AOW 10/31: Editorial

This week's editorial comes from the USA Today. The article's opinion is derived from a diverse group of individuals who decide on the entire board's opinion and also require all editorial pieces to examine all sides of an argument to allow the audience to make their own conclusion with all available information. This allows a broader range of audience to read the article that states an opinion an Editorial Board composed. This allows people of different social standing to form separate and unique opinions. The editorial discusses to difference between a flat tax and a simple tax code. The author discusses how a flat-tax means that all individuals pay a certain percentage of their income to the government. This benefits the rich because they would pay a lower rate than they currently do. A simple tax code involves the different deductions and breaks available to each tax bracket. This editorial was written shortly after Rick Perry and Herman Cain had announced their  flat-tax plans in push for the GOP nomination for the November 2012 general elections for President. Cain's plan involves a flat 9% tax on sales, corporate, and income tax. Perry's plan is more complex, individuals have the option to pay based on the old tax code or pay a new flat tax of 20%. They use Juxtaposition to show the differences in the complexity of Cain's plan and Perry's plan as well as the comparison of a flat-tax versus a simple tax code. Their argument is that the flat-tax plan, such as Perry's, is very complex because the lower class would have to calculate two sums they would have to pay and decide which one to chose. The author tried to portray the message that flat-taxes are still very confusing and give most benefits to the upper class. The author also states that the middle and lower class will struggle to determine what tax amount they would pay if Perry's plan is put into effect. The author accomplishes their purpose by juxtaposing the differences in the recently composed plans and how each presents their own level of complexity.

AOW 10/24: New Libyan Government

This week's article comes from the Associated Press in Beijing and discusses the future of Libya, the Libyan people, and their government. This article was written in the wake of of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's death. They discussed Gadhafi's forty-two year rule and how his death will lead to radical change. The author does this to provide a global view of what new developments in Libya are going to occur and what other nations believe what is needed to establish a Libyan democracy. The author also quotes leaders from various countries around the world and collects their opinion about Gadhafi and the former Libya he ran. The author Juxtaposes the viewpoints of western nations versus the less developed nations who had closer ties to Gadhafi and the former Libyan regime. The author wrote this to the Chinese people as well as other people who subscribe to the Taiwan News. Since the article was written by the Associated Press in China, the article talks more in depth about the viewpoints of China and the Chinese people. Many said that it was sad that Gadhafi was killed the way he was and that he will always be remembered as a great leader. This article appeals to a person's pathos and logos because of the memory used and the strong quotes from many international leaders. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez went as far to call Gadhafi a martyr. This intrigues a reader from a country such as ours, because our perception is much more different than the Venezuelans. It appeals to our pathos because we have strong joyous emotion for Gadhafi's death, but other nations are grieving his death. This appeals to logos because the author begins to mention a reconstruction plan of Libya, which has been an ongoing discussion on how it can establish their own democracy. The author proves her purpose by using quotes from various leaders and explains how other nations are already helping out. The author effectively shows that Libya will face a tough road ahead and that many democratic nations will support their goal of democracy.

AOW 10/17: iPhone 4S Advertisement

The video discusses Apple Inc's new product the iPhone 4S. This video highlights some of the key features that are included on the iPhone 4S. They are discussed by high ranking members of the corporation. They overview the key features of the phone and then go in-depth about each one. This video was released the same day as the announcement of Apple's new fall product line. This video was also released for those who wanted to learn about all of the phone's key features, but did not want to watch the entire Apple Keynote. This was released directly through Apple, who is able to highlight the key features and how people can use them. This was created to demonstrate the key features of the phone as well as to sell the phone and its features to the viewer. They also wanted to build up excitement and suspense to the October 14th release in stores. They follow the classical argument structure by introducing the phone by highlighting the previous model's accolades. Following the introduction they briefly state the key features that were widely requested by current iPhone users. They talk about the specifics of each feature and then say why that is very useful and also refute the usage of other iPhones by talking about the advance capabilities the iPhone and downplaying other phone's capabilities. They conclude with their idea of how the iPhone will change the way people use their smartphone. They accomplished their purpose by describing the key features of their phone and downplay other phones and appealed to their viewers by telling them about the key features that they wanted. They were able to downplay other phones and send the message "this is the best phone on the market and it is only worth while if you the iPhone 4S."

Assignment Question Reflection

When we had a lesson on the rhetorical triangle and broke it down piece by piece and added information to each part of the triangle. I found that to be very helpful because it helped me understand how to write with the right style and ideas based on the subject and audience. This lesson also broke down different rhetorical strategies that are involved with each part of the triangle. After reading chapter 1 in Everyday Use I was confused by the meaning of genre and paired it with subject. After that lesson I learned that genre is the type of writing such as a lab report or a memoir. This lesson also gave notes on words that were unknown to me and made sense to me after the lesson was done. This was helpful because I now know what to use to effectively write rhetorically and understand what I am writing and why.

Essential Question Reflection

Effective arguments show your opinion and can qualify, refute, or support another claim made. To show your point clearly many rhetors will use the rhetorical triangle to rhetorically write to their specific audience about a specific topic. They will prove a different point to satisfy their audience depending on the topic. If the subject is abortion, the speaker's intention could change if he is talking to different groups of people. His paper will change if he is talking to high school students or new families. It can definitely change if he speaking to a group of pro-life republicans rather than a group of democrats in favor of pro-choice. He may have to change his diction and style to create a more appropriate speech that will disturb the audience. By knowing his audience and topic he can effectively get his point across.

The author also has to appeal to his audience and he does this by using the appeals: ethos, logos, pathos. The rhetor can appeal to the audience's sense of logic and emotions and they also show credibility by appealing to ethos. By appealing to logic, the rhetor can get the audience to think their idea through. This can convince the audience to believe in their idea. By appealing to emotions the rhetor can create a connection with the audience and they will connect with the rhetor and believe in the same idea because of the connection created. Using these appeals they can convince the audience to share a common belief

AOW 10/10: Steve Jobs the Tyrant

This weeks article comes from David Streitfeld of the New York Times. Streitfeld's article summarizes the mourning and memorial that has taken place since the death of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Jobs had stepped down as Apple's CEO back in August while battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Along with Jobs' passing was Apple's announcement of the iPhone 4S, a Jobs created device. One day after the announcement Apple Inc. announced Jobs' passing on their website. Streitfeld wrote about the memorial, mourning, and life of Jobs by using quotes and examples from his close friends in Silicon Valley. To convey how much impact the death had on many people he used potent diction to describe scenes of memorial, such as those at Apple Stores across the country. He also used effective quotes with strong language to show what kind of person Jobs was like, "Stories of him forcefully telling... (“You’ve baked a really lovely cake,” he told one engineer, adding that the hapless fellow had used dog feces for frosting)." Those words said by Jobs to an employee showed how finicky he was with the product detail, but also wanting the best out of his company and products. It also showed his powerful managing style with the harsh treatment of engineers and developers, Jobs would want them to make it smaller and better. He wanted to educate people about how Jobs lived his life and how he managed one of the largest and fastest growing companies of the past decade. Many people have shown extreme interest in Jobs' because of their close connection with Apple's products such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Many people on social media websites have posted sentimental wishes to Jobs, Apple, and Jobs' family describing their shock and sadness of the news. Streitfeld accomplished his purpose because he gave keen insights on how Jobs managed Apple in private and how he showed this attitude and mentality throughout his life. Streitfeld was accurate in telling his reader that Jobs strived for excellence and was determined to get there.