Week 2 Overview

This week we learned about rhetorical appeals such as logos, pathos and ethos. These are used a lot in persuasion, such as billboards we see and commercials. Logos appeal to reasoning, pathos attempts to put the audience in a particular emotional state, and ethos appeal to authority or character. We also learned about logical fallacies and the exaggerated use of pathos and ethos. This week I also got to spend time with the class in the library and learned about how to use the library search to find articles and books and also got to pick out my topic for the project. Overall I feel good about the project and where I am starting at with my topic. I choose animal abuse in Charlotte because it is something that really means a lot to me and something I can put up a good argument with. I am very excited to start more of the research on my topic and see where it takes me with me research paper.  I was nervous at first because I didn't know where or how to start finding information about my topic but after the library class today I feel a lot better and am now looking forward to getting started.

Myself as a Reader and Writer

I have never been one to pick up a book, without having it assigned to me first. It would always be the last thing id do out of all my homework i had. As i have grown up i have started to like it a lot more as long as its an interesting topic, that starts exciting that way i will have to finish it. I would rather write than read, i like writing, its something i would do without being asked. Once  I have a topic i can write all day about it, as long as its something that interest me. I like to read and write depressing stories or books, ones that involve emotions are my favorite. I write off the top of my head, i have never done much planning but should probably start doing that more instead of making 5 or 6 drafts because I cant decide what i like. All together I enjoy reading and writing, definitely would rather write but if its interesting you can count me in. 

Week 1 - Summary and Reflection

This week was the introductory week to get prepared for the course this semester. We first reviewed many          important terms and ways of breaking down stories or papers by asking six main questions about the author and reader. We used examples from our life to reflect what we were taught in class. We also learned about the word rhetoric which is the ability to discern the available means of persuasion in any given situation. Rhetorical Situation and rhetorical analysis was what we talked about to day as well as how to construct and better our thesis statements, both of which will be extremely helpful.
I've learned a lot this week that will prepare me for the big project this semester, and i also think its going to be a very fun and exciting class. Im looking forward to what is planned for this class and interested in all the topics so far.

Image Analysis: What Would You Choose?

 IMAGE: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=funny+visual+rhetoric+examples+with+foods&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1260&bih=699&tbm=isch&tbnid=Fqp5DrWk07kIuM:&imgrefurl=http://csheridan.edublogs.org/&docid=GYe2NofPw_PqjM&imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/43251048_f1a51509e7.jpg&w=500&h=388&ei=51QWT_v-FcTatweozdWIAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=469&vpy=337&dur=5788&hovh=198&hovw=255&tx=154&ty=150&sig=111139700164758488454&page=3&tbnh=144&tbnw=166&start=38&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:38

This image shows two completely different ideas, both of which are found right next to each other on two highway billboards. One of the billboards shows a doctor and the words: Childhood Obesity. Don't take it lightly. On the other hand, the billboard right below that one has a picture of a happy model holding two bags of McDonalds, saying "my kinda shoppin' spree" with the dollar menu title right underneath that. The funny part about these two images is that they contradict themselves, you either choose one or the other, there is no in between.  One image tries to alert the public of the increasing rate of obesity and the health threats that can occur because of it. The other image persuades people to go eat get fast food at Mcdonalds because it is cheap and easy.  This would put someone observing both billboards in a bad position, do you want to make the healthy choose and wait to make something at home? Or do you want to make the easy cheap choice and just go through a drive-thru and be done with lunch for the afternoon? Its a tough choice, one that even I would have a hard time making. One billboard is informing the public, while the other one is persuading the public, which one would you choose?