E-Portfolio

Welcome to my e-Portfolio!

http://www.wix.com/meo5125/eportfolio

In my e-portfolio you will find some of my best collections thus far. Over time I will add more pieces that exemplify my understanding of rhetoric and civic life. This portfolio serves not only as a showcase, but also a time portal of my progress through this class. As I first dreaded writing and giving speeches with every bone in my body, I know feel that I can take on this task with much more preparation.

So far this e-portfolio contains a speech, a written assignemnt, and blogs; however, I have every intention of updating it throughout my years here at Penn State. I hope you enjoy reading my selections!

First Impressions Count

iQ

From a young age we are told to be original. However, we do not usually implement this piece of advice. Starting at middle school we tend to follow the trends a fads our friend go through. I remember all the phases I went through growing up-at the expense of my parents of course. When the new and improved gadgets would come out, I wanted them. I remember not even liking Bratz dolls that much, but since all my friends had them, I in turn felt obliged to join the band wagon. I feel like the concept applies to the i-phone.

Many people automatically buy an iphone because of the great publicity it receives. Even professors expect students to have an iPhone as a reference for online dictionaries and in-class access to the internet. So what is it that makes an iPhone such a desired piece of merchandise?

For starters, the specifications of an iPhone do not compare with that of the new androids (Samsung Galaxy S2, Nexus). Additionally, i-Phones put a much larger dent in your wallet. The android allows the user to process thing much faster on an android, and the display screen is larger. So what makes Apple better? It bases their products on looks, not on performance.

We are also told not to judge a book by its cover. However, with such a sleek and eye-catching item such as the i-Phone, it is hard to step back and ask ourselves how functional it really is compared with other mobile devices. It is easier to look around at our friends and decide to follow the trend. After all, you don’t want to be “that kid” on the block without the newest gadget.

Appearance is what can make or break a product. In a marketing society, people want a functional, yet appealing product. The iPhone is so successful for it pertains to many social groups; ranging from professionals to teenagers, its sleek shell and enticing touch-screen draw in all potential buyers. Other companies are put at a severe disadvantage as soon as this trend takes off, and thye must then dedicate all their time to find a way to advertise their products.

Power of Words

I never really understood bench trials or jury trials before taking this class. I always thought that having one person decide your fate is so old fashioned and autonomous. Why wouldn’t you want a panel of 12 citizens deciding your fate instead, where there is room for negotiation? The answer lies within a game of rhetoric. With a jury, a lawyer or prosecutor channels most of their arguments towards the jury. They use ethos, pathos, and especially logos to gain the vote of the jury. Our criminal justice system is not always accurate for decisions are based on how well an argument is presented. A criminal might be set free if they have the best lawyer in town, or, similarly, an innocent person might be but behind bars if the prosecutor won the appeal of the jury. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of a jury and bench trial?

Flikr

With a judge there is typically less emotion involved. They usually deal with technical legal issues that a jury might not be able to understand. The judge serves as both the trier of fact as well as the judge of procedural rulings. All power resides with him/her. Civil legal systems tend to rely more on bench trials rather than jury trials. Child custody and divorce hearings can get very complicated and twisted with a jury, and therefore are most often presented in front of a judge only. Cases in which a prominent individual’s figure might be put at stake (perhaps a senator or a celebrity) are also usually categorized under a bench trial. Juvenile crimes, in which a jury’s emotional appeal for a younger defendant might get in the way of their judgment is usually assigned to a bench trial.

Many times a civil lawsuit will be automatically assigned a bench trial, for it is less time consuming. All the time of sequestering a jury, choosing the individuals to serve on the jury, and informing them of their duties can be saved. However, there are times when a jury trial may benefit the defendant. In many criminal cases there is not always a total agreement of the jury, and the defendant may either be set free or given a favorable plea bargain.  Many times it is not dependent on the logos but the ethos that a lawyer presents to the jury. Ethos plays a major role in jury trials. This is why there is a sequestering and interviewing process before a trial to make sure the choices are as unbiased as possible. Of course there are flaws to each system, but when not abused they work efficiently (in theory).

Gone too Far..

The twenty first century is like an ameba; it takes no shape. It is continuously changing, with no boundaries and seemingly no rules. Has it gone too far?

Today it is assumed most people have an i-phone (not including myself). It has become a common place. Who waits at a bus stop anymore when there is a catabus app? Who brings dictionaries to class when you can just log onto the internet through your i-phone? There are thousands of apps that come out weekly, each making life “easier.” I never saw anything wrong with these apps. That is until they started to infringe of my privacy.

