TOW #4 - Humanities, All Too Humanities!

In his piece, Humanities, All Too Humanities, Joel Stein humorously emphasizes the importance of liberal arts majors. An established columnist for Time Magazine, Stein describes how the humanities are experiencing a fall out, due to the admission process of colleges around the country and the increasing popularity of sciences and technology majors. The subtitle of his column states, "Incoming college freshmen should study great books rather than come up with great apps", indicating that he is addressing students who are applying or entering college. He also addresses college admission offices in general, pointing out the exact types of students they have been accepting (and not accepting). Joel Stein appeals to ethos and logos and uses humor in an attempt to achieve his purpose of giving important advice to colleges and college students. At the beginning of this piece, he states that he majored in English and he gives a personal example and says that he went out to lunch with a fellow Stanford graduate, indicating that he graduated from that school, one of the best colleges in the country. In both of these examples, Stein appeals to ethos, indicating he has a lot of knowledge on the topics of liberal arts majors, and that he attended one of the most prestigious schools in the country. He also uses logos to help achieve his purpose and gives data and statistics. He states, "In 2010, 7% of U.S. graduates majored in one of the liberal arts, compared with 14% in 1966…". Stein gives these facts in order to illustrate the decrease in popularity of the humanities, in an attempt to achieve his purpose. His humorous tone also helps him to educate his audience. When discussing why he majored in English and not another topic, he says, "I didn’t choose not to physics. Physics chose not to have me major in it, by make absolutely no sense at all". By providing information in this humorous way, Stein captivates his audience and makes his topic more intriguing. As a rising college student, I thought that Joel Stein did an excellent job and achieved his purpose. He not only made me laugh, but provided some important points to consider and I learned some new things about college admissions. In this column, the author, Joel Stein, effectively discusses the importance of college majors and attempts to educate his audience while doing so.

TOW #3: "Crest Dice ad" - Visual Text

In this advertisement, a toothpaste company, Crest, discusses how risks should not be taken, regarding cavities and dental health. Crest, one of the world's biggest dental hygiene businesses, has been incredibly successful, selling various products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and mouthwash. In this advertisement, they appear to be speaking to potential customers, particularly those who have suffered from cavities before, stating that second chances for healthy teeth are not given to those who take the chance of not properly caring for their teeth. Crest uses many rhetorical devices, in an attempt to achieve their purpose, including analogy. They compare oral hygiene with gambling, picturing two teeth with various holes, similar to those of dice, and state "There are some things you just can't afford to gamble with". This comparison serves to describe to the audience that taking a chance, similar to gambling, with their teeth's well-being is not a smart decision. With this analogy, they also appeal to pathos, working to convince their audience of how big of a risk it is not to use their products. They appeal to ethos when they state that Crest is "The dentist's choice for fighting cavities", meaning that dental experts highly recommend their products.  They also  establish their credibility, when they state that "Crest has prevented 523 million cavities since its introduction in 1955", displaying that they have been in business for a very long time and they appeal to logos, by providing data about the number of cavities their products have prevented. With the strategic use of all of these devices, Crest achieves their purpose of convincing consumers to purchase their products. The first time I saw this ad, I felt convinced that Crest would achieve its ultimate goal of enhancing dental health, and I thought that I should maybe start to purchase their products. In this powerful advertisement, Crest effectively promises to help prevent cavities and to stop people from risking their oral hygiene.  

IRB TOW #1: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

In his number 1 national bestseller, Blink, Malcolm Gladwell discusses "the power of thinking without thinking" and provides the reasoning for rapid decision making. A renown nonfiction writer and journalist, Gladwell has completed multiple works, many of which are concerned with sociology and psychology. His first novel, The Tipping Point, discusses sociological changes that occur in everyday life and in Blink, he explains why these changes occur. Throughout history, many have wondered why quick decisions and judgments arise and Gladwell speaks to these people, answering their questions with facts, stories and personal opinions. Throughout the text so far, he has strategically used many rhetorical devices like anecdotes and hypophora. In the introduction, he tells the story of a kouros, an ancient Greek sculpture of a nude male youth, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. In this anecdote, the Getty Museum wants to purchase this statue but many experts advise them against it, denying its authenticity, despite scientific evidence of its age. It's in this story that he introduces the central topic of Blink, quick decisions and judgments. He says, "What did Harrison see? She didn't know. In the very first moment, when Houghton swished off the cloth, all Harrison had was a hunch, an instinctive sense that something was amiss" (5). Gladwell's use of this anecdote helps him to introduce his topic and provide a strong example its applicability. In order to educate his readers in a coherent way, Gladwell also uses hypophora. When talking of marriage analysis, he says, "If couples aren't aware of how they sound, how much value can there be in asking them direct questions? Not much, and this is way Gottman has couples talk about something involving their marriage…" (39). By asking a question at the beginning of a paragraph and then providing an answer, Gladwell uses hypophora to answer questions and to easily transition from one topic to another. He uses these strategies in order to educate, stir questions and to provide facts of decision making. Based on the information I have read so far, Gladwell has already achieved this purpose. Although I am still reading, I have learned more about psychology and the reasoning behind various decisions. In Blink, Malcolm Gladwell informs his audience of many aspects of cognition and effectively writes to leave an impression of the influence that decisions have on our everyday lives.

