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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

(Source: http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1029325/women-take-center-stage-in-president-obamas-2014-state-of-the-union-address)