P#3 and P#2 Reflection

Writing the analysis paper was a lot different than writing the persuasive paper. For me, the analysis paper was a lot more fun. Being able to break things down and analyze them is a fun challenge, and it didn’t involve scrambling to cite sources. To be fair, the topic I picked for my argumentative essay is a pretty serious one. I wish i had picked something a little lighter. It was a lot more work coming up with arguments and explaining myself clearly for the third paper. I did enjoy doing research on my topic though, it is an issue I have a personal opinion on, and I was glad this gave me an excuse to look more into it. Finding all the facts forced me to re-examine my opinion, and it was a good experience for me.

I think because I enjoyed the analysis paper more, I was able to do better work on it. I spent a really long time re-reading it and messing with the formatting to make sure it was perfect, while with this paper I’m much less perfectionist about. That could also just be that it’s the end of the quarter. Either way, I think both papers helped me gain more writing experience. Organizing my thoughts into words in a way that sounds good is something I struggle with, and having to talk about a sensitive topic made me work to practice that skill. The analysis paper helped me do this by forcing me to order my thoughts about each ad in a way that made sense. Both these papers were awesome to write, and I’m glad I got the experience I did from them.

In Class Lab 12/1 Paper #3 Peer Analysis

Paper #1

1.       What is the claim?

a.       The main point of this essay is to convince readers that abortion is a crime, and is not okay.

b.      The introduction does not clearly state the thesis, and it would be helpful to the paper if it did, I think. You can still see what the paper is trying to say through the first couple paragraphs.

2.       What support does the writer offer for the claim?

a.       One reason is that abortions can still be done after the baby is mostly developed. Another is an ethical appeal that abortion is just plain wrong. Also the author offers alternatives like contraceptives and giving up the baby for adoption.

b.      The only real hard stats is the information about the restriction on abortion timelines in different states.

c.       Yes, the reasons make sense, but I think they could be stated more clearly and backed up with more information.

3.       How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues?

a.       Yes there are mentions of counterarguments. They are explained well, and the refuting of the counter arguments is done well.

b.      Yes they are responded to reasonably.

c.       The other sides are respected, and taken into account.

d.      A lot of the paper’s reasons are backed up with I statements; how the author believes you should feel about it.

4.       What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?

a.       There are a few spaces left purposely for in text citations for some facts.   

b.      n/a

c.       n/a

5.       How does the writer address you as a reader?

a.       Yes, it is assumed that the reader knows something about what abortion is/how it’s done etc.

b.      A lot of the paper is almost ethically calling out the reader, such as “How can you not call this a crime?” “We” is also used in some cases, telling the readers that “we” together need to do something.

c.       I think that the author and I do share some beliefs about women’s rights, but mostly on this topic we don’t. As a person on the opposite side of the argument in this paper, I did not feel insulted when she addressed her counter arguments. She didn’t convince me, but did give me a better understanding of the other perspective.

Paper #2

6.       What is the claim?

a.       Video games do not cause violence in teens.

b.      Yes, the thesis is very firmly stated in the first paragraph.

7.       What support does the writer offer for the claim?

a.       The writer offers the reasons that many of the supposed negative impacts video games have can be caused by other factors, as well as games and murders not being correlated, and talking about the psychology of games, how they actually should be helping reduce violence.

b.      There are statistics, quotes from articles, and personal experience as evidence to back up these reasons. The graph included is especially good at illustrating the point.

c.       Yes, the reasons make sense to me.

8.       How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues?

a.       Yes, counterarguments are mentioned throughout the piece, and dealt with individually.

b.      They are explained and then refuted in a respectful way.

c.       Yes, the arguments used each seem clear and focused.

9.       What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?

a.       The statistics and quotes are used as evidence to support the argument in the writing.

b.      Most of the sources seem pretty credible, however for some of the quotes it might be helpful to explain why the person who said it is qualified to talk about it.

c.       Yes they are current, from the bibliography you can see they are from within the past couple years.

