Documentation Quiz

1) MLA Documentation
2)Works Cited Page
3) author(s), date of publication, article name, date of access, title of site...

Prewriting Essay 2

My Claim- Censoring the language of the novel causes the context to lose its original intentions


AUTHOR'S POINTS:
1) --Huck Finn is now being banned or not assigned at schools because of it's incorporation of the N-word "(Schools)...are simply not assigning it to students anymore. And that's a shame."
par. 2
2) --Kids will start to use the word comfortably
"The surest way to make kids use the word inappropriately is to tell them not to use it inappropriately"
par. 3
3) --Movies are an example where censorship works. You can see the real thing if you want, but if you want a cleaner version, you should be able to have the option to refer to that instead.
"Many of us prefer the version of those movies that are edited for television. If you want all those F-bombs in you r home, you can buy the DVD."
*"If you prefer the unpolitically correct version of 'Huckleberry Finn,' for the historical value or another reason, the original will always be there" (ASSUMPTION that the uncensored version is not politically correct)
par. 4
4) --New releases of the Bible are published to keep up with the change in language, but the message still remains the same.
""Publishers routinely release new versions of the scriptures to reflect the language of today, but the message remains the same"
par. 5

REBUTTAL POINTS: (backing up my claim)
--The language is part of the literature's appeal because it captures the conflict of the time so brilliantly
[1] and [2] Exposing the word's hateful origin will not make kids want to use it at all (if the context is truly understood)
[4] The language is part of the literature and if that is altered, then it compromises Twain's intention
-- The author doesn't use valid evidence to back up certain claims (no examples of kids using the N-word freely after reading an uncensored version of Huckleberry Finn)
[3] Author makes the assumption that the uncensored version is not politically correct
[3] Twain used the N-word for a reason. It is a strong word, and Twain was aware of that- he did not want to sugarcoat the story because that would defeat its purpose and its effect on its readers

Reflection 1.2

The process of writing my second draft was much easier than my normal process of writing a paper. My first draft allowed me to get out all of my ideas and the majority of the criteria of the assignment. Normally, I write my papers all in one draft, making edits and changes along the way. This time, however, I found it much easier to create a strong final draft. The writing process I practiced this time made a huge difference in the stress levels of writing a paper. Normally I get very stressed out with writing a paper because I have to do so many things in one shot (pre-writing, outlining, drafting, editing, etc.) By breaking up the tasks in a timely manner, writing this paper was not as daunting as previous papers I have written. I definitely think that following the writing process helps a final product of a paper in many ways. I am confident that this paper would not be as good if I chose to follow my original technique of writing an essay.

Essay 1.1: Reloading vs. Reevaluating: A Rhetorical Analysis of "Government Should Create Stricter Gun Laws"

The article by student Megan Weintraut titled, “Government Should Create Stricter Gun Laws” expresses the idea that the gun laws presently in place are not sufficient for the good of the American public. Weintraut addresses readers of the Ithacan in this editorial with the purpose to stress the importance to support stricter gun laws. Written in early January, this topic is currently an issue in the U.S. affecting all American citizens, now more than ever. The right to bear arms has been supported by the Second Amendment, but as times have changed, more disillusions with the concept have spread. Through a variety of rhetorical techniques, the author addresses the concept of the failure of lenient gun laws throughout the article. This text was successful because Weintraut reinforces her argument with the use of rhetorical strategies. These rhetorical strategies break down her ideas to persuade the reader to see the issue a desired way.

            The establishment of this issue dates back to the creation of the Second Amendment in the American Constitution which gives the people the right “to keep and bear arms.” Currently, this is a very pressing issue with views varying from a far right perspective that the government should not interfere with the second amendment, to the far left perspective that the government needs to take more action to decrease the accessibility of firearms. The historical context of the argument supports the main claim that times have changed and it is time to rethink the laws supporting the availability of guns to the American people and to take action to create stricter gun laws. This idea is reflected through the vast use of rhetorical techniques by the author to create significant reasons supporting the argument’s claims.

