FINAL BLOG!

My Essay 4 was an argument against school uniforms. My argument against uniforms was mainly based around rebuttals, which I refuted the three main claims that uniforms reduce peer pressure, improve behavior in schools, and boost school spirit. My audience for my visual would be the kids who are required to wear uniforms or who could possibly be required to wear them in the future. I would present my visual as a magazine ad in a popular teen magazine, like Seventeen magazine, for example. I think choosing teens as my audience is the most effective because if kids don’t let their voice fade, and unite together to voice their opinion against school uniforms, then change can be achieved. My visual’s purpose is to encourage teens to voice their opinions against uniforms and to not be afraid to express themselves through clothing. I chose to show one girl in a uniform and the other girl not in a uniform to show contrast in the ideals that go into requiring uniforms, and letting kids where what they want. I took the picture in a street because a street can be a very bland backdrop, which is what I was going for because I didn’t want the viewer of my visual to pay attention to the street, but for their vocal point to be on the girls in the picture, along with what they are wearing and their body language. I instructed Faith, the girl in the uniform, to be as boring as possible in her uniform to present uniforms the way I see them: restricting, boring, bland, and so on. I instructed Corrin (the girl in the regular clothes) to act carefree and unrestricted. I instructed her to do this so that the freedom she expresses in her pose of jumping in the air reflects the attitude of kids who are allowed to wear regular clothes to school. Unlike her sister, Faith appeared stressed, rigid, and uninspired in her clothing of a typical school uniform. I used a color technique to make Corrin the only object in the picture in color. I did this so that she would stand out while Faith seems to fade into the background. Not only did I want the whole picture in black and white (other than Corrin), but I especially wanted Faith and her uniform to be in black and white to show the ultimate form of uniformity with the absence of color. I chose for Faith to wear her typical school uniform without accessories or anything to make it “cute,” because most kids can’t afford to have cool accessories to make their uniforms less bland, and also some schools enforce a strict dress code with their uniforms forbidding accessories. Faith and Corrin’s body language differes vastly, which I purposely intended for. I wanted Faith to very stiff while Corrin looks carefree and harmless. In actuality, I wanted Faith to resemble a robot, mannequin, or soldier who has just been called to order. I wanted Faith to look stiff, but I didn’t want her to appear completely miserable, or abused because that would be calling for too much exaggerated emotion. My argument in reality is not that uniforms are SO bad, but that the alternative is so much better. A student won’t be scarred for life if forced to wear a uniform, but being allowed to express themselves through clothing is much healthier.
I chose the slogan to read: “Be more than a uniform. Be yourself.” The placement of the text was very important in my message. I put the simple less pronounced font at the top with with the bold eye-catching print at the bottom. I wanted a simple, almost uncreative font for the first sentence of my slogan. I chose this because the statement itself has the word uniform in it, which I am obviously against. I also made this part of the slogan smaller than the latter part to make sure the emphasis is on the last sentence of the slogan. In the latter part of the slogan I chose a very creative eye catching font that is young and carefree much like Corrin in the picture. I also chose to make this part of the slogan’s font bigger in size to create a second vocal point (with Corrin being the first vocal point.) The font I chose for the most important part of the slogan (the last part) is oriented with black lettering on white blocks. According to a typography website I found, the contrast of black on white (or cream) is the most prominent font a person can get. Therefore, I chose a great font to make a prominent foundation for the most important part of my slogan. I also used a photo shop technique to enhance the color in the photo to make Corrin stand out even more. I decided to use two separate sentences to show the two separate ideals the sentences say. I also decided to use regular periods instead of exclamation points to make a more serious point, and sometimes exclamation points can be seen as overdone or childish.
To provoke ethos, pathos, and logos I used many different elements in my visual. To evoke pathos, I had Faith pose uncomfortable, rigid, and bland to make the audience of teens feel almost sorry for the poor girl in the uniform. I also evoked pathos with Corrin, she looks carefree to represent a freespirit and a girl passionate for creativity and life. To provoke ethos I think my slogan did a good job of that. It appeals to the morality of the audience because especially now in modern culture, being yourself is strongly encouraged and glorified. Because of this newly installed moral code I think my slogan is perfect for the younger generation I am trying to appeal to in my visual.

