In Class: Freewrite

So, I am sitting in class today and I cant help but think about how close the semester is to being over. The semester seemed to blow by so fast. I am happy because I am supposed to graduate in May and thats exciting. But other than that, I am tired as always. It seems that I cant ever get any good sleep, because either Im up late doing a paper or project or presentation, or either im reading four or five chapters for a class for the next day. And then its right back up at 8am. I am so ready for the mini-mester because I get a 3 week break from football, and from school. All I really have to do is NOTHING! That looks terrific just typing it. I dont know what I am going to do on my extended break! Good times....

Unit 3 Proposal

The topic we chose was the issue of childhood obesity in America. We would like to argue that having a healthy diet and exercising more will help this obesity issue, in the sense that if the parents create these habits, then their children will be akin to them and improve their quality of life. We decided that a newspaper article would be a good medium to reach most obese adults that could channel the information to children and overall help the issue in our nation. The newspaper article would run in a newspaper in a known obese city. The second argument will come in the form of a comic strip that discusses improving a child's life using emotional appeals, and cartoons are something everyone can grasp, especially younger people. The third argument is a bumper sticker using humor to get the point across. This argument is one that we normally do not think about, but it is a pertinent and continually persuasive element in our "driven" society. As a group we will hope that we can put together these arguments effectively, along the lines of the issue at hand. Other than that, we are ready to rock out.

In Class Free Write:

Within Unit 3, there are a few questions that I feel like must be answered. The main thing that pops out to me is about the content and purpose. I feel like this is one of the most important aspects of the entire unit. It speaks on the purpose of the visual text and what kind of argument it is creating and whit it is supposed to convey. This is what the viewer will probably be thinking about when first looking at the visual and it will essentially play upon ethos, pathos, and logos appeals. I think this is what the purpose of most visual texts are intended for. To draw the viewer in and make them start to make assumptions, and be able to tie those assumptions into their own character and values.

Title in my group

I think I amlabled as the researcher in my group. Well Tripp and I are like co-head researchers if you will. But yea, this should be interesting to see how it plays out. We have narrowed our topic down to child obesity and feel that it would be a good topic to look into. So hopefully it will be good. Enjoy!!!

In class: Free write

The different roles that I think people will play in this group could vary. I believe their will be designated members for different things. Such as recorders, time keepers, techy people, maybe a group leader. I think that as a group we should all know what type of role we will be playing for the betterment of the group project. By this we can all work in conjunction to make things run smoothly.


****The computer died while I was typin the entire first part.****

In Class: Freewrite

All of my 3 texts fit together because they all speak about Oscar Pistorious. They talk about the situation that he was faced with and they all offered their seperate opinions on what they thought the outcome should be. They are all the same because they state a side of the situation that say why he should or shouldnt be able to compete in the olympic games. These texts are vital because they show how people feel about this controversial situation and also how handicapped people are viewed in some sense. The texts are different in some ways because they offer reasons behind why he should be able to run and reasons why he shouldnt be able to run. Also I had a video clip that was a humorous side to the entire situation but still portrayed and chose a side to why he should be able to run. This video clip kind of played on the emotinal appeal of the situation. Though it was humorous, it still made you think about how a man with no legs was disqualified before he was even qualifed to run... If that makes sense. The unstated arguments that are informing these articles are those of handicap people are suppose to be able to be apart of anything they choose. They should be givin a fair chance at any able bodied competition if they are in a position to be able to do so. What i mean is if they are capable and good enough to compete with normal bodied people, then they should be given the opportunity to do so. Other unstated assumptions are that only the greatest athletes in the world should be able to compete in the olympic games. With these 3 arguments together i think the world has a state of assertion that seperates what an athlete should look like. I know we have the paraolympics and the special olympics. But what if those olypics are just not competitive enough for particualr athletes? there is no higher level than competing with able bodied humans. This world tryies to put everyone in a certain category just by the outter layer of a person. I believe we live in a world of assertion by the count of these texts. But I also believe that we have a strong holding of people to stand up for someone when we see something is not being handled correctly.

In Class: Freewrite Unit 2 HELLLLPPPP

Well im sitting in class on Tuesday March 3rd at 9:37 am and we have a free write. Well I think I want to write about how confused I am over Unit 2. I don't know whats going on, I don't know what we have to do for the unit, and I really don't know how to pick a topic and think rhetorically. I am just lost and confused. Somebody HELLLLPPPPP!!! No but really, I think I have somewhat of an idea of how to think and write rhetorically, I think my problem is the way and the kind of topic we supposed to choose, and where to look for it. I don't know what the difference between primary and secondary (if thats what they are called). Really I just don't know. So if anyone happens to read this blog and have any advice to offer. Just post and help me out. This is going to be an interesting unit. Lol, its always interesting when you are going in head first and don't know what you are doing....