10.   How does the writer address you as a reader?

a.       For the most part, all relevant information is explained well, and you don’t need prior knowledge to understand it.

b.      The opening uses “we” as an inclusion. When talking about counter arguments, the author also says they understand the other side.

c.       Yes, I totally agree with the author on this topic, and this essay was fun to read because I didn’t know how much this could actually be supported.

Essay #3 Rough Draft

Planned Parenthood is an organization that has faced a fair amount of prejudice and controversy; controversy that has only been growing. The organization has come under a lot of pressure due to recent federal funding disputes, and activists on both sides of this issue are shouting their positions to anyone and everyone who might hear them. The fact is, the heart of this ideological debate on abortion doesn’t matter as much as preserving the many other healthcare services this organization provides to women.

    One of Planned Parenthood’s main goals is to provide access to safe, affordable medical aid to men, women, and teenagers. According to their website, they have skilled healthcare professionals, “dedicated to offering men, women, and teens high-quality, affordable medical care.” The primary services they provide are preventative; preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases through contraceptives. In a statement the organization’s president gave CNN, Planned Parenthood provides 830,000 breast exams, 1 million cervical cancer screenings, half a million HIV tests and birth control to 2.5 million patients every year. Planned Parenthood receives about one third of its annual budget from federal funding, with the majority of this from Medicaid, a federal program designed to help low-income citizens. (LA Times) If the Defund Planned Parenthood Act was to take affect, Planned Parenthood’s clients would no longer receive Medicare reimbursement for any services. For a lot of low income citizens, this would mean they wouldn’t have access to these services at all. The CBO estimated that anywhere between 5% and 25% of the 2.5 million clients would lose some or all of their access to healthcare. Planned Parenthood needs that funding to continue providing care to those in need.

    Another of Planned Parenthood’s primary goals is to educate the public about reproductive and sexual health. In ninth grade, my biology class was visited for several class periods by a Planned Parenthood representative. A classroom full of high school freshman is much more inclined to giggle and cringe at sex ed than actually learn, but the teacher Planned Parenthood sent took the time and care needed to get through to us. Every question, as silly as some were, was taken and answered seriously. Not only did this presentation educate us about methods of contraception, but they gave healthy relationship advice, giving us resources if we ever needed help. I could tell that our guest wanted us to have the knowledgeable necessary to take care of ourselves properly. Me and my classmates were lucky, for many schools are mandated to teach Abstinence-Only programs. These programs are not allowed to instruct students on the proper use of contraceptives to prevent STDs and pregnancy. (Advocates for Youth) Planned Parenthood is helping to break that trend, providing the education many teens will need as they get older, and become sexually active.

    Planned Parenthood is also an active part of the fight for women’s health and rights. The Planned Parenthood Action website clearly outlines their goals; the right to access health care and sexual education, regardless of race, social status, religion, or politics. The action group organizes support rallies and other events, as well as raising and donating money to causes dedicated to health care and women’s rights. They have several advisory boards and initiatives meant to reach out and further their values in specific groups, like the Latino Outreach Initiative, as well as LGBTQA rights.

    The House of Representatives, though shot down by the Senate, recently passed a bill stripping Planned Parenthood of its federal funding for a year, and many of the conservative representatives want to strip their funding forever. Many people have strong opinions on the issue of abortion, and have issues with Planned Parenthood because of that. However, since the 70’s no clinic has been allowed to use federal funding for abortions, and only 3% of the services they provide are abortions. (CNN) One of the main reasons this issue has come under scrutiny recently is a video put together and released by David Daleiden. The video shows what appears to be graphic images of two aborted fetuses, and a Planned Parenthood representative supposedly discussing the selling price of fetal tissue. In an interview with CNN, David Daleiden admitted that the image he described as an aborted fetus was actually an image taken off the internet of a stillborn child. He also confessed that he had no idea where the other graphic image he used came from, or even if it was taken at a Planned Parenthood facility. The other issue the video brought up was allegations of the selling of fetal tissue.