I chose this image as I randomly flipped through photos on tinypic.com. This picture represents freedom. It represents the freedom to be spontaneous, energetic, and a little crazy. The guy in the picture obviously has the intention of just wanted to break loose. The clouds and sun in the background intesify the emotions of the subject in the picture. His "chill", relaxed clothing also help to create the emotion of freedom without words. The way his clothing do not restrict his movement shows the freedom he has. The way his body appears to be soaring or jumping through the air also depicts that the picture represents freedom, or to me it does. The way the subject of the picture is not centered or cropped out perfectly also represents freedom or a better choice of word: spontaneity. The guy in the picture personifies the urge to be spontaneous and just a little crazy.

A little late...and really rough. but it's a start. Essay fourrrr.

The best thing about being a teenager is being able to wear certain clothes just because they can. Their clothes don’t have to make sense, and in most cases aren’t really expected to. Teenagers express themselves through many things: music, art, and most importantly, clothes. How are teens supposed to express themselves when they are required to wear uniforms? There are many reasons why school uniforms should not be implemented. By requiring uniforms, administrators sever a vital outlet for teenagers whose unique choice of clothing is an outlet for them.
Parents argue that it is easier on them when a uniform policy of implemented, but doesn’t anyone stop to think about what the teens think about it? Although I’m sure there are a handful of teens who like having uniforms, the vast majority would much rather where whatever they want. For teens who attend DeSoto ISD, even an oversized coat is unacceptable. No matter how cold it is outside, oversized coats AND hooded jackets are banned at this school district. The most absurd thing about DeSoto ISD’s dress code policy is that it is still being implemented. As if it isn’t bad enough for students to have to wear the exact same clothes as everyone else, students at DeSoto ISD can’t even bundle up in a warm coat?(Golsby)
There is definitely a time and a place for a dress code to be implemented in every school district, I understand that kids cannot run around school in just any clothing, but requiring a uniform is far too extreme. Even teachers have a dress code, but by no means are they told exactly what to wear. For most students, going to school is an escape from many things in life. It is a place where they can meet up with friends, and explore extra-curricular activities. It isn’t fair that certain schools require their students to dress identically, therefore constricting them from the freedom they expect when they walk through the doors of their school.
Some people argue that uniforms reduce violence in schools, and although that is a valid point, there are other precautions that can be taken to make schools safer. A dress code with certain requirements can keep students in check without going to the extreme of requiring uniforms. In some cases uniforms could make students more rebellious, because by restricting students in one aspect they have to find another outlet to express themselves. In some cases these outlets may not be safe, healthy, or encouraged.