Ethos, Pathos, Logos at Sprint

I am observing Sprint stores. Not the authorized dealers, but the actual store. The one store I am mainly focused on is the sprint store on Bellaire and Hulen. This store is loaded with Pathos, ethos, and logos arguments. From the people that come in and out of the store, to the people working, and finally the phones and posters. I saw many people in and out of the store for different reasons, but one common goal: to be able to communicate efficiently. One poster I saw that I felt played on Logos said, "The most efficient 3-G network". I think this is based on facts and reason. Also I saw posters of happy people and happy families on their Sprint cell phones seeming to not have a care in the world. As I started to get bored, I started to look at phones, and noticed that they appeal to different people with different phones. In a way I think this is a mix of ethos and logos. Sprint did this by the different colors of the phones, the different attributes, and the different qualities. Lastly, I think the store lay out and set up plays on ethos. It makes me feel important, modern, and a crisp feeling (whatever I mean by that). The tables, chairs, booths, desks, counters, and everything else was all clean cut direct. Under more observation I think I will come to a better conclusion on this and many other things going on in this store.

In class: Analyzing Visuals

My attention is immediately drawn to the little girls face. Though she is holding a cigarette, thats not the first thing I focus on in the picture. I think its because she looks so casual holding the cigarette, like she has been smoking for a long time. Her face looks a little tired and stressed in some ways. Like she is already worried about life and its outcomes, and she never really lived as a kid. her hair is kinda fuzzy and out of whack, like she has had a hard life. Next the picture is black and white. This element of the picture makes it seem all the worst. Not that black and white pictures are bad, but in this case it adds to the negative effect and feel of the picture. Here you have a young girl standing with another little girl, and she is smoking a cigarette. I think this picture is about the challenges and hardships that even little kids go through on a daily basis. The adversities they must overcome to even have a chance to be successful are viewed in a good light. I think the purpose of this image is to persuay smokers and non-smokers, to not want to smoke. Maybe to show what smoking makes you look like, are what it could do to your kids. Maybe its a depiction of what second hand smoke could do to your kids are children in general. I think the entire purpose of this image is to put smoking cigarettes in a negative view.

In Class: Logos

One thing that I never really thought about, or payed much attention to is when people are making an argument, making a statemnet, or making a response to a question, and they answer/argue by saying "to some degree". This is not the only way arguments of degree are used, they are usually weighing some aspect to some other aspect, " if I do this it surely out weighs this". By reading through chapter four on logos, the book pointed this out as an legitimized but less tightly bound argument. It says that " they are so commonly used, that people barely notice them".

Fun Times at Sprint PCS: >>>Together with Nextel

So I was considering the different places I could possibly sit and observe, and try to not look like crazed, bored, fool while doing it and I came up with nothing... :-) So i just decided to go with what I first thought about and went with a Sprint Store.

Though I may look like a fool doing it(how long can you possibly ACT like you are looking at phones), it should be rather funny I think. This is appealing to me because I think Sprint, or any cell phone store for that matter, happens to be one of the most diverse environments around. Just Think if you know more than 3 people that dont have a cell phone. Umm Yeaaahhh, I didn't think so... I happen to choose sprint because I am a sprint customer and I am apart of their target audience, along with anyone else who do/dont have a sprint phone... Its all about the dollar, everyone is apart of their target audience.

I suspect I will observe many different age groups in the stor, many different attitudes, and many different reason that people come in. Some will be quick stops to pay the bill on the machine, some will be long stressful stops. But I think more than half of the people that will be entering the store, will in some form or fashion have an attitude or they will not want to be there. You know, I just wonder how I am going to look, walking around the store for 30 minutes or so, on a few different occasions. I predict I will be asked may I help you with something at least 3 times. Any takers...? Fun times at Sprint PCS/

Thinking about Public Space

Public space can almost be anything, anywhere. I dont exactly have a confirmed place that I am going to be observing and writing about, but I have a few places in mind. The first place I was thinking about observing was my cell phone provider Sprint. I was thinking of going in a few times and just watch how people interact inside the store. I kind of have a feeling that its going to be somewhat negative. I say this because everytime I go up there , its always for a reason other than what I want. Its usually a broken phone, paying my bill (I hate paying my cell bill), needing tech help, etc... Its always for some negative reason. Im sure there are people that come through that are just as happy as they want to be, but I just dont see it happening. Another space that I was thinking of observing was a restaurant. I didnt have a particualr one in mind, but I wanted to observe the different attitudes, and different types of people that come through at different times of the day.