            Weintraut uses the rhetorical appeal of logos to craft the many points of her argument. Logos, which involves using a logical way of thinking to influence someone else, is prevalent in the main theme of the article. She states that “Today, the majority of American citizens can live their daily lives easily and securely without the use of arms” (par. 2). She calls on thinking rationally; times have changed and a change in the lenient gun control laws needs to take place. This logical way of thinking is also supported by the use of acknowledgement and response. This practice involves the recognition of opposing views by acknowledging a fact that may support the contrasting opinion, but then backing up the main argument with a rebuttal to that fact. She recognizes the idea that the Second Amendment was established to protect U.S. citizens, but the circumstances are much different today. She points out that at the time of the development of the Second Amendment major threats were imposed among the American families (par. 1). Not only were they facing oppression from Britain’s army, but they faced the essential need to provide for themselves by hunting and killing animals for food (par. 1). Weintraut argues that although guns were essential in protecting and providing for families over two-hundred years ago, they no longer serve the same purpose and are not used for the same reasons today. Now, the author effectively mentions, we have “organized military services as well as law enforcement agencies at all levels of government” (par. 2). As for sustenance, she refers to the fact that there is an endless supply of food companies that constantly provide mass food production (par. 2). This proves the concept the issues calling the necessity of owning guns are no longer present. Her use of logos and acknowledgement and response successfully support this idea and defend the overall argument of the article.

            Another strategy the author uses to prove her point is with the use of another rhetorical appeal ethos, which involves the influence of credibility. Throughout the article Weintraut uses many facts and statistics backed up by legitimate organizations which prove a disturbing vision of the negative consequences of lenient gun control laws. Credibility is extremely important because without this appeal, the reader cannot trust what he or she is reading or hearing. This incorporation of the facts from a source other than the author herself solidifies the reliability of the argument. The organizations she references provide the reader with a sense of authority to trust. Without this strategic use of authoritative references, Weintraut may not have conveyed the same sense of credibility in her argument. Her claim that America needs to make a change is supported by reasons which only hold their ground due to the reliable evidence. For example, she states, “The National Institute of Justice reported that in 2006 alone, firearms were involved in 68 percent of murders, and more than 90 percent of today's gang-related homicides involve guns” (par. 3). This clearly outlines the repercussions of the availability of firearms by using concrete statistics. Another fact that Weintraut strategically reveals with authoritative reference involves the influence of media: “The American Academy of Family Physicians reported that 66 percent of television programs contain violence" (par. 4). This statistic shows that the presence of violence and firearms, even if virtually, still have a major effect on the audience of the majority of television programs. Another reference is made to the nation and how it is viewed from an outside point of view. “The American Journal of Public Health determined that in comparison to all other developed nations, Americans own significantly more firearms” (par. 3). The fact that gun use is so overtly common in our society, so much that is it in fact one of the most gun-friendly developed nations, affects the reader to reject this status, therefore supporting the idea to create stricter gun laws. This successful use of ethos helps create the strategic use of evidence which provides the reader with a sense trust.

            The rhetorical appeal pathos which involves using emotion to influence someone else is also successfully used by the author. Weintraut strategically recognizes her relationship with the audience. Since this is a somewhat formal editorial, she effectively deters from its formality and establishes a sense of emotion that every reader can relate to. This is apparent in the mentioning of the emotional events of the Columbine High School shooting, the Virginia Tech shooting and the most recent shooting in Tuscon, Arizona. This reference evokes emotion to address the dangerous consequences of gun availability. The reference to the shooting in Tuscon also acts as the occasion to this editorial. With the shooting taking place the same month as the article’s publication, the event’s timeliness supports Weintraut’s use of pathos to appeal to the audience’s emotional stance on this current shooting. The claim that we need to support stricter gun laws is fed by the reasons that with such availability of firearms, violent acts will inevitably occur. The shootings mentioned defend this claim as its cogent evidence. With emotion on the author’s side, persuasion is easier to accomplish by connecting a personal feeling with an argument. Another use of pathos involves the effective use of humor. In the last paragraph, the author quotes comedian Chris Rock on the topic of gun control, addressing the fact that this issue affects everyone. “Everybody is talking about gun control … I think we need some bullet control!” (par. 6) By drawing attention away from facts and logical thinking, accessing the appeal of emotion is extremely successful in the act of persuasion.

            Throughout the article, Weintraut uses rhetorical technique strategies to persuade her readers. She references her thesis and claims powerfully using all three appeals. Through rhetorical analysis, one can reveal how these techniques aid the overall argument. In acknowledging the presence of these rhetorical concepts, a reader can see why an audience is persuaded to believe a desired opinion. Additionally, this type of thorough analysis helps one to find deeper meaning in the argument.

Works Cited

Weintraut, Megan. "Government Should Create Stricter Gun Laws." The Ithacan. 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2011.

