Final Questions

1.      In which rhetorical appeal would the author most likely use vivid, concrete language?

a.       Logos

b.      Pathos

c.       Warrant

d.      Ethos

2.      Using factual evidence and appealing to the values of the audience is an example of which claim?

a)      Claim of value

b)      Claim of policy

c)      Claim of fact

d)     Claim of religion

3.      When writing in MLA format, what is the correct way to write your name?

a)      Last, First

b)      First M. Last

c)      First Last

d)     Last M. First

4.      When writing in MLA format, what is the correct format?

a)      Times New Roman, 12 font, double spaced

b)      Times New Roman, 12 font, single spaced

c)      Cambria, 11 font, single spaced

d)     Times New Roman, 11 font, single spaced

Body Image- Flesh and Blood, Not Plastic and Paint

In “How Far Will We Go to Change Our Body Image” by Jillian Croll, she makes an effective argument on how distorted our idea of the “perfect body” really is. Croll includes a table called “If Barbie and Ken were real” that shows a shocking reality. The proportions of these dolls that little children idolize are completely unrealistic and disturbing. As a little girl, I loved playing with my Barbie dolls and remember dressing her in all the cute little outfits she could wear. However, what I didn’t realize is that I was being influenced, at a very impressionable age, to think a certain way about what classifies a woman as “beautiful.” She is tall, slender, and can wear a whole array of form-fitting clothing. However, the average woman is not so tall and may need to try on that cute outfit first to be sure it zips properly. Being one of those average women, I am really glad she addressed this and I agree that we are not taught healthy body image. Girls are not alone; boys too have a similar problem. Croll emphasizes that not only women are targeted, I like that she stresses this because women are not different from men in having their own idea of body image. Think of Ken or GI-Joe, those defined arm and leg muscles might be a little much to ask of an eight year old. These high expectations are hardly obtainable and low self-esteem can result. We have to remember, we are not plastic!

Croll, Jillian. "How Far Will We Go To Change Our Body Image?" New York: Morrow, 1985. Rpt. in Elements of Argument: A Text and Reader. Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty Winchell. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2009. 535-541

These Little Steps

      There is still much debate over the validity of Global warming, but there is no question that our consumption has had an impact on the Earth. If you were to take a walk around Florida Gulf Coast University’s main campus, you will see all kinds of garbage carelessly thrown on the ground. Many students neglect to pick up their litter, despite the convenient disposal and recycling units. Sometimes garbage can be found within mere steps of a recycling and garbage bin.Most of this waste is not able to decompose, such as plastic candy wrappers, and can impact the surrounding wildlife or impact off-campus locations when carried by the wind.  Sharing is normally a good thing, but is it really necessary to pass our trash along for someone else to take care of?

       Many bold efforts have been made by an “environmentally friendly” FGCU to make a difference and raise awareness but ultimately it is up to us, the student body, to make the change. If we can’t take the initiative, the only other option for FGCU would be to hire more employees for grounds-keeping. However, the hiring process would be lengthy, difficult, and an unnecessary expense.  The campus is so large that it would unreasonable to think the whole campus can be managed properly without help from the student body. As long as students continue to consume without properly disposing of trash, there is not more beyond what FGCU is already attempting that will make a sizable difference.  FGCU has put forth it’s best effort, now it’s our turn to be the difference.

Blackbird by the Beatles- Let Freedom Ring

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be as free as a bird, able to go and do as you wish? The lyrics of the song, Blackbird by the Beatles, give this central idea of freedom. By referencing a bird, ones thoughts can already imagine this little bird that can fly away and go to new places as it wants. Also we hear the lyrics “you were only waiting for this moment to be free,” suggesting that there is a new-found freedom. This song also states “take these broken wings and learn to fly,” which can be interpreted as freedom gained after hardship. After finding freedom there is celebration, the lyrics say “blackbird fly, blackbird fly, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.” A cry for freedom can be heard in this beautiful song by the Beatles.

