Rhetorical Analysis Reflection

I feel like I deserve an A on my rhetorical analysis because I tried to carefully follow the rubric in the supplemental guide.  I focused on building my analysis of the writers tools rather than summarizing his article.  My paper is clear and easy for the reader to understand because the paragraphs all tie back to my thesis statement.  In choosing quotes that could relate to my audience I feel like I did a good job connecting to my readers.  I proofread my paper to avoid grammar and punctuation errors and followed the MLA format for quoting the article.

If I had another chance I would go back and spend more time with my group evaluating each others papers.  Not only did this give me helpful feedback from three differnet people on my own paper, but it also helped me to read other papers and see what I would improve on in my own.  Group work and visiting the Writing Center helped me the most in writing my paper so next time I will not take advantage of these opportunities.

My biggest challenge was focusing in on a specific audience.  However, once I was able to pick an audience and focus on them my paper seemed to make more sense.  It was difficult to make assumptions about the audience while still trying to relate to them.

My papers greatest strength was in the body paragraphs and analyzing the quotes from the article.  This was simple, the only thing that made it challenging was relating these quotes to the audience. I spent a lot of time selecting quotes I felt would relate best and have the biggest impact on the audience I selected.

Rhetorical Strategies in the Presidential Debate

1. Pathos: Romney started off with a story about a family losing their house to get the audiences attention before moving on to state his action plan.
2. Eye contact: Romney looked directly into the camera and made eye contact to emphasize his points throughout his argument.
3. Poisoning the well: Obama said something along the lines of "if this is what you want, Mitt is your candidate." After pointing out the flaws in Romney's plan.
4. Hand gestures: Both Romney and Obama used hand gestures to emphasize their stance on an issue.
5. Stacking the deck: Obama avoided the question about trickle down government and instead focused on another topic.
6. Slippery slope: When Obama began addressing multiple issues, Romney call him out and asked to focus on each issue one at a time.
7. Logos: Romney included the statistics that Obama planned to cut the deficit in half but instead doubled it during his time in office to support his own approach to the issue.
8. Red Herring: Obama said Romney plans for a break in jobs over seas... Romney came back by asking where Obama got that information, since it was nots something he had ever supported.
9. Allusion: Romney talked about the founding fathers and related them to his argument today.
10. Tone: Romney used his tone of voice to lead the argument.  He made sure to get the last word in and was confident in what he was saying.

Globalization

5-E Buying Into the Green Movement

Alex Williams, the author of "Buying Into the Green Movement" graduated from the University of California, Berkley, and currently writes for the Styles section of The New York Times.  I think his motivation for writing this paper is to urge people to see that solution for going "green" is not necessarily consuming "eco-friendly" products.  He directs his argument towards the population of the United States, but since he is addressing a world-wide issue he also connects to the entire world.

Williams initial purpose is to persuade people that consuming locally and going "green" is not the solution to save our planet.  He wants people to understand that consuming eco friendly items still means they are consuming something.

In using many examples from different companies and industries, William's builds his credibility by showing this movement has an effect on the entire population.  Statistics from all over the world build the readers attention and add to the urgency of his article. William's tone and word choice work perfectly with the paper because he speaks the "eco" language when he uses words such as "biodegradable" and "earth friendly."

Overall I feel that this article was effective in making the audience feel the need to change the way they view eco-friendly consuming.  As Williams suggests other options, such as consuming things that are necessary, rather than for the purpose that they are supposed to save our planet, he gives his reader a valid reason to reconsider the way they are going "green." 

5 Sentence Corrections

1.  Original sentence: Although meal plans are an easy way for students to access prepared food they are unnecessary and should be optional because many students do not use up all the money.
Problem: Run-on. Rule: Two independent clauses together with no punctuation between them.
Solution: Although meal plans are an easy way for students to access prepared food, they are unnecessary and should be optional because many students do not use up all the money
2.  Original sentence: Brigham Young University students living on campus are required to have a meal plan each semester they are living on campus.
Problem: Ineffective repetition. Rule: Words repeated unnecessarily whether exactly or in a different form should be avoided.
Solution: Brigham Young University students living in Helaman Halls are required to have a meal plan each semester they are living on campus.
3.  Original sentence: By letting students opt out of the meal plan or pay after they have spent the money they will learn how to manage this money and use it responsibly.
Problem: Run-on sentence. Rule: Two independent clauses together with no punctuation between them.
Solution: By letting students opt of the meal plan or pay after they have spent the money, they will learn how to manage this money and use it responsibly.
4.  Original sentence: Students can also use their meal cards to purchase food and groceries at the Brigham Young University creameries but it is just charged much like a credit card and students are not able to see the immediate effects of spending money.
Problem: Wordiness. Rule: Avoid expletive constructions, sentences in passive voice, and sentences built around weak verbs.
Solution: Students can also use their meal card to purchase food and groceries at the BYU creameries but it is charged similarly to a credit card so students are unable to see the immediate effects of their spending.
5.  Original sentence: If they are going to eat out at restaurants or campus eateries they should use cash or their own card so they have an understanding of what they are charging and how to manage their spending on food.
Problem: Too many words/run-on sentence. Rule: Two independent clauses together with no punctuation between them.
Solution: If they are going to eat out at restaurants, they should use their own means to pay so they have an understanding of how to manage their spending on food.