Reading Response cuatrooo

In Mangu-Ward’s essay she claims that “more cameras and records, not fewer, may be the best guarantee against abuse of police power in the age of zero privacy.” She supports the increase in survalliance cameras because she believes that can only benefit citizens and their safety. Mangu-Ward uses countless credible sources like: the New York Civil Liberties Union, the New York City police. She also make references to events in history that support her claim and if more survillence had been present, if certain crimes and serious violations could have been stopped before they started. She mentioned the Sean Bell incident in New York City, when three men were shot over fifty time by plain clothed and under cover policemen resulting in the death of Sean Bell. She also mentioned the bombing in the subway in London and had they had increased security cameras they could not only have captured the culprits(which they did), but also possibly prevented the tragedy all together. Mangu Ward manages to use primary and secondary research to give the reader a full view of surveillance usage in the United States. She uses secondary research in the first sentence of her paper and begins with a long quote from the New York Civil Liberties Union, but immediately following she uses her own words to emphasize the central claim of many citizens. It is not until later in the paper that Mangu-Ward reveals her central idea. Mangu-Ward used many outside sources to support her claims, therefore the information she provides throughout the essay influences me in a way that I believe Mangu-Ward is a credible person and writer. She makes her stand on one side of the argument very clearly, which a reader might not agree with but she doesn’t let her personal opinion overtake the facts and evidence she has provided.
The central claim in Joh’s essay is extremely clear. In the fourth paragraph at the very beginning of her essay she clearly states “ this essay discusses why the government’s collect of ‘abandoned DNA’ is a problem worthy of serious attention.” Unlike Mangu-Ward, Joh feels the government is violating the rights of citizens as well she accuses private investors as being unethical in their collection of “abandoned” DNA. Joh begins her essay with a quote from the popular TV show The Simpsons. With this one and the following quote, Joh sets up her paper to generate paranoia immediately. Unlike Mangu-Ward’s essay, Joh takes a stand against the police and their actions and does not feel that their actions are increasing the safety of our citizens but are simply violating our god-given rights. Joh exclusively uses secondary research in her essay, discussing police cases, quoting research done by the National Institutes of Health, and even the Fourth Amendment. Primary research is difficult to obtain with this topic of national security because of confidentiality of police records, ect. The secondary research in Joh’s essay supports her claims by providing evidence of abuse in the collection of DNA. In Joh’s essay she uses a lot of secondary research, but her own views prevail in her essay, definitely more so than Mangu-Ward. I think if Joh had toned down her own voice in the essay she could possibly appeal to a broader audience and influence more people with the issue of DNA collection.
In Quaramby’s essay, he is virtually neutral in his claim. Although his essay is clearly about the talk of a national DNA identification card, his personal bias and support for either side does not prevail in his essay. Although his personal choice does not shine through in the essay, he uses multiple counts of secondary research to provide plenty of opinion in the essay. The information, research and evidence in Quaramby’s essay bring out paranoia in me. Carrying a card that has every little thing about me on it? That’s intense! Quaramby’s topic is very influencing because it is something that I have actually heard hearsay about, and although I’m not sure where I stand on the issue, Quaramby definitely reveals some reality in the possibly of having this national identification cards.

Reading Response Numero Tres.

In Chapter 10, Ballenger describes many “features of the form” of an ethnography. One point he makes is that ethnographies “focus on groups of people who identify themselves as a group. In both stores the authors’ study subjects identify themselves with a certain group of people. In Katz’ essay, Jesse and Eric identify themselves with the Geek club, and geeks in general. In Anderson’s essay, she describes the women who associate themselves with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Another point Ballenger makes in Chapter 10 is that “ethnography depends on close observation over time”. In both essays the authors observe their subjects over time, instead of making a rash observation. In Katz’ essay, he takes the reader through the many stages of the boys’ evolvement into geeks. He describes how family issues, anger, and depression shape the boys into the geeky creatures they have become. He also relates “the Cave” in which they live in with their childhoods and backgrounds. In Anderson’s essay, she describes her first run in with Mary Kay Cosmetics, and ventures to describe her countless interactions with Mary Kay over many years.
Some effective ways that Katz describes the culture of the geeky boys is he describes the location in which they were brought up, and their current location. He describes the boys’ high school in Idaho, and describes Jesse’s interaction (or lack of) with high school, and its impact on his growth as a person. In one case, Katz actually quotes Jesse’s mother when she says “ He wasn’t popular. He didn’t have a lot of friends.” He also describes how fitting in at these high schools was hard, particularly for Jesse. His aloofness towards sports made him an outcast with the jock dominant schools he attended. He describes the boys’ current residence, “the Cave.” The Cave was a bland, two bedroom apartment that was nothing fancy, but for the boys it was a home from their computers, their escape from reality. Katz also does an effective job describing the culture of the geeky boys by describing their backgrounds and childhood events that made them the way they are. Jesse lived with his divorced mom and two sisters in various Montana towns. His lack of a father figure made him predominately uninterested in sports and made it hard for him to feel he had any real roots. Eric’s lack of communication skills are to blame on his mangled relationship with his father. Because of this lack of interaction with his father Eric is bitter and unsocial. Katz writes “they’d spent virtually all their 19 years on the periphery of various things-families,teams,churches…” Jesse and Eric both were outsiders and finally found a sense of belonging when they officially classified themselves as geeks.
Anderson effectively describes the culture of the Mary Kay women by describing certain aspects of the Mary Kay woman: the pink Cadillac, the red jackets, the buttons. There are certain things that trademark a Mary Kay saleswoman, which Anderson addresses. She describes the significance of the pink Cadillac in a Mary Kay world, this car is the symbol of utmost dignity, it means that the person driving this car is a Mary Kay powerhouse.
There are many things the authors of both essays did that will help influence the gathering of evidence for essay. Although in Anderson’s essay, she had an underlying bias tone against Mary Kay women, she took the time to explore the many aspects of being a Mary Kay consultant. She described the “street view” of a Mary Kay consultant but also went further and actually attended a Mary Kay conference. In Katz’ essay he looks at the boys’ lives with a total outsider’s point of view which is something important in observing different cultures and subcultures. He didn’t judge the boys and their actions and lack of interaction with society. He simply described their way of life and explored the events that influenced them to live this life.

