Dear New APELC Student,
You have ahead of you probably one of the most difficult classes you have ever taken. While this may sound a little terrifying, don't be discouraged. Even if AP English seems to be hard towards the beginning, it gets easier as time goes by, and it's always a fun, interesting course.
You will probably get your summer essay back soon, and the grade you receive might be a little bit alarming compared to grades you received on essays in ninth and tenth grade. However, remember that the essay you wrote was a new type of analysis with a new grading system, so it's no wonder that you're not used to it. And, of course, that essay is just one grade in the first marking period, and you have plenty of time to improve. People often say that it's impossible to get an A in APELC, but this isn't true. It is true, though, that it's very difficult to get an A in the first marking period – only seven people did this year – but as the year went on, those numbers kept going up, and it's completely possible to get an A for the year even if you don't for the first quarter.
Throughout the year, you'll learn how to write analysis, argument, and synthesis essays. You'll use sources ranging from essays by famous philosophers like Thomas Hobbes to the Progressive advertisement in last month's TIME magazine. It may seem surprising, but you can actually write essays over 430 words long about the packaging of a bottle of fruit juice (trust me, I did just that for one of my TOW posts). One of the best things about AP English is that it exposes you to an amazingly wide variety of sources and truly opens your eyes to how much thought goes into a document, whether it's a movie poster or an essay by Henry David Thoreau.
Looking back on the year, I'm actually amazed that we managed to learn as much as we did in such a short amount of time. Not only did we learn how to write the various aforementioned essays, but also we learned extensively about grammar and vocabulary. While the class may seem daunting at times, it's definitely worth it.
I'll leave you with some parting tips:
1. Take your TOWs seriously. These are your best chances to improve your writing, and if you truly make sure you write the best TOW you can every week, you will notice your essays getting stronger and more effective.
2. Don't be afraid to ask for help! If you're stuck getting the same score on your essays for a long period of time (this happened to me during the winter), try going to Mr. Yost and/or Ms. Pronko. They can help go through your previous essays to see what you should change, add to, take away, etc. Their opinions are always helpful because, after all, they are the ones grading you!
3. Make the most out of it. Sometimes it's best to think of APELC as less a class and more an opportunity. If you read, write, and present everything simply with the goal of being successful on the exam, you'll miss out on one of the best parts of AP English – experiencing all kinds of writing. Of course, don't forget that the exam is coming (Mr. Yost's 5.08.15 poster will certainly remind you, regardless), but just don't forget to approach everything with an open mind.
Good luck! :)
Sincerely,
Annie Graves
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
TOW #29: Music Saves Lives
The main message of The Lady in Number 6 is that music has restorative and even life-saving powers. In the documentary, playing piano was able to keep Alice Sommer happy and alive during the Holocaust. Today, many musicians attest to others' or their own music being something that kept them alive through personal torment such as depression or disastrous events in their lives. Even just listening to music can be calming and can allow highly stressed people (like high schoolers) to de-stress, which leads to a better, happier life. Therefore, music can definitely be a life-saving medicine.
Musicians often cite playing music as something that has saved their life. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, who has struggled with his bipolar disorder his entire life, attempted suicide in February 2005. He wrote a song ("7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen)") about the suicide as a way of coping, and being able to express himself and his feelings through music was extremely helpful in his recovery. In this case, music quite literally saved Wentz's life by helping him through recovery and helping him deal with his depression and bipolar disorder.
On a less extreme level, music also has the ability to relieve stress. For Wissahickon's own Andrew Ge, playing cello at his Philadelphia Youth Orchestra concerts is a "positive experience" and can often be very calming. Additionally, even simply listening to music can decrease stress. In fact, as I work to finish this TOW before it's due, I am listening to music ("Skulls" by Bastille, on repeat) as a way to calm my nerves and make sure I don't produce sloppy, rushed work. Too much stress is unhealthy (both physically and mentally), so by listening to or playing music, people can have healthier and happier lives.
Music's amazing life-improving or even life-saving powers are found in many situations, from helping famous musicians cope with mental disorders to calming down an AP English student as she writes her penultimate Text of the Week, and everything in between. As Alice Sommer said in The Lady in Number 6, music can be "the only thing which helps [people] to have hope ... a sort of religion, actually. Music is God." Music is extremely powerful and important to many people, and its abilities to help and even save lives should never be underestimated.
Musicians often cite playing music as something that has saved their life. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, who has struggled with his bipolar disorder his entire life, attempted suicide in February 2005. He wrote a song ("7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen)") about the suicide as a way of coping, and being able to express himself and his feelings through music was extremely helpful in his recovery. In this case, music quite literally saved Wentz's life by helping him through recovery and helping him deal with his depression and bipolar disorder.
On a less extreme level, music also has the ability to relieve stress. For Wissahickon's own Andrew Ge, playing cello at his Philadelphia Youth Orchestra concerts is a "positive experience" and can often be very calming. Additionally, even simply listening to music can decrease stress. In fact, as I work to finish this TOW before it's due, I am listening to music ("Skulls" by Bastille, on repeat) as a way to calm my nerves and make sure I don't produce sloppy, rushed work. Too much stress is unhealthy (both physically and mentally), so by listening to or playing music, people can have healthier and happier lives.
Music's amazing life-improving or even life-saving powers are found in many situations, from helping famous musicians cope with mental disorders to calming down an AP English student as she writes her penultimate Text of the Week, and everything in between. As Alice Sommer said in The Lady in Number 6, music can be "the only thing which helps [people] to have hope ... a sort of religion, actually. Music is God." Music is extremely powerful and important to many people, and its abilities to help and even save lives should never be underestimated.
Music Saved My Life:
Even while she was in a concentration camp, Alice Sommer was able to remain happy by playing her piano.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
TOW #28: Documentary Rhetorical Analysis
"Everything is good and bad. I look at the good side," says Alice Sommer in The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life. This 2013 documentary captures the life of Sommer, then a 109-year-old Holocaust survivor whose life was continually saved by music. Set in an interview format, the documentary begins with Sommer describing her life leading up to the Holocaust. She began playing the piano from a young age, and her family was close friends with musicians like Mahler and Kafka. These childhood experiences allowed her love of music to grow, and Sommer became a concert pianist as an adult. However, in 1943, Sommer and her son were sent to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp for Jewish celebrities and musicians that was used for Nazi propaganda. There, she remained happy by playing in concerts and spreading her love of music, and in 1945, Theresienstadt was liberated by the Soviets, and Sommer moved to Israel to be with her family. In 1986, she moved to London where she played the piano for hours each day, bringing joy to herself and all those around her, until she passed away on February 23, 2014, at 110.
The purpose of The Lady in Number 6 was to tell the story of Alice Sommer and, through her, to demonstrate the amazing power of music. To achieve this, the documentary juxtaposed the horrors of the Holocaust with Sommer's stories of the restorative power of music and presented everything in Sommer's own extremely positive and optimistic tone.
