By: Izabella Williams and Parker Qualls

In this image of a political cartoon, a masked European man is denying Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty access into Europe (both are surrounded by coronavirus). This was released during July 2020 when Europe implemented a travel ban for Americans. The man is sending them away while saying ¨NO ENTRY GO HOME!! AND PUT ON MASKS!¨, many Americans were still refusing to wear a mask at this point, and this image is ironic because America is often denying people entry/access to the country. 

This cartoon is effective because it properly portrays how many Americans acted towards the beginning of the Pandemic. You can easily tell from the European man wearing a mask and the Statue of Liberty and Uncle Sam surrounded by germs that this is talking about Covid-19. You can also tell from the quote that says “AND PUT ON MASKS.” This gives off the message of Americans being arrogant while other countries were shutting down and taking Covid seriously. Many people from America were trying to travel to other countries (for pleasure) during the height of the pandemic, which was very illogical, they have been rightfully turned away. Many people are often trying to get into America to better their own/family´s lives but are commonly denied without a second thought. 

https://kdminer.com/photos/2020/jul/02/64501/

In response to Chinaza´s discussion post.

Chinaza focused on the use of ethos throughout Amy Tan´s writing in Mother Tongue. Even though Tan is speaking on her struggles of growing up in a family who spoke broken English, she followed her want to write and became a very successful author. This gives Tan credibility in this article and allows for the audience to connect with herself. Amy Tan seems to always know her audience well, in her book The Joy Luck Club, Tan´s initial writing was very cold and eloquent. She realized that this book was a collection of maternal stories, so she revised the writing style with inspiration from her own mother. Though I did touch on credibility in my discussion post, I focused more so on the pathos aspect of Tan´s writing. Getting the audience to connect and (possibly) see themselves in Amy Tan´s article, many people will be able to relate to the situation of growing up in a household that´s preferred language is not English while living in a predominately English area. I believe Chinaza does an excellent job answering the prompt of the discussion post and explaining the rhetoric used in Amy Tan´s Mother Tongue.

By: Izabella Williams, AJ Corral, Xena Neira

Mass protests and outrage arose once again in Minneapolis for the third straight night over George Floyd, a black man who suffered a brutal death at the hands of police brutality. This photo, taken on May 28, 2020, depicts a man holding the American flag next to a burning building in the midst of the riots and protests.

Filled with rage and terror after the brutal and heartbreaking murder of George Floyd, in late May 2020, protesters flooded the streets of Minneapolis (and globally). Even though many people were extremely frightened and stressed to be protesting in the middle of a pandemic and with violent actions that were taken by people in power, they still participated because they knew what was happening to people of color is unjust. Protesting in Minneapolis was extremely dangerous and risky because there was a great amount of tension between protesters, police, and the general public. In this image a protester is illuminated by nothing by the fire burning their city down, they are shown holding the American flag, which is normally held in such high regard, upside down. The symbol of the upside-down flag can be interpreted as how America has failed certain people in society, and how many aspects of today’s society are incorrect and need fixing. 

https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/photography-staff-associated-press

By: Izabella Williams, AJ Corral, Briana Do

Original

 Passage 1:

A man from the city came to visit a small farm, he saw a farmer feeding pigs in a very strange way. The farmer would lift a pig up to a nearby apple tree, the pig would eat the apples directly off the tree. The farmer would move the pig from one apple to another until the pig was full, then he would start again with another pig.

The man from the city was pretty puzzled, he watched for quiet a while, finally said, “What a strange way to feed pigs! It’s a waist of time! You could save a hole lot of time if you just shook the apples off the tree and let the pigs eat them from the ground!” The farmer looked puzzled and replied, “What’s time to a pig?”

 Passage 2:

A young man waiting in line at the bank. Developed a loud case of hiccups. Got worse and worse. By the time he got to the teller’s window, he couldn’t hardly talk. Handing the teller his check to cash.

The teller tapping numbers into the computer. In a moment looking up and frowning. “I can’t cash your check,” she said.

The man was shocked. “Why not?” he asked.

“The computer indicates you do not have sufficient funds to cover this amount,” she said. “In fact our records show that your account is overdrawn by more than $5000.00.”

“It can’t be!” cryed the man. “Youve got to be kidding!”

“Your rite. I am,” she smiled. She started counting out his cash. “You will notice that your hiccups are gone, though!”

Source: M. S. Samston (2005)

 

Fixed

 Passage 1:

A man from the city came to visit a small farm, and he saw a farmer feeding pigs in a very strange way. The farmer would lift a pig up to a nearby apple tree, and the pig would eat the apples directly off the tree. The farmer would move the pig from one apple to another until the pig was full, then he would start again with another pig.

The man from the city was pretty puzzled, he watched for a quiet while, and finally said, “What a strange way to feed pigs! It’s a waste of time! You could save a whole lot of time if you just shook the apples off the tree and let the pigs eat them from the ground!” The farmer looked puzzled and replied, “What’s time to a pig?”

 Passage 2:

A young man was waiting in line at the bank. He developed a loud case of hiccups. It got worse and worse. By the time he got to the teller’s window, he could hardly talk. He handed the teller his check to cash.

The teller tapped numbers into the computer. She looked up and frowned, “I can’t cash your check,” she said.

The man was shocked. “Why not?” he asked.

“The computer indicates you do not have sufficient funds to cover this amount,” she said. “In fact, our records show that your account is overdrawn by more than $5000.00.”

