Data Analysis

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IMG_20160116_114252I’ve got all my data on ArcGIS and now I just have to clean it up. That means lots of buffering points and lines! So far the data is very heavily leaning toward invasive plants being mostly on trails leading to the campgrounds. There are absolutely no invasives logged up Soledad Canyon Road, where the foot traffic isn’t directly coming from the boat. I will update with the map as soon as it looks a little closer to complete!

In the photo above: Collecting data on the canopy coverage of the Eucalyptus trees on the island with Dr. Geoff Dilly and Lea Gephart as my assistants for the day.

Socks or Sandals

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My first day of class, seemed like the serial moment mentioned in the first paragraph of the article “Backpacks VS. Briefcases: toward Rhetorical Analysis” This reference in the book shows an illustration of assumptions and predetermination as a tool to persuade or appeal to a specific  target audience.Throughout the article, the author mentioned the importance of persuasion. The introduction of the media was presented as an example of how communication and  analyses are byproducts to change people’s perspective of facts and information.

political-science

After I read the article, “Backpacks VS. Briefcases: toward Rhetorical Analysis” I started to see similarities in concepts to my Political science book, “Environmental politics and policies.”  Throughout the book, “Environmental politics and policies” there is an example in the book that illustrates the ideas of persuasion through communication. The idea that information can be scud, and exploded is presented in this book. the author Mac Smith, gives an illustration of a king that shows the glass half full to his peasants, than half empty because he doesn’t want their productivity to slow down or show the evidence that he used majority of the resources.

One of the first places to start is context. Rhetorical messages always occur in a specific situation or context.” The president’s speech might respond to a specific global event, like an economic summit; that’s part of the context”. (Carroll 48) and the way, the speaker explotes the context by adding facts that lead to a bies conclusion.

Word Cited

Bolin, Laura Carroll. “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis.” Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Ed. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky. Vol. 1. West Lafayette, IN: Parlor P, 2010. 45-58. Writing Spaces. Web. 27 Jan. 2016.

Blog Entry #1

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Rhetoric is the way we use language and images to persuade (Carroll, 46). As explained in the article, “Backpacks vs. Briefcases” there are many components that go into a good argument that captivates the audience. One of those components is rhetorical appeals, such as Aristotle’s pathos, ethos, and logos. Another is the rhetorical triangle, consisting of the writer, reader, and purpose. Most texts, media, and advertisements use rhetorical appeals and the rhetorical triangle as the foundation of their arguments to persuade the reader to the purpose of the text, such as convincing them to purchase a product. The article “‘Screen’ Lets Parents Control Kids’ Devices From Anywhere” is a good example concerning a rhetorical analysis.

Just by reading the first few paragraphs the rhetorical triangle can be established. The writer/speaker is Dan Tynan from the modern family section of Tech apart of the Yahoo news. The intended audience for this piece would be adults with children who use technology frequently. The purpose of the article is to persuade these parents that the device “screen” is something they should invest in for the protection/ well-being of their kids and to be able to control their activities/time on their electronic devices.

In the article, it says, “According to research firm Childwise, children age 5 to 16 spend an average of 6.5 hours a day glued to computers, phones, tablets, and televisions — often viewing multiple screens at the same time” (Tynan,1). This quote uses logos, meaning logic/statistics/facts in the opening paragraph to present the audience how much time their children spend on electronic devices to hopefully persuade them that this needs to be controlled.

It also says, “The phone app allows parents to adjust schedules on the fly as needed — if, say, your child needs an extra 15 minutes to complete a homework assignment. Want to get everyone’s attention in a hurry? Launch the Screen app and just shake your phone; all of the devices it controls will shut off instantly” (Tynan,1). This excerpt also demonstrates logos by explaining that the product can be used to control the activity of a screen in seconds and that parents should buy the device because it is easily accessible and much needed when it comes to monitoring kids and devices. The quote also appeals to pathos, which is defined as emotion. This can be seen in the diction used in the quote, such as “ want to get everyone’s attention in a hurry”. For it suggest that parents are not always able to get control of their children’s attention due to the distraction of their device, and this device, the “screen” will enable parents to have the full attention of their children.

Works Cited:

Bolin, Laura Carroll. “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis.” Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Ed. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky. Vol. 1. West Lafayette, IN: Parlor P, 2010. 45-58. Writing Spaces. Web. 29 Jan. 2016.

