Considering Types

In this post, I will share my thoughts about the "Five Basic Types of Public Argument" as defined by Writing Public Lives.

Eye-..."Type." 10/31/15 via flickr. Some Rights Reserved.

I am interested in taking the following positions on my topic based on uniqueness from my perspective and level of appropriateness for my topic: refutation, evaluation, and position. I think that these perspectives would be the best options for my project because I intend to take the unpopular side of the argument. This means I need a style that will help me effectively make my argument. I feel that the causal and proposal arguments would not be appropriate choices for my subject matter because I might end up in some way supporting the other side. The other three choices will make my position stronger than those formerly mentioned because they allow me to do some development for the unpopular side in order to argue successfully.

--------------------------------------------------
Reflection
I responded to Tyler's and Mark's posts (hyperlinked below):
Tyler's "Considering Types"
Tyler's "My Rhetorical Action Plan"
Mark's "Considering Types"
Mark's "My Rhetorical Action Plan"

Mark's posts reminded me that sometimes our personal passion for a topic might work against us as we try to make an argument. I had not considered this in my original action plan, but now I will definitely keep it in mind as I draft my project.

Tyler's posts emphasized the harm that certain approaches could do to your argument in the wrong context. I realized that I must be careful and constantly examine whether or not I am addressing my intended audience in the right manner.

This insight has made me hyper-aware of my rhetorical situation, and I intend to stay that way so that my argument hits home with my intended audience. I really want to convince them of my position in a really compelling way, and I think remaining aware is the best way to do so.

My Rhetorical Action Plan

In this post, I will develop a rhetorical action plan. I will be answering several questions from Writing Public Lives pg. 412-3.

Lee, Chris. "No Plan B." 10/31/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

Audience (College Students)

Knowledge: Unless this is an area of extreme interest for them, it is unlikely that my audience knows very much about my topic. It was covered very briefly during the start of the year, and though they are generally very involved in race discussion it was not in a very visible area for them. Most college students get their information from social media and quick news websites like Buzzfeed. 

Values: Generally, my audience is very interested in social justice. They makeup the generation that is passionate about inspiring change and challenging social norms. Their general principle is to stand up and defend the oppressed and the underdogs.

Standards of Argument:I think that my evidence needs to be accessible, understandable, and relevant to the big picture ideas. Since my target is undergrads, they have not quite yet gotten into the intensive research work that grad students do, so they would not respond positively to dense and complicated research.

Visual Elements:With social media holding the position that it does in this generation, visuals are KEY! I think that college students would rather respond to something visual than a paragraph of text.

Purpose:My audience would be paying attention to my argument because they are interested in social change and entertainment as well. I am challenging the current viewpoint and hoping to get them interested in the topic in a new and more informed way.

Genre

1. Genre: Online Article (Organized by Subtopics) *Example 1* *Example 2*

• Function:Give information in a brief and digestible manner so that the article maintains interest until the 
• Setting: This genre is often used on student-centered websites like Buzzfeed, Sparknotes, and College Magazine.
• Rhetorical Appeals: All the strategies can be used effectively, but emphasis is placed mainly on emotional and logical appeals. The college student rarely cares about the credibility of the author. 
• Visual Elements: GIFS, photos, simple graphs are perfect for this genre because they break up text and catch the eye of the reader.
• Style:I will use a fairly informal style to seem relatable to my audience. I think it will appear too stuffy and boring if not.

2.Genre: Quick informational video *Example 1* *Example 2*

• Function:Providing new insight in a more appealing and quick way than text, and with more visual interest
• Setting:This genre is often found on social media as it is easy to share, interesting to click on, and captures attention better than text.
• Rhetorical Appeals:The visual component of this genre means that emotional appeals are key, but I would need to back up my argument with enough logical appeals so that the video is not a rant or complaint but actually a provider of new information.
• Visual Elements: Completely visual. Most videos combine filmed shots with graphics, text, and overlaid audio.
• Style: My style would be informal and conversational, because-again- I want to be able to connect well with my audience so they care about my argument.

Responses/Actions

Positive Reactions:

-My article is shared with others

-People use their consumer power to make a statement

-Other people write about this topic as well

Negative Rebuttals:

-People might write contradicting me -----> I would respect their opinion but provide more evidence.

-People might call me a racist/race denier--------> I would respectfully respond to their accusations/ignore them so as not to fan the flames

-People might not listen to a word I have to say-------> I would try to appeal to them with interesting and thought provoking information.