AF1's

I love Nike Air Force 1's. They are my favorite tennis shoes in the world. I think they first came out in the early 80's. I currently have a little over 20 pair of them. They range in price from $80 to $200. The AF1 comes in three different versions, regular, premium, and supreme. Its almost like gas, regular being the cheapest at $80, premium at $125, and supreme at $200 or higher. These shoes come in all different colors ,schemes, and materials. But the most appreciated one would have to be the all white's. They are $80 and you can practicaly wear them with everything. From a suit, to khakis, to jeans. I buy a pair of the all whites maybe once every month and a half to two months. There is only one problem with the all white AF1's, they are usually in demand so much, that sometimes nike run out of stock and dnt ship anymore to the stores for weeks sometimes months at a time. Now you might ask why buy the same shoe, exact color, exact style over and over. Its because once you lose that crisp white of the shoe, it is almost ruined and its never the same again. I love Air Force Ones!!!

The Man with the Master Plan: Obama Y'all

On January 20th 2009, at 11:05 CST, history was made. The United States of America swore in its 44th president. Barack Hussein Obama, "The Man", elected to lead this great nation made history by being the first black president. Before I even speak on the speech, I believe that this is an argument in its on entity. I think this is an argument about the future of our nation, the type of progress we are making. Progress by which we are not only choosing the most qualified man/woman for the job (any job), but also by tearing down those color barriers, race barriers, and ethnic barriers.

Upon being sworn in and taking the podium to address the thousands of people in front of him, and millions watching around the world he remained poised and spoke with great confidence and conviction. The first argument I noticed was when he spoke on the negative present state of our nation from that of costly health care, to the ways we use our energy. I think this was effective because he spoke the truth, and for me, and I think for many, it made you personally want to be apart of the change and leveling of our economy and our nation. He then went on to propose and inform us about his plans while in office. He said "On this day we've come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises that have for far to long strangled our politics". He spoke with a sense of authority that was warming and wanted, incorporated with that much needed feel of prosperity for this nation. He perfected the use of the rhetoric triangle throughout his speech, I feel with a heavy dose on the pathos end.

"On this day we have gathered because we've chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discore". This is an example of arguments to make decisions. We all know that we are in a recession, a trying time for all, but we are making the decision to work for the betterment of the country.

The entire speech was a call to action for me. He said " Its time for us to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America". What more can he say? I almost felt the need to plant a flower, or recycle a can at that very moment. :-) But seriously, It was an argument to the audience, which happen to be the entire U.S. The book says "no argument can be effective unless it speaks compelling to others", and I was very compelled.

In Class: Why TCU?

My arguement is about the TCU Football team ending up ranked in the top 10 in the country in both the associated press polls, and the USA Today polls. Most people would say how in the world did something like this ever happen. TCU is in a non-bcs conference, meaning they dnt get an automatic bcs bid by winning the conference. TCU is respectively apart of the Mountain West Conference, which happened to be a very strong conference this year and has been getting stronger every year since 2005. So since we are in this so called sub par conference how did we end up number 7 in both of the respected polls at the end of the season.

Well this is how. We played 4 top 25 teams this year, and ended with a 2-2 record against those teams. We played a top 5 team the 5th game of the year against Oklahoma university, which just so happened to play in the national championship game.

"Allow me to Reintroduce Myself"

My name is Rafael Priest. I am 21 years old. I was born and raised in Dallas, TX and I love everything there is to love about my city. I attend Texas Christian University and I am a senior Communication Studies major, with a minor in social work and criminal justice. I am going into my last semester and plan on graduating this coming May. I have been putting of this course for three years now, and I finally have to take it if I ever want to graduate. The thing is I am only an o.k. writer. But hopefully, I enjoy this class and the topics we will be discussing and writing about. I am going to be a fourth year starting cornerback for the TCU Football team at the beginning of next season and I have high expectations for my team as well as myself. After graduation in May, I plan on starting on a Master's degree while I compete and fulfill my last year of eligibility on the field. Now I know you may be thinking, Masters = Writing. Yeah I know. But I mean I have been writing papers, text messages, and emails for this long, why not continue for a few more classes to get a better education and better degree. Plus I never said I was a horrible writer, I like to think of myself as a solid writer. :-). Finally, I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus, which I see as a contract for our course.