Payment in Full
Henry Decker
Section 1: Prologue-13
Section 2: 14-27
Section 3: 27-Epilogue
I chose to this book because since this unit is the only unit that contains fiction, I wanted to take the opportunity to read a fictional story. This novel was recommended to me because it tells a very emotional story about a Jewish woman who adopts an African American girl who overcomes many obstacles to later become a successful and strong-willed woman. I am very excited to immerse myself in this story and use my knowledge of Burke's Pentad and the 'aspects' of fiction to discover the rhetorical devices that are used to tell this fictional story.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
President Barack Obama's State of the Union Speech
On January 24, 2012, President Barack Obama gave his annual State of the Union speech which summarized the successes and downfalls within the year, and where our country stands today. As President of the United States, it was Mr. Obama's duty to deliver this speech in order to revive the American spirit during this recession, as well as to show the immense amount of progress he has made during the four years of his presidency, with hopes of getting re-elected in 2012. With this being said, the context of this piece is causal because it was caused by a tradition that the president must make a State of the Union speech, as well as speaking to the entire American nation about himself and reminding America in his possible last year of presidency that he is a very efficient president. The purpose for this speech had two aims- to inform the American nation about the issues still needing to be fixed with a proposed solution, as well as to convince the public that President Obama is capable of being an ideal president for the next four years. The use of rhetoric in this speech was flawless, as it effectively helped to accomplish Obama's purpose. The president used a multitude of patterns of development such as narration through the story of single mom Jackie Bray and her job opportunity, cause and effect through the issues within America and Obama's plan to tackle them, as well as definition when the President defines America as he leaves a memorable impact on the citizens. The tone of this speech was ambitious because it sparked a need for motivation within America. The diction and syntax helped to create this tone by pertaining to the audience with choice of saying "we" as a whole, including the President as a common person. Finally, the conclusion of the speech with the use of an anaphora of repeating the phrase "this nation is great" helps the reader to remember why America is the world power and how we achieved this position, with the use of pathos.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Newt Gingrich's Standing Ovation at South Carolina GOP Debate
This video contains the Republican Debate in South Carolina for the race to candidacy in the 2012 presidential election against current president Barack Obama. In this clip, candidate Newt Gingrich is answering the question given by moderator Juan Williams about his views on unintentionally belittling poor Black-Americans about getting jobs, as well as referring to Barack Obama as the "food stamp president." Gingrich sharply defends himself and turns the negative image Williams has painted of Gingrich back on Williams, which in return receives a standing ovation by the crowd of supporters. The author of this piece is Fox News, which is a leaning-conservative radio station, and establishes credibility for the debate is for the Republican candidate, not the Democratic candidate. The context of this piece is causal because the 2012 Presidential Election is quickly approaching, and a Republican candidate will soon be chosen through debates and votes from the American citizens. The purpose of this debate is for Newt Gingrich to convince the state of South Carolina (audience), as well as the American public that he is the ideal president and will be able to turn the country into a more positive direction than the other candidates. As Gingrich spoke, he used a plethora of rhetorical devices to allude to a very convincing and effective debate. His strong and determined tone when speaking gave a sense of leadership and passion, which are two important qualities of a president. Also, Gingrich's use of parallelism towards the end when summarizing his thoughts left a lasting impact on the audience, for they now know exactly what Gingrich's plan is for America and how it will be effective in the future. Finally, the factual information established credibility because it backed up Newt's claims and showed the audience that he knew exactly what he was talking about. Due to the feedback of the supporters in the background of the moderators, Gingrich effectively accomplished his purpose, and also won the South Carolina primary. He is one step closer to becoming the Republican candidate to run against Barack Obama in the 2012 election.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
IRB #2- Post 3
Chapters 6-7
In chapter 6 of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, the rhetor discusses how facial expressions dictates one's interpretation of another's feelings and inner thoughts. However, sometimes, people can misread the expressions of others in a process known as mind-reading failures. These misunderstandings result in disagreements, arguments, and hurt feelings. Others do not even look in the eyes of the person they are talking to. Autistic people, for example, look away and read the signs of the environment to pick up a vibe from these people. In the final chapter, chapter 7, Gladwell discusses society's bias to others as we use our eyes and ears to judge rather than our instincts. He leaves the audience thinking about if resists the temptation of rapid cognition through immediate tasks rather than intuition, this could possibly change our reality for the better, or for the worse.
In the final chapters, Gladwell uses narratives to later describe the cognitive reasoning behind these examples. This arrangement pattern helps the audience to connect a story to the science behind that problem. In addition, Gladwell's use of scientific diction enhances the piece and establishes credibility for the rhetor, for it reflects knowledge and in-depth research of the psychological field. However, Gladwell's use of the sophisticated words still pertains to the audience because he explains each term through his work, which helps the audience understand what he is talking about, as well as to make connections in one's repertoire. Finally, the syntax of the piece is very diverse, which is appealing to the audience and grabs their attention through the varied length and types of sentences.
