http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/19/opinion/pennsylvania-and-the-death-penalty.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Summary: This editorial brings up the topic of the death penalty in our state of Pennsylvania. When I first saw the title for this editorial, I figured it would be about an increased crime rate in Philadelphia, however the author seems to blame the increased use of the death penalty on bad lawyers. The author sites other articles and appealed cases to show that more criminals are being convicted and receiving this sentence because their lawyers are "insufficient" to meet a defendant's needs.
Context: The death penalty has become a topic debated throughout the country. Some states have even decided not to use the death penalty at all, and people continue to argue because of issues with morality and religion. Most of the time people try to avoid using the death sentence as punishment, so an increase in the opposite direction tends to catch the attention of the country. In Philadelphia, because violence and poverty have become extremely common, it is easy to understand why this person believes that bad lawyers are to blame, as many times lawyers who work with little pay end up defending these criminals.
Source/Author: This editorial comes from The New York Times, a newspaper that is recognized all over the world, and published for almost two centuries. However this is an editorial, meaning the person is not necessarily an experienced or knowledgeable writer. The author does include citations to other more credible articles, which make the argument more ensuring.
Purpose: The purpose of this article was not just to talk about a controversial topic, but also for the author to share their opinion of why they believed that the death penalty is more prevalent in a specific area. I believe the author accomplished this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The author attempts to back up their augment using logic in order to be the most convincing. Because the author is most likely not a professional writer, he/she also mentions other sources to back up their claims, in order for their argument to be more credible. By referring to specific facts and other articles, the author makes it more difficult for a reader to find refutations in the argument and less likely to disagree with their opinion.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
AOW #26: Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc
Summary: This week millions have viewed the video on youtube. It is about an issue that few know about, the invisible children in Africa and the organization of rebels who continue to take advantage of these children. Joseph Kony, the man who leads the LSA, has been unknown to many for years, and know the created of the video and the Invisible Children's Organization in order to expose how he has kidnapped children in African and turned them into slaves to fight for him and continue violence in Africa. The video proposes that we should spread awareness about Kony and the LSR so he can finally be arrested.
Context: The video was created for the Invisible Children's Incorporation, a group that supports children struggling in Africa. The invisible children are natives under 20 living in Africa (specifically Uganda). They have been born into a war between rebel groups and the government. The rebel group led by Joseph Kony is the LSA. The kidnapping of children for war is not a new issue, as many rebel groups have been doing this for years, capturing children from taken villages and turning the boys into soldiers and girls into sex slaves. Violence between these groups has destroyed many villages and families since the late 1980's, and little has been done about it because few nations want to get involved in the violence.
Source: This video was posted onto Youtube, a website where anyone can post a personal video, making this video less reliable. However the video was created by Invisible Children Inc., a group which has been trying to protect children in Africa since 2004. It has many supporters and claims to donate most money to helping these children. Lately, though, there have been accusations that the Kony 2012 campaign is a fraud that is to bring in more money for the company than to help the children in Africa.
Purpose: The purpose of this video is to spread awareness about an issue that has not been popular over the last couple of years. It also proposes a solution to problem; to stop Joseph Kony and therefore end the enslavement of children in Africa. I believe the creator of this video achieved this purpose, because the topic has become unavoidable whenever one gets onto the internet.
Rhetorical Devices: This video obviously appeals to emotion and logic, as this is a sad story about African children who are oppressed, and this issue should be stopped. The video seems to be made for people who know little about the issue, which is why the narrator brings in his young son to explain the issue as simply as possible. This compares the audience to a young child who knows little about this complex issue. The video also answered a major "so what?" question of what the audience can do to stop this problem in Africa. The video gives specific steps you can take in order for the issue to become more popular, and for leaders to act due to the public's demand. This video is unlike others which point out oppressive situations, because it proposes a solution; to arrest Joseph Kony.
Summary: This week millions have viewed the video on youtube. It is about an issue that few know about, the invisible children in Africa and the organization of rebels who continue to take advantage of these children. Joseph Kony, the man who leads the LSA, has been unknown to many for years, and know the created of the video and the Invisible Children's Organization in order to expose how he has kidnapped children in African and turned them into slaves to fight for him and continue violence in Africa. The video proposes that we should spread awareness about Kony and the LSR so he can finally be arrested.