College Freewrite

After reading both articles, I think that the rebuttal, "Why College Matters" holds more weight. The author, Travis Weigner does a great job at making a refutation of the main point of "What's the Matter With College?" He says the Rick Perlstein's article was mostly "an extended version fo the bitching that every generation hears from the one taht preceded it: 'Back when I went to school...'" (par 2). I actually didn't realize that was the main theme of Perlstein's article until Weigner brought it up. As a current college student, I can say that I didn't agree with much of what Rick Perlstein said. Much of his evidence and reasons were ones that I could not really relate to. I don't think that I was a good audience for Perlstein's article, but I can say that I agree with much of what Travis Weigner rebuts in his article.

Reflection 1.1

For my first draft, I focused on getting out all of the information that I knew needed to be included in the essay. Although I made organization a priority, I basically wanted to make sure I included all of my thoughts and ideas on the article. That way, I can more easily weed out the bad ideas, which is easier than having to conjure up new ideas when I attempt my second or third drafts. While adding more depth to my outline, I discovered new points to include in the essay. Much of my first draft is a bit redundant, so when approaching my second draft I am going to focus on making my points more concise and to the point. I also need to bring my attention to a more concrete approach in including more of the rhetorical techniques used in class. The concept of first prewriting, then planning, then drafting made the first part of this process much easier. When I go to write my next draft, I will already have the main concept written out.

Rhetorical Analysis 1st Draft

 Analyzing The Support of Stricter Gun Laws

The article by student, Megan Weintraut titled, “Government Should Create Stricter Gun Laws” expresses the idea that the gun laws presently in place are not sufficient for the good of the American public. The right to bear arms has been supported by the Second Amendment, but as times have changed, more disillusions with the concept have spread. Through a variety of rhetorical techniques, the author addresses the concept of the failure of lenient gun laws throughout the article. This text was successful because the author reinforced her argument with the use of rhetorical strategies which break down her ideas to persuade the reader to see the issue a desired way.

            The establishment of this issue dates back to the creation of the Second Amendment in the American Constitution which gives the people the right “to keep and bear arms.” As time progresses, this issue has become even more prevalent as an issue in American society. Currently, this is a very pressing with views varying from a far right perspective that the government should not interfere with the second amendment, to the far left perspective that the government needs to take more action to decrease the accessibility of firearms. As time develops and more examples of the negative effects of the accessibility of firearms emerge, more dismay has revealed itself among the American public. The argument of the text surrounds itself in the historical context of the issue as the main basis of its argument, stating that times have changed and it is time to rethink the laws supporting the availability of guns to the American people and take action to create stricter gun laws. This idea is reflected through the vast use of rhetorical techniques by the author.

            The author uses the rhetorical appeal of logos to craft the many points of her argument. Logos, which involves using a logical way of thinking to influence someone else, is prevalent in the main theme of the article. She states that “Today, the majority of American citizens can live their daily lives easily and securely without the use of arms” (par. 2). She calls on thinking rationally; times have changed and a change in the lenient gun control laws needs to take place. This logical way of thinking is also supported the use of acknowledgement in response. This practice involves the recognition of opposing views by acknowledging a fact that may support the contrasting opinion, but then backing up the main argument with a rebuttal to that fact. She recognizes the idea that the Second Amendment was established to protect U.S. citizens, but the circumstances are much different today. She points out that at the time of the development of the Second Amendment major threats were imposed among the American families. Not only were they facing oppression from Britain’s army, but they faced the essential need to provide for themselves by hunting and killing animals for food. Although guns were essential in protecting and providing for families over two-hundred years ago, they no longer serve the same purpose and are not used for the same reasons today. Now, the author effectively mentions, we have “organized military services as well as law enforcement agencies at all levels of government” (par. 2). As for sustenance, she refers to the fact that there is an endless supply of food companies that constantly provide mass food production. This proves the concept that the need for personal use of guns is no longer ongoing in today’s society because the issues calling the necessity of owning guns are no longer present. Her use of logos and acknowledgement and response successfully support this idea and defend the overall argument of the article.

            Another strategy the author uses to prove her point is with the use of another rhetorical appeal, Ethos, which involves the influence of credibility. Throughout the article she uses many facts and statistics backed up by legitimate organizations which prove a disturbing vision of the negative consequences of lenient gun control laws. Credibility is extremely important because without this appeal, the reader cannot trust what he or she is reading or hearing. For example, she states, “The National Institute of Justice reported that in 2006 alone, firearms were involved in 68 percent of murders, and more than 90 percent of today's gang-related homicides involve guns” (par. 3) This clearly outlines the repercussions of the availability of firearms by using concrete statistics. Another fact that she strategically reveals involves the influence of media: “The American Academy of Family Physicians reported that 66 percent of television programs contain violence" (par. 4). This statistic shows that the presence of violence and firearms, even if virtually, still have a major effect on the audience of the majority of television programs. Another reference is made to the nation and how it is viewed from an outside point of view. “The American Journal of Public Health determined that, in comparison to all other developed nations, Americans own significantly more firearms” (par. 3). The fact that gun use is so overtly common in our society, so much that is it in fact one of the most gun-friendly developed nations, affects the reader to reject this status, therefore supporting the idea to create stricter gun laws. However, this thought and support to the author’s overall argument would not be possible without the reinforcement from legitimate organizations providing facts and statistics.