As Sommer's story progresses, she begins to describe how during the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, her concert grand piano was confiscated by the Nazis, and she was forbidden to perform – to do what she loved. This crushing announcement is then directly juxtaposed with Sommer's story about the situation. She says that she managed to hide a piccolo piano from the Nazis, and would play it in her spare time. However, this brought joy to not only Sommer and her son, but also to Mr. Herman, a Nazi who lived in her building. Through this juxtaposition, the audience is able to understand the power of music – for Sommer, playing the piano was able to keep her happy even when her husband was deported and the source of her livelihood was taken away, and this power of music stretched even to someone who was supposed to hate her.
Throughout the documentary, Sommer remains positive, no matter what she is discussing. When describing her time in Theresienstadt, Sommer says that she managed to laugh even while she was there because it kept her and those around her happy. Later in life, when her son died at 64 (he didn't wake up from anesthesia), Sommer recounts the experience in a positive light, saying that dying the way he did (peacefully and without pain) is the best way to go. Sommer's continuously positive perception of events in her life gives the documentary a positive and optimistic tone, which truly convinces watchers of the strength of music.
The purpose of The Lady in Number 6 was to tell the story of Alice Sommer and, through her, to demonstrate the amazing power of music. To achieve this, the documentary juxtaposed the horrors of the Holocaust with Sommer's stories of the restorative power of music and presented everything in Sommer's own extremely positive and optimistic tone.
As Sommer's story progresses, she begins to describe how during the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, her concert grand piano was confiscated by the Nazis, and she was forbidden to perform – to do what she loved. This crushing announcement is then directly juxtaposed with Sommer's story about the situation. She says that she managed to hide a piccolo piano from the Nazis, and would play it in her spare time. However, this brought joy to not only Sommer and her son, but also to Mr. Herman, a Nazi who lived in her building. Through this juxtaposition, the audience is able to understand the power of music – for Sommer, playing the piano was able to keep her happy even when her husband was deported and the source of her livelihood was taken away, and this power of music stretched even to someone who was supposed to hate her.
Throughout the documentary, Sommer remains positive, no matter what she is discussing. When describing her time in Theresienstadt, Sommer says that she managed to laugh even while she was there because it kept her and those around her happy. Later in life, when her son died at 64 (he didn't wake up from anesthesia), Sommer recounts the experience in a positive light, saying that dying the way he did (peacefully and without pain) is the best way to go. Sommer's continuously positive perception of events in her life gives the documentary a positive and optimistic tone, which truly convinces watchers of the strength of music.
She Never Stopped Playing:
Pictured here at 109, Sommer never stopped playing the piano and doing what she loved. Because of this, she was a constant inspiration to her friends, family, and neighbors.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
TOW #27: TOW Reflection
1. What progression or change do you notice in your TOWs?
My earlier TOWs often contain too much summary of the text (or too-lengthy quotes) and less analysis than needed. However, as time goes on, the summary decreases and the analysis of rhetorical devices increases. The ties back to the thesis in particular get stronger in my later TOWs.
2. What do you think you mastered?
I think I mastered connecting my rhetorical devices to each other and to my thesis. In September, my TOWs often contained body paragraphs that connected back to the thesis, but rarely (if ever) drew connections between those body paragraphs and the rhetorical devices identified within them. However, in my March TOWs, there are clear connections between the various rhetorical devices, and the transitions are clear and effective.
3. What could you still strive to improve?
Recently, I've been working with my TOWs to try to make the introduction and SOAPS part more interesting. I've been trying to incorporate that information in a less formulaic way, but I still think this could be improved.
4. How did you or did you not benefit from these assignments given their overall purpose?
I think I definitely did benefit from writing TOWs. When reading through past assignments, I can see a distinct change in my ability to analyze and especially to connect back to my thesis. I believe that weekly TOWs provided the repetition and practice needed to reinforce and improve upon these skills, and I think, overall, my analysis essays were better because of these TOWs.
My earlier TOWs often contain too much summary of the text (or too-lengthy quotes) and less analysis than needed. However, as time goes on, the summary decreases and the analysis of rhetorical devices increases. The ties back to the thesis in particular get stronger in my later TOWs.
2. What do you think you mastered?
I think I mastered connecting my rhetorical devices to each other and to my thesis. In September, my TOWs often contained body paragraphs that connected back to the thesis, but rarely (if ever) drew connections between those body paragraphs and the rhetorical devices identified within them. However, in my March TOWs, there are clear connections between the various rhetorical devices, and the transitions are clear and effective.
3. What could you still strive to improve?
Recently, I've been working with my TOWs to try to make the introduction and SOAPS part more interesting. I've been trying to incorporate that information in a less formulaic way, but I still think this could be improved.
4. How did you or did you not benefit from these assignments given their overall purpose?
I think I definitely did benefit from writing TOWs. When reading through past assignments, I can see a distinct change in my ability to analyze and especially to connect back to my thesis. I believe that weekly TOWs provided the repetition and practice needed to reinforce and improve upon these skills, and I think, overall, my analysis essays were better because of these TOWs.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
TOW #26: Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks (IRB)
In Musicophilia, Oliver Sacks, a physician with a focus in neurology, chronicles the enormous range of ways music reacts with our brains. He writes to an audience of high schoolers or older, and though he does often slip in medical terms that the average teenager won't recognize, they don't detract from a reader's understanding. Through Musicophilia, Sacks hopes to share his interest in the brain and music with the world, and he does so by recounting the stories of his many patients in very personal ways, often including direct quotes from the patients themselves.
Sacks provides detailed profiles of his patients and their disorder or ability in order to truly show his audience the effects of that patient's condition. In the section about musical hallucinations, he writes: "Michael B. has very clear musical hallucinations. [...] Michael first complained of this when he was seven, saying, 'I'm hearing music in my head. ... I have to check the radio to see if it's really on.' [... At times he] seems to be in what his mother calls 'acoustic agony.' He cries, 'Take it out of my head. Take it away!' [...] 'Last evening, Michael was very happy because his internal music stopped for about fifteen seconds. This has never happened before.'" (68-69). Through these stories, Sacks effectively introduces the condition and then goes on to describe its true effects through direct quotes from the patients or people close to them. This gives readers a personal understanding of the disorder, since they hear it directly from the person who is experiencing it. This story in particular gives readers a new perspective on the severity of musical hallucinations in the final quote, when Michael B.'s mother says that "about fifteen seconds" without music was something that had never occurred in Michael's life. Often, Sacks follows up his explanation of the condition and its effects with a section (usually a footnote) on how the patient is doing today. Here, he quotes Michael's mother: "Michael, who is now twelve and in seventh grade, continues to hear nonstop music. He seems to be better able to cope with it [...] He loves to compose his own music, and he has perfect pitch." (69). Through this, Sacks gives readers resolution. Many of the other stories about musical hallucinations end differently (the patients' hallucinations often go away with the help of medicine), and the contrast between the stories piques the audience's interest by exposing them to the diversity of musical disorders.
