Unit 5 TOW Post #3

Documentaries have been influential to public opinion throughout history. They are defined as movies or a television or radio programs that provide a factual record or report. This style has been replicated thousands of times to suit almost every topic known to man. Documentary film can be an extremely effective method of displaying information, influencing views, and calling for action. That is exactly what Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore did. After the Columbine High School shooting, in which 15 students and teachers were killed, America as a whole became extremely cautious and preventive in relation to gun violence. The media, newspapers and magazines reflected this. Why not an extremely successful documentary as well? Bowling for Columbine was very effective at reflecting this sense of urgency with Michael Moore’s leftist portrayal of the issue. The film was also very successful in addressing the underlying causes of the issue. This was received by the world in the movement to end gun violence that followed. Moore juxtaposes America’s culture and fixation on danger with other countries that have a much lower prevalence of gun violence. This was done through a series of successive images of countries accompanied by their respective gun death totals. The numbers continued to decrease until it got to America, where the interval increased by an immense proportion (over 10,000).  This drew great attention to the prevalence of the issue in America and motivated activists to create reforms that addressed it.  Ten years after being produced, Bowling for Columbine is still relevant, informative, and captivating. It is exemplary to the mode of communication known as documentary filmmaking. 

Unit 5 Post #2: Bowling for Columbine

On the morning of April 20, 1999, teenagers around the country woke up for school like it was any other day. For most of them, it was. Unfortunately, this was not the case for those at Columbine High School.  That day would go down in infamy as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (parts of the “Trenchcoat Mafia”) brought semi-automatic weapons to school and shot many of their classmates. This incident sparked a widespread debate about the issue of gun control. “Bowling for Colombine” is a film written and directed by Michael Moore that documents this issue when it was at its peak. The movie features testimonies from both extremes and all the in-between. From the head of the NRA to the victims of the shooting, a huge array of voices were taken into account with the making of this film.

“Bowling for Columbine” became one of the world’s most provocative documentaries, and set documentary box office records in multiple countries. To be such a successful and powerful film, Moore utilized various rhetorical devices to reach a huge audience about the topic of gun control. One of the most prominent of these was juxtaposition. When looking for answers to the gun problem, various responses have been given. However, when it comes down to it gun violence is most prevalent in America. Moore sheds light upon this by juxtaposing the number of gun deaths in other industrialized countries as compared with the number of gun deaths in America. Doing so creates an aura of urgency to discover the true source of such a significant difference so that legislation can be made to fix it.

Additionally, a resonating cartoon was utilized to depict the prevalence of guns in American history and culture. The cartoon basically summed up American development, from colonial times to today, through the eyes of the firearm. This showed the audience what a profound effect the gun has played on society in general. This is very important because it takes into account Moore’s opposition. There are many people who think that making guns illegal will stop gun violence, and that simply isn’t the case. Gun-enthusiasts look at the past to argue against this. While Moore wants to lessen gun violence, he emphasizes the understanding that a clear-cut, immediate answer just isn’t viable. “Bowling for Columbine” has received a huge response that has included praise and criticism as well as everything in between. The truth of the matter is, you’re going to have to watch it before you can draw any conclusions of your own.

                                                                                                  

Unit 5: Post #1

Many of the things we do in life begin with confusion. You ask yourself a multitude of questions like why am I doing this? How do I do this? What benefits will I receive through doing this? But eventually, there is that moment you just “get it.” Something clicks, and you’ve had all your questions answered. For me, my TOW assignments underwent this same process. My first couple of TOW’s were lacking in solid analysis and utilization of true arguments. For example, my TOW about the poverty rates in Brazil consists heavily of summation and introductory fluff. I spent too much time referencing the content of the article rather than analyzing the rhetorical devices used within it. As times goes on, this trend changes. This is evident through my TOW’s about the women’s’ rights and Apple.