            The rhetorical appeal, Pathos which involves using emotion to influence someone else is successfully used by the author. This is apparent in the mentioning of the emotional events of the Columbine High School shooting and the Virginia Tech shooting. This reference evokes emotion to address the dangerous consequences of gun availability. With emotion on the author’s side, persuasion is easier to accomplish by connecting a personal feeling with an argument. Another use of Pathos involves the effective use of humor. In the last paragraph, the author quotes comedian, Chris Rock on the topic of gun control, addressing the fact that this issue affects everyone. “Everybody is talking about gun control … I think we need some bullet control!” (par. 6) Drawing attention away from facts and logical thinking, accessing the appeal of emotion is extremely successful in the act of persuasion.

            The author of the article successfully uses rhetorical techniques strategies to persuade her readers. She references her main points powerfully using all three appeals throughout the text. Through rhetorical analysis, one can reveal how these techniques support the overall argument. In acknowledging the presence of these rhetorical concepts, a reader can see why an audience is persuaded to believe a desired opinion. Additionally, this type of thorough analysis helps one to find deeper meaning in the argument.

Works Cited

Weintraut, Megan. "Government Should Create Stricter Gun Laws." The Ithacan. Web.

Prewriting Essay 1

IDENTIFY

Contextual Analysis
Who- She is writing about the people effected by the lenient gun laws; She is also addressing the U.S. government employees who need to take action to create stricter gun laws
What- She is writing about gun laws
When- She is addressing now
Where- This topic effects people all over the country
Why- It is a pressing issue that is effecting people every day and there needs to be a change

Rhetorical Situation:

Audience-  readers of The Ithacan interested in the topic

Occasion- article in The Ithacan

Purpose- to inform the audience about the need to create stricter gun laws

Claim- The government should create stricter gun laws

Reasons-
1. Guns WERE essential in protecting and providing for families but it is no longer necessary
2. Availability of guns leads to more violence (Americans own significantly more firearms, and this accounts for our higher rate of homicide)
3. The accessibility of guns also makes it easier to reinforce the destructive behavior portrayed in the media leading to today's youth becoming desensitized to the dangers of guns

Acknowledgement &Response-
1. Even though four states limit the number of guns that can be purchased at one time, the rest of the states have yet to take on this restriction
2. The Federal Assault Weapon Ban established in 1994 prohibited the manufacture and sale of certain semi-automatic firearms, but it expired in 2004

3. The second amendment was established to protect U.S. citizens. But the circumstances are much different today

Textual Analysis

Structure- it is well organized that for each point, she creates a new paragraph, therefore the reader can comprehend the argument's main points easier

Style- long sentences include a lot of credible information

Rhetorical Appeals:
1)Logos-
a. The majority of American citizens can live their daily lives easily and securely without the use of arms
b. Events such as the Columbine High School shooting and the Virginia Tech shooting show the danger of such lenient gun laws
2)Ethos- Statistics
a. The National Institute of Justice reported that in 2006 alone, firearms were involved in 68 percent of murders, and more than 90 percent of today's gang-related homicides involve guns
b.The American Journal of Public Health determined that, in comparison to all other developed nations, Americans own significantly more firearms
3)Pathos-

a. Events such as the Columbine High School shooting and the Virginia Tech shooting evoke emotion to address the dangerous consequences of gun availability 

b. Quoting Chris Rock in the end of the article appeals to the reader's humor

**General --> Specific
Identify which of these ^^ predominantly make up the argument

Rhetorical Analysis Quiz

Textual Analysis is "rhetorical analysis that focuses on the text itself," while Contextual Analysis is "rhetorical analysis that places an argument within a larger conversation." These are the two types of Rhetorical Analysis. Textual Analysis includes language, voice, style, structure etc. It also includes any rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos and pathos). Contextual Analysis includes the questions, "Who, What, When, Where and Why?" This takes place outside the essay itself. It also includes the rhetorical situations (audience, occasion, purpose) as well as claims, reasons, evidences, and acknowledgment/response. Both of these are critical to the overall Rhetorical Analysis, but cover different parts of analyzing rhetoric.