Fetal tissue has been used in scientific research since the 1930’s, and can help create vaccines, stem cell research and degenerative disease treatments. The donation of fetal tissue is heavily regulated; clinics are not allowed to ask women if they want to donate until after they have decided to have an abortion, and the researchers cannot pay for any tissue donated. (CNN) However, it is legal for the researchers to reimburse the clinics for costs like shipping. The organization’s President, in a letter to the director of the National Institutes of Health, was quick to explain that this was the case, and the video put out by Daleiden was edited, manipulated, and taken out of context in a way designed to mislead. She also announced that her organization, “in order to take away any basis for attacking Planned Parenthood,” is taking on a new policy to no longer accept this reimbursement. Many states have investigated their Planned Parenthood clinics since this video was released. As posted on The Spokesman Review, “Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said he assigned two of his attorneys to investigate their concerns about the organization after national reports of “trafficking in human body parts.” They found no evidence that any Planned Parenthood in Washington had engaged in any of the actions accused of them.  

    Abortion, one of the services that can be provided by Planned Parenthood, is a heavily controversial topic. Especially with the 2017 election looming in our future, abortion has become too much a discussion about politics, instead of the actual lives affected by access to legal abortion in our nation. Deciding whether or not to have a child is a highly personal decision, one that will change a woman’s entire future. A close family member of mine agreed to talk to me about her experience with this decision, and her experience with Planned Parenthood. As a first year college student with little money and no medical insurance, she said Planned Parenthood was the way she got access to standard women's healthcare. Aside from birth control, the organization provided services like an annual pap-smear (a test for cervical cancer) and other screenings. When she was forced to make the decision to have an abortion, Planned Parenthood never treated her with anything less than respect and dignity. She stated that her decision was, “the best for my life, and all other parties involved.” She is grateful that she had the right to make her choice, and continues to support Planned Parenthood in the hope that all women, if they have to, are able to make that decision for themselves.

Planned Parenthood is a needed provider of not only medical care for millions of women in our nation, but education and awareness of sexual health and rights. Every woman should have the right to make her own decisions about her body, and Planned Parenthood supports women in whatever choice they have to make. Political ideologies should not be affecting these women's’ right to the affordable, informative care they need.

Incorporating Sources, In Class Lab

Meats and Cancer

On the BBC website, one of the advisors of the WHO report, Dr. Teresa Norat advised, “People should limit consumption of red meat and avoid consuming processed meat, but they should also have a diet rich in fibre, from fruit and vegetables and maintain an adequate body weight throughout life and limit the consumption of alcohol and be physically active.”

In a written statement, American Cancer Society’s Susan Gapstur recommended trying to eat more plants, while cutting back on processed and red meat.

A key finding from a World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) analysis found that, “red meat and processed meat aren’t equally harmful: processed meat is more strongly linked to bowel cancer than red meat.” Cancer Research UK continues to recommend this advice on diet, “eat plenty of fibre, fruit and vegetables; cut back on red and processed meat, and salt; and limit your alcohol intake.”

Works Cited

Gallagher, James. “Processed Meats Do Cause Cancer – WHO.” Health. BBC News. 26 Oct. 2015 Web. 11 Nov. 2015

Aubrey, Allison. “Bad Day For Bacon: Processed Meats Cause Cancer, WHO Says.” Eating and Health. National Public Radio. 29 Oct. 2015 Web. 11 Nov. 2015

Dunlop, Casey. “Processed Meat And Cancer- What You Need To Know.” Science Blog. Cancer Research UK. 26 Oct. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2015/10/26/processed-meat-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/10/26/451211964/bad-day-for-bacon-processed-red-meats-cause-cancer-says-who

