AOW #20- "Demi"

"Demi"
by Amy Spencer for Seventeen Magazine (February 2012)

This article was about Demi Lovato, the famous actress and singer. It was an interview with her that discussed her time in rehab last year and her battle with eating disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidal acts. It highlights her recovery and hopes for a bright future.

The context of this piece is almost exactly a year after her stay in rehab.

The purpose of this piece was to allow Demi to explain exactly what happened rather than allowing her fans to rely on rumors that may not be the full truth. It is also to explain how she has such high hopes for a bright future.

The audience of this article is all of Demi's fans and anyone interested in her story. It could also be for people struggling with any of these issues because it shows the story of how Demi experienced them, dealt with them, and grew from them.

Rhetorical Devices:

• Photography: The article features pictures of Demi. This adds to the article because in the pictures she is wearing bright colors and is smiling and looks happy and carefree. This adds to the point of the article which was to express how far she's come since being in rehab a year ago.
• Pathos: Demi's story has a definite appeal to pathos because the reader really feels for her as she explains her struggles. The fact that it is an interview and in Question and Answer format adds to this because it is through her exact words.

I think that the author accomplished her purpose because I took a lot out of reading this article. I had previously believed any and all rumors I heard about Demi and rehab, and now I actually know what the truth is.

AOW #19- "SOPA, PIPA, Online Piracy Lead Week's Security News"

"SOPA, PIPA, Online Piracy Lead Week's Security News"
by Fahmida Rashid for eWeek.com 1/22/12
(http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/SOPA-PIPA-Online-Piracy-Lead-Weeks-Security-News-651755/)

This article was about all the recent controversies and issues over the last week regarding internet piracy that have led the nation's news. It strongly discusses the bills of SOPA and PIPA and the impact that they have had on popular internet sites such as Wikipedia in the last week. The article also talks about the incident with hackers in Zappos.com last week. It sums up the huge issues regarding the internet that have arose in the last week.

The context of this piece is at the end of a week of huge, hard-hitting news in the internet world that has had a profound impact on the country.

The purpose of this article was to sum up all of these issues in one short article.

The audience of this piece is anyone who has followed the issues this week or is in anyway interested in them.

Rhetorical devices:

• logos- The article includes many quotes and insider information. It cites the exact sources of the hacks, as well as the people and sites involved.
• Process Analysis/Cause and Effect- The article goes chronologically through how each event happened and then what proceeded it, each event leading into the next.

This article semi-accomplished its purpose. It used too many technical phrasing and words, and a lot of the information went way over my head, being that I am not very familiar with the situations. I was hoping for an article with more of the basics of SOPA and PIPA and this article wasn't for that.

Unit 3 Reflection

     An individual's obligations to its government as well as a government's obligations to the individual consist of many different elements. These obligations have been exhibited through the works of many rhetors throughout history. In Unit 3, we have covered many of these rhetors such as Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Martin Luther King Jr. Through their works such as the The Declaration of Independence, The Declaration of Sentiments, and I Have a Dream, these rhetors explain that the obligation of both the individual to its government and the government to the individual is to create a state of true equality.
     In Thomas Jefferson's The Declaration of Independence, Jefferson explains that equality is the obligation of both the individual and the government. Through lines such as "all men are created equal" (page 1), Jefferson emphasizes the need for the government to treat its people as equals and the individual to treat eachother as well as the government as equals. This equality must be created despite differences such as race, religion, culture, or lifestyle. By including this strong statement about equality in the nation's Declaration of Independence, Jefferson even further emphasizes the need for this from both the government and the individual.
     I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. exhibits the obligation of equality for both the individual and the government. King uses statements such as "I have a dream that one day...will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice." (MLKjr. p.3) In this quote, King expresses the need for equality so that the nation can at last be turned into one of true freedom and justice. The government must provide true equality for its people so that in return the people can treat eachother as equals, and in all, the country can better function as one equal, free, justified whole.
     Elizabeth Cady Stanton declares in The Declaration of Sentiments that the obligation of both the individual and the government is true equality. In this document, Stanton emphasizes the obligation of the individual to stand up for themselves to work towards a state of true equality, such as the woman standing up for the rights of equality towards men. Throughout this work, Stanton continuously proves that equality is the common obligation of both the individual and the government.
     Through these famous works, The Declaration of Independence, I Have a Dream, and The Declaration of Sentiment, rhetors such as Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Elizabeth Cady Stanton consistently prove that the obligation of both the individual and the government is to create equality.