Analyzing Purpose

In this post, I will be following the brainstorming instructions from the "Thinking Through the Purpose..." Box on Writing Public Lives page 326.

Brumpton, Ian. "Walking with much purpose."10/28/15 via flickr. Some Rights Reserved.

Analyzing Context

In this post, I will be looking at the big-picture ideas of my controversy. Below, I have provided my answers to the questions posed in Writing Public Lives "Reading in Context..." section, pg. 340.

C, Duncan. "Street art- shoreditch." 10/28/15 via flickr. Some Rights Reserved.

1. What are the key perspectives or schools of thought on the debate that you are studying?

The two main perspectives duking it out in my public controversy are those that feel Hollywood is exclusionary and those that feel Hollywood is fairly inclusive.

2. What are the major points of contention or major disagreements among these perspectives?

The major point of contention is whether or not the entertainment industry is systematically shutting out non-white/non-male performers and that they are not given the same opportunities as their white/male peers. Also, the distribution of awards and recognition is a major disagreement as well.

3. What are the possible points of agreement or common ground between the two perspectives?

The two perspectives do agree that acting talent should be held to a high standard and that contextual accuracy is important in film and television.

4. What are the ideological differences, if any, between the perspectives?

Progressive, social justice types are more inclined to agree that there is a problem with the system, while conservative, laissez faire types generally like to think the industry is doing fine on its own.

5. What specific actions do their perspectives or texts ask their audience to take?

Those who think there needs to be more diversity ask audiences to demand it from film executives, patronize more diverse film, and spread awareness of the problem. The opposing side wants audiences to look at the data available, support films that they like, and not perpetuate an idea of unfairness in the industry. 

6. What perspective are useful in supporting your own argument about the issue? Why did you choose these?

I will be using the not as vocal perspective that the industry is fair for my argument because I thought it would be more interesting to delve into this further. The other side has some strong supporters and rhetoric, so I considered this perspective in need of some more analysis and support.

7. What perspectives do you think will be the biggest threat to your argument, why?

I think the opposing side is a real looming threat to me, because I think the majority of my generation is the social justice type. Hollywood itself and those who work in it are very mindful and vocal about inequality, so my opposition to these norms will come with large obstacles.

----------------------------------
Reflection

Jenny and Rachel's posts delved into the questions much like mine did, which was reassuring. By looking over the information that they had gathered, I could spot some weaknesses that were also in my own work. I recommended to Jenny that she explore an aspect of the opposition a little bit more to find subtleties in the argument, and realized that I should do the same. Having a better grasp of the other perspective will help me strengthen my argument against it.

Audience and Genre

In this post, I will discuss which groups might be interested in my topic and therefore the target audience. I will ponder why these people would be interested, where I would publish my research, and provide examples.

JJ. "Captive Audience." 10/24/15 via flickr. Some Rights Reserved.

Audience #1: The Social Justice Minded College Student

This group would be interested in my research because it is a problem relevant to them. They are forced to group up and navigate in this new racial and cultural climate, and they may want to know what steps are being taken in Hollywood to make things more inclusive.

•  Publication Location #1: Social Media (Facebook in Specific)
• For this location, it would be most effective to produce a short informative and creative video that quickly gives the pertinent information and can easily be shared by others

Example 1

Example 2

• Publication Location #2: Buzzfeed article
• Not necessarily a listicle, because my information does not lend to that genre, but a short and punctuated article giving my opinon and research would easily reach this tech-savvy and brief audience
• Example 1
• Example 2

Audience #2: The Industry Executive

Film professionals, like higher ups in any industry, want to cater to supply and demand. If I can convince them that my topic will help them produce more effectively and make more money, they will listen. They also sometimes have hearts, and to see plainly the opinion of the masses might make them rethink some of their processes.

• Publication Location #1: Business Journal
• This location would give me the needed credibility and allow me to structure my information and argument in a way that is conducive to agreement 
• Example 1

• Example 2
• Publication Location #2: News Site or Paper for Business Professionals
• This location would allow me to have a little more creative freedom but still be taken seriously as the author. It would structure my information in a fairly digestible way, and perhaps a little more appealing than the journal option.
• Example 1
• Example 2

Extended Annotated Bibliography

In this post, I will provide the link to my Project 3 annotated bibliography.

Peklo, Nebo. "Source-board." 10/24/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

You can access my document here.

Narrowing My Focus

In this post, I will choose a few of my previously shared questions about my public debate to further explore and explain my choices as well.