In chapter 6 of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, the rhetor discusses how facial expressions dictates one's interpretation of another's feelings and inner thoughts. However, sometimes, people can misread the expressions of others in a process known as mind-reading failures. These misunderstandings result in disagreements, arguments, and hurt feelings. Others do not even look in the eyes of the person they are talking to. Autistic people, for example, look away and read the signs of the environment to pick up a vibe from these people. In the final chapter, chapter 7, Gladwell discusses society's bias to others as we use our eyes and ears to judge rather than our instincts. He leaves the audience thinking about if resists the temptation of rapid cognition through immediate tasks rather than intuition, this could possibly change our reality for the better, or for the worse.
In the final chapters, Gladwell uses narratives to later describe the cognitive reasoning behind these examples. This arrangement pattern helps the audience to connect a story to the science behind that problem. In addition, Gladwell's use of scientific diction enhances the piece and establishes credibility for the rhetor, for it reflects knowledge and in-depth research of the psychological field. However, Gladwell's use of the sophisticated words still pertains to the audience because he explains each term through his work, which helps the audience understand what he is talking about, as well as to make connections in one's repertoire. Finally, the syntax of the piece is very diverse, which is appealing to the audience and grabs their attention through the varied length and types of sentences.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Unit 3 Reflection
In 1776, our founding fathers embarked on a set goal to make their new country of America into a democracy. It was important to these intellects that our society be run strictly by the people, for the people, with the allowance of manipulation in the government if needed in order to be the most successful country. The founding fathers rebelled against the strict rules placed by the British government, and they knew they did not want the same in America. Based on this democratic society, it is the individual’s duty to elect only the brightest leaders into government in order to maintain and uphold the legacy that the United States has had over the centuries. In return, it is the government’s duty to establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty in order to form a more perfect union (United States Constitution). The lasting legacy’s of the individuals in history who took a stand on important issues to shape our society has greatly impacted our government’s structure today.
As history has taken its path, many individuals had to take a stand to the government and fight for the rights of its citizens in order to resolve the issues created along life’s course. Even before the American Revolution and the United States of America was independent, famous individuals took a stand for their beliefs in order to resolve certain issues. During his speech in the Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry stood above the rest as he advocated for colonial rights in government. Before the United States Constitution was written and the Revolution was being fought, Henry had to stand up to the judge, who happened to be his father, in order to abolish the Parson’s Clause and increase colonial rights. This course of action set a precedent for other individuals to fight for the rights of citizens and go against the government in certain cases.
In addition to Patrick Henry’s influence on the Parson’s Clause, President Abraham Lincoln also had an obligation to make a very important speech to his people during the American Civil War. Through his brilliant speech of only lasting two minutes, Lincoln made an everlasting impact on America today and emphasized equality and unification of its people. It was the obligation of this individual to remind the American people that the "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Abraham Lincoln ensured America that a democracy will remain in place, and that states’ rights were not dominant. It is the duty of the government to the individual that the individual’s rights are secured, and everyone was equal.
Years after Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg, individuals continued to fight for their rights; an obligation made to society. One brave man, Martin Luther King, Jr., was determined to fight for the rights of the African American people through his wise words and perseverance. His most famous line, which referenced the work of the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal, stated, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” Mr. King felt strongly that it was his duty to stand up to the government and fight for the rights of other individuals in an attempt to gain freedom and equality. It is with this passion that King was able to break the barrier between the white and black people and finally create a more united America.
After reading the famous speeches by these individuals, I have a better feel for my duty in my society. In one year, I will be granted the right to vote. It is imperative that when given this huge obligation, I make sure I am voting in the most suitable representative that I feel will best turn my country in the more positive direction. Within age comes more responsibilities, and being mature about situations is key to a successful society. The brave and determined individuals who fought for the rights of citizens did not decide one day they were going to do this; they witnessed the unequal and unfair actions that were forced upon innocent civilians, and with this information, they knew they must do something to stop this. Staying informed in society and taking an active role in governmental decisions is important for a united country.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
How the Brain Interprets Pain and How to Get Relief
This article discusses an experiment that tested the question of whether romance can cure the feeling of physical pain. The study was done at Stanford University, and the subjects were fifteen students who were in an intense relationship. The students inflicted a thermal pain on their left hand, and then were asked to focus on an image of their loved one. The results showed that the pain alleviated when the students were gazing at the photograph, but when they looked away, they felt more of a pain. This article came from U.S. News, a highly credible leading news weekly that focuses on reports from American colleges. Marshall Allen, the author of this article, won the 2011 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. The context of this piece is spacial because it analyzes the results from an experiment over a period of time, through social interactions between students. The purpose of this article is to propose new information about engaging in emotional experiences will trigger the brain to provide relief. The audience of this piece is everyone who has ever been in love with a significant other and can relate to the pleasure that they provide in order to make these connections between the content and themselves. The major rhetorical devices listed in this piece are logos through the scientific explanations of how emotional experiences trigger a sense of relief to the brain, formal diction when discussing the functions of the brain and its different parts, as well as establishing credibility for the plethora of colleges, doctors and professors the author quoted in order to effectively accomplish his purpose.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
IRB #2- Post 2
Chapters 3-5
In this section of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, the author discusses many different theories to the reasons why we make decisions. In Chapter 3, Gladwell argues that our society is oblivious to our unconsciously motivated behaviors that urge us to make biased assumptions. For example, when elected president in 1920, Warren G. Harding was not the most suitable president yet he was the most handsome and distinguished-looking president. This rapid cognition expresses the root of prejudice and discrimination because people will chose society's "better fit" over anyone else. In Chapter 4, the discussion is based on analytic vs. intuitive decision making. Both of these are used in inappropriate circumstances and often lead to biased decisions. Finally, in Chapter 5, Gladwell goes so far to argue that when learning something new, the confusion that coincides with a new task can actually be an unconscious sign of distrust.