Through much of Musicophilia, Oliver Sacks provides readers with detailed stories about his patients by spanning their struggles with the disease, the treatments they tried, and how they are doing today. These personal stories and their seamless integration of direct patient quotes are intriguing to the audience, and effectively convey Sacks' interest in the brain and music. Surely, it will even inspire some readers to pursue the topics Sacks covers even further.
Sacks provides detailed profiles of his patients and their disorder or ability in order to truly show his audience the effects of that patient's condition. In the section about musical hallucinations, he writes: "Michael B. has very clear musical hallucinations. [...] Michael first complained of this when he was seven, saying, 'I'm hearing music in my head. ... I have to check the radio to see if it's really on.' [... At times he] seems to be in what his mother calls 'acoustic agony.' He cries, 'Take it out of my head. Take it away!' [...] 'Last evening, Michael was very happy because his internal music stopped for about fifteen seconds. This has never happened before.'" (68-69). Through these stories, Sacks effectively introduces the condition and then goes on to describe its true effects through direct quotes from the patients or people close to them. This gives readers a personal understanding of the disorder, since they hear it directly from the person who is experiencing it. This story in particular gives readers a new perspective on the severity of musical hallucinations in the final quote, when Michael B.'s mother says that "about fifteen seconds" without music was something that had never occurred in Michael's life. Often, Sacks follows up his explanation of the condition and its effects with a section (usually a footnote) on how the patient is doing today. Here, he quotes Michael's mother: "Michael, who is now twelve and in seventh grade, continues to hear nonstop music. He seems to be better able to cope with it [...] He loves to compose his own music, and he has perfect pitch." (69). Through this, Sacks gives readers resolution. Many of the other stories about musical hallucinations end differently (the patients' hallucinations often go away with the help of medicine), and the contrast between the stories piques the audience's interest by exposing them to the diversity of musical disorders.
Through much of Musicophilia, Oliver Sacks provides readers with detailed stories about his patients by spanning their struggles with the disease, the treatments they tried, and how they are doing today. These personal stories and their seamless integration of direct patient quotes are intriguing to the audience, and effectively convey Sacks' interest in the brain and music. Surely, it will even inspire some readers to pursue the topics Sacks covers even further.
Musical Hallucinations:
For people with musical hallucinations, music constantly runs through their minds, and it is often impossible to turn off.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
TOW #25: "Heartbleed Explanation" by Randall Munroe (Visual Text)
Reading Goal: Find a visual text that's in a different genre from what I've done before.
Writing Goal: Work on conclusion to do less restating and more thought-provoking.
(Source: http://xkcd.com/1354/)
On April 7th, 2014, it became public knowledge that a security bug called "Heartbleed" was loose on the internet, making many people's important passwords at risk to be stolen. At this time, most internet users had heard of it, but many (including me) didn't really understand how it worked. On April 11th, Randall Munroe, the author of the popular webcomic xkcd, released a comic explaining how the bug worked. His audience for his webcomic is mainly avid internet users, often in the range of high schoolers to middle-aged people. This particular comic, however, could be directed to anyone who wished to understand how Heartbleed was stealing their passwords. Through his use of bold text and highlighting, Munroe effectively points out to viewers how Heartbleed works.
In the first panel, Munroe draws the character Meg stating a request to the computer, and by uses bold text, shows that request in the computer's dialog. The reader can also see the other requests to the server in non-bolded text. In the next frame, the response to the request is highlighted, and the computer is shown sending the response. These first two panels establish a system for how Munroe will show the request-and-response pattern, and the bold text and highlighting make what he is trying to show very clear. The next two frames repeat this pattern to teach it to readers. The final two panels, then, point out to readers how Heartbleed works. Munroe uses the bold text to again show the request, but then shows readers through the highlighted text that not only the response part of the bolded request is what is given in response – many of the other, non-bolded requests (for example, "User Karen wants to change account password") are part of the computer's response, too. By using tools like bold and highlighted text, Munroe effectively taught his audience about the request-and-response system used by Heartbleed to find vulnerable information like passwords.
When the Heartbleed bug became common knowledge, popular webcomic artist Randall Munroe was able to use his fame to teach people about how the bug worked in a simple, interesting manner. He used mainly bold and highlighted text to explain to readers the system used by the bug. The only shortcoming in this cartoon, though, is that it does not tell readers what they can do about the bug. It would have interrupted the flow of the cartoon, but a small footnote or something equally unassuming would have been a helpful and important addition.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Musicophilia Introduction (IRB)
Musicophilia is written by Oliver Sacks, a physician and the Professor of Clinical Neurology and Psychiatry at Columbia University. Throughout his career, he has written many books on different functions and oddities of the human brain. Musicophilia focuses how the brain interacts with music and addresses specific conditions (both good and bad) relating to music, from absolute pitch to amusia. Many of his chapters draw from stories his patients have experienced, so Musicophilia is sure to have interesting and real stories.
I'm very interested in studying neuroscience throughout college, and music has always been a huge part of my life, so a book that combined the two sounded incredibly interesting to me. Hopefully, Musicophilia will give me a better idea of if I actually want to pursue neuroscience, and, if so, open my eyes to possible specific aspects of neuroscience that I could study in college.
I'm very interested in studying neuroscience throughout college, and music has always been a huge part of my life, so a book that combined the two sounded incredibly interesting to me. Hopefully, Musicophilia will give me a better idea of if I actually want to pursue neuroscience, and, if so, open my eyes to possible specific aspects of neuroscience that I could study in college.
TOW #24: I'm A Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson (IRB)
Reading Goal: Try to identify new rhetorical devices (different from last time) that Bryson uses.
Writing Goal: Try to incorporate my voice into my writing.
Throughout I'm A Stranger Here Myself, Bill Bryson has continually been effectively entertaining while actually being informative about the differences between American and British life. However, in the second half of the book, Bryson has been back in America for about two years now, and his articles are less about the differences between the two countries and more about annoying and frustrating acts of his life. Of course, Bryson is still striving to be entertaining, and he continues to achieve that through his use of parody and hyperbole.
In the chapter entitled "Your New Computer," Bryson addresses the hassle of setting up a new computer. However, instead of simply stating his annoyance (which would be rather boring and seem far too much like he was just complaining), Bryson writes the chapter as a parody of a computer set-up manual. One section reads: "Unpack the box and examine its contents. (Warning: Do not open box if contents are missing or faulty, as this will invalidate your warranty. Return all missing contents in their original packaging [...] and a replacement will be sent within twelve working months.)" (227). Through this statement (part of the "Getting Ready" section of his "computer manual"), Bryson parodies a step that one would normally read in a computer manual. Through this, he highlights how ridiculous and frustrating warranties can be – yet he does so in a funny way. By parodying a computer manual, Bryson achieves his purpose of entertaining his audience.