Meal Plan Ethos Pathos & Logos

Ethos:

1.  Access statistics about the BYU meal plans and find the average amount of money that goes to waste per student per semester.

2. I will connect to my audience by using the proper language 'discourse community' for BYU students who have also had to deal with meal plans.

3. By showing both the pro's and con's of meal plans but focusing on how they can be improved I will demonstrate maturity and acknowledge that not all things about the meal plans are bad.

Pathos: 

1.  I can appeal to the students who are trying to save money by suggesting a meal plan that can be paid at the end of the month or semester instead of pre-paying a large sum of money.

2. I will use imagery to appeal and gain the attention of readers.

3. Make readers feel the need to be more responsible since being in college should allow you to manage  your own money more closely rather than just swipe a card.

Logos:

1.  I will give students options besides a pre paid meal card to save money and spend more reasonably

2.  I will touch on the effects of having all meals handed to students instead of them being able to plan and prepare for being completely on their own.

3. By using cultural literacy I will show I am educated and experienced with the meal cards and am able to suggest a logical alternative to them.

Mr. Collins Ethos Pathos & Logos

In his pathetic plea to Elizabeth, Mr. Collins uses different appeals to persuade Lizzie to marry him.  He switches between ethos, pathos, and logos to try and change Lizzie's mind.

Mr Collins uses ethos when he tells Lizzie he believes it is the right thing for every clergyman to set the example for matrimony in his parish.  This establishes his credibility as a clergyman and makes him look like a responsible leader.  He then adds that Lady Katherine would approve of the marriage and be a wonderful connection to have.  Lastly he pleas that she is only denying him to add to the suspense, he seems completely unaware that she is not at all interested in his argument. 

When using ethos isn't enough to convince Lizzie, Mr. Collins uses pathos to emotionally appeal to her. He begins by telling Lizzie he is sure marrying her would add to his overall happiness.  Then he threatens her by saying he fears another marriage offer may never come Lizzies way again, and by doing this tries to scare or shock her into agreeing on the marriage.  Mr. Collins then begins complimenting Lizzie that she argues in a formally charming way and denies being denied.  This would only make Lizzie feel confused and perhaps flattered by this compliment. 

Lastly Mr. Collins uses logos to appeal to Lizzie when he says his connections with the noble family are highly in his favor.  This would appeal because Lizzie knows there is money and security within the family.  Secondly he adds that since he will be inheriting the Bennet family estate from Lizzie's father he feels he must choose from one of his daughters.  This would appeal to Lizzie because she would most likely want to keep the house and money in the family.  And finally he says that he and Lizzie are best for each other, trying to convince her that although she may not love him, he is whats best for her. 

Introduction

Hi there! I'm Sarah and I'm definitely new to this whole blogging thing so bear with me. My full name is Sarah Jane Cameron and I'm the oldest of two, my little sister is twelve and we are best friends.  I have lived in Holladay Utah my entire life and I absolutely love it there.  I would love to go into medicine and am possibly looking into being a physicians assistant or something of that sort. Some of my favorite things are pastel colors, sugar, friends, rain, mountains, vacations, cooking, reading, listening to music, the smell of wet cement, summer, clean rooms and laughing. My dream is to go on study abroad and travel the world with my friends. 

For my Opinion Editorial I chose the topic of required meal plans for students living in the BYU dorms. The meal plans are yet another expense added on top of tuition, housing, and books and many students do not use up the credit on their meal cards before they go to waste. Students should be given the option to opt out of buying a meal plan or be able to adjust the amount of money on their card.  Another solution would be to have the money on the cards roll over at the end of the semester so that continuing students can have a chance to use up the money they have remaining. If students were able to put money on a card as they needed it, they would be able to save money. To make this argument I will have to assume that my readers are either current or past residents of the BYU dorms and have had experience with meal plans.