“It can’t be!” cried the man, “You’ve got to be kidding!”

“You’re right. I am,” she smiled. She started counting out his cash. “You will notice that your hiccups are gone, though!”

Source: M. S. Samston (2005)

 

In response to Parker´s discussion post.

Parker´s response goes into great detail of the three sections of rhetorical analysis; the purpose of argument, who, and appealing to the audience. The purpose of the argument is to determine what stance you want to take on the proposed claim, what is the end goal for this argument? The element of ¨who¨ is to determine the history of the author, and how that will affect your judgments about the topic at hand. The final element of rhetorical analysis is the appeal to your audience, this is important because this deals the most with the people who you are trying to persuade. Parker also adds that is very important to use pathos to emotionally convince and persuade the audience with images and texts.

I wish that I spent more time in my post discussing the three separate elements of rhetorical analysis, I focused more on the impact/purpose of the argument. I believe that Parker followed the guidelines of posting a discussion.

The first literacy narrative video I watched by Lily Bowen, this video was structured in an interview-style structure. I do not think that Lily was very well prepared for this interview/questions asked (especially when this is her own project and I assume she came up with the questions), most of her answers were bleak and had many pauses or ¨uhhs¨. The bulk of the video was spent on how technology has affected Lily´s education, for better or for worse. She published this video in the fall semester of 2013, and was talking but the level of technology spanning from 2000 to 2009; therefore, the caliber of electronics she was using is not as powerful as they are in today´s society. I believe the deeper meaning of her story was to illuminate the impact technology has on education.

The second literacy narrative video I watched was published by Adrienne Tucker, her story was about how after not being in school for 18 years, she finally returned to pursue higher education.  Adrienne had a job for 15 years, and one day they moved locations to Mexico and she lost her job. Instead of looking at this as a purely negative experience, Adrienne decided that this would be a perfect time to enroll in school. Though it was a difficult transition for Tucker, she found herself adjusting and really enjoying the classes she took. In two years’ time, she earned her Associates’ Degree in Arts and Science. Even though she took time off of school, it is never too late to learn something new and further educate yourself.

By Izabella Williams, Kwasi Acquaye, and Zushan Liu

• Beyonce Because she is so famous, I think she can endorse for TV series, TV shows or movies. Her name recognition boosts TV ratings. Since Beyonce is also known for her performance, it would be beneficial for her to endorse some kind of training/dance shoe. It would not be a good idea for Beyonce to endorse construction tools because that is not her area of expertise. 
• Tom Brady- As a football player, he can endorse football boots for big brands such as Nike, Under Armor, and Adidas. He can also endorse sports drinks and jerseys. For example, if he does an ad for a sports drink it creates trustworthiness to the audience since he is famous. People will see the product as reliable.
• Ariana Grande: Ariana Grande is a singer, and it would make sense for her to endorse a product that helps preserve and protect one´s throat/voice. A Throat Coat Tea or lozenges would beneficial for her to endorse. A product that would not be a good idea for Ariana Grande to endorse would be sports gear because she is not an athlete. 
• Denzel Washington: It would be beneficial for Denzel Wahington to endorse a camera brand/company. Since he is an actor and director, he knows the importance of having a quality camera product. 

I am responding to Louis´ discussion post.

Louis is discussing that it is extremely difficult for students to garner a sense of credibility because they have just recently or are still learning about the topic they are arguing about. Students must use reliable sources and data in their work because straight facts will support their argument and the student a more credible writer. Errors in a student´s work will quickly diminish the authority they hold, the audience will assume that there are more mistakes in the argument, and will be less likely to trust/believe the student´s claim. Louis´ personal antidote from their public speaking class showed that when you add data from a professional (as a student), it is very difficult for people opposing your argument to disprove your claim. I wish I added more of how a student can add ethos and credibility to their writing.

By Izabella Williams, Moriah Gilmore, and Abhiraj Gill

Greta Thunberg is a teen environmental activist from Sweeden, she is known for facing and calling-out major world leaders on their efforts on coming up with a solution to climate change. In this speech, that was given at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit, Greta Thunberg shames a room full of powerful and adult world-leaders for leaving a life-threatening crisis in the hand of the youth. In the entire speech, Greta Thunberg uses pathos. She visibly expresses her anger and frustration in an unapologetic manner. Thunberg’s use of pathos emphasizes a point that as a 16-year-old her main responsibility and priority should be at school but instead; she is in front of her audience at that moment expressing climate change. “We are at the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth”. She guilts the audience by explaining the normal teenage experiences she is missing because she is having to educate grown adults on climate change, ¨This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet, you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!¨. Towards the end of Thunberg´s speech she states, ¨You are failing us, but the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you and if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you¨. This statement puts the responsibility, rightfully so, back on to the people who hold an immense amount of power, and are capable to make a serious change in addressing the climate change crisis. 

Greta Thunberg’s speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit

In response to Letizia´s post.

Letizia argues that it is much more beneficial to write about something that has had a significant impact on your life. Then, you are able to deeply connect to the writing, show more emotion, and add connectedness. She also covers Russell Baker´s story on how he was first inspired to become a writer, and how validation of his skill kickstarted his future career as a writer. In her summary of Mary Sherry´s writing, Letizia explains that students who tend to prioritize school have a ¨healthy fear of failure¨ and are often more successful and happy in their adult lives (work, relationships, how they approach new situations, etc.). I believe that Letizia´s response follows the requirements and answered the given prompt.