Thesis or no thesis, this is what you get.

Although the creation of a bucket list implies impending death, this step is necessary to create a more proactive, goal-oriented life.

I think brain farting is a chronic condition

Yes, you heard me. I think that once you have a brain fart, you never stop having brain farts. So basically what I'm trying to say is I have no idea what to write about. So far these are some of the things that I'm feeling like writing about.

1. inequality in the workplace

• Why is this something that contiues to go on even when women are technically considered equal?
• How can this be changed?

2. everyone should take a trip out of the country at some point

• What does exposure to other cultures do for our own outlook on life?
• How can this exposure influence us to take action in humanitarian work?

3. The government has no right to interfere with homepacked lunches.

• What makes the government think that they do have this right?
• At what point are they allowed to interfere?

Reflection Time?

So I'm assuming (due to the numerous posts by you all) that I'm supposed to tell you what I thought about the Rhetorical Analysis. I was out of town today and missed class, so I hope I'm on the right path with this. Basically, the RA assignment was alright. It felt more like a "plug and chug" equation rather than a paper, but that's okay. I guess. We talked about this a little bit in class, but I felt like it wasn't much of a stretch for us. Yes, there were some parts that I struggled with, but the overall concept was fairly simple. I liked how the assignment made me think though. I had to really look at what the writer was doing in his paper, and why he did it. I feel like this was the most difficult part for me. Seeing the reason behind each move he made was a challenge, but it was one that I felt was manageable and also helped me to grow as a better writer. I liked how we did the reviews this time around, and I again appreciated the structured timeline and conferences required by the class. These helped me to stay on track and not just write it all in one night. If I were to be given the option of doing it again, I would certainly decline, but I feel like my time was not entirely wasted on this paper, so life goes on.

Shut Up and Be Scanned: A Necessary Evil

We all know that nudity finds itself all over the internet, on television, and in movies, but did anyone expect to find it on airport security screens? The answer is no. The Los Angeles Times addresses this issue in their article “Shut Up and Be Scanned” found in the editorial section of their November 17, 2010 issue. The article points out the necessity of the new technology found in airports all over the globe, and it challenges those who oppose their use. These new scanners take x-ray pictures of each passenger as they pass through security in order to detect any hidden objects that may not be picked up by the regular metal detectors. The pictures are then screened by one of the airport security officers sitting nearby. The issue that arises comes from the clarity of the photographs because the passengers are, in essence, nude. As fliers become more and more uncomfortable with this idea, and the technology becomes more common, the article satisfies an ever growing dispute between those who support the use of the scanners and those who do not. The remaining airline passengers who are on the fence regarding the subject are easily persuaded, through the use of several rhetorical tools, that these machines are a necessary evil in combating the ever pressing issue of terrorism. By using relevant, interactive forms of rhetoric, diction, and vivid imagery to create a sense of obligation, the Los Angeles Times effectively convinces fliers that resistance to using the full-body scanners is foolish and they are indeed a necessary precaution.

“Shut Up and Be Scanned” does not stand alone in its argument. This is apparent as the author brings in interactive forms of rhetoric such as pictures, links to harmonizing and opposing articles, and videos to clearly make his point and convince the reader of the necessity of full-body scanners. For example, the pictures used within the article are ones that make the issue seem silly and of no importance. The images are not graphic or distinguishing, as those who oppose the use of the scanners make them seem, so the reader immediately gets a sense of reassurance that their identity is safe on the slim chance that the images leaked out. Also, by introducing articles from those who oppose the use of the scanners, the reader sees that the opposition uses fear to motivate people to not use the scanners. By making this point clear, the writer shows that this fear is not based on any real fact and is therefore not trustworthy. Using harmonizing and opposing articles makes the author appear to be fully aware of the subject on both sides of the argument, and he can therefore make an educated decision. The audience is more likely to trust an author who knows more about the subject than they do and one who appears to be making a logical argument rather than an irrational one. He continues by also including a video recording done by a flier who was searched by the new TSA regulations. After refusing to use the scanner, Tyler Turner appeared foolish by putting up such a fuss over a simple search. He threatened the airport employee by saying “If you touch my junk, I’ll have you arrested.”  Fifteen minutes of this kind of arguing and a civil lawsuit threat could have been avoided if Turner would have simply walked through the metal archway. The use of a video in the place of a long descriptive paragraph makes the situation seem more real to the reader. Seeing is believing, and in this case seeing is agreeing. By actually watching what happened, the audience can better understand the immaturity of Turner and his argument. Searches may be slightly uncomfortable, but not something to protest, especially in the way Turner did. This helps the writer’s argument by once again making resistance to these procedures seem silly and too much of a hassle. In the end, using the scanner would have been a much easier task.