I had a much better grasp on the TOW when I wrote my post about the Women’s Rights article in January. My rhetorical analysis was stronger than it had been months earlier. Additionally, the analysis supported my thesis “It is through the perspective of women and a commiserating persona towards society that makes the article a very opinionated yet convincing piece” effectively. It wasn’t until March, when I wrote the TOW about the Apple article, that I finally “got it.” Instead of one solid chunk of text, I wrote two separate paragraphs. The second consisted entirely of rhetorical analysis and a thesis statement that was proven through the analysis.  This was a much stronger argument than the ones in previous TOW’s. From this progression, I have mastered the ability to construct an argument about the rhetorical devices in nonfiction articles. However, there is certainly room for improvement. I can improve upon my ability to locate more diverse devices, as it appears that I have a tendency to repeat specific ones in my analysis.

For me, the TOW was a tool to better my rhetorical analysis skillset and expose my mind to a wide variety of content and genres. This was certainly achieved. I wrote about different books, articles, and visual texts over thirty times. I learned new information through the pieces, and I got better at analyzing them as the year went on. The TOW’s have allowed me to broaden my perspective and become knowledgeable about many different things.  While they may have been a pain on many Sunday nights, I am confident that I have greatly benefited from my TOW assignments throughout the year. 

"Senate Speed-Trap" cartoon by RJ Matson

The United States government was founded upon the ideals of democracy and representation. When policies are enacted, they are supposed to be for the good of the people, and everyone is supposed to be taken into consideration. There is a general track record of success in doing so. But, what if the government can't pass such policies in the first place? With the growing bipartisan tensions as well as sluggishness of enactments, this has become a growing concern. While this is evident in both houses of congress, it is specifically the case in the senate. RJ Matson, the creator of Roll Call, illustrates this important issue in his cartoon entitled "Senate Speed-Trap." Matson utilizes metaphor as well as a pun to demonstrate his argument, illustrating the issue on a very effective and intelligible level.

In the cartoon, the senate is featured as a vehicle and the police force, entitled "minority", is depicted as giving it a ticket. This analogy relates the troublesome governmental issue to the topic of traffic tickets, which is an issue most citizens have a stigma towards. Doing this increases Matson's effectiveness, for the issue now becomes something much more relatable to his audience of the "common man." Within this metaphor, there is also a pun. The cop giving the ticket says, "Yes sir, I'm afraid attempting to pass any legislation here is a "moving violation."" Moving violations are a common terminology for traffic tickets, and here it has a dual-meaning. It can also be used to show the sluggishness of senate's capabilities, so that they are prevented from being able to move in any direction. This is a clever and effective way of relating the glacial abilities of congress to the commonly hated "moving violation." By utilizing this metaphor and pun, Matson is ultimately effective in illustrating his argument concerning the restrictions that are placed on congress, appealing to the audience of Americans who have seen very little change in the past couple of years.

"Profiles in Courage" by John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy is one of the most iconic presidents in American history. Being the youngest president ever elected, his enthusiastic and energetic image is one that will live on forever in the minds of Americans. There was one quality that Kennedy revered the most: courage. He believed that, in a world of politics where pressures are heavier than any other, the courage to both stand strong and to compromise is most admirable. Due to this, he authored a book about certain characters in American political history that have demonstrated outstanding courage. He begins the book with an extremely resonating introduction to the truths and myths of politics, and then divulges into the lives of six of the most courageous senators in his eyes. It is through historical anecdotes and an academic tone, which ultimately add credibility and interest to his writing.

Kennedy describes politicians that are from very different time periods, who were involved in an extremely wide variety of decisions. To aid his discussion of courage, he utilizes interesting historical anecdotes about the senators. For example, Kennedy begins the section on John Quincy Adams with a story about a letter he received from a Federalist to demonstrate the political tensions. The primary source letter was included, along with Adams's own opinion in writing. By doing this, Kennedy is telling the story through history itself, rather than acting simply as an outside observer. The following sections are then dispersed with primary sources and quotes to allow the audience to follow along in an attention-grabbing and illustrative manner.

