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