To Conclude, Blackbird by the Beatles has a central idea of freedom. The reference to the bird in this song can direct ones thinking to the care-free life of a bird. Most can leave as they wish because they are not attached to one home or place, leaving everything behind. The lyrics “you were only waiting for this moment to be free” suggest that much searched for freedom has finally been found. After hardship this little bird can now be free, the song says “take these broken wings and learn to fly.” The lyrics “blackbird fly, blackbird fly, you were only waiting for this moment to arise” give a celebration of this new-found freedom in the song. The song Blackbird by the Beatles represents freedom and what it means to finally gain freedom.

Blackbird by the Beatles

This little Child Went to Market

In the essay “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, irony is present throughout. Swift claims to have a plan that will help the financially struggling families of Ireland and the country as a whole. Swift proposes that to relieve the financial stress, children as young as one year old must be slaughtered. He states “I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or girl before twelve years old, is no saleable commodity, and even when they come to this age, they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half a crown at most, on the exchange.” This statement completely ignores the potential of a child to do more laborious tasks as they grow older and stronger. These children he plans to kill may become very profitable and contributing members of society, lightening the burden on their families and country. Swift is obviously attempting to help a struggling family and country but actually, this could make the financial struggles of Ireland and the families significantly worse without promise of thriving future generation.

"Don't Get Smart With Me!"

In “Everything Bad Is Good For You” by Steven Johnson, a correlation between the Sleeper Curve and the Flynn Effect is suggested.  The Sleeper Curve discusses how media may have a positive effect on mass culture, while the Flynn Effect debates how today’s culture affects IQ scores. Johnson connects these ideas by arguing that more technologically advanced students have led to the increase in the average IQ. However, this can be difficult to determine because IQ tests are limited in the material they cover. While playing video games and working with electronics can be very beneficial in building fast reflexes and problem solving skills, students in the past did not have technology so readily available to them and were much more likely to read a book to learn. Both activities have their benefits when time is invested into them but these are completely different areas of intelligence that an IQ test might not accurately distinguish. A person playing The Sims 2 isn’t necessarily more intelligent than the person reading .Media may not be as “harmful” as once thought but more research needs to be done before we can attribute media with the rise in IQ test scores in recent years.  

Careful! Don't Get Tangled In The Wrong Web.

 “Don’t talk to strangers,” the classic phrase of parents everywhere needs to be emphasized more so today. In Kevin Alexander’s MySpace Not Responsible for predators, he argues that MySpace cannot be held responsible for the behavior of young adults or who they choose to speak with. He states that “There is no way to stop a determined predator. There is no way to stop a determined victim” (119). He uses the case of a 14 year old girl who agreed to meet with and 19 year old man the she had never met, only chatted with on MySpace. It was a normal teenage date with dinner and a movie but went terribly wrong when he raped her. This is a very tragic circumstance that Alexander uses to plea with parents to be more aware of their child’s online and offline activities. “MySpace is a business and one that has never advertised itself as an online baby-sitting service” (119). says Kevin Alexander. Whether MySpace chooses to take new security measures to prevent predators or not, Alexander makes a very convincing argument. He not only claimed that MySpace cannot be held accountable for the actions of others but he supported it solidly. In the case of the 14 year old girl who later moved to file a lawsuit against MySpace, he asks a critical question “where were the parents?” (120). If the mom or dad knew this was a boy she had never met (no matter his assumed age), it would be irresponsible of them to allow their young daughter to be alone with him. Alexander understood this was a tragic occurrence but was bold enough to question what some may have overlooked to find the truth of MySpace and predators.

Alexander, Kevin. “MySpace Not Responsible For Predators.” Elements of Argument: A Test and Reader.  Annette T. Rottenberg and Donna Haisty Winchell. Boston.MA: Bedford/St.Martin’s.2009. 119-120.print