Tynan, D. (n.d.). ‘Screen’ Lets Parents Control Kids’ Devices From Anywhere. Retrieved February 03, 2016, from https://www.yahoo.com/tech/39-screen-39-lets-parents-control-kids-1356166166388790.html

 

media uses rhetoric to persuade

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After reading the article Backpacks vs. Briefcases I realized how many articles, blog post, and images send a rhetoric message. Media uses rhetoric to persuade the audience, us, by using one of the rhetorical appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos). A good example of media using rhetorical appeals is when an animal shelter commercial appears on television and they show a dog with a broken leg limping asking for any donations to help animals in that specific shelter. The goal of this commercial is that hopefully whoever is watching it feels bad for those animals and send in a donation. If we refuse to stop and think about how and why it persuades us, we can become mindless consumers who buy into arguments about what makes us value ourselves and what makes us happy (Carroll pg. 47). If we don’t know how rhetoric is being used then we won’t be able distinguish if it is for the audience’s benefit or the rhetor (writer/speaker). IMG_6858

Media uses rhetoric to get to the audience by using celebrities, meaning if a celebrity comes out with a clothing line, new album, new television show they want to make sure we consuming their product or products. They want to advertise their new clothing line, album etc. Earlier today while I was checking my email I came across an article about Rihanna’s new album, Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ Album Sells Only 460 Copies but Still Considered a Platinum Album. When I first read the title I already knew the writer was going to give reasons on how this album is a good one even though it hasn’t sold many copies. In other words, try to persuade us to buy the album so it can be a “big hit in the music industry”. I also though that the rhetor was hoping to see the words “Platinum Album” and want to out and buy it without bothering to read the article.  However, I was wrong about thinking the author was only going to explain why this is still a good album. Instead, the article was about how Rihanna’s new album didn’t reach their expected goal compared to her last album because it was released late. This article is using rhetorical appeals by stating the facts about Rihanna’s new album. The author, Jake Willis, states facts on why the album didn’t sell many copies and how it was released late by doing so he is using logos to get to the readers. At the end of the article he states that this album is expected to go off the charts in the next couple of weeks, which encourages readers to want to buy the album. I also noticed when I was reading the article in between the paragraphs there were links to other articles about Rihanna. Media does this so that hopefully we think the article we are currently reading is persuasive enough to convince us to continue reading about Rihanna. They do this because the media is aware that the reader is most likely a Rihanna fan wanting to know more about her albums or personal life and continues reading about it.

Rhetoric

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Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis by Laura Bolin Carroll demonstrates the different ways in which rhetoric can be used. Rhetoric is choosing a specific type of language to persuade an audience. I use to believe an add was just a way for people to try and sell a product. Now I know there are specific reasons why an add uses a certain language in different situations to advertise. What was most interesting to me was the Aristotle’s appeals such as ethos, pathos and logos. These are three different ways in which rhetoric is used to be more effective towards an audience. I also realized rhetoric is used in almost everything I read on the street or hear in the news. What I also did not realize was that I use rhetorical methods to convey people that what I am saying is correct.
Is a Cow a ‘Who’ or a ‘Which?’ Our Standards Editor Weighs In, By PHILIP B. CORBETTFEB. 2, 2016.This is not only a very interesting article about a cow escaping a slaughterhouse but also a way to convince an audience to become active in animal cruelty. Pathos is the definition of the article because it is using a cultivating story to grab the readers attention as well as motivating them to take action. The writer in this article is PHILIP B. CORBETTFEB the readers are those who read New York Times as well as the people who are involved in animal life. With this being said the purpose of this article is to create awareness of what is happening in slaughterhouses. Ethos in this article is being used by mentioning Peter Singer, the Princeton philosopher and intellectual champion of the animal-rights movement. The fact that an icon such as Singer is being used is called ethos because this promotes intelligence in the article. We generally use “person” pronouns like “he,” “she” or “who” only for animals who have been given a name, or in cases where the sex of the animal is specified. Otherwise, we stick with “it” and “that” or “which.” This quote demonstrates the rhetorical use of knowledge to really see the point of how animals not only get mistreated but how they get no respect. “A cow escaped from a slaughterhouse and took a stroll through Queens” key words in this quote are slaughterhouse and escape. Just hearing the word slaughter house creates a emotions in people to think dark and negative especially wen it is followed by escape. The word language encourages people even more to act on the situation.
Work Cited
“Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis.” Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
Philip. “Is a Cow a ‘Who’ or a ‘Which?’ Our Standards Editor Weighs In.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2016. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.

“Backpacks vs. Breifcases” Rhetorical Analysis

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In the article, “Backpacks vs. Briefcases” informs us how rhetoric is used to persuade audiences with certain language and images (Carroll, 46). The writer/speaker uses tools like, rhetorical appeals, such as Aristotle’s logos (logic/statistics/facts), pathos (emotion), and ethos (creditability). Rhetoric is used most commonly in the media for advertisements to persuade the consumer to buy or invest in the product they are advertising.