Berkeley, Xanthe. "Focus." 10/24/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

1. What information could each side tell the other that could possibly change perceptions?

2.When will this controversy-- or something similar --spring up again?

3.Who would benefit from more public discourse about this controversy?

I picked these questions out of the bunch because I felt as though they had not been touched on at all in my initial project. I also thought that the concept of looking forward and making informed assertions would be an interesting angle for my project.

Questions About Controversy

This post will detail which public argument I am planning on participating in for Project 3. I decided that the most dynamic and interesting controversy that I could participate in was the debate of "diversity in the Oscars," which I detailed in my Project 1 QRG.

Smith, Ana. "Looking for Banksy." 10/24/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

• Things I still need to learn about about WHO is involved in the controversy

-Who are the key players that are still driving this debate long after the initial excitement died down?

-Which professional actors are vocal about this topic and which are on the less-popular side?

-Who would benefit from more public discourse about this controversy?

• Things I still need to learn about about WHAT is up for debate in this controversy

-What is the root issue or overarching theme that drove the debate?

-What information could each side tell the other that could possibly change perceptions?

-What did each side want to be done about the controversy?

• Things I still need to learn about about WHEN this controversy has unfolded (and the larger contextual details of that time period that may be relevant)

-When will this controversy-- or something similar --spring up again?

-When was this debate at its peak?

-When would have been the best time for both sides to make their arguments?

• Things I still need to learn about about WHERE this controversy has unfolded - and I mean both physical spaces and cultural spaces

-Where was the debate most heatedly discussed?

-Where were the actual face to face conversations about this debate taking place?

-Which cultural spaces had the most at stake in the debate?

• Things I still need to learn about about HOW this controversy has unfolded in the media (including general popular media, scholarly media and social media)

-How did this debate catch fire with the masses on Twitter?

-How did the offending side directly respond to complaints?

-How has this debate been covered by both impartial sources and partial ones?

Reflection on Project 2

In this post, I will recall and discuss my editing process by answering a few questions from Writing Public Lives pg 520.

O'Bryen, Rory. "Looking Back." 10/24/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

I really worked on my transitions as well as my inclusion of textual evidence to respond to the critiques from my peers. I also did local editing to make the flow better and weed out run on sentences

2. How did you reconsider your thesis or organization.

 I completely changed my thesis when I rewrote my introduction. I included more of my project's rhetorical triangle as opposed to my text's.

3. What led you to these changes?

Having the opportunity to rewrite the intro really opened my eyes to the ways that I could better begin my paper. I think my new intro and thesis are stronger and fit the purpose better than the old ones.

4. How do these changes affect my credibility as an author?

These changes greatly strengthen my credibility, as I am better following the prompt and thus attending to the needs of my intended audience.

5. How will these changes assist your audience in your purpose?

Since my job was to show my peers how to deconstruct a rhetorical text, I stated some of that information explicitly. This allows my readers to get the point right away and to know why it is important, instead of having to infer such information.

6. How did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

I read my piece aloud and also scanned it keeping in mind the new punctuation information that we had covered to ensure sentence flow and clarity. Any sentence that did not sound quite right when spoken was reworded to better contribute to my essay. 

7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose?

When it is easier to read and understand in general, at the basic fluency level, the audience can better wrap their brains around the overarching purpose of the piece.

8. Did you have to reconsider the type of genre you were writing in?

While the formal essay was not foreign to me, I constantly had to rework my essay to keep in mind the specific rhetorical situation of the project. This manifested itself in a

9. How does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer?

I think that with every edit, I can see more of what makes me unique as a writer. By being able to read over my own words, I can assess what worked and what still needs improvement.

-----------------------------------------
Reflection on my Reflection :P
I realized when reading Rachel and Tyler's blogs that several of my peers had done some major reworking in their editing process. Rachel toyed with organization and Tyler scrapped his project all together! This new insight has taught me that when something truly doesn't work, I shouldn't be afraid to throw it out completely or transform it into something more helpful!

Project 2 Final

Cantrell, Kristen. "Black Swan." 10/24/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

Click HERE to access my piece. Enjoy!

Punctuation, Part 2

In this post, I will discuss three more topics from the “Punctuation” section of Rules for Writers. I will also share what I have learned about this topics through revising my own draft of Project 2.

D0ktorz. "Interrobang." 10/21/15 via wikimedia. Public Domain.

The Comma

Nonrestrictive (nonessential) elements are set off by commas. These are parts of a sentence that do not change the meaning very much if removed. Sometimes determining whether or not a piece is restrictive or nonrestrictive requires context and knowledge of a writer's meaning. Cumulative adjectives should not have commas in between them. 