IRB Introduction: Blink By Malcolm Gladwell

For my first IRB, I chose Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, the author discusses various aspects of psychology and human behavior and gives an array of examples to further the readers understanding. I chose this text because I have heard a lot of great things about this book and it was reccomended to me by a friend, who enjoyed not only this book, but some other books written by Gladwell. As someone who has always been interested in anthropology, I hope to have a better understanding of human behavior and natural human instincts after reading and I am so excited to read Blink by Malcom Gladwell!

TOW #1: How to Say Nothing in 500 Words

In How to Say Nothing in 500 Words, Paul Roberts provides readers with vital advice in order to achieve writing success. An established author of various writing textbooks, including Patterns of English and Understanding English, Paul Roberts seemingly breaks down the artistry of the English language into a science of writing and composition. In this piece, he appears to be speaking to English students, by giving a particular scenario of what a student goes through while writing a paper, and using a second - person point of view, constantly using the word, you, thus, giving the sense that he is directly addressing them. Throughout the text, Roberts offers tips and pointers on how to write effectively and what students should and should not do, to improve their composition skills. The author uses many important rhetorical devices, including an informal, humorous tone and personification. In the excerpt, his informal, humorous tone helps his audience relate to his statements about writing. For example, when talking of the differences of writing in 19th and 20th centuries, he claims that more people today prefer less dramatic literature, stating, " Some people like that sort of thing, but most modern readers would say, 'Good grief,' and turn on the television" (65). In this humorous line, he makes his topic more intriguing for his audience, helping them grasp a better understand of what he saying. He also uses personification when talking about many aspects of composition. For example, he states, "Some pat expressions stand like a wall between the writer and thought" (64). Through his use of personification, he emphatically points out the effects of various writing skills, educating his audience in an interesting way. By using these rhetorical strategies, Roberts informs his audience of how to write effectively and gives many important pieces of advice, hoping to improve their writing skills. I felt that these devices helped him achieve his purpose because there were certain aspects discussed in this essay that I could use in my composition skills and after reading, I had some new writing techniques under my belt. In How to Say Nothing in 500 Words, Paul Roberts effectively writes to his readers, teaching them valuable writing skills and giving important pointers, to help them succeed in the science of composition.

Analysis of Bop (Langston Hughes)

In Bop, Langston Hughes highlights prominent cultural issues through a straightforward dialogue between two characters. Discussing the music, “be - bop”, one character, Simple explains its origins and purpose to a nameless narrator, who is oblivious to the current trend. In Bop, written in 1949, the author, Langston Hughes, emphasizes a controversial issue of the time, racial inequality. His work and influence during the Harlem Renaissance protested black suppression and his poetry expressed his feelings toward the problem and his pride of his culture. In the essay, he writes to illustrate common prejudices and their influence on aspects of culture, including music. Intending the audience to be those unaware of black discrimination and its cultural effect, Hughes strategically uses colloquialism and allusions. His use of colloquialism is evident when Simple uses informal jargon and slang, at one point, stating, “‘That’s why so many white folks don’t dig Bop’” (191). Simple’s broken language helps the narrator and reader easily grasp the significant issue. Hughes uses allusions, which is clear when Simple explains that the origin of the music is from the police. He describes that the sounds used in the music come from white police officers hitting black people on the head. He says, “‘White folks do not get their heads beat just for being white. But me - a cop is liable to grab me almost any time and beat my head - just for being colored’” (191). This is not only a direct statement from Simple, regarding the racial issues of his area, but just one example, alluding to the greater problem of racial inequality and how prejudices and personal bias are affecting the justice of black - american citizens. These strategies helped Langston Hughes to achieve his purpose. After reading, I had gathered a better understanding of the prevalence of racial inequality and how it truly stirred black americans. In Bop, Langston Hughes provides readers with a glimpse of a controversial time in history, and how society significantly shapes cultures all over the world.