Context: The video was created for the Invisible Children's Incorporation, a group that supports children struggling in Africa. The invisible children are natives under 20 living in Africa (specifically Uganda). They have been born into a war between rebel groups and the government. The rebel group led by Joseph Kony is the LSA. The kidnapping of children for war is not a new issue, as many rebel groups have been doing this for years, capturing children from taken villages and turning the boys into soldiers and girls into sex slaves. Violence between these groups has destroyed many villages and families since the late 1980's, and little has been done about it because few nations want to get involved in the violence.
Source: This video was posted onto Youtube, a website where anyone can post a personal video, making this video less reliable. However the video was created by Invisible Children Inc., a group which has been trying to protect children in Africa since 2004. It has many supporters and claims to donate most money to helping these children. Lately, though, there have been accusations that the Kony 2012 campaign is a fraud that is to bring in more money for the company than to help the children in Africa.
Purpose: The purpose of this video is to spread awareness about an issue that has not been popular over the last couple of years. It also proposes a solution to problem; to stop Joseph Kony and therefore end the enslavement of children in Africa. I believe the creator of this video achieved this purpose, because the topic has become unavoidable whenever one gets onto the internet.
Rhetorical Devices: This video obviously appeals to emotion and logic, as this is a sad story about African children who are oppressed, and this issue should be stopped. The video seems to be made for people who know little about the issue, which is why the narrator brings in his young son to explain the issue as simply as possible. This compares the audience to a young child who knows little about this complex issue. The video also answered a major "so what?" question of what the audience can do to stop this problem in Africa. The video gives specific steps you can take in order for the issue to become more popular, and for leaders to act due to the public's demand. This video is unlike others which point out oppressive situations, because it proposes a solution; to arrest Joseph Kony.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
AOW #25: Visual
Summary: This picture shows women's rights activist Emmeline Pankhurst, who lived from 1858 to 1928. She is well known for influencing the women's suffrage during her lifetime. She was repeatedly put in jail for speaking out about political reform, but was the reason for the Representation of the People Act in 1918 which allowed women over the age of 30 to vote in England. Her slogan, "deeds, not words" defined her life.
Context: This picture was taken from Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. Today many agree that Panhurst was an important influence for women's rights worldwide by making her presence known by everyone around her. Although we do not know the exact time when this picture was taken or the reason for it, you can tell the Pankhurst (center) was a woman who demanded the attention of the crowd. In this photograph she is the center point in a large mass of people, and looks as though she is sending an important, emotion message.
Source: This picture is from Time magazine. The article does not include the photographer, location, or date, which makes it less reliable. However Time magazine is a globally published and popular magazine. Because it has so many readers and sources to find information, it would be unlikely that this photograph is not Pankhurst.
Purpose: The purpose of the photograph is to show the power of Pankhurst and draw attention to her commanding personality, which is depicted in this picture, where she stands out in a large crowd. Because the article was to show influential people, this picture sends a powerful message to a reader of how much of a leader she was. The photographer accomplished this.
Rhetorical Devices: The photographer draws the attention to Pankhurst by making her the very center of this photo. She is also above most other people, which also makes her stand out and seem as though she is unique and more powerful than the other people in the picture. There is also obvious contrast in this photo, as the rest of the people in the photo seem to blend together with similar shades of black and white and little expression on their faces. Pankhurst is a dark, large figure, with facial expression that looks as if she is yelling and pointing at something important. It goes along with her slogan, that "deeds, not words" are more powerful. People in the crowd could be talking words, while Pankhurst is standing and acting, and has a more obvious presence in the picture.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
AOW #24: Advertisement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idIU8Htava0
Summary: This commercial was for Dorito's chips. The commercial presents a man acting like an annoying bird; taking food from other people, attempting to fly, and squawking. The normal acting people around him are annoyed, obviously, and an onlooker asks men who the bird-man must work with what is wrong with him. They say that he acts that way when he wants Doritos, and they play tricks on him as if it happens all the time.
Source: This commercial is shown across the U.S on public television for the Doritos company. Doritos has made many funny advertisements like this. The commercial is not reliable at all, as no one would act the way the bird-man did. Also, the advertisement is very biased, as the company only wants people to buy their product, not present actual facts.