The Apostrophe

When there is joint possession, an apostrophe ( 's or s') is included on the last noun only; when there is individual possession (like the same noun but different versions for each subject), all nouns are possessive. Also, apostrophes are not used for the plurals of numbers (i.e. perfect figure 8s or the 1920s).

The Dash

Two hyphens, not one, create a dash. This punctuation is often used to set off parenthetical material that deserves emphasis. It is also appropriate to use the dash to set off appositives that contain commas to help the reader see the relative importance of the pauses.

-------------------

Reading my draft, I found that my writing is very comma-heavy. Every comma is used correctly, but it can be a little grammatically boring if the same technique is used over and over again. Here, I have a sentence from my draft that could benefit from a new form of punctuation.

Favorite movies are things that nearly all people, film buffs especially, get fairly defensive over.

• Commas could be used here to set off the non-essential material, but dashes could also be used instead to provide some contrast and create a more emphatic pause.

I think that I effectively used the semicolon in my draft. Here is a sentence in which this form of punctuation is used.

But Shone is not against progress; he merely doesn’t agree with its use to cover up weak acting.

• The semicolon provides an adequate pause and connects two related ideas skillfully.

Paragraph Analysis 2

In this post, I will provide a link to the copy of my project that I used for paragraph analysis. It can be accessed here. I will base my analysis off of the guidelines covered in Rules for Writers Chp. 4.

Fernandes, Rui. "Girl writing." 10/17/15 via flickr. Attribution 2.0.

Reflection
My draft's strengths lie in organization and development. Every paragraph flows in a direction that makes sense logically and is easy for readers to follow. Also, every main point is developed with good, specific textual examples and relevant analysis. I think that my essay could benefit from better transitions between some of the paragraphs. Only one of my paragraphs has a really strong transition.

Revised Conclusion

In this post, I will share my original conclusion as well as my re-written and re-imagined one. My new conclusion will accomplish the "Tips and Strategies" included in the Student's Guide pg. 56.

opensource "Marketers: It’s time to reinvent creativity." 10/17/15 via flickr. Attribution 2.0.

Original
Shone really uses his sarcastic humor to his advantage in the article by highlighting major flaws in human reasoning. Audiences want to praise great human achievement, yet fall victim to visual tricks and shocks that appeal to a more instinctual part of the brain. His timeline and specific examples put the current argument into important historical developmental context. Without it, it is hard to see the issue as anything more than a one time occurrence. As technology advances and humanity becomes less of a part of artistic expression, what will be the new standards for greatness? The current trend suggests that greatness will be how far filmmakers are able to push special effects, not manipulation of the human body or human skill. Technology has its place, but isn’t it time to bring some human touch back into the soul of filmmaking?

New and Improved (using the "Look forward" technique)
Shone's timeline organization supported with specific examples and sarcastic humor combine to form a winning argument for genuine acting talent in film. While he supports the use of special effect as an amplifier of talent, citing Heath Ledger's captivating romp as Joker and Johnny Depp's swaggering pirate character Jack Sparrow, Shone wants "good" films to do justice to the essence of acting: the actors themselves. As humanity continues to try and find itself within the context of more advanced and abundant technology, it is important that human talent is emphasized now. Otherwise, the actor will most likely find himself as a part of the scenery, just another set piece behind the makeup and CGI wizardry.
-----------
My new conclusion is better than the first because it looks forward in a more coherent way. I think the ending is especially more compelling and makes the argument seem more urgent. I like that I incorporated more examples used in the text to round out the author's argument as well.

Revised Introduction

In this post, I will share my original introduction as well as my re-written and re-imagined introduction. My new introduction will accomplish the "Tips and Strategies" included in the Student's Guide pgs. 52-53.

Lirshtah8. "Floral sunset." 10/17/15 via deviantart. Attribution 2.0.

Original

Who can get away with telling other professionals in their field what they truly think of their work, no sugar coating needed? Film critics, that’s who! In polite society where no one is really telling the whole truth all of the time, critics get the chance to share their whole opinons in a wholly honest way. These brazen men and women have a rhetorical toolbox all their own to convince the public of their arguments about a performance, and Tom Shone’s article “Natalie Portman, Good Actor” is no exception. Initial reading of "Natalie Portman, Great Actor" may paint Shone as a film purist against all technological progress in the industry. Shone's apropos humor, detailed examples and acknowledgement of the counterargument, however, helps the audience come into line with his belief that physical transformation alone is not an indicator of acting talent.