The writer’s diction in this piece is critical in convincing the reader that not only are these new scanners necessary, but they also more convenient than the alternative. His distaste of the opposition becomes apparent with words such as “overblown” and “shrug-worthy” as he describes issues such as the complaints about safety and the fears of exposure. This disdain automatically gives the audience a sense that the opposition is acting in a petty, irrational way which in turn gives the writer of this article much more authority. By starting the paper with charged words like “groped” and “sexual molestation” to describe the pat downs that can be used instead of the scanners, and by using other words like “evil” and “suicide bombers” to reinforce the need of the scanners with the rise of terrorism, the author prepares the reader to feel exactly how he wants them to. These words lead the audience to begin their reading with a mindset that airports need increased security, and the alternative to using the scanners is undesirable. Readers are then led to the conclusion that using the scanners is the easy and safe way out of the predicament.

Throughout the article, the writer continually uses phrases that create images to make readers feel awkward or exposed. When the TSA patdown procedure is described, an uncomfortable feeling arises in the reader. No one enjoys having “a hand run up the leg to the crotch in front and back” (or any sort of intimate touching from a federal employee for that matter). With “a more invasive pat-down technique that some have likened to sexual molestation” as the alternative to the scans, walking through the scanner for a few seconds seems like a breeze. By making the reader imagine themselves in this position, the writer reinforces that it’s not a big deal to use the scanners in comparison to being “groped by a federal employee” when there is “no area of the body unexplored.”  The writer acknowledges that the searches are uncomfortable, but they are still within reason. There are no anal probes, and once there are, society then has the right to step in. This point, made by the writer, is one that really drives the issue home and creates a mental picture that invokes extreme feelings of exposure and discomfort. Through the use of this rhetorical strategy, the writer successfully makes the reader feel that all this can be easily avoided by simply using the new technology.

The new methods may be on the extreme side, but we are living in an extreme world. It’s not pleasant to be unwillingly photographed naked, but it’s even more unpleasant to be sexually molested as you are making your way through security. The writer of this article manipulates the audience’s opinion to conform to his own and realize that these new developments are for the better. He does so by creating mental images with disturbing phrases. The writer also effectively uses videos and pictures to make the issue seem more real to the audience. Finally, his word choice influences the reader to be on his side of the argument by making those who oppose the use of the scanners seem childish. Although airport security scans are unpleasant, they are a necessary evil when there are terrorists hiding plastic bombs in their underwear where the regular metal detectors cannot find them. They are keeping the world safe. It was clear that the writer felt that acceptance of this new procedure is the only logical course of action and one that everyone should simply go along with. Using tools such as outside resources, word choice, and imagery, the writer of “Shut Up and Be Scanned” effectively makes resistance to these new methods seem silly. Yes, the scanners are a little much, but they are needed to compete with the ever rising level of danger in our airports.

So, Some Kids Read My Essay....

I don't know about the rest of you, but I personally love the peer reviews. I feel like it opens my paper up to a new and fresh set of ideas that will help it become more well rounded and sound. What I liked about this time in particular was we were able to receive two sets of opinions the better. We are always told that the more revision the better the paper is, so I think this really helped to better my paper with the greatest amount of exposure possible. Ruskin and McKenna did a really great  job of critiquing and expressing their thoughts in a respectful, yet helpful, way. Thanks guys! In the OpEd review I felt like there was a little more one on one time to really discuss the paper, but I still thought the RA review was better because we read the pieces in advance and went from there. Overall, I really do enjoy peer editing and I think that it's a great way to make your paper awesome.

