Rhetorical Analysis- Source for Paper B

This week is a post for my second persuasive paper. I'll be writing to persuade people to take out their ipods (earbuds) more often as they're out in public.


~WATCO: What are the consequences of audio fixative individuals on their ignorant attitude toward society?
Enthymeme (Claim): Audio fixative individuals progress to being more ignorant to others when interacting with them.
Assumption (Reason): Because excessive use/exposure can cause hearing loss or other injuries, making them less-responsive to those around them.

~Audience: The audience is any music enthusiast who has to have a tune playing in their head.

~Goal: The goal is to show how the effects hinder one's social life (isolated music listening) and health (auditory damage).


~How & Why: This source can help show how the consumer level music players are a potential risk to hearing. It is a trustworthy source because it's preceded by the Journal of the American Audiology Society, and published by the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University School of Medicine. The source addresses the logistics of their testing of various compact disc players and their output levels, then compare them to safe levels of decibel output. I think it's very sufficient in tests and results because a wide range of products were tested across many manufacturers and styles of headphones- insert, supra-aural, vertical, and circumaural). I think this can relate to the health of a music enthusiast.

~Effective: This is an effective source because commercially-available players were tested and the results show how potentially damaging they can be to one's hearing/health.

Credits: Fligor, B. J., and L. C. Cox. "Output Levels of Commercially Available Portable Compact Disc Players and the Potential Risk to Hearing." Ear & Hearing (01960202) 25.6 (2004): 513-27.

Rhetorical Analysis- Visual Art

Emil Nolde, The Last Supper, 1909, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen.

~WATCO: What are the consequences of connecting with Jesus Christ and the Last Supper (painting) on an individuals well being?
Enthymeme (Claim): Identifying with this art will give a greater appreciation and awareness for what Jesus Christ has done for mankind.
Assumption (Reason): Because of His love, we must encompass Him. Our love will grow so that our lives will be happy, giving followers of Christ a purpose of life.

~Audience: The audience is infants, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors of all ages and cultures.

~Goal: Nolde's goal in the painting is bring the old culture to current times and connect it with the new ways and traditions of its time. Its purpose is to reach out to the viewer so that they can identify themselves with the painting and event that is taking place.

~How & Why: The style of the painting creates an intimate scene (pathos). Those who have not lived according to religious standards would be more willing to submit to Christ, the Savior (ethos) if the setting were less formal as opposed to da Vinci’s version. Though not typical, it works. Past depictions of Last Supper reflected old culture. Nolde’s composition was relevant to the new age of viewer because it livened it up, offering a new perspective

~Effective: This is an effective painting. The intimacy creates a sense of brotherhood, though the faces shown are very idealized (of His Disciples). This bridges the gap of a more modern world. All can come unto Him.

Credits: artstor.org
If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ and the Purpose of Life, please click here.

Rhetorical Analysis- Song

"Glass House"

~WATCO: What are the consequences of pointing a finger at others on you actually being the one at fault?

~Enthymeme:(Claim): People ridicule others for their flaws or circumstances but they too (the accuser) have their own faults too.
Assumption (Reason): Because humans make mistakes others point out their faults, but there are usually hypocrites who are to blame as well.

~Audience: The audience is to those who may go about life, in a blind manner. Those who may appear as being snobby, or prideful are the focus of this song.

~Goal: The goal of the song is to let people know that if they can't take the heat in return, don't give it to people.

~How & Why: Peter Tosh, the singer of "Glass House" tells the story of if you live in a glass house don't throw stones. Damaging words or actions to others are just as damaging in return. Tosh gives a teaching feel to the song and verifies it by a biblical reference of the Golden Rule when he says

Harm no man
Let no man harm you
Do unto others
As they would do to you

He scolds the wrong doer by calling them liars being filled with illusions. Tosh calls himself a man here on earth doing the good work, and if you disagree there just might be some contention.

~Effective: The lyrics work when it's a song, as he tells of someone who might live their lives not knowing, but others around can see what's wrong. Since the person is naive and may not see it, that is why the message had to be so direct. I could imagine this not working in a face-to-face conversation, but for a reggae upbeat song, a deep message can be translated successfully to a light feeling with an upbeat attitude.

Glass House - Peter Tosh

Rhetorical Analysis- Source for Paper A

This week's post is a source for Paper A
(as in, I hope I get an A on this paper)

My topic is about how children are being raised and taught that no matter what, they are all winners. These 'winners' go about their life putting minimal effort into even the most common tasks, and they become blinded from the big picture. In reality, they turn out to be 'whiners' who demand fair treatment for issues that could have been prevented. That is, if some responsibility (both parent and child) were taken. Could parents be bearing too much of their burdens at a young age? Are children more resilient than we think?

Since I will need to persuade an audience who is against my argument, this post is a source from the counter argument.

Article from: The Times

June 7, 2008

Japan's 'monster' parents take on centre stage
Leo Lewis in Tokyo

~WATCO: When it comes to a child's education, what are the consequences of parents pressuring teachers to satisfy their wants in order to get their desired outcome?
Enthymeme (Claim): Parents act like bullies to the point that teachers buckle under the pressure, children aren't taught sensibly, and each child becomes a winner in the end.
Assumption (Reason): Because every parent wants their daughter to be the star of the school production, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the play results in zero dwarfs, yet twenty-five Snow Whites.

~Audience: The audience is adults and parents who are too soft when it comes to discipline and/or who believes that it's only a matter of some effort that entitles youth to be victorious.

~Goal: If you heckle or complain enough, you will get your way. Even if you didn't think you'd make it onto the cast of this play, get ready because you'll be in the star role.

~How & Why: These parents believe they're "champions of basic consumer rights." They have become a mob of complainers. Japanese society had previously been summed up as respectful and silent have become aggressive. Though, this style of parenting is not limited to this change of culture in Japan. It is found all around the globe. Children have become the center of attention to these parents, but it's gone to extremes. Numerous calls, harassing teachers have left them no choice but to give in to the demands (pathos). Many times, these are private institutions where the funding comes from the customer and if offended, could easily take their money elsewhere (logos). Once again, this is not just a single case in Japan. It's reported that children come home from school with a congratulatory certificate of "Sitting nicely on the carpet." This phenomenon has become more typical in schools and activities. Could you imagine youth in a sporting event where everyone receives a trophy even if they finish fifth in the tournament? The sponsors would go broke handing out hardware to everyone to showed up.


~Effective: Though seemingly effective at the time to boost a child's self esteem, it only cripples them for the future. Without going through necessary stresses in life, those who grew up being fed by fallacies will collapse under the pressure of the real world.


Credits: The article refereed to in this post was written by Leo Lewis in Tokyo, and was published by Times Online. To see the article click here.