Context: The commercial was made for the Doritos brand, who wanted to show how much people love Doritos in a comical way. The exigence would be to sell their product, much like any other advertisement.
Purpose: The purpose of the advertisement is to show how good Doritos are that people go crazy when they do not have them, and then make people buy their product. The company also made the commercial funny, in order to catch the attention of an audience and make the advertisement memorable. The commercial accomplishes this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The commercial is very humorous, in order to make it memorable and make people want to buy the product. It also appeals to communal memory, because shows the actions of a pigeon or other pesky bird, and if someone did not know what these birds were like they would not understand the humor of the advertisement.
Summary: This commercial was for Dorito's chips. The commercial presents a man acting like an annoying bird; taking food from other people, attempting to fly, and squawking. The normal acting people around him are annoyed, obviously, and an onlooker asks men who the bird-man must work with what is wrong with him. They say that he acts that way when he wants Doritos, and they play tricks on him as if it happens all the time.
Source: This commercial is shown across the U.S on public television for the Doritos company. Doritos has made many funny advertisements like this. The commercial is not reliable at all, as no one would act the way the bird-man did. Also, the advertisement is very biased, as the company only wants people to buy their product, not present actual facts.
Context: The commercial was made for the Doritos brand, who wanted to show how much people love Doritos in a comical way. The exigence would be to sell their product, much like any other advertisement.
Purpose: The purpose of the advertisement is to show how good Doritos are that people go crazy when they do not have them, and then make people buy their product. The company also made the commercial funny, in order to catch the attention of an audience and make the advertisement memorable. The commercial accomplishes this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The commercial is very humorous, in order to make it memorable and make people want to buy the product. It also appeals to communal memory, because shows the actions of a pigeon or other pesky bird, and if someone did not know what these birds were like they would not understand the humor of the advertisement.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
AOW #23: IRB Post
In the first 3rd of my IRB, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the author introduces us to the characters and gives an idea of what the the plot will be about. From the beginning of the story Hunter S. Thompson mentions a trip for a young man and his attorney to Las Vegas because he is a writer. It is not really clear why he has to go to Las Vegas with his attorney, but the author goes through the step by step process of the materials that they gather such as a car and drugs, which also seem to be a very important part of the story. The majority of the time the two men are high, driving through the desert and stopping at odd motels. The author explains his hallucinations at each of the stops and makes the entire story seem dreamlike, as if it is not really happening, but at the same time it is.
The point of view is first person, and seems as though Thomson gives himself a different name of Raoul Duke. He is with his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, the entire time. Gonzo seems to be the character in the story who brings Duke and the reader back to reality, as he explains what Duke actually experienced after Duke describes his hallucinations of lizards and screaming monsters in various hotels. Without Gonzo, the reader might suppose the entire experience of Duke is simply a dream.
There is no specific setting yet, but the travel from town to town on the way to Las Vegas makes the entire story much more interesting. As they visit different hotels and settings you meet different people, and Duke seems to see them all in a different way with his hallucinations. I think that the author does this to expose the reality of how he sees humans, as lizards and monsters who all have hidden agendas and are willing to eat you in order to get what they want.
The point of view is first person, and seems as though Thomson gives himself a different name of Raoul Duke. He is with his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, the entire time. Gonzo seems to be the character in the story who brings Duke and the reader back to reality, as he explains what Duke actually experienced after Duke describes his hallucinations of lizards and screaming monsters in various hotels. Without Gonzo, the reader might suppose the entire experience of Duke is simply a dream.
There is no specific setting yet, but the travel from town to town on the way to Las Vegas makes the entire story much more interesting. As they visit different hotels and settings you meet different people, and Duke seems to see them all in a different way with his hallucinations. I think that the author does this to expose the reality of how he sees humans, as lizards and monsters who all have hidden agendas and are willing to eat you in order to get what they want.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
AOW #22: Article
http://entertainment.time.com/2012/02/11/the-voice-of-america-whitney-houston-1963-2012/
Summary: This article was about the recent death of singer Whitney Houston. Instead of reacting to her death, the article is much more a biography of her life and a description of her talents. The author describes her beauty and amazing voice. Only at the end of the article the author briefly mentions some of the darker times in her life or drug use and the downfall of her career as a musician. The article summarizes her life and her impact on others.