Throughout the book, Kennedy sticks with this academic style. He will offer an argument, and then utilize the immense amount of political documents that are at his disposal. This strengthens his points greatly, and it is a very refreshing writing style for a man of such political prominence. Many politicians in the current realm often get away with blank rhetoric; using style and drawing to emotions rather than relying on the cold hard facts. For a politician to write about other politicians, this could very well have been the avenue that Profiles in Courage went down. However, by developing and maintaining such an academic tone, Kennedy is successful in not only teaching his audience but persuading them as well.

From the very beginning, it was clear that Profiles in Courage would be very hard to put down. The interesting anecdotal information as well as the overall tone is what makes it so special, and what allows Kennedy to be so effective. As I venture further into the creativity and amazing writing of the former president, I will be on the lookout for more rhetorical devices that aid his purpose of displaying the courage of his subjects.

"Bad News"- Rick Mckee

The mainstream media has become a huge component of our society. Whenever an issue arises, the public looks to their favorite news station to provide them with the information they desire. Many have a tendency to open their ears and eyes wholeheartedly, and believe whatever they are told. News stations want to be the first to report, and therefore are often inaccurate in their premature broadcasts. In lieu of the recent Boston crisis, Rick Mckee's cartoon sheds light upon this precarious relationship that the media has with its public. In the piece, Mckee uses contradictory diction and satirical tone to portray the fallacies of news networks.

The cartoon features an anchor reading the news to an onlooking American audience. Under the man, the words are written that would appear on his teleprompter. "In an exclusive, sources tell us that a suspect has been arrested and also that no suspects have been arrested and also that police have no suspects, and in fact, none of this may be true... But you heard it here first!" The man's words are clearly contradictory. He seems to report multiple stories about the suspects, with each of the following stories disproving the former. Mckee uses this diction to represent the institution of news as a whole. Every source seems to fight for the audience's attention, and in the process presents news that is wholly untrue. The final sentence also paints an air of satire into the cartoon. The anchor basically admits that he is reporting news that is completely untrue, however it is okay because their viewers heard it first. The news reporter is portrayed to be unintelligent and naive, for the entire purpose of his job is to report accurate news. Mckee points out the problem with news stations by poking fun at their tendencies. Through this contradictory diction and satirical tone, Mckee offers a successfully resonating and reflecting piece about the mainstream news.

"Don't Get Bitten by Bitcoins"- James J. Angel

Everything the world does revolves around money. It is subjected to regulation, taxation and inflation by the government. What if there were a currency that was not? Bitcoin was founded with this vision. It is an attempt at creating an online currency. If you have been paying attention in the news lately, this has become quite a controversial idea. As more and more people decide either in favor or against Bitcoin, James Angel writes in hopes of persuading people to take the latter stance and avoid the usage of Bitcoin.

Angel utilizes rhetorical questions and historical analogies to aid his organization and strengthen the claim that people should stay away from Bitcoin. He begins with a short summary, synthesizing the mass of information that is available pertaining to Bitcoin. To begin the transition into his argument, he asks "Why not turn to Bitcoins?" Many people are wary of the government controlling their money, so this is a valid question to ask. His explanation addresses his opposition. A second rhetorical question strengthens his assertions by taking a stronger stance: "So are Bitcoins the currency of the future? I think not." By utilizing these rhetorical questions, Angel is able to successfully transition his piece from objectivity to acknowledgement to argument.

Bitcoins are a unique item; there have not been very many things like it in history. Therefore, connecting it to a well-known idea allows the audience to connect the novel idea to something already in their memory. "...Printing more almost worthless money, as the U.S. did in the American Revolution and Robert Mugabe did in Zimbabwe. One can expect governments to throw up legal roadblocks to prevent such competition from cutting into the lucrative business of printing money." Angel draws connections to the future of Bitcoins and the past American Revolution and Zimbabwe economic plunders. The future implications that Bitcoins will have are unknown, and this draws negative assumptions through the possibility of repeating bad habits. Angel successfully warns people from entering into a company with such an ambiguous future. 

If Bitcoins becomes very successful, the world as we know it would change drastically. Our monetary system has remained alive because of governmental assistance and monitoring. Through effective rhetoric, James Angel successfully argues that we must prevent this from occurring.  