To make his parody effective, Bryson often utilizes hyperbole. He exaggerates elements of computer manuals, especially the steps that involve installing software and plugging in cords, to show the unnecessary complexity of the process. He writes, "Also included with your PC is a bonus pack of preinstalled software – Lawn Mowing Planner, Mr. Arty-Farty, Blank Screen Saver, and Antarctica Route Finder" (226). While everyone reading certainly knows that the average computer doesn't instruct users how to embark upon an Antarctic adventure, the audience can certainly tell from the ridiculous programs that Bryson describes that computers often come with unneeded and annoying programs that just waste space. And above all else, when exaggerated, Bryson's complaints (for, ultimately, that's what his articles are) are certainly funny.
The second half of Bryson's I'm A Stranger Here Myself focuses more on entertaining the audience rather than doing both that and comparing America and English. To do so, Bryson often uses parody and hyperbole. Because of his effective use of these rhetorical devices, every chapter in I'm A Stranger Here Myself is highly humorous and a joy to read.
Complicated Computers:
Computers today are (in my opinion) wonderfully easy to set up, though Bryson's parody suggests that in his day, computers were far more complicated and resulted in all sorts of disorder, as shown in the picture above.
Computers today are (in my opinion) wonderfully easy to set up, though Bryson's parody suggests that in his day, computers were far more complicated and resulted in all sorts of disorder, as shown in the picture above.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
TOW #23: "The AIDS Cure" by Apoorva Mandavilli (via Popular Science)
Reading Goal: Find a challenging (possibly scientific) article to read.
Writing Goal: Work quotes into analysis in a cohesive and less formulaic manner.
For decades, scientists and doctors have been searching for a cure for AIDS, and until recently, nothing promising was found. In the Popular Science article entitled "The AIDS Cure," Apoorva Mandavilli, a science journalist with a special focus in biomedicine and infectious diseases, discusses the few cases of cured AIDS. She strives to inform readers about how HIV/AIDS works, and how it can then be cured. Since she is writing about a rather complicated subject to a general audience of teenagers and older, Mandavilli uses diagrams and an extended analogy to inform readers about how AIDS works and possible cures for the disease.
The case that Mandavilli focuses on for much of her article is that of Timothy Ray Brown, a patient who had both HIV and leukemia. When Brown received a bone marrow transplant (for his leukemia) from an HIV-resistant donor, his HIV disappeared. When explaining how this works, Mandavilli writes that an HIV-resistant cell, "[c]alled CCR5-delta32, [is] a mutant form of CCR5, a receptor that HIV needs to gain entry into one of its well-known targets, CD4+ T cells." However, this explanation is, as Mandavilli evidently realized, a bit confusing to the average reader, so she includes a diagram on the facing page. The diagram provides a color-coded drawing of HIV cells attaching to a T cell, along with simpler explanations, such as: "Immune cells that carry a mutant form of CCR5 don't allow HIV to bind." By offering a visual and simplified explanation of what she is describing as well as a scientific one, Mandavilli effectively includes the entirety of her audience, from teenagers to professional scientists. Through this, she is able to achieve her goal of informing readers about how AIDS works, regardless of their level of understanding.
Mandavilli again gets into complicated territory when she begins to explain how Brown was cured of AIDS. To help readers understand, she uses an extended metaphor of HIV-infected CD4+ T cells as cars. One of the main problems she discusses is the idea that many HIV-infected cells are hidden in "reservoirs" rather than in the bloodstream (on the highway), so it's hard to predict how many are in the body. She writes, "[i]n the analogy, this means that cars are idling in garages, waiting for an opportune moment to pull out." The concept of a reservoir of cells may be confusing to some readers, but everyone can understand the concept of cars hidden in garages. Later, Mandavilli addresses the ways doctors have tried to get rid of reservoirs, such as the "shock and kill" method. She explains that this essentially works to "lure the cars out of the garages and onto the highways, and then blow them up." By using an analogy that is concrete – that readers can picture – Mandavilli effectively informs readers of any understanding level of a technique for curing AIDS.
Since Apoorva Mandavilli knew the diversity of her audience well, she was able to employ tactics such as diagrams and extended analogy to inform readers of how AIDS works and how it can be cured. She provided technical explanations for readers who could understand that, and then offered the rest of her audience simpler explanations. That way, everyone understood what was going on, and Mandavilli effectively achieved her purpose. Aside from being a successful informative article, "The AIDS Cure" just goes to show how important it is for speakers to fully know their audience.
How HIV Invades Cells – And How to Stop It:
This diagram, found in "The AIDS Cure," is color-coded and simply labelled, which allows readers to better understand what Mandavilli means when she describes the mutant cells.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
TOW #22: "Our Universe Just May Exist In A Multiverse After All, Cosmic Inflation Discovery Suggests" by Miriam Kramer (via Huffington Post)
In her Huffington Post article "Our Universe Just May Exist In A Multiverse After All, Cosmic Inflation Suggests," Miriam Kramer, a science journalist, writes about the newly-discovered evidence of cosmic inflation. These new findings, she says, contribute to the multiverse theory – that we simply live in one iteration of the universe, and there are infinitely many more. Since it uses layman's terms, the article is clearly directed to anyone who is interested in space, regardless of age. Throughout the article, Kramer strives to inform readers about cosmic inflation and to draw connections between it and the multiverse theory. To achieve this, she appeals to ethos by quoting numerous experts.
Since Kramer's article revolves mostly around the connection between theories, it's not particularly concrete. To solidify her points and gain credibility, she quotes experts. When discussing how cosmic inflation and the multiverse are directly connected, she quotes Alan Guth, a theoretical physicist from MIT as saying: "It's hard to build models of inflation that don't lead to a multiverse" and "It's not impossible, so I think there's still certainly research that needs to be done. But most models inflation do lead to a multiverse [...]" By identifying and quoting an expert, Kramer establishes credibility for the connections drawn between the two theories, which convinces readers that cosmic inflation really could support multiverse theories.
Furthermore, Kramer understands that the connection between inflation and the multiverse may be difficult for some readers to comprehend, so she quotes another expert who knows a great way to describe the theory. She writes, "Linde, one of the main contributors to inflation theory, says [...] 'Think about some unstable state [...] You are standing on a hill, and you can fall in this direction, you can fall in that direction, and if you're drunk, eventually you must fall. Inflation is instability of our space with respect to its expansion.'" Kramer goes on to quote Linde explaining that the ability to "fall" in any direction is what makes the multiverse theory work – it could "fall" in infinitely many directions, causing an infinite number of possible universes – the multiverse. By quoting Linde, Kramer was able to present to readers a simple analogy straight from a person who understands cosmic inflation best. This not only informs readers but also adds even more credibility to the connections between cosmic inflation and the multiverse.
In her article about cosmic inflation and the multiverse theory, Miriam Kramer quotes various experts to appeal to ethos. This ethical appeal then gives the audience concrete evidence that there are strong connections between the two theories, because readers are very likely to accept the words of experts. Quoting Guth and Linde allowed Kramer to strengthen her article's credibility and ultimately inform and convince readers of the connections between newly-discovered cosmic inflation and the theory of the multiverse.