Content: This article was about deceased singer Whitney Houston. The exigence of this story was her recent and sudden death, which many believe was caused by her drug use.
Source/Author: I found this article on the website TIME magazine, one of the most popular and trusted magazines read by Americans and published worldwide. Howard Chua-Eoan has written about breaking news and has been News Director since 2002. Since then he has written on a wide range of topics for TIME magazine and other magazines and newspapers.
Purpose: The author's purpose was to focus less on the death of Whitney Houston and summarizing her life. To do this Chua-Eoan does not mention her death in the article at all. If one read the article without seeing the title you would not be aware that Whitney Houston did just pass away. This is so that the reader is forced to focus on her life's legacy instead on her death. I believe that she accomplished this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The structure of this article shows the author's purpose to force the reader to focus on the good and talent of Houston. He begins on his first impression of her, which allows the reader to use their communal memory for the first time that they see someone and their own impressions. His description of this vision allows the reader to feel a connection to Houston as if they had seen her in person themselves. The author also does not mention Whitney's bad qualities or drug use until the very last paragraph, after he mentions all the good in her career. This would cause the reader to possibly develop a bias which overlooks her bad habits mentioned briefly at the very end of the article.
Summary: This article was about the recent death of singer Whitney Houston. Instead of reacting to her death, the article is much more a biography of her life and a description of her talents. The author describes her beauty and amazing voice. Only at the end of the article the author briefly mentions some of the darker times in her life or drug use and the downfall of her career as a musician. The article summarizes her life and her impact on others.
Content: This article was about deceased singer Whitney Houston. The exigence of this story was her recent and sudden death, which many believe was caused by her drug use.
Source/Author: I found this article on the website TIME magazine, one of the most popular and trusted magazines read by Americans and published worldwide. Howard Chua-Eoan has written about breaking news and has been News Director since 2002. Since then he has written on a wide range of topics for TIME magazine and other magazines and newspapers.
Purpose: The author's purpose was to focus less on the death of Whitney Houston and summarizing her life. To do this Chua-Eoan does not mention her death in the article at all. If one read the article without seeing the title you would not be aware that Whitney Houston did just pass away. This is so that the reader is forced to focus on her life's legacy instead on her death. I believe that she accomplished this purpose.
Rhetorical Devices: The structure of this article shows the author's purpose to force the reader to focus on the good and talent of Houston. He begins on his first impression of her, which allows the reader to use their communal memory for the first time that they see someone and their own impressions. His description of this vision allows the reader to feel a connection to Houston as if they had seen her in person themselves. The author also does not mention Whitney's bad qualities or drug use until the very last paragraph, after he mentions all the good in her career. This would cause the reader to possibly develop a bias which overlooks her bad habits mentioned briefly at the very end of the article.
Friday, February 3, 2012
AOW #21: IRB Post
This marking period I will be reading the book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson. This book is an autobiography of Thompson's life, following Raoul Duke and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, on a trip to Las Vegas involving a good amount of drugs. The book was written in the late 60's, and was first a two-part piece in Rolling Stones magazine until it was later printed as a book. It was turned into a movie later with Johnny Depp, which makes me think that this book will be much like Blow which Depp was also in involving cocaine.
Hunter S. Thompson has written other books such as The Rum Diary, The Curse of Lono, and Hell's Angels. He is also known for be a life-long user of cocaine, LSD, alcohol, and ending his own life in 2005. He is now known for creating Gonzo Journalism, where writers turn themselves into characters in a story based on personal experiences, such as he has done in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I am interested to find out what happens on this journey to Las Vegas, and try to figure out what started Thompson's drug addiction.
Hunter S. Thompson has written other books such as The Rum Diary, The Curse of Lono, and Hell's Angels. He is also known for be a life-long user of cocaine, LSD, alcohol, and ending his own life in 2005. He is now known for creating Gonzo Journalism, where writers turn themselves into characters in a story based on personal experiences, such as he has done in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I am interested to find out what happens on this journey to Las Vegas, and try to figure out what started Thompson's drug addiction.
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