Need a Job? Invent It - Thomas Friedman

In every school, there are teachers and students. The education system is one that is discussed heavily. A person’s education is a large determinant of how they will develop as both a person and a worker. It is very important that, every once in a while, we stop to ask is our education system truly working? New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman asserts that, in most cases, the answer is no. He utilizes rhetorical questions and alliteration to aid his argument.

In the article, Friedman touches upon a variety of topics. In ineffective writing, this would be hard to follow and understand. Rhetorical questions are used to solve this dilemma. When transitioning into different topics, Friedman writes, “So what should be the focus of education reform today?” and “What does that mean for teachers and principles?” These rhetorical questions assist in transitioning into the different topics being discussed. They allow the audience to follow along with Friedman’s thought process and connect his latter points with the former ones.

Alliteration is used to classify the items that Friedman argues are most important in a reimagined classroom. He writes that “play, passion, and purpose” must be vital parts of this installment. This phrase flows extremely well and causes his main message to be very resonating. It is very important that the reader remembers those three ideas, and utilizing alliteration ensures that that is the case. Friedman presents some groundbreaking ideas concerning the amendment of American education. Rhetorical questions and alliteration ultimately aid his purpose and create a sound, persuasive argument. 

Pope Francis, humble, authentic and credible

A momentous occasion took place when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was selected to be the next pope of the Catholic Church. He is from Argentina, and the first pope ever to be from a South American country. Of course, as with any position of such reverence, many people were skeptical when Bergoglio assumed the role. Does he have what it takes? In this article, Christopher Bellitto attempts to persuade his audience that he does.

In order to do this, it is vital that Bellitto addresses the cynicism that surrounds the situation. Not only does this provide context, but it also sets up his counter argument. Religious allusions are used effectively throughout the piece. At the end he writes, “ For too long, the people in the pews have felt distanced from their priests, bishops and the Vatican. That is not the gospel of love and service that Jesus preached. Yet it is precisely the gospel that Francis of Assissi and Ignatius Loyola learned from Jesus and shared with the world in word and deed.” Similar references are made throughout the article and Bellitto pulls them together with this final sentence. Bergoglio chose his Pope name to be Francis. Francis is a very charitable and renowned figure from the bible. Considering that the audience is mainly Christians, using this strengthens Bellitto’s perspective by connecting the new pope with a prominent and revered religious figure. In a time when many people are skeptical of their new pope, Christopher Bellitto successfully persuades otherwise largely due to recurring religious allusions. 

Marriage Discrimination, A Cartoon by Steve Sack

Gay marriage has been and will continue to be a heated topic of debate. Supporters feel that it is a simple matter of equality, while others say that marriage must be between a man and a woman. This argument seems to be one that is constantly repeated, adapted, and repeated again. Recently, many states decided to resolve the matter. This past election, many citizens of Idaho hoped that they would become yet another state to do so. This effort was unsuccessful. This cartoon, created by Steve Sack, depicts the predicament that Idaho currently faces. Sack uses parallelism and humor to convey his message.

The caption on the right of the cartoon reads, "Equality to our North! Equality to our South! Equality East and West! Holy Matrimony, We're Surrounded!!!" This caption utilizes anaphora with its repeated use of "Equality" at the beginning of the sentences. This ultimately creates the image the equality is everywhere.... except in Idaho, of course. This style of repetition allows this message to be felt the strongest because in only three short sentences, the Idaho resident realizes that he or she is literally surrounded from all sides with equality. It also begs the question, "If everywhere else, why not here?" The last sentence uses humor. "Holy matrimony" is used as an indicator of the policymakers surprise, but it is also a term that is used to represent the institution of marriage that is causing the commotion. In the context of how it is used, the policymakers are portrayed as childish and immature. This adds legitimacy to the supporters' argument by degrading their opposition, and may be intended to sway the majority in their direction.

Steve Sack created this cartoon with many things in mind. The boiling situation in Idaho has left many people upset. This cartoon portrays the scenario that policymakers face who are responsible for quelling this conflict. It is ultimately due to Sack's use of parallelism and humor that strengthen the effectiveness of his message.

