Free-Write: Strange Happenings

Soooo, although this is quite embarrassing to admit, because I have minor TMJ (a jaw muscle-tightening/locking, teeth-grinding thing), I am unfortunately forced to wear this little night guard thing at night. And, strangely, I recall putting this rubber annoyance in my mouth right before I hit the hay, and when I awakened early this morning, it was somehow missing. I am thoroughly confused about this instance. I have in the past experience my sleeping self somehow throwing socks across the room in mid-dreaming states, however, never my night guard. I am assuming that I, in my sleep, took out the night guard and either placed it somewhere obscure or chucked across to another obscure area, for I cannot find it anywhere. I have searched up and down for this dumb and unfortunately expensive item in every nook and cranny of my dorm room, but alas, it eludes me. Perhaps this is just proof of how much I subconsciously abhor my night guard and my TMJ. My dream self could no longer take it, possessing my body for a time to dispose of the item. I can come to no other conclusion except for conniving little knomes or leprecauns.

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.

Free-Write: Chapter 14

There are many questions in the book that could apply to our Unit 3 project. Some of the most important, I think, are littered throughout. First off, about the medium, what effect does the choice of medium have on the message of the visual text? how would the message be altered if different media were used? These questions are so important to the unit and arguments in general. It is really interesting how much differently an argument can be taken depending n what medium is used. I think this could be very important to us as a group in deciding what we want to use to best convey our message and to get the best grade we can. However, of course the way the medium is taken also depends on audience...

Leading us to questions about the viewers/readers! what does the visual text assume about its viewers, and about what they know and agree with? This question is extremely important and will alter also what medium is used and how it is used. If the audience is young and doesn't agree with a lot of text on page, for instance, then a medium like a textbook probably shouldn't be used to make an impression because, let's face it, young people will think that's boring and akin to school and just basically shut off. However, like this book, if it is coupled with bright colors, bigger font, and pictures, the message will take flight much easier. Moving media like videos would also be quite effective in the society young generations grow up in today.

Free-Write: Chapter 12

The reading last night was quite enthralling. I never knew the nature of argument was so malleable to the goals of the arguer. Rhetoric can take the forms of many different instances, like the trail of Platonian values across time. His style formed around the content, the speaker, and the audience, and those connections. It was broad, general, and based on accuracy. Nowadays, style can be molded to fit these purposes that are built around the pathos-logos-ethos triangle. If one is trying to persuade a group of fashion agents and promoters of something, one better be stylish, in the sense of fashion and avoid any feux pauxs. The style of the president when he addresses the nation, especially in these times, carries a whole different feel when he is positive rather than speaking of the terrible harbingers and dark things that hang over us. Those are styles of leadership. The style of medium also is very important, ranging from newspaper articles to visual advertisements.

In Unit 3, this analysis of style will carry a lot of oomph for the overall group project. The way we construct our pieces of argument and the genre that medium is created in will be very important to the overall success of the project. Whether that medium is a news article, a pamphlet, or a video advertisement/message, the style those items are created will pertain highly to whether the audience take interest in reading it or listening, and whether the argument itself will take hold.

Unit 3: Title and Set

"Reporter Guru"

I am in charge of one of the arguments we will concoct, the new article. Meaning I will be writing-heavy, which I'm okay with because I enjoy it and I used to be on a newspaper staff.

In Class Free-Write: Vent

Generally, I haven't had too many troubles with group projects. However, there was a time that one group member didn't care whatsoever, could never meet, and did not complete their fraction of the work load. Then, I and the other members had to put our extra time to complete because then the looming "It will affect your own grade" comes into play and you have to force yourself to do it at a time that you could easily finished it before the deadline if you had been working on the project by yourself. I generally like individual projects more. It is easy for me to split my own work load up, and I am very dilligent about deadlines. Leaving parts of the work up to other people stresses me out, especially if I know they don't care about it or don't completely understand the parameters or requirements or general idea of what we're going for, even after I try to explain it politely. However, there are also advantages about group projects I enjoy that are the same as the stresses, like the decresed work load and collaboration. If I'm in a good group I finish projects without stress.

Ideally, the group should function efficiently. I also hate working outside of class if we are given time in class. (probably my biggest pet peeve school-wise). I just hate wasting time. So, ideally, the group should not waste time. Get the work done in the time we're given and, mind you, paying for. The work should be split evenly, however, also to those individuals who would do the work the best. For instance, I suck at drawing and hate artsy things in projects and coloring, therefore, I should not do the drawing/coloring parts of a project. I would much rather write.

The different roles in this group shall include the Researcher, reaseaching all of the tedious things over the internet (which they will be highly skilled in) and documenting all that they pull from it (keeping up with MLA). There will also be the Artiste, whom will be in charge of creating a good look for the presentation of the project, and be willing to commit that obnoxious time into the art part. Another member will be the Organizer, who will make sure everything's getting in on time, and also is a general artisan of many skills and who can help with everything. The final member will be the Scribe, who can write efficiently and eloquently the written parts of the project.

In Class Free-Write: Reflection

Over the course of the semester I have blogged about our projects, society, books, and the most random of things. And now I will prattle more about the most random of things. I am super excited for the school year to be over. Summer is but a month away. Then I can channel of energy, effort, and time to things that are worth doing and towards more personal development. I can't wait to have time to read books that are worth reading in the hot sun. I do love the heat, the way it makes your muscles feel like air. I don't care if gets 104 as long as I have my backyard and the pool and a book. I can't wait for smoothies and my best friends. I want to focus on gaining skills for myself, like cooking, writing, reading, sewing, and running. And I also, strangely, can't wait for working and earning money, which I will save like the frugal fiend that I am. Oh, and, I have written lots of words over the course of this particular writing course, and I am awesome. The end.