Since Kramer's article revolves mostly around the connection between theories, it's not particularly concrete. To solidify her points and gain credibility, she quotes experts. When discussing how cosmic inflation and the multiverse are directly connected, she quotes Alan Guth, a theoretical physicist from MIT as saying: "It's hard to build models of inflation that don't lead to a multiverse" and "It's not impossible, so I think there's still certainly research that needs to be done. But most models inflation do lead to a multiverse [...]" By identifying and quoting an expert, Kramer establishes credibility for the connections drawn between the two theories, which convinces readers that cosmic inflation really could support multiverse theories.
Furthermore, Kramer understands that the connection between inflation and the multiverse may be difficult for some readers to comprehend, so she quotes another expert who knows a great way to describe the theory. She writes, "Linde, one of the main contributors to inflation theory, says [...] 'Think about some unstable state [...] You are standing on a hill, and you can fall in this direction, you can fall in that direction, and if you're drunk, eventually you must fall. Inflation is instability of our space with respect to its expansion.'" Kramer goes on to quote Linde explaining that the ability to "fall" in any direction is what makes the multiverse theory work – it could "fall" in infinitely many directions, causing an infinite number of possible universes – the multiverse. By quoting Linde, Kramer was able to present to readers a simple analogy straight from a person who understands cosmic inflation best. This not only informs readers but also adds even more credibility to the connections between cosmic inflation and the multiverse.
In her article about cosmic inflation and the multiverse theory, Miriam Kramer quotes various experts to appeal to ethos. This ethical appeal then gives the audience concrete evidence that there are strong connections between the two theories, because readers are very likely to accept the words of experts. Quoting Guth and Linde allowed Kramer to strengthen her article's credibility and ultimately inform and convince readers of the connections between newly-discovered cosmic inflation and the theory of the multiverse.
The Multiverse:
The multiverse theory discussed in this article explores the possibility of "bubbles" created as space-time expanded at different rates. Each of these "bubbles," the theory says, contains a different version of the universe.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
TOW #21: KAL's Cartoon in March 15th, 2014 Issue of The Economist (Visual Text)
Kevin Kallaugher is a weekly political cartoonist for The Economist. In his most recent cartoon, published in the March 15th, 2014 issue of the magazine, Kallaugher comments on Russia's involvement in Ukraine (specifically in Crimea). This cartoon, directed at an audience with a current events-awareness, strives to bring to light the problems in the Russian government, especially when the situation in Ukraine is concerned. To achieve this, Kallaugher uses hyperbole and starling imagery in his drawing.
To convince his audience of the widespread problems in the Russian government and just how many Ukrainian people they affect, Kallaugher uses hyperbole. The group of people in the second panel of the cartoon is shown to be rather diverse, including what appears to be a child, an old woman, middle-aged men and women, and even a dog. The dog is an exaggeration – Putin is certainly not asking the opinion of Ukrainian dogs – but it does get Kallaugher's point across. The exaggeration of who is faced by Putin's tactics shows viewers that virtually everyone in Crimea is affected by the governmental problems under Putin. The image of Putin in a tank is hyperbole in and of itself, but it is primarily used for its ability to startle cartoon readers.
In this cartoon, when the reporter asks Putin if he can truly conduct a vote in Crimea when he has troops essentially occupying it, Putin responds with a simple "Sure." However, the next panel of the cartoon serves to alarm readers – the reporters and Putin are found to be standing upon a tank, and the Russian President has the tank's gun trained on a group of people. This image is extremely startling to readers, as it evokes a sense of fear for the people involved. This image works together with the other exaggeration in the cartoon to bring to light the lack of "free and fair referendum in Crimea" because, as the cartoon clearly states and shows, the Republic is essentially under military occupation. Additionally, the alarming response of Putin in contrast to his affirmation of the reporter's question demonstrates the lack of honestly present in the Russian government, further convincing readers of widespread problems relating to the current situation in Ukraine.
Through his use of hyperbole and startling imagery, Kevin Kallaugher effectively updates readers on problems with Russia's government and its involvement in Crimea. The alarming pictures mainly appeal to pathos through their exaggeration of the situation (though the exaggeration may not even be to particularly large magnitude), but this nonetheless allows Kallaugher to convince readers that there in a serious problem in Ukraine.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
TOW #20: I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson (IRB)
Reading Goal: While reading, identify why the author using rhetorical devices rather than just pointing out the specific devices used.
Writing Goal: Arrange everything in a cohesive but interesting manner (i.e. avoid simply listing SOAPS in the introduction).
In the spring of 1995, author Bill Bryson and his family moved from England (their home for twenty years) to New Hampshire. Although Bryson had grown up in America, he was shocked at the differences between American and British life. His book, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, is a compilation of his stories about those differences, intended for a teen to adult American audience. The book has dual purposes – it strives both to highlight the contrast between life in the US and life in England and to entertain readers. Bryson's use of exaggeration and juxtaposition allows him to present the differences as well as make readers laugh.
I'm a Stranger Here Myself contains many short, four-page chapters that compare aspects of British and American life. In one particular chapter, entitled "Gardening With My Wife", Bryson discusses the difference between British "gardens" and American "yards". Bryson first describes gardening in England: "I was in a nation of people who not only knew and understood things like powdery mildew, peach leaf curl, optimum pH levels, and the difference between Coreopsis verticillata and Coreopsis grandiflora but cared about them" (118). His exaggeration of the specifics with which all British people are concerned highlights the detailed-oriented mindset in which British people garden.
Bryson then goes on to describe the contrasting American garden: "American gardens are mostly lawn, and American lawns are mostly big. This means that you spend your life raking. In the autumn the leaves fall together with a single great whoomp ... and you spend about two months dragging them into piles ... When you come out in spring, there they all are again ... So you spend weeks and weeks raking them up ... Finally, just when you get the lawn pristine, there is a great whoomp sound and you realize it's autumn again" (119). Bryson exaggerates the existence of leaves, saying that they all fall at once and, in a personified way, creep back into the yard throughout the year, so that the entire year is spent raking. In this way, Bryson highlights the monotonous nature of American yardwork. This monotony and simplicity juxtaposed against the specific and scientific dedication of British gardening shows Bryson's audience how different the two nations are when it comes to the grassy area surrounding one's house.
The exaggeration not only helps to highlight the differences between America and England but also is able to make readers laugh. It seems very unlikely that every Briton will measure the pH level of their soil to determine which flowers to plant, and any American knows that one does not literally spend the entire year raking leaves. Through this use of exaggeration and juxtaposition, Bill Bryson effectively conveys differences between American and British life in an entertaining manner.
Leaves Here, There, and Everywhere:
As Bill Bryson comments on in "Gardening With My Wife", we Americans spend a great amount of time per year dealing with the leaves infesting our yards.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
TOW #19: POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Packaging (Visual Text)
At first glance, one notices the strange shape of this bottle of pomegranate juice. When one looks closer, the first thing to jump out on the label is the heart present in the name, POM. Below that, the bottle says: "100% Pomegranate Juice". And on the back, it boasts, "100% California Pomegranates", directly above the nutrition information. First, by making the bottle an interesting shape, shoppers' attention is caught. Then, by using the heart symbol as well as repeated text, the POM Wonderful company effectively convinces people in the grocery store to buy the juice.
