Hear America Singing" (poem)

                I interpreted the meaning of this poem to be something along the lines of: doing what you love makes you strong, and it is something worth singing about. It is called I Hear America Singing because it is not just specific people, it is the nation altogether. Each person has a different job i.e. mechanics, carpenters, masons, boatmen, deckhands, shoemakers, hatters, woodcutters, ploughboys, mothers, or girls, and Walt Whitman is hearing them all singing. Since he includes a broad spectrum of professions, he really is trying to include just about everyone in America. When saying what each worker is doing while singing, it makes sense that they would do so, therefore appealing to logos. Pathos is key, mainly in the last few lines of the poem where he makes it clear that these songs are not sad or negative, but that they are strong, melodious and proud songs being sung. The title is obviously patriotic in the sense that he does not talk about the world singing either, he talks about hearing the working people all over America singing. The country is one unified nation with a unified voice that, at the same time, is broken into individual voices singing equally strong and proud. This brought a sense of power to the working class citizens who might have read this. It is important for the people holding this nation together to be proud of what they do, and continue making America as strong and proud as it can and will be.

TOW #8 "Love is a Mix Tape" (IRB- 2nd half)

                The more I read of Love is a Mix Tape, the more I realized it was less about Rob Sheffield’s time with his currently deceased wife, Renée, and more about the music in his life in general. He tells stories that helped shape who he is now. The music he had access to played a huge part, and he is kind enough to tell us exactly what that music was. He uses his ethos as a Rolling Stone editor and lover of all things music to keep us readers interested in what song he will mention next, and what it means to him. Sheffield definitely uses his own advice from previous chapters about when and how to use a song at the right time. There are few things more unsettling than a misused tune. He has, in his own way, created a soundtrack to his own life. The amount of dedication he has to his love of music is great itself and the book was a great reflection of that. The addition of adding the list of songs at the beginning of each chapter, arranged in a way that it looks as if they were taken directly from the back of his mix tapes, added to the experience of learning about Sheffield’s life and the music in it.

TOW #7 "Scorpio Sun Sign" (article)

                In the article Scorpio Sun Sign, the author stresses the amount of determination, passion, and motivation people born under the sign of the scorpion exhibit. The range of the Zodiac sign, Scorpio reaches from October 23 to November 21. The author compares traits of the actual scorpion insect with human traits of the people who fall under this sign. An example being that “they have tremendous regenerative powers, much like the literal Scorpion can lose its tail and promptly grow a new one.” This translates as the human Scorpio-born‘s ability to persevere and pick themselves back up when they get knocked down. When explaining the significance and meanings behind the planets that rule over Scorpios, the author uses strong descriptive words to reflect the intensity of the water sign. This text does an exceptional job of explaining the Scorpio and its positive aspects. There are not many negative traits illustrated throughout the article. The choice to stick with the strengths was a good one. Who would want to read all about their flaws? Maybe another day it would interest the reader once they know all of the positive aspects they show. The only way to be sure what the author states is valid information is to connect it to real life experiences. Most Zodiac information is based on observation, so observation is the only way to verify for oneself.

TOW #6 "Independent on Sunday" (political cartoon)

                In the 2013 political cartoon below, Peter Schrank addresses the development of a Twitter button to “report abuse” a user might be facing. This is occurring mainly due to the multiple “rape and death threats to historian Mary Beard, British feminist campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, and the British MP Stella Creasy,” that year. Depicted in the cartoon, is a woman sitting on a bench on her phone. Surrounding her are numerous little blue “twitter” birds looking rather maliciously at her. One even seems to be pooping on her head. Although most of them represent the abusive messages that can be found on Twitter, some of them look like ordinary birds to show that not all tweets are offensive. In addition, down at the bottom of the image, next to his signature, Schrank writes “with apologies to Alfred Hitchcock.” This adds a little humor to it since the scene is similar to one someone might have seen in his movie The Birds. Even the woman on the bench looks strikingly similar to the character in the movie, Melanie Daniels. That little allusion could earn a snicker or two from anyone who could catch the reference. I think that could also mean something in relation to the people receiving these abusive tweets. Since in the movie, everyone is steadily being bombarded by birds just like it may feel getting nasty words thrown at you over the internet on more than one occasion.