"Eyeing Apple"

In most contemporary conversations that involve technology, Apple is a common discussion topic. The company has risen to international prevalence over the last decade. Generally, its market status has agreed with this trend. Recently, however, its stocks have taken quite the plunge (35% since September). Not surprisingly, this turn has left stockholders and investors in a panic. A company that used to be characterized by reverence and stability is now getting wary reactions from the people that matter most. Jakes Surowiecki, an author for The New Yorker, quells these fears in his piece entitled “Eyeing Apple.” Surowiecki accomplishes this goal through a variety of rhetorical devices including cause and effect and metaphor.

Apple’s downward plunge is effectively explained through a cause and effect description. Uniquely, the article begins by describing the effect. The piece begins by detailing the stock depreciation and responses from outside sources. The switch to the explanation of the cause is noted by the rhetorical question “So why the sudden fall from grace?” The article then details the circumstances that have caused the depreciations. A metaphor towards the end of the article is extremely effective in resolving the fears of Apple’s recent downward spiral. “It’s always been the proverbial bumblebee: it shouldn’t be able to fly but it does. A wobble in flight is all it takes for people to proclaim its inevitable crash.”Surowiecki compares the history of Apple to a bumblebee. One small error in a bumblebee’s flight does not necessarily indicate crash, just as Apple’s downward trend does not indicate its death. Putting the company in this perspective is largely what makes the piece effective in accomplishing its intended goal. 

"The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell- post 1

Certain events happen in this world that seem inexplicable; most people go about their lives without ever trying to explain them. They view such phenomena as completely random and independent of each other. In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell attempts to prove that this is not the case. Many events and trends can be explained through three encompassing “rules of epidemics”: “The Law of the Few”, the “Stickiness Factor”, and the “Power of Context.” Gladwell applies these theories to a multitude of diverse things in order to increase the strength and magnitude of his overarching argument and expositions.

The use of anecdotes is extremely powerful in this novel. Short, resonating stories are recounted in every chapter. It is largely the arrangement, however, that makes the anecdotes so powerful.  Many chapters begin with a unique anecdote about some seemingly esoteric topic. This draws the reader’s attention effectively instead of boring them with broad assertions. Gladwell then analyzes these anecdotes to dissect the influence of the three encompassing theories. During the analysis, he appeals very strongly to his audience’s logos with a wide array of facts and statistics to support his evidence. This structure leaves the reader curious how the stories will be applied, and then completes their sense of anticipation with concise and all-inclusive answers.

Malcolm Gladwell has a gift. He presents an argument not of content, but of the process of thinking. He forces people to think about the trends and topics around them in a very different way. In The Tipping Point he assumes the role of a quilter. Each presented anecdote is a section, and his logical analysis using the “rules of epidemics” act as the thread that hold them together.  

"Governing Bad" Economics, Congress, and Drugs

“Breaking Bad.” You say those two words to almost any group of friends, and a conversation is bound to ensue about the dramatic, controversial television program. The fiscal cliff that America faces is also a topic of hot discussion. David Fitzimmons addresses the economic problem in his unique cartoon that spins the “Breaking Bad” theme into a shot at Congress. Using a play on words, this cartoon is entitled “Governing Bad.” It depicts a man, holding a bag of drugs, that says “I can’t stop cooking.” The man represents congress, and the illegal substances are meant to depict the national debt.

The television metaphor is used very effectively to communicate Fitzsimmons’s message by making it more relatable to its viewers. The drug dealer is shown as having an addiction to cooking the drugs. In this cartoon, congress becomes the drug dealer and the drugs are the debt. Fitzsimmons uses this analogy to show that, no matter what they try, congress simply cannot avoid raising the fiscal debt. Drug dealers have an infamous reputation in society, and this is used to instill a relatable message about Fitzsimmons’s feelings towards congress. He also uses the extremely negative connotations that are associated with cooking the drugs drugs to analogize the impact that congress has specifically had on the debt. Not everyone is engaged in politics. This cartoon relates a political theme to one that is common in pop culture discussions, ultimately making its message accessible to a wider range of audience and increasing its effectiveness. 

