AOW #3- Subaru Commercial

Subaru Commercial- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qf8OGLqE1s

     This commercial is from a credible source since it is for a well-know, well-established car company that has much success. Also, it is aired on popular television stations with many viewers.
     In this commercial, there is a little girl, about 5 years old, who is sitting in the driver's seat of a Subaru car. Her dad is talking to her through the open window and giving her rules on how to drive safely. They then flash back to her and she is now a teenager rather than a little girl, and she thanks her dad and pulls out of the driveway. The dad then says "we knew this day was coming, that's why we bought a Subaru."
     The context of this piece is a brand-new teenage driver going out on her own for the first time. Her father, like most would be, is nervous and lays down the rules for her to be safe. It is viewed in the current time period where teenage drivers are considered the most at risk people on the road.
     The purpose for this commercial is to get the viewer to buy a Subaru car. It sets the viewer up to think that their child will be safe if they are driving a Subaru.
     The audience that this was written for is parents of children who newly got their license or who are near to that age. It also is directed at those teenagers who have just begun driving and want a car, especially one that is safe and their parents approve of.
     Some rhetorical elements of this piece are:

• Pathos appeal- The care that the father has for his daughter and his protection over her is heart-warming. It is a relatable situation for most parents with children in their teenage years and tugs at their heart strings since they know the feeling.
• Arrangement- They set it up so that you see the younger girl in the driver's seat first, and the dad explaining the rules. It seems ridiculous that he is saying all this to a young girl, but then they flash back, and she is a teenager. This arrangement also plays on your emotions (pathos) because it makes you look at the teenage girl as the little girl they first showed, which is how the father looks at his daughter. 
• Diction- The word choice is very simple and straight to the point. I think that this is because they just want to get their point across that this car is the best, safest bet for a new driver. They show this more in the visuals than in the actual words that they use.

     I think that they definitely got their point across. They clearly make the car out to be the safest choice for a new driver and greatly appeals to the pathos of the audience. It is a commercial that even I can relate to as a teenager who recently got their license. 

AOW #2- "I was held hostage in my school!"

"I was held hostage in my school!"
as told to Jane Bianchi of Seventeen Magazine (October 2011)

     I know this is a credible source because it came from Seventeen Magazine. This is a very well-known magazine that has been around for years. Every article that is published in this magazine must be legitimate. Also, it talks about a real event that can easily be further researched because of its publicity.
     This article is about a kid who brought a gun to school. He seemed like just an average kid, then one day he brought a gun to school and held his history class hostage. Finally, the SWAT team knocked down the door and got a hold of him before he could shoot anyone. He ended up killing himself.
     The context of this piece is the one-year anniversary of the event. The girl who is telling the story was in the class that he held hostage, and speaks of the event that occurred a year ago and how it is effecting her now.
     The purpose of this piece is to inform people about the event and give tips on what to do if you suspect someone of having a weapon in school or thinking of harming themselves or others.
     The audience that this piece was written for is teenage girls. Though anyone could read it and still get the same meanings out of it, the article is written in a magazine directed to an audience of teenage girls. Also, it is told through the point of view of a teenage girl who was in the class.
     Some rhetorical elements from this piece are:

• a definite use of the pathos appeal- The article is so sad and makes the reader feel the pain that the kids in the class must have felt. It also makes the reader feel pain for the kid who held them hostage since he was in such a terrible place that no one even knew to help him
• diction- The words used are general, easy to understand words that make it clear that the words are coming from a kid and are what she was really saying.

     I think the author accomplished their purpose because I took out of the article a better understanding of what it is actually like to be involved in a school shooting type situation. Also, I was informed of an event that I knew nothing about and had not even heard of before. 

IRB Assignment Preview

Bossypants by Tina Fey
My 4 sections are split into about 4 chapters per section and about 70 pages per section. The page numbers are as follows: 3-56, 57-118, 119-196, 197-275.
I chose this book because non-fiction isn't usually my favorite genre to read. So, when picking my independent reading book, I went for a biography of someone I like. I love Saturday Night Live so Tina Fey has always been a favorite of mine. One of my best friends recommended this book because she loved it so much and let me borrow it for this assignment. I'm really looking forward to reading this book and enjoying the many laughs that I am sure will come along with it.

AOW #1- Hot Topic: Immature Parents

Hot Topic: Immature Parents
Written by Ginger Rue & edited by Leigh Belz of Teen Vogue Magazine (September 2011)
     I know this is a credible source because it is in a well-know, well-established magazine that already has a great reputation. The article features the names of both the author and the editor. It also contains quotes from skilled professionals who know are well-informed about the situation.
     This article was about how in today's generation there is an increasing number of parents who are not fulfilling their duties as a parent. More and more responsibility is being left on the children to take care of themselves and their siblings while parents experience somewhat of a second adolescence.
     The context of this piece is in a magazine that mainly teenage girls read. It is written at a time where this problem is rapidly increasing and even the media have started to portray this issue. The article is written to inform people of the situation and give advice to those going through it.
     The purpose of this piece is for teenagers who are going through this situation to know that they are not alone. It gives advice to these girls so that they can get help and improve their situations to live a better and happier life.
     The audience of this article is mainly teenage girls. Specifically, the article targets teenage girls who have parents who are not acting in their parental roles, or girls who are aware of this from the media. Also, it provides information about the situation to girls who don't even know the problem exists.
     Some rhetorical elements of this piece are a definite use of the appeal of pathos. The article definitely plays on emotions and makes the reader feel sympathetic towards the kids in this situation. It also uses appeals of both logos and ethos because it quotes professionals with real facts. It also uses real life examples sent in from readers.
     I think that the author absolutely accomplished her purpose because the article really made me realize what an issue this is nowadays. It made me think about people I know who may be in this situation and how I can help them. Also, I realized the connection to the television shows I watch that portray this. Since I took so much out of the article, the author definitely accomplished her purpose.