TOW #5 (the real one) "Man Uses Weekend To Make Totally Different Mistakes Than He Did During Workweek" (article)

                The Onion writes about a sales representative named Sam Roslindale. He told reporters that he spends his weekend making different mistakes than he does during the week. During the workweek, he messes up on things like sales goals. During the weekend, he tends “to drink too much, yell at [his] wife for no reason, and let [his] daughter down. Then, come Monday, [he’ll] be ready to resume destroying [his] career all over again.” The way The Onion describes this, makes it seem as though this is an average thing everyone does. Though, since it is satire, it is known that they are clearly bashing Roslindale for his mistakes. One does not simply ruin their job on weekdays, then ruin their relationships on the weekends, then repeat. The word choice used makes it humorous because the way it seems, is like this is an actual article about a news event that is positive. 

TOW #5 "Love is a Mix Tape" (IRB-1st half)

                Rob Sheffield loves music. In Love is a Mix Tape he tells a partial story of his life through songs he loves and hates. Specifically music that was around at the time of mix tapes. Before playlists, before CDs, there were tapes. He also goes through a few reasons to make and/or receive mix tapes. He talks about choosing the right music for the right occasions the same way an English teacher would speak of using the right words at the right time. He wants people to understand that music, as a thing to share, is a great way to make or break connections with others. Music is also a very good way of telling a story, or explaining things you might not be able to put into words all the time. Music can make someone feel what the artist wants him or her to like its own brand of pathos. If used correctly, the story that comes along with it will make more sense as well. Sheffield definitely uses this to his advantage. He should, as he has enough experience with it being a Rolling Stone editor and a music geek. In the end it is clear music has played, and will continue to play a big part in the life of Rob Sheffield and many more.

TOW #4 "In a Planet-or-Not Debate" (article)

                On National Geographic’s website, Nadia Drake elaborates upon the ongoing controversy of whether or not Pluto is a planet. She unearths information about the ancient Greek as well as the thoughts of modern scientists. It is obvious that Drake did her research on the topic at hand. Pathos is not present in the article as much as ethos and logos. The large amount of logic used is greatly effective and needed since the topic is a science-based debate. In the text, Drake mentions an audience in Cambridge, Massachusetts came to an agreement that Pluto was in fact a planet. The audience included teachers, the public, and scientists. This appeals to logos because there is a diverse group of backgrounds that made that decision. In addition, that the only time Pluto was decided not a planet was when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on it. They declared it a dwarf planet, which is not even a planet at all. This is probably the strongest pathos shown. It makes the audience think, “Well, is everyone else thinks it is but the IAU, why are we only listening to them?” Most likely because the IAU has the automatic credibility the public lacks. Drake makes sure to portray both ends of the spectrum. Noting that in the end, it all comes down to what the definition of planet is at the time. The definition always changes, Drake mentions back when the sun fit the definition and Earth did not. The logos is definitely the strongest part of the article.

TOW #3 "Unpaid Tobacco Spokesperson Response" (visual advertisement)

                The truth® campaign is not just another anti-smoking organization. They advertise facts about big tobacco companies, and the problems that can come with tobacco consumption. We only have to make a choice about what to do with that information.  In this specific ad, they are responding to backlash they may have gotten for a previous one. In the original ad, they showed images of celebrities smoking stating that these images bring free advertisement for big tobacco companies. In the response ad, they clarify the fact that they are not against these celebrities. Truth® simply wants people who are active on social media to think before posting smoking selfies. Since they use images of influential people smoking, it increases their logos and/or pathos because people will recognize them. Celebrities like Robert Pattinson, Rihanna, and the like are bound to get a reaction. Truth® provides objective information for the people to come to a subjective conclusion. Their main target: Millennials. They think that young people who are most active on social media to be able to change the world. The slogan they use currently is “Finish it,” meaning they believe us 1980-2000 babies could be the generation to end smoking, depending on how we digest the information they publicize. I think their ads are more effective than ordinary anti-smoking campaigns because they are not trying to force an opinion on us. They give us a choice. We feel empowered knowing that we are the ones making a difference based on our choices. Us Millennials do not want to be lectured about all the horrible things tobacco does to the human body. Especially from generations who have done nothing about the issue anyhow. We are stubborn teenagers and young adults who think we know all. Give us choices and we will think. Some may brush it off, but I think most will make the right decision.

TOW #2 IRB Introduction

                For my first Independent Reading Book this school year, I chose to read Love is a Mix Tape written by Rolling Stone editor Rob Sheffield. He reflects on his time with a woman named Renée, and how music brought together their two, very different, personas. From the point I am at in the novel, I cannot be certain if Renée left Sheffield, or left the world. What I do know is that either way, she left their mix tapes with him. This is the real reason I was drawn to this book. The music. I am not someone who is interested in reading stories about love and happy memories like that. However, I can get interested it if it comes with a great soundtrack. I had noticed when skimming along the pages that I not only recognized quite a few of the songs and artists Sheffield mentions, but I actually enjoy listening most of them myself. Songs by David Bowie, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana come up often. I always can appreciate a music taste so near my own, along with the new songs that are just now gracing my ears even though some have been around longer than I have. So when I say new, I mean new to me. I think the use of the songs brings more feeling to the memoir as well as connecting with the readers on a musical—and emotional level. Any 90s alternative music fan would understand.