To view the cartoon: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/5011763f-84e0-4b97-9bb0-7125e45f39aa.html

"Frank Ocean Can Fly"- The man behind the music

Millions of people are tuning in tonight to watch as a multitude of talented musicians compete for the prestigious Grammy awards. From country to R&B, the selection of artists is eclectic. One of these names is Frank Ocean, who has been nominated for 6 Awards pertaining to his recent album “Channel Orange.” Ocean is a unique, devoted, tenacious, and trend-setting 25 year-old who seems to be ahead of his time. His records are distinguishable from the redundant tracks often released in today’s music industry. Jeff Himmelman successfully captures the essence of the man behind the music in his interview with Frank Ocean.

Most interviews are written in a formulaic output. They simply tell an account of the conversations had between interviewer and interviewee. In this sense, they become boring quite quickly. Instead, Himmelman utilizes an anachronistic arrangement to his advantage. By telling things out of order, he becomes a storyteller rather than an interviewer. Ocean’s life and “character” is told through the persona of Himmelman, rather than a bland, chronological retelling of Ocean’s interview.

Frank Ocean has achieved fame mainly through his album “Channel Orange.” To appeal to a likely audience of Ocean fans, Himmelman uses this as a recurring theme. Multiple times throughout the piece, the record is indirectly used to relate and depict parts of Ocean’s life. For example, Himmelman writes, “Like Ocean in person, the album is challenging. It demands to be taken on its own terms, and in places it puts you to work.” The entity of the album is used to analogically describe Ocean as a person. Himmelman also uses certain songs from the album as anecdotes, relating their essential meaning to the topics that Ocean brings up in the interview.

After reading the piece, I have a completely changed view of Frank Ocean. He is no longer a superficial music-maker, but a man with a very interesting story and view of life. Through Himmelman’s anachronistic arrangement and use of “Channel Orange,” a unique reading experience is obtained through the piece that ultimately creates a resonating and impassioned impression of Frank Ocean in its readers. 

For more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/magazine/frank-ocean-can-fly.html?ref=magazine&_r=0

A Catastrophic Failure of Prediction

The recession of the late 2000’s is known as one of the worst American financial crises in history. Millions of people lost their homes, jobs, and sense of security. Everyone seems to have their own opinions pertaining to the causes of the massive incident. Nate Silver, who is known for his stellar election predictions and commentary, takes his personal stance in this excerpt from his book The Signal and the Noise.  Two weeks before the 2008 presidential election, ratings scientists were hired by the government to determine the likelihood that mortgage backed securities would default. Silver places much of the blame for the recession on their failed predictions.

A metaphor is used rather effectively to communicate the complex topic. Silver writes, “It was as if the weather forecast had been 86 degrees and sunny, and instead there was a blizzard.” By comparing the event to a weather forecast, Silver taps into the cultural memory of his audience and makes the complexity of mortgage backed securities predications seem austere. The logos of the American audience is also appealed to in Silver’s cause and effect description of the false predictions that caused the recession. It is ultimately due to these rhetorical devices that Silver’s false prediction notion is perceived as an intelligible and convincing theory for the cause of the recession.

TOW Rewrite: Finding Musical "Diamonds" in the Slums of Paradise City

Food, running water, and a toilet to go to the bathroom in. These are all things we consider basic necessities and often take for granted. What would life be like without them? The unfortunate reality is that more than 11 million Brazilians live in favelas (slums), and many of them do not have access to such “amenities.” Joao Carlos Martins is trying to change that through music. He recently founded a program at the Paraisopolis Cultural Center that offers intensive weekly music classes. While it offers a new hobby for many, it also opens the doors to a wide array of new job opportunities with considerably higher wages. This is exactly what children of such indigence will need to survive.