New and Improved

When Star Wars first burst onto screens in 1977 with its humming light-sabers and stunning explosions, audiences were unsurprisingly in awe. Special effects of this caliber had never been seen before, and this was a major reason that people fell in love with the film. NYC film critic and professor of film Tom Shone argues in "Natalie Portman, Good Actor" that these computer generated "stunts" have evolved into a cover up of mediocre acting, not into embellishments that amplify an already solid film. Though his humor may seem off-putting at first, Shone effectively uses jokes and specific examples to logically get his audience to agree. This paper will model the effective deconstruction of an argument in the entertainment field, which is an important skill for theater students to learn. With this information, they can be less gullible when reading opinion pieces and evaluate them on a deeper level as well as construct their own arguments more effectively.

----

My new intro is stronger than the first primarily because it takes the rhetorical situation of the project into account, which I did not do before. It's not formulaic and forecasts the scope and direction of the essay well. Also, I think the attention grabber is much stronger on my new intro than the old one!

Reflection on Project 2 Draft

I provided comments for both Charles and Michael's drafts of Project 2. I found this project to be very interesting to read from an outsider's perspective.

Reynolds, Paul. "Kitten and Partial Reflection." 10/17/15 via wikimedia. Attribution 2.0

My Draft

Thesis
My peer reviewers liked my thesis and found it very easily when reading. I think it clearly identifies the tools used by the author and talks about its effectiveness.

Organization
The central ideas of each paragraph were easily found by my peer reviewers and it was organized in a way that emphasizes the most effective tools and links them all together. 

Rhetorical strategies
I made the rhetorical strategies of my text the stars and focus of my paragraphs. I clearly identified them and supported them with textual evidence. I explained and analyzed why they were used and the overall effect.

Evidence
My evidence includes both paraphrase and direct quotation. Each piece of evidence is embedded correctly and analyzed thoroughly. I use the pieces of evidence thoughtfully to support my assertions about the rhetorical tools.

Conclusion

My conclusion not only sums up my argument but also augments my thesis to make it more relevant to the current debate as a whole. I think it leaves readers with important thoughts and opinions.

Punctuation

In this post, I will discuss what I have learned from the "Punctuation" section in Rules for Writers and what I have discovered about this topic in the drafts of my peers.

D'aquino, Andrea. "Modern Punctuation." 10/16/15 via flickr. Attribution 2.0.

Unnecessary Commas
I was reminded in this section that commas should not separate an independent clause and a dependent one. A dependent clause can have a comma before it, however, when the sentence would be too long or too confusing without it.

The Semicolon
I love semicolons, and I was reminded why in this section :) Semicolons should not be used before conjunctions like and, but, yet or so that connect two clauses. Either a comma must be used, or the conjunction/semicolon should be deleted. My favorite aspect of the semicolon is its function as a soft period that separates thoughts but keeps the flow of the sentence.

The Colon
The colon usually distinguishes lists, but it shouldn't separate a noun from its verb, a verb from its object or subject complement, a preposition from its object, nor a subject from its predicate. Colons are also used to separate one idea from the one which follows i.e. I know what to do with that cake: eat it!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Reflection**

Charles' Sentence:

She uses varied tones to guide the reader morally what to do. She uses shocking statistics for their emotional value as well as logical  appeal to her analytical audience. Finally she uses emotional narratives to hook the audience and to show what the future could hold.

-Reading Charles' essay, I came to the conclusion that he might be a little afraid of punctuation, other than periods! The repetition of the same subject and verb means that these last sentences are repetitive. Combining these sentences with commas would contribute to a better overall flow in the conclusion.

Michael's Sentence:

Steven Cowley is a credible source of information regarding nuclear fusion; because he has had extensive schooling and experience in his profession, thus solidifying the purpose of the piece.

-I found this sentence to be a little weak with regards to punctuation. I think deleting because and putting a semicolon between "fusion" and "he" would make the sentence more structurally sound.

Draft of Rhetorical Analysis

Valued Peer Editors,
My topic deals with technology and physical transformation in film making, and contains a lot of specific references to various movies. Even if you can't understand all of the references, that should not affect your ability to understand the work as a whole. If it does, please let me know and I will try to amend my piece. 

As you read, please make sure I am:

• making strong, clear analytical claims
• backing said claims up with reasonable evidence
• drawing good conclusions from claims + evidence
• not relying on a cheesy ending

Thank you! You can access and comment on my draft here.