The strange shape of bottle catches shoppers' attention and makes them pause to take a closer look at the product. Also, shoppers may pick up the bottle and notice that the shape is comfortable in their hand, which could further convince them to buy it. However, the most convincing evidence is present on the bottle's label.
The juice bottle prominently displays a heart embedded in the name of the product. Subliminally, this makes shoppers associate the product's name with love, which can cause them to believe they like the product – without even knowing much about it. Also, health-conscious people may associate the heart with heart health – perhaps the pomegranate juice will be able to make their heart healthier in some way or another. Simply having a heart on the packaging, though, will not convince most people. Many shoppers will then read the text present on the bottle.
On the front, the label reads: "100% Pomegranate Juice". This further convinces potential buyers of its healthiness – it's completely natural, which people view as meaning it is more healthy. When they turn to the back to read the nutrition information, they see similar text: "100% California Pomegranates". Additionally, the text to the right of the nutrition information states: "All Natural 100% Juice". Again, the idea of an all-natural, healthy drink is reinforced. This large, bolded text helps to distract shoppers from the nutrition information, which reveals that the product contains 32 grams of sugar – quite a lot for such a small drink. However, since the "100% Juice"-promoting text is a lot larger and easier to read, that's all that most shoppers will pay attention to. Once thoroughly convinced that the juice is healthy and natural, many shoppers will decide it's a good buy.
Through its use of an attention-grabbing shape and numerous reminders of its healthiness, the POM Wonderful bottle effectively portrays to potential buyers that it would be a good, all-natural, healthy drink to buy. (And I can attest to its effectiveness, because there are about five of these bottles currently in my family's fridge.)
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
TOW #18: "Engineering the Ideal Olympian" by Erica Westly (via Popular Science)
With the Winter Olympics finally here, many Americans are excitedly rooting for their favorite snowboarders, skiers, and figure skaters. In "Engineering the Ideal Olympian" in the February issue of Popular Science, Erica Westly, a freelance writer who often covers the Olympics, writes about the new technology the US team is employing. She writes to an audience interested in both the Olympics and cutting-edge science and technology – a category that probably encompasses most of Popular Science's readership. Through the article, Westly both informs readers about the exciting events in the Winter Games as well as helps them understand how technology gives America an advantage. To achieve this, Westly makes use of intriguing diction and interesting pictures/infographics.
Clearly enthusiastic about the Olympics, Westly uses many adjectives to convey that interest to her readers. She writes, "Particularly in the Winter Games, technology – flawlessly designed for speed and safety – can mean the difference between standing on the podium and watching from the stands." Her use of "flawlessly" draws readers in and makes them wonder how that technology is designed so that it could have such a great effect on athletes' performance. Westly's overall use of interesting adjectives makes the article more exciting to read and therefore allows readers to focus on the significance of the technology Westly describes.
Since many of the new technologies Westly is describing are unknown to readers, pictures and infographics are extremely helpful for reader comprehension. When informing readers of the Catapult Sports Minimax S4 (a tool used by snowboarders), Westly discusses how the device measures velocity and G-force. To illustrate this, she includes a picture of a snowboarder mid-air in a half-pipe. The picture has the snowboarder's path drawn in, and has information boxes at spots that would be important to the athletes (ex. takeoff, maximum height, landing). This infographic gives readers a sense of how the device works as well as a better understanding of how the snowboarders can use the data. By including pictures and infographics, Westly effectively helps readers better understand how new technology can make Olympians more successful.
In "Engineering the Ideal Olympian", Erica Westly strives to inform readers of how new technologies are helping the US Olympic Team be victorious at the 2014 Winter Games. To achieve this purpose, she first draws readers in through her intriguing diction and then fosters understanding of the technology through detailed pictures and infographics. Ultimately, through this article, Westly is able to make more readers excited about the Winter Games and the prospects of victory that new technologies can bring.
Clearly enthusiastic about the Olympics, Westly uses many adjectives to convey that interest to her readers. She writes, "Particularly in the Winter Games, technology – flawlessly designed for speed and safety – can mean the difference between standing on the podium and watching from the stands." Her use of "flawlessly" draws readers in and makes them wonder how that technology is designed so that it could have such a great effect on athletes' performance. Westly's overall use of interesting adjectives makes the article more exciting to read and therefore allows readers to focus on the significance of the technology Westly describes.
Since many of the new technologies Westly is describing are unknown to readers, pictures and infographics are extremely helpful for reader comprehension. When informing readers of the Catapult Sports Minimax S4 (a tool used by snowboarders), Westly discusses how the device measures velocity and G-force. To illustrate this, she includes a picture of a snowboarder mid-air in a half-pipe. The picture has the snowboarder's path drawn in, and has information boxes at spots that would be important to the athletes (ex. takeoff, maximum height, landing). This infographic gives readers a sense of how the device works as well as a better understanding of how the snowboarders can use the data. By including pictures and infographics, Westly effectively helps readers better understand how new technology can make Olympians more successful.
In "Engineering the Ideal Olympian", Erica Westly strives to inform readers of how new technologies are helping the US Olympic Team be victorious at the 2014 Winter Games. To achieve this purpose, she first draws readers in through her intriguing diction and then fosters understanding of the technology through detailed pictures and infographics. Ultimately, through this article, Westly is able to make more readers excited about the Winter Games and the prospects of victory that new technologies can bring.
Snowboarding Infographic:
As described in the third paragraph, Westly uses an infographic to explain the Catapult Sports Minimax S4, a device snowboarders use. This graphic is interesting and informative enough that it allows readers to understand the way athletes use the device.
(Source: "Engineering the Ideal Olympian": Popular Science, February 2014, Page 37)
I'm a Stranger Here Myself Introduction (IRB)
When journalist Bill Bryson moved back to the United States after living in the UK for nearly twenty years, he was, as he writes, forcibly made to write a weekly column for an editor friend back in London. I'm a Stranger Here Myself is a compilation of those columns, which describe American life from the point of view of a (virtually) British person. The specific topics include normal parts of life like going to the post office or seeing advertisements that Bryson has managed to turn into hilarious stories, simply because he can look upon them with a different perspective than we can as Americans.
I chose to read this book because it seemed to be an interesting topic – after all, we think our everyday routines are normal, but they may seem absolutely alien to an outsider. Also, it was cited as being hilarious, and given that my two previous IRBs were somber and scientific (respectively), I decided to change it up a bit. Hopefully this book will open my eyes to the differences between American life and British life, as well as giving me a new perspective on things I view as normal. Also, I expect it to simply be entertaining as well.