AOW #18- End of IRB

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

David Sedaris is a comedian who is well known for his books in which he writes funny short stories from his life. He has many books published to this date, including Holidays on Ice, filled with short stories about the holiday season, which I read for my IRB.

This book is composed of several short stories that David Sedaris has pulled from the many holiday seasons he has experienced throughout his life. He uses these funny moments to exhibit how the holiday season is for him. His stories focus on elements such as work, friends, family, and of course all the stereotypical holiday moments, such as Santa, elves, mall Santa, Christmas, and holiday meals.

The context of this piece is in the prime of Sedaris' career, where he has previously published many books and has a well-established career.

The purpose of this book was to make his audience laugh while telling of his experiences in the holiday season.

The audience of this book is anyone who is a fan of Sedaris or is attracted to his humor. It is not for everyone, as it does not appeal to all humor.

Rhetorical devices of DIDLS are:

• Diction- Sedaris uses comical phrasing and casual word choice. Sedaris says things that the average person might not normally say, but in such a way that it seems like casual phrasing.
• Imagery- Sedaris consistently does a good job of setting the scene. He describes settings well and effectively sets the mood for the following situation.
• Details- Details are used interestingly in this book. Sedaris adds details that may seem insignificant at first glance, but then end up being what sticks out to you most after reading the short story. He uses details to add further humor to his piece.
• Language- Sedaris uses language that could sometimes be seen as offensive. Though personally I don't find it to be offensive, Sedaris uses words and phrases that may make the reader say "did he really just say that?"
• Syntax: For the most part, Sedaris uses basic syntax. There is mild variation in punctuation.

Personally, I do not feel Sedaris accomplished his purpose. I rarely found myself laughing at his stories and usually found them quite boring. I was disappointed in this book, because I had high expectations/hopes for it.

AOW #17- Doritos Commercial

Doritos Commercial- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpjaOUjUPUc

This is a credible source because it is a well-known commercial that is played on many major television networks.

This commercial is of a guy standing behind a glass door with a bag of Doritos. There is a dog outside. The man teases the dog with the chips so it comes running towards the door. The dog ends up knocking down the door, leaving the guy squished underneath it, and eating the Doritos.

The context of this piece is during the Super Bowl, when there is a huge audience and many people looking for the funniest commercial.

The purpose for this commercial is to get the viewer to buy Doritos.

The audience of this commercial is everyone watching the Super Bowl. It especially appeals to dog lovers.

Rhetorical devices include:

• Comedy- The commercial is funny because you would think that the dog would run into the glass and not break through, but actually he knocks down the whole door.
• Appeal to Pathos- The dog is really cute which plays on people's emotions. Also, the girlfriend says "babe, don't tease my dog" which makes the viewer think even more that the dog will run into the door, not break it down, and therefore you feel bad for the dog.

The commercial sort of accomplished its purpose. It is a clever commercial, but it doesn't tell why the audience should buy the Doritos, it only makes it clear that the dog wants them, but what dog doesn't want any kind of food?

AOW #16- "Money Talks"

"Money Talks"
by Reniqua Allen for Teen Vogue Magazine (December/January 2012)

This article is about money and how teenager's financial situations impact their friendships. It talks mainly about how having a lot of money and being very privileged impacts who a teenager spends time with and whether or not they are socially accepted.

The context of this piece is this country's current economic situation, with so many people unemployed and where finances are a huge issue. Also, the context is our current society that values people with money as being high-society.

The purpose of this piece is to examine how money affects friendships.

The audience for whom this piece was intended is teenage girls of all social classes, especially those who are struggling with fitting in due to their economic status.

Rhetorical devices include:

• pictures- There are pictures of stars from popular movies and television shows from many years ago until recent times.  These pictures are of the stars of movies and television shows that have a central story revolving around money and social class and its impact on relationships such as My Fair Lady, Pretty in Pink, and Gossip Girl.
• appeal to logos-In the article, the author quotes authors and professionals who specialize in finances, teenagers, and/or relationships. The article even starts out with a quote about the unemployment rate in America.

This article semi-accomplished its purpose. It was a great article that I absolutely find valid in my life and see it as in issue in my school, but it could improve by focusing on the struggle of lower class teenagers to fit in with the popular cliques that appear to be mostly upper class rather than focusing on the upper class teenagers and how that impacts their relationships.