Brenn, Moyan."Happiness." 10/12/15 via wikimedia. CC Attribution 2.0

Practicing Summary & Paraphrase

This post will be an exercise that flexes my summary and paraphrasing skills. The original quote comes from my Project 2 article, Natalie Portman, Good Actor.

Melissann. "order from chaos." 10/11/15 via flickr. All rights reserved

Original Source
"Just as it is possible to exit the latest blockbuster going, "The special effects were great, but the movie blew," so it's possible to find Portman's performance exactly the kind of stunt that wins awards but be unsure what it connects with, emotionally, besides Nina's intense desire to be given the part of the Swan Queen and her determination to do anything to get it. This may be vividly rendered but it is not what you would call "a stretch." Nor does it deliver very strongly on one of the principle pleasures of great acting, which is interaction and reaction."

My Paraphrase of Original Source
Tom Shone emphasizes the lack of talent behind many physical transformations by using the example of a big blockbuster film with stunning CGI but not much in the plot. Its also valid to find Portman's Black Swan portrayal as something of the same vein; the mere shock value will gain critical praise but it does not link to anything under the surface other than the character's all-consuming obsession with becoming Swan Queen and doing whatever it takes to win the part. The visuals mean that these aspects are stunningly displayed, but it is not a labor of great acting. It also does not capture a main joy of good performance, which is exchange between characters and response.

My Summary of the Original Source
To Shone, Portman's morph into the Swan Queen is a performance that will gain critical praise but is not an accomplishment of great acting because it does not get into the real "meat" of the character.

Project 2 Outline

As prep work for Project 2, I will be using this post to elaborate on my plan for my Rhetorical Analysis.

Diana. "planning." 10/11/15 via flickr. All Rights Reserved.

I liked how the excerpt from Writing Public Lives focused on the "shape" of the introduction and not just a single way of starting the paper. I think this helps me avoid getting caught up in an inventive intro that doesn't serve my purpose. Also, it was helpful to read how the thesis in this case is meant to show how the author tries to persuade the audience. The thesis must be both debatable and supportable, which are good focus points. In the body section, the book advised focusing on strategies instead of the different forms of rhetoric. I also enjoyed the conclusion section, which reaffirms the idea of a "global conclusion"; that is, going past a mere restatement of the thesis and providing a real-world extension of your argument.

INTRO:

• Maybe address my peers in a way that makes sense for the purpose
• Set up the context that film critics use a tool box of rhetoric all of their own

THESIS: 

• "Initial reading of "Natalie Portman, Great Actor" may paint author Tome Shone as a film purist against all technological progress in the industry. Shone's apropos humor and detailed acknowledgement of the counterargument, however, helps the audience come into line with his belief that physical transformation alone is not an indicator of acting talent."

BODY 1:

1. Set up who the audience is: film buffs/ other critics, accessible audience, difference of epicenter of film and televison vs. here, why humor may be off-putting at first to audience

• People don't like it when you make fun of the classics/ favorite movies
•  Seems too harsh on CGI/physical transformation
• Uses very dramatic examples/ dramatic jokes 

BODY 2:

1. Transition to humor as one of his best tactics: it lightens the mood, gently pokes fun at the habits humans have when it comes to visuals, makes some of the extreme augmentation seem ludacris and at odds with other values we hold as a society

• "by means of a spectacle no less visceral or intense: You give us exploding planets, we give you a ballooning Robert De Niro." 

Claim/ truth in the joke: CGI changed the game for all of film, people like the shock factor (violence/explosions and dramatic change in people), movies had to adapt to catch up.

• "The posters might as well read "Come see Natalie Portman earn her Oscar." But great acting?" 

Claim/ truth in the joke: Oscars like  —"immersive," "transformative," "revelatory", seems as though this can surpass actual talent, movie pushes the boundaries (something the awards like), "self-vandalizing"

•  "which should serve as a warning to all the Mickey Mouse Club refugees who will doubtless follow in Portman's footsteps"

Claim/ truth in the joke: She is was not a Mouseketeer, but it plays on the fact that young stars love to push boundaries after leaving Disney, these stars always talk about moving on to more "meaningful and mature work" but are they really doing anything better or different?