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34615621

In Class Collab. Spriggs Essay vs Short Articles

• take a position early, explain your position
• explain your topic’s relevance to the average reader’s real life
• present a few reasons, support your reasons with facts
• identify another point of view and respond to it
• identify real world applications/repercussions of your position
• explain important terms/ideas relevant to your topic, pictures can help
• personal experience is a powerful way to establish credibility
• providing background information also establishes authority over your subject
• use of statistics can be very convincing
• discrediting of opposing sides done carefully is good
• use of emotional persuasion is very dependant upon subject and audience
• author should be aware of pathos/logos/ethos and which will be most persuasive for their topic

pg 100 Spriggs Essay: Thinking About the Text Activity

1. Spriggs uses her cited information and her personal experience to invite readers to care about this topic. The personal stories about her childhood experiences with a local farmer show us how different farming has become over time. The author states many reasons buying local would be good for our local areas, and how the opposite is negatively impacting our world through adverse environmental affects.
2. Some of the other positions Spriggs mentions are that buying locally would be bad for national economy, bad for the environment, and it is more logical to buy food from where it grows best in the world. The author states that yes, trying to grow every type of fruit and vegetable everywhere is never going to happen, and suggests that buying locally isn't about buying everything you eat locally, just as much as you can. Spriggs explains that the idea of small farms being less resource efficient is a misconception around how you measure efficiency. The counterargument to small farms impacting national economy is that small farms would also be impacting local economy. The author admits that this specific subject is debatable, and cites a few opinions on it from reputable sources such as a professor of environmental economy.
3. A section of the essay I found particularly effective would be the section where she states that the author spent, "every summer on a 150-acre farm in rural Wisconsin." This personal experience gives the author a sense of authority over the topic. The way she describes the farmer she knew as a little girl makes the reader feel as though they also know him, and sympathize with his concerns for his local farm.
4. The photos are mostly helpful to her, as they illustrate a part of a system she describes. The figures depicting a monoculture and polyculutre farm I found particularlly helpful to see what the author is talking about when contrasting these two farming systems. Each photo has a good caption underneath that connects it to her essay.

pg 80 Activity: Analyze a Short Piece of Writing

This post on SF Gate's Healthy Eating website wants to inform us of why healthy eating is important. The author's explicit position is stated in the first sentence, "A nutritious, well balanced diet..is the foundation of good health." Information is provided for us about what healthy eating is, and other important factors in our health, such as exercise and smoking. The topic is deemed to matter to us because most people probably want to be healthy and disease free, as the article mentions are the benefits of healthy eating.  Advice is also offered to those just starting out, who may not be used to a fully healthy diet yet. The author cites many good reasons we should want to eat healthy, and reputable sources such as the Harvard School of Public Health, and the American Diabetes Association.  This article also includes a short survey for readers to take, asking what their diet is and what they want to include more in their diet. The page will then link them to articles relevant to their answers, for example when I answered that I wanted more veggies in my diet, and then that I liked carrots, it linked me to several articles about uses and benefits of carrots! Overall this is a solid, if informal article that takes a solid position by explaining their topic well and providing resources to readers.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-healthy-important-7166.html

Topic Brainstorming for paper #3

·          PBL in schools

·         standardized testing

·         gun control

·         women’s rights

·         bullying

·         environmental issues

·         Music

·         Aquatic animal conditions in Zoos

·         Smoking

·         Marijuana 

11/12 Video Group Response

·         Overwhelming use of pathos

·         Use of fear, making us scared of what could happen

·         Sad background music the whole time

·         Police officer’s graphic descriptions meant to be disturbing

·         Playing on sympathy

·         Family members feeling guilt, sister talking about sending the text that ended a life

·          Give background information about the characters, create an attachment to the people who died

·         Showing brain damage guy with his doctor, having him trying to talk  about it to invoke sympathy

·         No logos used, no statistics or logic

·         No ethos, never take the position that the good thing to do is to not text and drive

·         Never directly state their message, their message is clear and important enough that it doesn’t need to be said

·         showing one person at a time, crying is more personal and emotional than many people together

·         emphasis on the “last text” showing the message they were sending/looking at when they crashed

·         message is that one text > your life

·         policeman “it never gets easier” 

Video Summary and Analysis, "The Last Text"

