Rhetoric Analysis Practice

In class, we were told to examine a part of the academic building and give a rhetorical analysis of it for practice

The Science Wing of the academic building is a very appropriate area to learn and do scientific activities. Many seats and tables are littered around to allow for people to study or relax. The rooms are also very well lit by natural light emitted from large windows. In the center of the building there is a balcony where multiple floors can be seen. This allows the hallways and the atrium to appear more open and spacious. By doing this, the architects have build a perfect learning environment. Claustrophobic areas do not allow for people to think freely. The blandly colored walls and abundance of square shaped objects are implemented to not distract anyone from their work. Really colorful areas can be appealing to the eye but they can be distracting to people who are trying to study. The purpose of the building, scientific learning, can easily be gathered by walking around. Many posters, trophies, and display cases filled with lab equipment are scattered around the building to show its dedication to facilitating science. The lab activities being done inside the classrooms can also be seen to further express a pride in science. The new Science Wing was a great addition to the campus. The modern design allows for a superior learning environment.

Rhetoric Analysis Essay Advertisement

In class today, we were assigned to Rhetoric Analysis Essay.  We were told to pick a vintage ad that we could analyze.  In the spirit of my interests, I have chosen an old ad for American Airlines.  The original ad (in a larger size) can be found here: http://i.imgur.com/qu1z5uO.jpg

Reconsiderations

After watching the video "Patton Oswalt's Magical Black Man", I started thinking about if I was even convinced to stop doing something I wasn't good at.  Unfortunately, I have not had a memorable experience where someone told me something I was doing wasn't worth my time.  I still can take a lesson away from it though.  It's important though to listen criticism of what you choose to do.  The "magic black man" from the video could be anyone in our lives.  It could be a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger.  If I were to receive any criticism, I would evaluate what it means and determine if I should change my life choices if their comment struck a chord.  Even though I haven't had an instance like the video I'll still be mindful if something like it were to happen.

How to Properly Email Your Instructor

If you have be absent or you are not able to turn in an assignment due to technical issues, knowing how to email your instructor properly is crucial.  Today in class, we were taught how to do this correctly. 

A good example is:

Hi Dr. Johnson,

I will be absent for class on Saturday, March 28th.  I have a university sponsored field trip on that day.  I will be able to check Blackboard and my email periodically for any updates from you regarding assignments.  I however would like to know what content will be in our lecture on that day.  I can also meet with you in your office about it if you are available.  I hope this does not create much trouble for you.  Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
John Doe


Here is a very bad example:

hey

i dont know if im gonna be in class on like tuesday or something.  so yeah whatever.  what are we doin then?

MLK Letter From Birmingham City Jail

In class this week, we have been focusing our discussions on the works of Martin Luther King Jr.  One of the most important is his Letter from Birmingham City Jail.  We are using it as an example for our Passage-Based Freewriting.  Freewriting is when someone writes continuously about a certain topic with minimal editing.  The intent is to preserve the writer's original thoughts. 

The portion of Letter from Birmingham City Jail I have chosen to base my writing is:
"I guess it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, 'wait.' ... when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: 'Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?'... then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait."

This excerpt really stood out to me as it had quite a bit to do with black children and how they were affected by segregation.  Children easily make impressions of things because of their young age.  MLK states that "see here begin to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people".  This a important point to remember as children are the forefront of the next generation; their beliefs are formed mainly when they are young.  The next generation of black children would grow up bitter against white people because of the situation they grew up in.  The goal of the Civil Rights Movement was to allow black people to have the same rights as other races.  Whether or not it has actually achieved that today (i.e. recent race problems with the police and economic disadvantages), one of the harder tasks of the movement was to convince black children to embrace white children as their brothers and sisters.  Those black children probably had just as much trouble making a good relationship with white people later in life, as did the white children from that time with black people.  Preaching hate hurts everyone.  Not only is the current generation affected, but future generations are going to have to deal with the aftermath of that hate. 
The other reason this excerpt stood out to me was that the parents of those black children had the insurmountable task of explaining to their children why segregation existed and why they would have to live with it.  That would be incredibly frustrating as you would want your child to be able to do anything they want, but they're still too young to understand why they can't.  The feeling of being able to do anything when you're a child is one of the best.  I can't imagine how terrible it felt when you were told that couldn't do any of that just because of your skin color.  This excerpt, as well as the entire letter, has many important examples of why the Civil Rights Movement had to succeed. 

The Four Types of Sentences in The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in American history.  We read it over in class to help build our comprehension and coping skills.  It contains all four types of sentences in the English language as well.

The first kind of sentence is a Simple sentence.  It contains a subject and a verb to create a single independent clause.  An example from the Declaration of Independence is: "They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity".

Compound sentences are made of two independent clauses usually linked by the word: and.  One compound sentence in the Declaration of Independence is: "Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government".

A Complex sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause.  A dependent clause cannot stand by its self as a simple sentence.  A comma normally separates the two clauses.  "He has refused to Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" is an example of a Complex sentence found in the Declaration of Independence.

Last is a Compound-Complex sentence.  These are comprised of two or more independent clauses mixed with one or more dependent clauses.  One in the Declaration of Independence is: "In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury".

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