An Oblivious Trend-Setter 
By beating black citizens, white policemen unknowingly inspired the music “Be - bop”. Source: Detriots-great-rebellion.com

Analysis of The Crack-Up (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In The Crack - Up, F. Scott Fitzgerald gives insights on his personal journey through a mental crisis or “crack - up”. During his breakdown, Fitzgerald analyzes his mentality and character, and feels empty, regarding countless aspects of his life. This essay, written in 1936, also discusses society, and its influence, including during the great depression. To escape this dreary time, many found refuge in movies, drifting from novels. Fitzgerald’s earlier work, including his novels, This Side of Paradise and The Great Gatsby were left behind. During the essay, he gives details of his insanity, and informs those who may be subject to breakdowns of what may occur. By providing personal examples, he explains, to those close to him and to those who enjoy his work, his actions and what ensued during this troubled time. Fitzgerald’s use of analogy and dramatic undertones provide an accurate understanding of his emotions. He compares himself to a cracked plate, explaining, “...the cracked plate has to be retained in the pantry... It can never again be warmed on the stove nor shuffled with the other plates in the dishpan..” (144). In this example, he claims that the cracked plate has to be isolated, affecting its character. Similar to the plate, he also is damaged, changing his nature. This powerful analogy illustrates Fitzgerald’s newfound isolation, and how he is changed, like the plate. He also gives the piece a dramatic undertone. While asking advice from a doctor, he describes, “I might have asked some of it from her, neatly wrapped and ready for home cooking and digestion, but I could never have got it - not if I’d waited around for a thousand hours with the tin cup of self - pity” (143). In this example, he emphasizes his emotions and by using these strategies, achieved his purpose. After further researching Fitzgerald, I noticed how his feelings described in the essay were directly applicable to his actions and I felt sympathetic towards his struggle. In The Crack - Up, F. Scott Fitzgerald exposes his vulnerable and wavering character yet manages to find solace by pulling into himself and his writing.

Caution: Fragile! 
Fitzgerald compares his wavering mentality with a broken plate: delicate and weak. Source: Finedininglovers.com

Analysis of Pamplona in July (Ernest Hemingway)

In Pamplona in July, Ernest Hemingway recounts his summer visit to the town, Pamplona, in Northern Spain, renown for hosting a bullfighting festival every July (98). Throughout the piece, Hemingway vividly narrates his experiences and describes the traditions, people and culture of the town, and the riveting bullfights he attended. The essay, published in 1923, was not the first of Hemingway’s successes. While writing as a journalist, he also published many short pieces and two books featuring his works. This trip was the first of many to the festival, which served as inspiration for his first novel, The Sun Also Rises. During the piece, Hemingway not only informs the reader of what occurred on his trip, but brings the reader on a journey into the little town with him. He writes to paint a descriptive picture of his experience around Pamplona and at the bullfights themselves. To those who enjoy unique adventures and who may be interested in attending the festival, he tells his story, using strong diction, straightforward phrases and asyndeton, giving a descriptive glimpse of his experience. He gives the piece a candid tone, using strong diction and straightforward phrases. With short, descriptive phrases, he pulls the reader into the loud arena with him. He states, “Then the bull charges and bags another man. The crowd roars with delight” (102). His strong diction and short phrases help him inform the reader and give an honest recount of what occurs. To provide a better understanding of the context, he emphatically uses asyndeton. While talking of a skillful bullfighter, he says,  “He handled them all. Did it all. Cape play easy, graceful, confident” (105). By excluding conjunctions, he highlights the ease of the man’s actions, giving an exciting, wondrous mood to the piece. With his interesting craft, Hemingway achieved his goal. I felt like I was sitting alongside the Hemingways in the roaring arena, and after reading, I knew much more about bullfighting and the festival. Ernest Hemingway’s essay, Pamplona in July, illustrates his journey through another culture, and gives a direct glimpse into this exquisite world.

Terri - bull Safety
 The bulls run freely through the streets and crowds of Pamplona to the arena, where the fighting takes place.
Source: PBS.org