This video, supported by mobile phone company AT&T, is a campaign to inform people of the effects of texting and driving. Through several firsthand accounts, we see the destruction left behind when someone sends their last text. The video opens with simple black on white text explaining AT&T’s intent to share several stories of texting and driving. The first man we see is a police officer, driving down a highway. He talks about an accident involving a girl named Mariah. He describes the accident in detail, recounting how this girl was thrown from the vehicle, including details such as “her face was disfigured,” and “I noticed her cap and gown were still in the car.” He continues to express that this was a horrific accident, and it happened all because of a “senseless text message.” Several different people come onscreen to describe their friend, sister, or daughter as a multitasker, emphasizing how good that person was at texting. A young girl explains how her sister was looking at a text she had sent, and when she looked up she clipped the median on the road, causing her truck to flip and ejecting her from the driver’s side door. The sister then describes the weight of being the one who sent that last text, expressing a need to tell her sister that she’s sorry. She shows us her sister’s phone, and the text that she sent to her on that day. “Four little letters. That’s what killed her.” The next scene shows a young man, struggling to do simple tasks such as buttoning up a shirt, walking, and throwing a ball. His speech is slurred. This young man tells us that “People don’t realize it could just take three seconds,” followed by a recounting of the car accident he was in; a direct collision with a tree. During the accident, he was hit on his right temple. He explains that he used to be able to lots of things, used to be normal before this accident, and now he isn’t because the driver had to be texting. The next story we are told is of Mariah, from her mother and several friends. They all describe Mariah as a wonderful person, and we see them gathering to remember her on what would have been her nineteenth birthday. In the video’s closing, we once again see the police officer who found Mariah, telling us that she’s not the only accident he has to deal with, and it never gets and easier, He then drives home the message of the video, “What is worth losing your life over, that text message?” Then we see each person holding a page with the words of the last text, the text that changed their lives.

This video shows us what happens when texting and driving goes wrong, and urges us to not let the same happen to us, and our family and friends. We see the not only the devastation left behind for those people who feel the loss, but one story shows what could happen to us. The videos of the man who suffered brain damage warn that if we don’t loss our lives in an accident, we could still lose ourselves. Images of the accidents are interspersed throughout the video, illustrating the damage done. Seeing the physical damage to the people involved in the accidents is meant to invoke a fear response. The people we see, struggling with loss are also used as an emotional device to get us to sympathize with them; make us feel their pain and think about how we would feel if we lost a loved one. The entire video is meant to react to our emotions, make us sad or scared enough that we understand how awful texting and driving can end up, not just for you, but for everyone you know and love. 

In Class Lab: How Things Mean

Peace Sign Buttons:

What do they suggest?

They suggest to have peace, and make love rather than war.  With one widely known sign for peace it can get the message across easier.  The slogan: “Make love, not war,” is widely known and provides a unified message of anti war, as well as suggesting a replacement for war.  These replacements being things such as love, art, and peace.

How do they suggest it?

They suggest these ideas by the famous slogan, as well as the widely known peace sign.  Making buttons and other campaign advertisements etc is a great way to get the word out and give the message attention.  

Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

The first button is overused and has been used for a while, and not as powerful on its own.  All it states is “Peace” which is a good message in its simplicity, but does not give a clear argument or stance.  However, the second button provides a clear stance or message to add on to peace.  It provides an alternative for war.

Symbols of Patriotism:

What do they suggest?

They suggest that their given countries are really great. They express pride in their country, and they want to cultivate that pride in any citizen who sees it. Each image represents a different ideal for that country, strength, power, toughness, and perseverance through time.

How do they suggest it?

The bald eagle is a symbol of freedom and power, and stamping the american flag over its face suggests that America is strong and free like a bald eagle. The bulldog looks tough and strong in a similar way, and showing it with the British flag connects Great Britain to the power and toughness of that animal. The French image shows France’s famous motto, “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite,” engraved into what looks like the side of a building. This motto comes from the French revolution, identifying France with the democratic ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Visualizing this saying engraved on a wall shows that it will last a long time, saying that France’s ideals will last through time.

Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

Each visual shows something highly identifiable with a citizen of that given country. As an American, I know that the bald eagle is a huge symbol of my country and my country’s power and leadership. Likewise, the British flag and famous French motto are like that for a British or French person.  

Thesis: These images want to inspire patriotism by connecting symbols of their country to symbols of power, toughness, and perseverance.

• The bald eagle is a symbol of strength and freedom, and is connected to America by pasting the American flag physically on the eagle
• The bulldog is standing on the British flag,like a protector, embodying the toughness and strength of the country
• engraving the motto of France into stone represents the perseverance of the country, saying that their ideas and strength will never fade
• The peace signs are also a classic American message that convey the idea of positivity and love in place of war.  

Reading Sources Critically

Reading Sources Critically

1. What arguments does the author make?

Tim Wise has one position, the position that states that all white people simply don’t have the right to use ‘the n word.’  His argument states that he does feel a similar way when outsiders use the term ‘redneck,’ because he could be considered one, though the term redneck isn’t nearly as offensive as the n word because of its history.

1. How persuasive do you find the argument?

Tim Wise’s argument was very persuasive because his tone wasn’t necessarily demanding or angry sounding, the whole argument was laid back, relatable, and laughable.  It was this way so much so that it didn’t seem like an argument, though it was persuasive enough to get his point across.  Tim Wise paraphrases a conversation with a student who states; “Well my black friends use it... ...why can’t I use it?  It is a double standard to say!” Where Tim replies: “Well yeah, but history has been a double standard so get the hell over it”  This is a very laughable way to talk about it, but still gets the point across loud and clear.

1. What is the author’s stance?

Tim’s stance is honestly the only valid viewpoint.  The only other stance would be the one that states racism is okay, which is so unacceptable that there isn’t a point to argue it from that stance.

1. Does the publisher bring a certain stance to the work?

The “publisher” here is Boston College, the host of Tim Wise’s lecture. Boston College has had a division dedicated to diversity, the Office of Institutional Diversity, established since 2004. This program’s mission is to “ through effective management of our diversity, is to create a competitive advantage for the University, and at the same time to help us live out the social justice imperatives inherent in our Jesuit and Catholic heritage.” It is clear that they are trying to bring diversity into their school, shown here and in the fact that they hosted Tim Wise at all.

1. Do you recognize ideas you’ve run across in other sources?

Some of us have personal experience with this situation, and we find that it varies person to person who will be offended by that word. How offended an individual person will be will greatly differ depending on your relationship with them, and how they personally feel about it.  It also depends on the culture you are from, and where you are in the world. However, it is agreed that in general, you shouldn’t use that word.

1. Does this source support or challenge your own position--or does it do both ?

We agree with the position taken in the video. If someone or some group is being offended by the use of that word, it is right to respect their opinion, especially since we are not a part of that race and culture.

1. What can you tell about the intended AUDIENCE and PURPOSE?

The audience is intended to be for anyone who is not black. The main purpose is to talk about the use of the “N” word, more specifically how it should not be used. The historical connotation of that word is too strong for anyone other than black people to use it and not be inherently offensive. A person who’s not a part of that racial group doesn’t have the right to use that word.

Think About Exercise, pg 70

Recently I wrote an essay analyzing advertisements that warned against the destruction of nature and the environment. I picked these ads specifically because of my personal attachment to the topic. The position I took when analyzing my ads was the same as the organizations that created them; I think we need to stop the pollution of our environment before it's too late. As I analyze the ads, I don't explicitly state how I agree with the position each ad is taking. However, I believe as I explain the rationale of each ad, explaining that position and stating why we should care, it becomes clear my thoughts on the topic. In my introduction, I do explicitly say that there is a conflict between humanity and nature, and that we need to stop it. In analyzing these ads, my position on the topic as the author comes to light. An author's personal beliefs can often be ascertained through reading their work.