As a Brazilian Correspondent for CNN, Shasta Darlington portrays this incredible story with efficacious arrangement. She begins with a very anecdotal and specific approach by detailing the life of Yanca Leite, a teenager who has been influenced by the musical program. By doing this, Darlington easily connects and draws her audience in. She then takes a more general approach by iterating facts of Brazilian poverty from numerous credible sources. This appeals to the audience’s sense of ethos, and it makes the widespread impact that the planned expansion of the program will have intelligible. Concluding with the following quote from Leite creates a full circle ending: "I play with all my heart," she says, breaking down in tears. "If it weren't for music, I'd be a drug addict or a prostitute or out robbing. Because that's the reality here." This creates a very resonating and impactful appeal to pathos. The wealth of important information and factoids presented in the article are not nearly as powerful until the audience is able to individualize their implications.

Darlington uses parallelism to compare the up-and-coming music program in Brazil with a successful predecessor in Africa. She describes the Kliptown Youth Program, which provides support services to youth in the slums of Kliptown, South Africa. This strengthens her argument for the effectiveness of Martins’ program. Logically, if a similar program has proven beneficial to its community, then the Brazilian slums will feel similar positive outcomes. Subtle irony is also displayed when the depressing town is referred to by its nickname of "Paradise City." 

Shasta Darlington created this piece to inform her readers about the humanitarian efforts going on in Paraisopolis, Brazil. In order to do this most effectively, she engaged her readers throughout. This was achieved through her outstanding arrangement, powerful anecdotes, and logical parallelism.

"Zero Dark Thirty" trailer

Over eleven years ago, a terrorist attack took the lives of over two-thousand American lives. From that day forward, the executives of our nation have dedicated countless hours and resources to finding the man responsible: Osama Bin Laden. After years of searching, he was found in Pakistan on May 2, 2011. "Zero Dark Thirty" is a movie that depicts the grueling search process, and the events that finally led to the murder of Bin Laden. The events are factual, and have come from various sources that were involved in the events.

A very convincing trailer for the movie was created, in which numerous scenes are intensely depicted.  Tension seems to rise with each second the trailer plays. From the beginning, it is nearly impossible to take your eyes off the screen. The creator makes great use of music, with a slow piano beat that continues to increase in frequency along with loud background noise. This adds to the sense of suspense as well as the action of the events that are depicted.

There are numerous dialogues that occur throughout the trailer. Between the various mini-scenes and interactions between characters, a black screen pops up with titles and choppy phrases such as “Witness the Greatest Manhunt”, followed by “In History”. This creates a great sense of drama to the trailer, and keeps the audience guessing what will happen next. It also creates

The trailer intends to draw people so that by the end of the two-and-a-half minutes, the onlooker is excited to watch more. Americans are fascinated with the events that occurred before and during the operation, and this trailer is primarily geared towards them. It is very effective in entertaining its audience, however it does not reveal too many vital details of the movie. It ends right before the troops enter Bin Laden’s hideout, leaving the viewer in awe and needing to see more. 

"Teach men to treat women with respect"-- An article dealing with societal issues of women's rights

Contemporary society seems to have a very warped view of women’s rights. This has become evident on multiple incidents concerning sexual violence towards women. On one recent occasion, a teen in Steubenville, Ohio, posted a video of a sexual assault on a female classmate that took place during a party. Bystanders sat and watched as the horrific and demeaning event took place. When asked to come forwards, only two witnesses were willing to testify. While the people responsible are to be tried for their crimes, many feel that a more efficacious impact can be made through government. However, congress recently decided not to reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act. This document works to stop such issues by providing, among other important allocations, bystander intervention and prevention programs on high school and college campuses. Katie Hanna and Monika Johnson Hostler, both venerable representatives of women’s rights organizations, wrote this advocating and thought-provoking piece to display why this issue must be revisited in congress. The longer we wait to address the issue as a society, the more lives will be affected by senseless and heinous sexual violence. The piece uses pathos very well when describing the lives of females that are affected by sexually related crimes. Logos is also used in the rhetorical question, “As for survivors, how can they seek justice and healing if they have little support and resources available?” It is through the perspective of women and a commiserating persona towards society that makes the article a very opinionated yet convincing piece.