Reading Prompt2

In both essays, the authors make their point while remaining non-argumentative. In Holmquist’s essay, he managed to keep the argumentative town to a minimum and remain mostly unbiased. He does make his stand in the last sentence of the essay “I have my whole life ahead of me still and I don’t want to end up as another statistic or have one of my friends write a paper like this because of me.” In this quote, he reveals to the reader that although he “likes his drugs” he does not support the use of drugs by him or anyone. He gets his point across without being argumentative or persuasive towards the reader. Holmquist’s overall controlling idea is the safety (or lack their off) associated with “soft” drugs. He describes three major drugs: GHB, LSD, and MDMA, each drugs effect on people while they do them, and the side effects/long term effects of each drug. He shows his controlling idea throughout the story, but begins in the beginning with the line “ most users also view party drugs as being ‘safe’.” Holmquist supports this controlling idea with his personal story of taking his friend, Eric, to the hospital after he had taken all three drugs discussed in the story. He also supports his controlling idea on the danger of “party” or “soft” drugs by describing each drug’s short term, long term, and life-altering side effects. He tells the story of his friend Chris, and after a vial of LSD was slipped into his drink, he never came down from the trip, and is forever changed and often talks of Satan chasing him around. Holmquist takes a firm stand against the use of these drugs, but throughout his story he remains unbiased by presenting the reader with facts about each drug, instead of mere opinion. He uses his personal experiences of raves and party drugs along with the facts to make the essay a personal essay.
In Garrett-Brown’s essay the author takes a much more vocal approach in voicing her opinion. I think she might have even voiced her opinion a little too much. While she did present facts like statistics from Seventeen magazine, she still managed to be a little argumentative in her stand on the ethicality of tanning. “I don’t necessarily wonder why people tan, but why they completely gyp themselves of the pleasures of the sun” reveals an argumentative tone in Garrett-Brown’s writing. Her controlling idea is why do you people tan? And what fuels people’s desire to be tan? She shows this controlling idea through rhetorical questions like, “who made it cool for white people to tan?” and “is the fashion industry that powerful?” In the latter question, she is trying to pin-point the desire to be tan on the fashion industry and its influence on society.
In both essays, the authors give formal credit to sources that contributed to the writer’s thinking (as Ballinger states they should). Both authors also use source material (statistics,surveys,ect.) to present their opinions,ideas, and experiences on a factual basis. Holmquist uses the statistic of “51 percent of twelfth graders could easily get MDMAD” to present his case on the danger of “party” drugs. Garrett Brown uses a statistic from a popular teen magazine, Seventeen, “2/3 of teens say they look better with a tan” to support her question of whether or not the fashion industry has anything to do with the desire to be tan. The essays, along with Ballenger’s suggestions help to get two very different examples of voicing an opinion while employing research and presenting facts to support my controlling idea.