As I was reading through the Yahoo News today (February 2, 2016), I scrolled upon an advertisement called, “American’s Are Buying This Flashlight By The Thousands To Feel “‘Safer In Their Own Homes”‘. Just by starting the rhetorical analysis in the title, you can see the type of diction the author uses to start to persuade the reader; with positive words like, “safer” and “thousands”. This diction suggest that the flashlight will create a positive affect on the consumer’s life by making them feel “safer” and that “thousands” are purchasing it, so it should be a good investment.

Early on in the article advertisement the authors start off the argument using pathos, trying to appeal to the audience’s emotions. The article says, “The truth is, most people underestimate the importance of owning a great flashlight. And these days, in a world where terrorism, and natural disasters are becoming the norm, it’s more important than ever to have the right tactical gear” (x800 Flashlights, 1). The speaker uses pathos by referring to the more recent attacks of terrorism and natural disasters to make the reader more fearful and feel like they need to purchase the flashlight in order to protect themselves. This quote makes the reader question themselves whether they are prepared for a disaster such as those listed and make them lean towards buying the flashlight.

Next, the speaker uses ethos to show the creditability of the product, ‘”In times like these, it’s more important than ever for Americans to be prepared for anything, and this flashlight is one of the best pieces of gear to have as it can be used in almost every situation, from self defense to finding your dog at night…” -Matt B. Tactical Flashlight Expert”(x800 Flashlights, 1). The author uses the title of “Matt B.” being a Tactical Flashlight expert to make the flashlight seem creditable and trustworthy for the consumers to buy and have the flashlight perform the way it says it does. It also says, in the article, “This light’s incredible LED technology is used by the U.S. Navy Seals, the Coast Guard, Firemen, Policemen, U.S. Search and Rescue and now it’s been placed inside of an amazing Flashlight called the Shadowhawk x800″(x800 Flashlights, 1). This quote also uses ethos, by saying that organizations like, “U.S. Navy Seals, the Coast Guard, Firemen, Policemen, U.S. Search and Rescue” use the same LED technology. So it makes the flashlight seem highly creditable because such groups who are known for their advanced technology use it.

In regards to the Rhetorical Triangle in this advertisement, the writer is the x800 flashlight company, the reader is American citizens looking for a product that provides protection and everyday use, and the purpose is to convince the reader that they need to buy the product.

Works Citied:

Bolin, Laura Carroll. “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis.” Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Ed. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky. Vol. 1. West Lafayette, IN: Parlor P, 2010. 45-58. Writing Spaces. Web. 29 Jan. 2016.

 

Is it Creative Habit or Rhetoric?

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On the topic of rhetoric it is everywhere on our social media pages, our favorite movies, the way we speak and even dress. It is amazing to see how the topic of rhetoric goes on to form this triangular form. There is the topic that is trying to be persuaded upon the audience through the author or illustrators point of view.
With the new semester I took a giant step into taking a new class that would be completely outside of our comfort zone. So here it goes imagine me biochemistry major taking performing arts 101. Here is a word to the wise when entering this class no it is not a dance class this is more of an evolution of theater arts (yes a big disappointment). We are currently reading a book called The Creative Habit Learn by Twyla Tharp. Although this book is an assigned reading for performing arts it includes more rhetoric then any book I have ever read and this book would be a shame not to use in my examples of rhetoric.
To give this book a bit of background Twyla Tharp is a famous dancer and choreographer. The book written was to help form creative thinking and a better understanding of why we do certain things in our daily lives and consider them a comfort without noticing. In her first chapter she explains how from her own personal experience that shows must always go on no matter how big or small the situation that the world will not stop for anyone. She speaks from a choreographers point of view and discusses how there’s a ladder effect on just missing one show and how that amounts to everyone going negative in making money that day of not practicing or preforming.
The next chapter discusses rituals and they are not always doing everything at the same time every single day. A ritual is not always daily and it can happen at any point of the day, sometimes at various times of the day. For example, Twala goes on to discuss how she knows a chef who cannot start his day until he tends to his herbs and spices. This is some people feel there comfort and when this was said I immediately went through my day trying to figure out what my daily ritual was and if it stands out to other people. Twala is right everyone has a ritual whether it be big or small there is something that is done daily that would throw off ones day if it was not done daily.
This book would not be assigned to a dance class unless it was trying to get us to consider thinking a certain way. I believe that Twyla Tharp’s book has me slowly becoming more of a creative thinker. She even has me thinking I will become this famous performer which probably will not happen – but she has me thinking that I will. Maybe through this book I will push myself out of my comfort zone.