I chose to read this book because it seemed to be an interesting topic – after all, we think our everyday routines are normal, but they may seem absolutely alien to an outsider. Also, it was cited as being hilarious, and given that my two previous IRBs were somber and scientific (respectively), I decided to change it up a bit. Hopefully this book will open my eyes to the differences between American life and British life, as well as giving me a new perspective on things I view as normal. Also, I expect it to simply be entertaining as well.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
TOW #17: "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?" by Maya L. Harris (via CNN.com)
Recently, President Obama addressed the issue of gender inequality (specifically dealing with wages) at the State of the Union. His announcement that a "women deserves equal pay for equal work" was met with a standing ovation. However, in the opinion article "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?", Maya L. Harris, a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School and a women's rights activist, argues that a standing ovation won't make change – action will. By passionately suggesting and thoroughly supporting ways to take action, Harris effectively conveys her desire for change through action and shows how America could be made a better place because of it.
Harris follows up her statement that "Only action will [change the gender wage gap]" by proposes a way for Congress to start taking that action. She writes, "Congress can start by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women can't get fired for asking their co-workers about their pay." She follows up this suggestion with reasons why that would be a good first step, citing Lilly Ledbetter, a women who had been part of a wage discrimination case and who is now a women's equality activist, as asking, "How will a women know she being paid less if she can't ask?" First, by giving a well-supported suggestion, Harris urges readers to understand the importance of the wage inequality issue. By showing that she has spent time researching the Paycheck Fairness Act and its effects, as well as finding the opinions of people who support it, Harris makes clear how important equality is to her. This passion to solve the problem that Harris expresses attempts to make readers feel the same way. Harris continues to give suggestions and provide inspiring messages, writing, "When we lift women, we lift America." Ultimately, by vehemently presenting her ideas about the wage gap, Harris effectively convinces readers that this issue should be important to everyone. Her well-supported suggestions then show that the only way to bring about that change is through action.
In "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?", Maya L. Harris states that the only way to bring about equal pay is to actually do something. She argues that standing ovations will not help – action will. By presenting well-supported suggestions with a passionate tone, Harris effectively conveys her desire for change and then urges readers to understand that importance so they can make change happen and ultimately make America a better place.
Harris follows up her statement that "Only action will [change the gender wage gap]" by proposes a way for Congress to start taking that action. She writes, "Congress can start by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act so that women can't get fired for asking their co-workers about their pay." She follows up this suggestion with reasons why that would be a good first step, citing Lilly Ledbetter, a women who had been part of a wage discrimination case and who is now a women's equality activist, as asking, "How will a women know she being paid less if she can't ask?" First, by giving a well-supported suggestion, Harris urges readers to understand the importance of the wage inequality issue. By showing that she has spent time researching the Paycheck Fairness Act and its effects, as well as finding the opinions of people who support it, Harris makes clear how important equality is to her. This passion to solve the problem that Harris expresses attempts to make readers feel the same way. Harris continues to give suggestions and provide inspiring messages, writing, "When we lift women, we lift America." Ultimately, by vehemently presenting her ideas about the wage gap, Harris effectively convinces readers that this issue should be important to everyone. Her well-supported suggestions then show that the only way to bring about that change is through action.
In "Was standing ovation for women's pay just as fake as Don Draper?", Maya L. Harris states that the only way to bring about equal pay is to actually do something. She argues that standing ovations will not help – action will. By presenting well-supported suggestions with a passionate tone, Harris effectively conveys her desire for change and then urges readers to understand that importance so they can make change happen and ultimately make America a better place.
Standing Ovation at State of the Union:
Obama's announcement of support for equal pay resulted in a standing ovation. But, as Harris argues, that standing ovation isn't what will bring about change. If we truly want to make a difference, we need to take action.
Monday, January 20, 2014
TOW #16: "The 25 Best Inventions of the Year" (via TIME Magazine)
In the November 25th, 2013 issue of TIME Magazine, authors Charlotte Alter, Cleo Brock-Abraham, Lev Grossman, Andrew Katz, Denver Nicks, Alice Park, Jessica Roy, Katy Steinmetz, Mark Thompson, Bryan Walsh, and Christopher Wilson compiled a list entitled "The 25 Best Inventions of the Year". Written for an audience of literally all ages – the list format allowed for readers of all ages to comprehend the article – this list strives simply to inform the American public of twenty-five interesting inventions of 2013, ranging from fun ideas like driverless toy race cars to amazingly innovative and impactful inventions like the Rewalk, which can allow paraplegics to stand and even walk. Through its sensible and attention-grabbing arrangement, "The 25 Best Inventions of the Year" effectively teaches readers about its titular products.
The article is arranged from the most "fun" inventions to the most "useful". It begins with simple things, described as "widely entertaining" that the average reader could possibly own, like the Sony Smart Lens, which fits onto smart phones to give the consumer high-quality photos with relative ease. By first introducing simple yet exciting inventions, the article successfully intrigues readers enough to continue reading – these "everyday" inventions could affect the readers' lives, and are therefore very interesting to the average audience member. Once the article has the readers' attention, it moves towards products that probably don't directly affect the average person, such as "world-changing" Argus II, which is able to "restore partial vision to those who have severe retinitis pigmentosa, which can lead to blindness." While the average person (especially one who is reading this particular article) is almost certainly not blind, they may know someone who is, and who could be positively affected by this invention. Regardless, the introduction of consumer-friendly inventions first and then a slow build-up to more life-changing ideas allowed for the article to keep readers entertained even as the successive innovations began to stop applying to their everyday lives. This logical arrangement kept readers entertained throughout the article and therefore successfully achieved the authors' purpose of informing their audience of great new inventions of 2013.
Through the use of a sensible yet entertaining arrangement, the authors of "The 25 Best Inventions of the Year" effectively entranced readers throughout the entire article. By beginning with products that could directly affect their audience and moving out to a larger scale, the authors kept their audience intrigued to the very end, which ultimately allowed for a successful transfer of information about the inventions from the article to the readers.
The article is arranged from the most "fun" inventions to the most "useful". It begins with simple things, described as "widely entertaining" that the average reader could possibly own, like the Sony Smart Lens, which fits onto smart phones to give the consumer high-quality photos with relative ease. By first introducing simple yet exciting inventions, the article successfully intrigues readers enough to continue reading – these "everyday" inventions could affect the readers' lives, and are therefore very interesting to the average audience member. Once the article has the readers' attention, it moves towards products that probably don't directly affect the average person, such as "world-changing" Argus II, which is able to "restore partial vision to those who have severe retinitis pigmentosa, which can lead to blindness." While the average person (especially one who is reading this particular article) is almost certainly not blind, they may know someone who is, and who could be positively affected by this invention. Regardless, the introduction of consumer-friendly inventions first and then a slow build-up to more life-changing ideas allowed for the article to keep readers entertained even as the successive innovations began to stop applying to their everyday lives. This logical arrangement kept readers entertained throughout the article and therefore successfully achieved the authors' purpose of informing their audience of great new inventions of 2013.