According to the stylistic and rhetorical analysis sheet, a plethora of strategies were used by Gladwell. In chapter 3, there was often a sarcastic tone presented through the informal diction. When describing society's unconsciously biased behaviors, Gladwell uses a less-didactic diction such as using simplistic words of "good" and "bad" instead of a more sophisticated word choice. This sarcastic tone is created through Gladwell's annoyance of society making unintelligent decisions based on their rapidly unconscious behavior. In chapter 4, the use of rhetorical questions was continuously sewn into each page. These questions helped the reader to make decisions based on themselves to determine if they were more analytical decision-makers or intuitive decision-makers. This helps strengthen the connection between the reader to the author because it engages the reader to think about themselves based on the observations of the writer. Finally, in Chapter 5, the rhetor uses a cause-and-effect arrangement to argue his claim effectively. Gladwell discusses different scenarios all leading up to his claim that the unconscious disproval of something new may be out of distrust and confusion. He also makes the audience differentiate between intuitive and emotional judgement.
The overview of this section was unconscious decision making, and how our environment affects the decisions we make unknowingly, and how it strongly dictates our judgement intuitively. The 3 parts of this section were broken up into biased decision-making, analytical vs. intuitive decision-making, and intuitive and emotional judgement. The parts go from broad to more specific; from dealing with a national decision to more personal judgement. The title of each chapter discusses the major example explained in the chapter, and then how it relates back to the main title of the book- Blink. For example, for chapter 3, the "Warren G. Harding Effect"title is an example of how in the "Blink" of an eye, we make unconscious decisions that can be very biased, such as electing a handsome president instead of a more intellectual one. The interrelationships in this section are strong between the writer and audience through the plethora of rhetorical questions that help the audience evaluate their own lives based on the research and observations of the highly credible writer. Finally, the conclusion of this section leaves the audience to judge themselves and think about how biased and intuitive their judgement has been on the past.
In this section of Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, the author discusses many different theories to the reasons why we make decisions. In Chapter 3, Gladwell argues that our society is oblivious to our unconsciously motivated behaviors that urge us to make biased assumptions. For example, when elected president in 1920, Warren G. Harding was not the most suitable president yet he was the most handsome and distinguished-looking president. This rapid cognition expresses the root of prejudice and discrimination because people will chose society's "better fit" over anyone else. In Chapter 4, the discussion is based on analytic vs. intuitive decision making. Both of these are used in inappropriate circumstances and often lead to biased decisions. Finally, in Chapter 5, Gladwell goes so far to argue that when learning something new, the confusion that coincides with a new task can actually be an unconscious sign of distrust.
According to the stylistic and rhetorical analysis sheet, a plethora of strategies were used by Gladwell. In chapter 3, there was often a sarcastic tone presented through the informal diction. When describing society's unconsciously biased behaviors, Gladwell uses a less-didactic diction such as using simplistic words of "good" and "bad" instead of a more sophisticated word choice. This sarcastic tone is created through Gladwell's annoyance of society making unintelligent decisions based on their rapidly unconscious behavior. In chapter 4, the use of rhetorical questions was continuously sewn into each page. These questions helped the reader to make decisions based on themselves to determine if they were more analytical decision-makers or intuitive decision-makers. This helps strengthen the connection between the reader to the author because it engages the reader to think about themselves based on the observations of the writer. Finally, in Chapter 5, the rhetor uses a cause-and-effect arrangement to argue his claim effectively. Gladwell discusses different scenarios all leading up to his claim that the unconscious disproval of something new may be out of distrust and confusion. He also makes the audience differentiate between intuitive and emotional judgement.
The overview of this section was unconscious decision making, and how our environment affects the decisions we make unknowingly, and how it strongly dictates our judgement intuitively. The 3 parts of this section were broken up into biased decision-making, analytical vs. intuitive decision-making, and intuitive and emotional judgement. The parts go from broad to more specific; from dealing with a national decision to more personal judgement. The title of each chapter discusses the major example explained in the chapter, and then how it relates back to the main title of the book- Blink. For example, for chapter 3, the "Warren G. Harding Effect"title is an example of how in the "Blink" of an eye, we make unconscious decisions that can be very biased, such as electing a handsome president instead of a more intellectual one. The interrelationships in this section are strong between the writer and audience through the plethora of rhetorical questions that help the audience evaluate their own lives based on the research and observations of the highly credible writer. Finally, the conclusion of this section leaves the audience to judge themselves and think about how biased and intuitive their judgement has been on the past.
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