BODY 3:

1. Strength in the organization of the piece/ chronological advancement of film/ emphasis on major events that changed history/ specific and detailed examples that paint a picture of the argument

• i.e. early examples of film, to Star Wars/Raging Bull, Jurassic Park/ the comedies like Mask and Dumb and Dumber, dramatic actors

CONCLUSION:

• Author is successful because, not despite his humor. Timeline and specifics put the current argument into historical and developmental context.
• What are the standards we will decide for greatness in the future? As humanity becomes less of a part in art...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection

Jenny's outline was very detailed and specific, which I appreciated. As a reader, it was easy to see which claims she was going to make and the examples she was going to use to prove it. It was very well constructed over all. I liked Addie's as well because it incorporated key questions and points from the text to lead her in the right direction. Her's was also very thorough and easy to follow as an outsider. I think my paper definitely has a different structure than theirs, but that's ok! The diversity will make reading and editing more interesting.

Draft Thesis Statements

I have had some fun drafting possible thesis statements, and in this post I will share them with you! Here are three that I have worked and reworked; if you feel inclined, comment which is your favorite :)

Au, Steffi. "thesis." 10/11/15 via flickr. All rights reserved.

1. Though his humor may be off-putting at first, Tom Shone's comic approach successfully makes the case for the lack of true talent in mere physical transformation roles.

2. Readers of Tom Shone's piece cannot easily deny the gimmick that CGI and transformation has become in the film industry due to the authors use of effective examples and illuminating humor.

3. Initial reading of "Natalie Portman, Great Actor" may paint author Tome Shone as a film purist against all technological progress in the industry. Shone's apropos humor and detailed acknowledgement of the counterargument, however, helps the audience come into line with his belief that physical transformation alone is not an indicator of acting talent.

I like my thesis statements so far, maybe merely for the fact that I love putting words together in a way that sounds just right. I hope that in these theses I have covered all the bases in terms of our project. These statements make definitive decisions about the scope and direction of my piece, so to me they are effective.

Reflection
All of the peer blog posts that I read had wonderfully specific theses and stayed away from the trap of "ethos, pathos, logos." I love the structure of Lauren's thesis, because it flowed well and I think it is an excellent road map for her paper. The thing that interested me most about Bre's thesis is that is fit the audience and subject matter so well. Her structure and tone was precise and logical, just what I feel like students in her field respond to. I loved seeing the different approaches that will accomplish the same general goal.

Analyzing My Audience

In this post, I will be answering some questions about my audience from The Student's Guide. 

Cornok, Matt. "Presentations" 10/7/15 via flickr. Attribution-Noncommercial.

Who am I writing for? 

I am writing for new theatre major students who are having trouble understanding how arguments are made in the field.

What position might they take on the issue? How will I respond to that position?

They might very well take the position opposite to the author of the text because we are a generation that has grown up with big budget CGI films. I will respond to that position, however, by continuing to emphasize the rhetorical situation and strategy, which is the focus of the essay.

What will they want to know?

The students will want to know how an argument in the field is structured and supported. This includes describing the audience, author, and purpose/context of the piece as well as rhetorical strategies and defining cultural/ideological aspects.

How might they react to the argument?

Hopefully, they will react positively to the argument for rhetorical analysis I make in my essay because my focus is teaching them a new skill. If they do not find it useful, then I haven't done my job!

How am I trying to relate or connect to my audience?

I am a fellow student in the major, so that lends me some connection. Also, I plan to use language and conventions appropriate for my audience so that I can relate well to my peers.

Are there specific words, ideas, or modes of presentation that will help me relate to them in this way?

While the piece needs to be generally structured like a college essay, I have the freedom within the work to play with conventions a bit so that I can address my readers appropriately. I need to clearly define what rhetorical aspects I am analyzing and include specific, relevant examples from the text so that my peers understand what I am trying to convey.

Reflection 

Tom's blog post really hit the nail on the head for analyzing the specific audience that we are charged with writing to. He accurately and definitively described the assumptions and values of his peers so as to gear his argument towards them. Charles agreed in his post that our main point of connection with the audience and source of credibility as well is the fact that we are a peer of the audience. This also lends us some flexibility to decide how our paper will be structured and the kind of tone we develop.

Cluster of "Natalie Portman, excellent special effect?"

In this post, I have shared a Coggle of my text. This mind map is made up of three main branches: rhetorical strategies, rhetorical situation, and cultural values and ideology. Each branch has specific aspects of the text that contribute to its "rhetorical climate," as you will.

Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies in "Natalie Portman, excellent special effect?"

In this post, I will be analyzing and sharing examples of rhetorical strategies in the article "Natalie Portman, excellent special effect?"

Aquino, Christopher. "Black Swan movie poster." 10/3/15 via flickr. Fair Use.

