This argument initially, of course, makes you laugh. Humor is always a good strategy to gain your audience's attention and, possibly, support. The premise is also something familiar with normal middle-aged moms, attending the inward battle a lot of females of all ages make, buying something really cute on the thought that you'll look great, then suddenly feeling terrible about your weight and running it off, haha. The two are obviously tired, and are determined to run off the calories so that they fit in their said expensive jogging suits; it is all rather humorous. Despite the fact that this short comic strip is meant to ensue a giggle during your daily breakfast, it is still making a background argument about society today. We are consumed with looking fit and healthy, and we spend a heck of a lot of money on fashion, and not to forget, dieting outlets as well. The artist of this comic cleverly employs humor, ethos (of his views of getting this point across through comedy), and the posing of the ridiculous nature of this kind of logic (fitness and money-wise). It is a quick, sly glance over the effects of this "be thin and buy expensive stuff" pressure our society faces, and, despite the age of the subjects above, reaches a wide audience through innocent comedy and cartoons.

Free-write: Deciphering

Thinking rhetorically is a process of analyzing arguments. This concept of "analysis" is more complex and investing than we would initially imagine. Everyday we are confronted with arguments that persuade, inform, or move us in different directions and in different ways of thinking, whether that is opinion-based about certain subjects and objects or leaning toward a way of life or simple decision. Many times we listen to the radio or television and just take arguments for what their worth at that moment, going in one ear and out the other. However, if we invest ourselves in the moment and really focus on what is being said, then we can analyze the situation properly and construe our own opinions from that argument.

We must learn to ask what supports claims, especially when we are listening to politicians trying to persuade their own points. It is easy to get distracted by charisma and other forms of inviting arguments. A lot of times however, people are just regurgitating things in broad forms without supportive evidence. If we learn to rhetorically cipher these frames of arguments, we can better understand what the true ethical motives of the arguers are, and can make a decision solely on our own grounds. For instance, our society is littered with enthymemes. An enthymeme is when a main premise is left out of an argument, but it is not obvious; the argument still sounds right. It is like saying, "We are dependent, therefore we should be humble." The main premise of the argument is left out in this, depsite it's apparent logic. The full argument should read, "Dependent people should be humble. We are dependent, therefore we should be humble." See? Intelligent citizens should learn to decipher these frameworks. We are intelligent citizens, therefore we should learn to do this!

Pathos, Ethos, and Logos of the Gardens

From what I can construe from my observations, the gardens hold a variety of argument types, but the appeals are quite clear.

There is pathos in the sense that the botanic gardens are there for spreading education and love for nature, therefore expressing the importance of conservation. This is seen through the layout and beauty as well as the information that is posted about explaining the important of conserving nature. I think there could be slight pathos in the fact that they are reaching out to kid's as well with a variety of activities, proving their mission, "Enriching people's lives through environmental stewardship and education".

Furthermore, this can be carried through to ethos, where ethical appeals are integratingly being made by emphasizing a friendship and knowledge of nature. Then, the ethos of the place is clear in the fact that they exist for this purpose of nature conservation (and in the fact they focus on teaching kids so much as well). This could proven by the fact that the gardens are free (except the conservatory and Japanese garden, which are $3). Therefore, no misinterpreted ethical appeal exists, logically. And that brings us to logos, where that is logic in itself, while logos is further being expressed as well. There are signs everywhere, teaching about the environment with facts and information, and guiding its visitors to a more environmentally oriented state of mind.

In Class: Candy Cigarette

The photo initially draws my attention straight to the young girl's eyes. Her stare draws you in. It's solemn and sparks you with emotion right off the bat, without even realizing it. It is quite a stirring photograph. Her stance is that of an adult, mature and modelesque, like you can almost see the woman she will become, smoking and sheek. It is a heavily ironic depiction.

The rest of the image expanding from the girl's initial focus is interesting as well. The other girl in the picture off to the right is also mature and strong, although looking the other direction, facing away from the camera. Is she against the smoking next to her, or the instigator? Is she the juxtapostition of child and adult? Both of the girls are ridiculously tan. The one facing away seems more child-like however, in terms of clothing and her ponytail. Maybe her facelessness describes that of yearning for the past innocence of childhood while caught in the stream of forced ascension into the grown-up world?

The background is faded and obscure, like that of most past memories, melting and molding together. There seems to be a water tower back there, like a missed imaginary castle.

The idea of the image is interactive and probing because it pertains to all of us in some way. The emotions felt include that of realization, solemnity, and almost pity. For I know I for one am a girl who wishes Neverland were not that far out of reach, you know? haha Life traipses briskly.

The purpose of this photograph most likely pertains to that of my mental meanderings above, as well as an argument against the particular advertisment strategies of smoking. For "Candy Cigarette" is a metaphor for the dolled up life of a cool, sheek woman accompanied by her sweet cigarette, flowing hair, healthy skin, and womanly pose. However, the sadness felt by the image of the picture depicts our inner knowledge that the image advertised by companies in that manner are quite short-lived in youth, and simply haunt users later in life, inside and out.

Free-Write: Logos? Really?

Within the chapter there was one example that stood out to me, striking me with confusion. It was protestwarrior poster that shows happy Iraqi children being freed with the companionship of an American soldier. The poster said, "Liberating Iraqi Children From Tyranny. It's Costing Too Much." My initial reaction was, why is this even a poster? I'm sure there is some logical appeal behind it in terms of spending efforts in order to free those children, however, what person in their right mind would really go for any protest against that spending when the poster is coupled with happy children being freed from tyranny? I'm just confused with the face that someone would even create that poster. What purpose does it really serve? What other effect would it create other than taken aback confusion and perhaps anger at the greed of it? Why worry about money when the outcome is the freedom human life? Sure, that's all in the eye of the beholder, I guess, but, truly, how many people who would go for something like this compare to the amount of people against it? It's just a contradictory poster. I'm confused at its intentions and the publisher's lack of tact in terms of drawing a large audience to his or her cause.