TOW #1 "How to Say Nothing in 500 Words"

                Paul Roberts has successfully explained what not to do in How to Say Nothing in 500 Words when writing an essay. Especially to avoid said essay returning with a glaring “D” at the top. Yet most of the text was spent doing just that; telling us what not to do. There were boatloads of examples of the wrong way to go about producing a promising paper. Granted, Roberts wanted to be thorough, sixteen examples of clichés were not necessary. A published linguist should know that when it comes getting the point across, simplicity is efficiency. If he intended to help students write a better thesis, it may have been more useful if the reader was given ways to spruce up a paper rather than being told what drags it down. For someone who may have been accustomed to using the “obvious content” and “pat expressions”, they cannot casually flip a switch and know what to do when what is wrong is all they have been told. The few samples Roberts includes that elaborate on what to do are much more effective. The use of descriptive words in the terrible tale of Alfred Simkins, gives a great idea of what can be done to better one’s writing. Unfortunately, most other positive ideas are vague in instruction. Maybe it is the way it is being worded. Maybe Roberts expects students to know these “do’s” and “do not’s” already. If someone does not, they may feel slightly left out or unintelligent when seeking aid from this text. The concepts mentioned are too hit-or-miss to help a student that is only hearing them for the first time. Either they understand it and fix it, or they are even more lost than before. One cannot become the most creative being overnight simply from reading an essay in which the author tells them what not to write.

Response to: Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of All by William Manchester

William Manchester reflects on his own knowledge and experience in war. Okinawa: The Bloodiest Battle of All is told from his point of view and is written in first person. Even though Manchester mentions other battles, the essay focuses mainly on the relationship between the United States and Japan. His diction is used so that people with only a basic understanding of war can understand and connect to what he is saying. He even states that most Americans have no idea what war is actually like, and do not know what they are celebrating on veteran holidays. “Very rarely are they honoring what actually happened, because only a handful know,” (Manchester 15) even those that wear a uniform. Those who do know have seen that battle is not as glamorous as everyone may think. The scars it leaves are deep and can last forever. The author has experienced this first hand. Manchester tells of a time after the battle that he met with a man who was almost his enemy at some point. Both of them thought it would be fine, but ended up leaving almost immediately upon seeing each other. Old feelings die hard, but that does not mean that respect is lost. The essay also includes a multitude of facts and statistics that boost the logos. Also, since numbers are something everyone can understand and feel, the pathos is influenced as well. Manchester effectively uses his own experience to build up his credibility. All in all, the rhetoric of the essay is sufficient.

Map of Okinawa, Japan.

http://www.welt-atlas.de/map_of_okinawa_6-865

Response to: The Devil Baby at Hull-House by Jane Addams

                In The Devil Baby at Hull-House, Jane Addams recounts stories from people who had interest in meeting the infant. She noticed a pattern with them. Each person had experienced some sort of hardship that had some relation to tragedy, sin or crime. No matter what they believed or did not believe, people were drawn to it. Addams herself stayed at the Hull-House and heard everything from theories to experiences of others. All kinds of people were talking about it. Religious or not, a baby born with horns, hooves, and a tail is not ordinary. Though, Addams does not elaborate on any medical or scientific reasoning. Her purpose was more to illuminate the connection she found with why people came to the Hull-House and demanded to see the Devil Baby. Including other peoples’ anecdotes builds upon the logic of the passage, as well as appealing to the reader’s emotions. Hearing about a woman who had lost all of her children except two, only to have both killed in one accident is a tragic tale. The ethos is questionable since about all of what is known about the Devil Baby was passed along by word of mouth. The author does make this clear as well. She shares multiple versions of how people say the infant came to be. Addams does succeed in clarifying the link between peoples’ pasts and their desire to see this cursed child. The use of relevant stories and a suitable reference to another author’s work assist the reader in understanding her perspective on what is interesting about the Devil Baby—besides the obvious. Though the pathos and logos were exceptional, the ethos could have been better in some aspects. Yes, it was all being told from the author’s own experience, but the other peoples’ stories did not reach us on a first or second hand incident. For them, one would just need to trust in another individual’s words.

Image of the "Devil Baby"

http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/DEVILBABY.htm