1) Do looks affect the way people perceive you?
a. How important are looks?
2) What drives people to get plastic surgery?
a. What fuels the need for plastic surgery?
3) Why is the influence of the media on society such a controversial issue?

Reading Prompt #1

Tara Gillespie
Reading Prompt #1
According to Ballinger, every personal essay follows a certain form in some way. He makes many key points to prove his statement true and also provides a testimony for each point. There were two of his points I found to be very prevelant in the essays. His first point, “personal essays are usually written in the first person” is true for both “The Joy of Mudd” and “I’m a Believer.” In “The Joy of Mudd”, Black speaks in the first person in her experience of finally “discovering” her home in Hawaii, and how she saw a whole new side of the boring home she had always known. In Hogg’s essay, “I’m a Believer”, she also writes in the first person as she describes her fascination and experiences with Davy Jones and the Monkees. Ballinger’s second point is “the subject of the essay is often commonplace”, which is supported by the subjects of both essays. In Hogg’s essay, her subject was very simple, it was a band (The Monkees) and its lead singer, not some life altering event. Black’s subject of her essay was also very commonplace; it was her experience with her home in Hawaii. The event Black described, on the surface, was very commonplace, as Ballinger claims subjects of personal essays are, but Black inscribed a deeper meaning with her simple story. She took the simple event of working the lo’i, and associated a deeper meaning of finally feeling connected to her home, or just a “ home” in general.
Unlike Ballinger’s form of a personal essay, the thesis in both of the essays was actually stated in the essay rather than implied. The second to last sentence in Hogg’s essay, “I accept,finally, that this person I know so well I don’t really know at all…” states Hogg’s thesis. Her thesis is that although she feels connected to Davy Jones on a superficial level, she is still nostalgic for a deeper understanding of him as a person. She finally accepts that this deeper understanding will never be, and that she will always just be another fan. At the end of Black’s essay she says “I’m only at the beginning of a path I never expected to travel”. After reading the essay this statement almost blatently reveals her thesis with very little implication needed. Although, both essays do wait until the end to reveal their thesis statements (as Ballinger claims a personal essay should), there is minimal implication needed to unravel the thesis.
The controlling idea or the “so what” of the two women’s essays is remotely similar. In Hogg’s essay, her controlling idea is that things that appear to be, are not always tangible, and are sometimes better off that way. In Kenny Chesney’s most recent song “Better as a Memory”, he sings about how he is better as a memory to a certain women than as her actual man. How he feels in this song is how Hogg feels towards Davy, that the idea of this person is actually better than reality. Before Hogg actually meets Davy she has a preconcieved notion of his character, his mannerisms, and their conversation. To Hogg, Davy is “better as a memory” because Hogg can assosciate anything she wants with her imagination and Davy. In her imagination, Davy can be everything she expects and more. When she meets Davy in person she is a little less than satisfied with the man she had been imfatiuated with for decades. Davy falls short of her expectations, and is therefore “better as a memory.”
The controlling idea of Black’s essay is parallel to Hogg’s controlling idea. Unlike Hogg, Black discovered something that she didn’t know exsisted. With no preconcieved notion or any idea, for that matter, of what the fields of Hawaii had to offer her, she was not let down when the actual event occurred. Black was totally oblivious of the beauty of her home, but after her day in the fields something appeared for Black that had not always been. What appeared was a sense of home and a sense of belonging. “Joy of Mudd” also has a controlling idea of digging deeper and finding the beauty in one’s surroundings. After years of discontentment, Black finally found beauty in her home, and perhaps never saw her home the same again.