Through the use of a sensible yet entertaining arrangement, the authors of "The 25 Best Inventions of the Year" effectively entranced readers throughout the entire article. By beginning with products that could directly affect their audience and moving out to a larger scale, the authors kept their audience intrigued to the very end, which ultimately allowed for a successful transfer of information about the inventions from the article to the readers.
The 3Doodler:
One of the inventions in the middle of the article was the 3Doodler, a pen that effectively acts as a handheld 3D printer, allowing the user to draw in three dimensions.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
TOW #15: Dreamland by David K. Randall (IRB)
Dreamland is a comprehensive informational book about the science of sleep, written by David K. Randall who, while not a certified sleep expert, has suffered from sleep problems for much of his life and has devoted the past few years to researching sleep to write this book. Dreamland was written with the average American in mind, and Randall does a great job of making it simple enough to understand, yet detailed enough to be extremely informative. To do so, he writes about various sleep disorders as well as the ideal way to get a good night's sleep and uses scenarios that the average American can relate to and therefore understand. Through this familiarity, Randall is able to achieve his purpose of informing the public about sleep.
Chapter 9 of Dreamland (titled "Game Time") focuses on circadian rhythms. Since that phrase likely means very little to anyone who has not recently completed a biology course, Randall begins by talking about Monday Night Football, something that the average American certainly knows. Randall then discusses how East Coast teams often lose to supposed evenly-matched West Coast teams. This, again, is something many East Coast fans can relate with, which allows them to become further interested in this chapter of Dreamland. Finally, once Randall has his readers' attention, he incorporates the new idea of circadian rhythms. These, he writes, are the reason why East Coast teams often do poorly against western teams – they're playing football at times that their internal body clocks would rather be sleeping. By first introducing a scenario that many readers will understand and be interested in, Randall ensures that he has his audience's attention and their interest in how he could connect the topic to sleep. From there, Randall launches into interesting explanations that often include more scenarios in order for readers to continue to connect with the text. This combination of interest and comprehensive explanation ultimately allows readers to learn about many aspects of sleep.
Randall employs many rhetorical strategies in Dreamland, including appeals to logos, as discussed in a previous TOW. However, as the book continues into more complicated topics, he often uses relatable scenarios to give readers a better understanding of sleep. Ultimately, Randall's use of situations his audience can connect to allows for readers to come away from Dreamland as people far more educated about sleep than they were when they started.
Chapter 9 of Dreamland (titled "Game Time") focuses on circadian rhythms. Since that phrase likely means very little to anyone who has not recently completed a biology course, Randall begins by talking about Monday Night Football, something that the average American certainly knows. Randall then discusses how East Coast teams often lose to supposed evenly-matched West Coast teams. This, again, is something many East Coast fans can relate with, which allows them to become further interested in this chapter of Dreamland. Finally, once Randall has his readers' attention, he incorporates the new idea of circadian rhythms. These, he writes, are the reason why East Coast teams often do poorly against western teams – they're playing football at times that their internal body clocks would rather be sleeping. By first introducing a scenario that many readers will understand and be interested in, Randall ensures that he has his audience's attention and their interest in how he could connect the topic to sleep. From there, Randall launches into interesting explanations that often include more scenarios in order for readers to continue to connect with the text. This combination of interest and comprehensive explanation ultimately allows readers to learn about many aspects of sleep.
Randall employs many rhetorical strategies in Dreamland, including appeals to logos, as discussed in a previous TOW. However, as the book continues into more complicated topics, he often uses relatable scenarios to give readers a better understanding of sleep. Ultimately, Randall's use of situations his audience can connect to allows for readers to come away from Dreamland as people far more educated about sleep than they were when they started.
Circadian Rhythm:
As Randall discusses, knowing the circadian rhythm is vital to getting the most out of one's day. Trying to do important work during dips in energy is often very unproductive, as many eastern football players have experienced.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
TOW #14: "Stranger Danger" by Misha Collins (Visual Text)
Misha Collins, an actor and published poet, wrote and directed the video short "Stranger Danger". It is about just that: the danger of strangers. The video features a young girl skipping down a neighborhood street who ultimately enters a suspicious-looking white van. Through this video, Collins conveys the message to his audience – virtually anyone – that one should not judge the safety of others based solely on their appearance. To achieve this, Collins uses irony.
The video begins by following a young girl as she walks down a neighborhood street, presumably after getting off of the school bus. From the outset, the viewer trusts this girl, who is dressed in pink and seems cheerful and altogether normal. She waves to her neighbors and smells the flowers by the sidewalk. Then, the video cuts to a shot from the inside of a vehicle, in which a man is smoking and looking at the little girl. The man begins to drive slowly behind the girl, and viewers begin to think of him as a predator – they immediately distrust him. The van stops near the little girl, and she looks inside at a Barbie doll. Seemingly trusting the vehicle, she heads towards the side doors. At this point, viewers become very worried for the innocent girl. The man throws the doors open, and, much to the viewers' surprise, the little girl sprouts fangs and leaps at the man, sinking her teeth into him. This alarming twist causes watchers to reconsider how they perceived the people in the video. The man may not have had good intentions, but not once did they consider that the seemingly innocent little girl would have evil intentions as well. Through his use of irony, Collins effectively forces viewers to really think about how they judge people based on their looks, and makes them realize that just because a stranger looks safe doesn't mean that they actually are.
In the video short "Stranger Danger", Misha Collins successfully conveys his message of not judging the safety of others based only upon their appearance. By employing irony through a twist ending, Collins shocks readers into reconsidering their perspective on strangers altogether. He hopes, surely, that if many people view his video, the world may ultimately be a slightly safer place.
The video begins by following a young girl as she walks down a neighborhood street, presumably after getting off of the school bus. From the outset, the viewer trusts this girl, who is dressed in pink and seems cheerful and altogether normal. She waves to her neighbors and smells the flowers by the sidewalk. Then, the video cuts to a shot from the inside of a vehicle, in which a man is smoking and looking at the little girl. The man begins to drive slowly behind the girl, and viewers begin to think of him as a predator – they immediately distrust him. The van stops near the little girl, and she looks inside at a Barbie doll. Seemingly trusting the vehicle, she heads towards the side doors. At this point, viewers become very worried for the innocent girl. The man throws the doors open, and, much to the viewers' surprise, the little girl sprouts fangs and leaps at the man, sinking her teeth into him. This alarming twist causes watchers to reconsider how they perceived the people in the video. The man may not have had good intentions, but not once did they consider that the seemingly innocent little girl would have evil intentions as well. Through his use of irony, Collins effectively forces viewers to really think about how they judge people based on their looks, and makes them realize that just because a stranger looks safe doesn't mean that they actually are.
In the video short "Stranger Danger", Misha Collins successfully conveys his message of not judging the safety of others based only upon their appearance. By employing irony through a twist ending, Collins shocks readers into reconsidering their perspective on strangers altogether. He hopes, surely, that if many people view his video, the world may ultimately be a slightly safer place.
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