"Yes, We Can" Video Response, Pg 69

The "Yes, We Can" video ultimately wants it's viewers, the American public, to vote for Obama. This is enforced only in the end of the video, where the word "VOTE" appears letter by letter on the screen, in red text, the only color in the video. Obama's speech is a powerful call to all Americans, that "we," together, can do anything and everything we need to do for our country. The video itself is in black and white, and depicts many, many people of various social and racial groups all singing the words to Obama's speech. This is a very strong appeal to our democratic ideals of equality and fairness across all groups. Obama himself is also pictured in the video, but often only for a few seconds before the video cycles to another singer. This places emphasis on the "we" of the video, making it appear that Obama is simply a part of that group; no more important that the rest of the singers. However, his voice does underscore the singing for the entire video, giving his words the proper tone of authority and guidance for all the rest. It is established that every viewer is a part of the "we" that is talked about. The video as a whole wants us to connect our positive connotation of justice, equality, and democracy to Obama himself. Just as his speech guides all the singers in the music video, he will guide us as a country.

Group Exercise pg 66

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bUSEb5nmGQLiv2EokImiaQFy6saGrm9IOiJgsevzXuc/edit?usp=sharing

Taking a Position, Think About: pg 62

Times I’ve had to take a position in the past few days-

·         Do you want __ or __ for dinner

·         Do you think this video game character is good

·         What’s the best way to carry low elo games

·         Is The Walking Dead a good show

·         Writing assignment, which of the Greek philosophers do you like best

·         Analyzing advertisements, what my position on them is

·         Why do I like mechanical keyboards over rubber dome keyboards

First Draft, Paper #2 Analysis of Advertisements + Taking Stock Exercise

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wRlkvVFHLef0oir6bZExSlFcI7pV1HdEIU18Wl-Paqk/edit?usp=sharing

Formatting for blogger wasn't working with the pictures of my ads embedded, link above will take you to google doc with my essay :) 

Taking Stock of My Wrting Qs:

1.         How did you go about analyzing the text? What methods did you use—and which ones were most helpful?

When I set out to analyze my ads, I found it helpful to focus on the visuals provided first. I thought it was easier to tie in the slogans on my ads after talking about what information I gathered from the picture. I also thought it was really helpful to look up the organization that published the ad. I spent a fair amount of time looking through each organization’s website, reading their mission statements.

2.        How did you go about drafting your essay?

I broke it up into parts. Similar to the “Stay Sweet as You Are” essay, I wanted to talk about each ad individually before I talked about all of them together. The first thing I did was draft my thesis, trying to figure out how to guide my readers into my analysis. I went back and added a more interest catching information to my thesis after I had written out most of my essay.

3.         How well did you organize your written analysis? What, if anything, could you do to make it easier to read?

I think my organization is pretty straightforward. I don’t see another way I could organize the information to make it easier to understand.

4.        Did you provide sufficient evidence to support your analysis?

I think I did. All of the points of my analysis are based directly upon a part of the visual or text from my ad.

5.        What did you do especially well?

I think each individual ad analysis is pretty strong by itself.

6.        What could still be improved?

More could be added to my paragraph talking about all the ads together. I also think my opening paragraph could be stronger.

7.         Did you use any visuals, and if so, what did they add? Could you have shown the same thing with words?

I added visuals of all of my ads, as I think it’s important for the reader to be able to see where my points are coming from. I definitely think I needed pictures of my ads, they are essential to being able to follow my analyses.

8.        How did other readers' responses influence your writing?

I was given more viewpoints I had not seen when I first looked at my ads. These extra points were helpful for me, getting another set of eyes to look at your work always allows you to see something new.

9.        What would you do differently next time?

I would think more carefully about what I want to say about my group of ads when I was choosing them.

10.      Are you pleased with your analysis? What did it teach you about the text you analyzed? Did it make you want to study more works by the same writer or artist?

I am fairly pleased with my essay as a whole. The environment is already something I care about a lot, and analyzing how these organizations are trying to get people to care about the situation connected with me on a personal level.

11.       What are the transferrable  skills you can take from this into other writing situations?

Analyses are important parts of life, I will most likely have to analyze more texts in my life, and this was a good way to practice organizing my thoughts into words, which I can struggle with.

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