Appeals to Credibility or Character

• Which items on the bulleted list of "Appeals to Credibility and Character (Ethos)" on page 182 can you recognize in your text?

- references credible sources 

" The brave new world of digital effects that movie ushered in was described recently by David Denby in The New Yorker:"

- has an elevated word choice 

"snarling death mask" "another level of centrifugal force" "Hollywood's acting style du jour"

- acknowledges counterarguments 

"Today's actors have definitely found a way of adding pleasure to the awesomeness" 

- appeals to the values of the audience 

"What price your dedication to performance, if the only person you end up playing with is yourself?"

• How and why would the author(s) use these strategies?

Shone uses these strategies to connect with the emotional experience that people have when watching films. The industry is all about making audiences feel something, and Shone seeks to use this emotion to make his argument seem valid.

• How do these strategies affect the audience’s perception of the author's/authors' credibility and character?

Elevated tone makes the author seem incredibly knowledgeable and rational. Regardless of his credentials, it makes readers feel as though he is an expert in his field.

• How does the use of these strategies impact the effectiveness of the text’s overall message?

Due to the effective use of credibility appeals, the text is incredibly effective. The audience trusts the authors opinion because they trust in his expertise.

• Does/do the author(s) seem to have any biases or assumptions that might impact their credibility?

The one major flaw in his reasoning is that he assumes the audience to value his definition of acting over CGI enhancement. This is a very personal opinion that could be taken either positively or negatively by readers.

Appeals to Emotion

• Which items on the bulleted list of "Appeals to Emotion (Pathos)" on pages 182-3 can you recognize in your text?

-repetition of key words 

"CGI" "special effects" "great acting"

-humor

"'The posters might as well read "Come see Natalie Portman earn her Oscar."' " which should serve as a warning to all the Mickey Mouse Club refugees who will doubtless follow in Portman's footsteps" "You give us exploding planets, we give you a ballooning Robert De Niro"

• What emotional responses is the author attempting to create?

The author is lighthearted with the article because he mentions movies that are classics to many. Insulting a person's favorite movie is not a way to get them on your side, and Shone recognizes this.

• What is the actual result?

Some of his jokes sound a little cruel to those that admire what he's poking fun at. It seems as though he is degrading the movie because it centers around a physical change that is drastic.

• Are these emotions effective or ineffective for this particular audience and rhetorical situation?

Since the audience is generally movie buffs, I think that the authors emotional approach is a bit off. His caustic humor towards some of the classic movies may turn many off of his arguement.

• How do these emotional appeals affect the credibility of the author(s) or the logic of the text?

The repetition of key words like "great acting" affect the logic of the text because it makes readers start to question what that term actually means. His constant reference to this idea strengthens his argument that technology can not take the place of real human-centered acting.

Appeals to Logic

• Which items on the bulleted list of "Appeals to Logic or Rational Decision Making (Logos)" on page 183 can you recognize in your text?

-expert opinions

 "By the end it became evident that much of Raging Bull exists because of the possibilities it offers De Niro to display his own explosive art," wrote Richard Corliss in Time, although precisely whatexplosive art he was displaying was another question. "What De Niro does in this film isn't acting, exactly," wrote Pauline Kael in The New Yorker. "Though it may at some level be awesome, it definitely isn't pleasurable."

-arrangement of text for sequence

"During last year's debate" "Movie stars had transformed for their roles before"

-effective organization

• What response is the author attempting to create by employing these strategies?

By making his text clear and easy to follow, as well as creating a history of film making and transformation along the way, Shone attempts to make his argument seem valid and logical. People are much more likely to agree with something that is well mapped out and adequately supported.

• What is the actual result?

The audience does feel that the article is well supported due to the amount of evidence and the clean formatting of the information.

• Are these strategies effective or ineffective for this particular audience and rhetorical situation?

This is extremely effective for the audience/rhetorical situation, because if someone is going to make a grand statement about the film business, they need to have plenty of popular examples to make their point.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
I found it interesting that in Clay and Annelise's posts all categories of rhetorical strategy were present in some way. This showed me that, no matter the subject matter, every author uses a mix of ethos, pathos, and logos to convince others of his/her argument. I feel that my post is just as developed as that of my peers, and I think that the strength in mine is that I address all of the bullets present in the piece when discussing the questions at the end. In reading the posts of my peers, I found the disconnect between what the author intends and what the reader gets is almost comical at times. I think that this is due to the authors inability to look at his/her own work objectively.