Totally relate :) minus the hung over part (and a few others).

A Few Random Thoughts

It seems that each one of these "free posts" fall on the night of a cleaning check, so, once again, I am slightly irritated. In the spirit of irritation, I am going to vent. While many other student are excited for the three day weekend, I am sitting here dreading tomorrow and not really looking forward to Monday either. In complete desperation, I chose to take my PdBio 220 lab class on Saturdays from 12:00-2:00. NEVER, and I really mean never, do this. It was one of the worst decisions I have made this semester. So, seeing as it is that time of year, I have a midterm exam tomorrow over pretty much everything in your body. Needless to say, my Friday night has been spoiled. I also was just told I'm in charge of teaching the Relief Society lesson on Sunday and I have to work, so there goes my Saturday. Sunday, my only day of relaxation, will be filled with church and family birthday's, and finally Monday will follow with hopefully some sort of exciting event that will brighten my weekend. My point is, to those of you who actually have the chance to enjoy your long weekend, DO IT!

 

This video gets me every time! Enjoy!

A Little Sneak Peek

In the Los Angeles Times article "Shut Up and Be Scanned" several forms of figurative language can be found. Some of these were harder to find than others, but overall the writer did a good job in making them fairly obvious. His use of diction is definitely apparent with words such as groped, sexual molestation, evil, and suicide bombers within the first paragraph alone. This tool is the most used throughout the piece and certainly the most effective. These specific words all have blatant negative connotations that go along with them and inevitably make the readers feel the way the writer wants them too. Along with diction, the writer evolves a very distasteful tone toward the opposition to the scanners. The reader can tell, by his choice of words and examples, that the writer feels that the issue is way overblown. In a sense this is ironic because the writer is making a big deal about something he or she feels should not be a big deal. There is just a sneak peek to the tools used by the writer in this article. Tune in next time for more!

Just a Thesis

By using relevant outside forms of rhetoric, diction, and vivid imagery to create a sense of obligation, the Los Angeles Times effectively convinces fliers that resistance to using the new full-body scanners is foolish in their article "Shut Up and be Scanned".

What are the Options?

With so many options out there, picking just one opinion editorial to focus on is going to be a hard thing to do indeed. Here are just a few options I came across while browsing.

Shut up and be scanned- Airport security is a rising issue that everyone seems to have an opinion on. This topic would be an interesting one to delve into and seems to be promising.
author- Los Angeles Times
audience- American travelers
issue- invasion of privacy through new airport technology
Feasting on junk info- The world is constantly being fed by the media. We are exposed to hours and hours of whatever we want to turn to, and this is usually the non educational junk that soaks up our brain cells and turns them to mush.
author- Clay Johnson
audience- young adults
issue- today's media world is shaped society so we are the ones to blame for all the repercussions
I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly.- The world is one big hypochondriac. Asperger Syndrome is one of the most overly diagnosed diseases that's out there and this article tries to prove that. It also includes several forms of rhetoric for me to analyze. 
author- Benjamin Nugent
audience- parents and doctors
issue- the definition of Asperger's should be narrowed to avoid misdiagnosis

So folks, do we have a winner?

My Opinion on an Opinion

Writing my opinion editorial was a great learning process. I really did enjoy seeing the reaction that came out of my writing and receiving the feedback given to me by my peers. I felt that the process laid out by the class was very helpful and really walked me through it step by step. This made the whole thing easier and less stressful because it was not just one big assignment, but instead it was chunks that I was able to master one at a time. Going to the writing lab and having my peers review my paper was also very helpful. Not only did I get to read Johnny's paper and hear about his opinions, but I was also given great feedback and an opposing view on my issue. Simple mistakes were found and major confusions resolved. Overall, I really enjoyed this assignment and its process and will hopefully be able to recreate it in the future.