“Girls around me” is a new app that has flared up and created much controversy-with good reason. It scans the city for profiles of women and men that are near to the i-phone holder’s location. On the very website it promotes the use of this app with phrases like, “This foursquare-based tool helps you see where nearby girls are checking in, and shows you what they look like and how to get in touch! You can also search for guys or see who’s hanging out at a particular place.” Another, even more disturbing slogan states, “In the mood for love, or just after a one-night stand? Girls Around Me puts you in control! Reveal the hottest nightspots, who’s in them, and how to reach them...”

Forbes

I don’t know about the users, but I myself would rename this app to “Stalker’s best friend.” In a day an age where rapists are not strangers that hide behind bushes, but who impersonate a classmate or friend via the internet, shouldn’t this app be sending red lights to us?

This app literally acts as a tracking device. Everything from our pictures to our personal information is shown with this application. Dropping It allows the user to pin point on a map where a person checked in on. People now turn into locations on a Google map.  One has the ability to tap on a picture to connect to his or her Facebook account and other directories that contains her personal information.

Still think it’s a harmless app? Perhaps these statistics about cyber stalking will sway your opinion:

• More than one mil­lion women are stalked annu­ally in the US
• One in twelve women and one in forty-five men will be stalked in their lifetimes
• Vic­tims of cyber stalking tend to be females between 18–29 years of age (Copyright © 1997-2012 WHOA)

Sometimes cut and dry statistics can be the logos that persuades an audience. It is not always fun to be slapped in the face with reality, but the world we live in is not a safe place. Unfortunately, as time progresses and more and more of our personal life is shared via the internet, we must take more precautions in order to avoid becoming apart of another ever building victim statistic…

Starbucks

How does someone sell their products? How do their products “speak to us” in a way that will persuade us to buy their products? Starbucks, for example, can come off as overpriced and overdone. However, everyday thousands of people flock to this coffee house to buy their famous beverages. Why, especially as broke college students, is this the case?

First off, the atmosphere itself creates the allusion that we are in a completely different environment from the outside world. Starbucks has discovered the importance of location. Upon entering their doors, a cozy feeling is portrayed through warm colors, cheerful signs and a place to sit back and relax in almost every corner. Many escape to this place as a sanctuary; a place to study, socialize, or just grab a coffee and some quiet time.

But what makes so many choose this coffee house over their competing counterpart Dunkin? Many fast food places create a rigid environment to promote the flow of customers in and out of their stores. McDonalds’ interior design is made up of bright colors, plastic chairs and desks, and white walls that do not exactly invite consumers to stay around longer than their meal. Starbucks, on the other hand, created soft features all around, avoiding sharp corners or hard surfaces, to relax the customers. It promotes the feeling of a “second home” where one may sip on a latte for hours while working on their laptops. Starbucks senior vice president has compared Starbucks to that of a modern bookstore setting, this promoting long-term relationships with the people.

Basically, Starbucks could pass for a bookstore-just without so many books. They sell an array of decorations, mugs, how-to books, CD’s, and much more. It is easy to get absorbed in the mixture of all these items while mulling over what beverage to order. The beverages might raise some flags as to how pricey they are, but who can resist the European and exotic names dedicated to these beverages? I know for a fact many people order a grande caramel macchoiato or any other foreign termed coffe without actually knowing what it is. Why? To try something different. I think in the comfort of its setting people feel like they can take risks by trying new things. With all of these medians working together, Starbucks has created its own culture that is rapidly spreading to all over the word, thanks to its genius use of rhetoric in its presentation.

Stop and Think

Advertisements can be very effective; however, it is hard to find that medium where it is not too controversial, and not too mundane to lose the onlookers interest.  Excluding words, and relying on only visual text to convey a meaning, can be very risky. An image is man-made; the meaning we associate with an image depends on our background, the context in which we see it, and many more factors. However, loading an image with too many words can be distracting. So where is the medium?

I came across this image the other day. I found it very influential. My eyes first were drawn to the “human pill.” They then wandered over to the biggest text, “Rx Drug ads on T.V.-Educational or influential?” I then skimmed over the smaller text underneath before looking back to the image. The second time I looked at the image I saw a more literal meaning of the message they were trying to convey. In our consumer society, people will always try to sell you their products from left and right, no matter the damage it does to our bodies. We judge people by their activities. When we see someone dependant on pills, we see them as just a pill popper. 

This advertisement uses the rhetorical device of pathos in a clever manner. We can see a person that no longer can identify themselves, for they have been consumed by drugs.  We associate this image with how we view drug addicts, thus creating a feeling of uneasiness and aversion towards Rx Drugs in general. This image is challenging the dependability of what we hear and see, which is a serious problem in society. Today, most people watch reality shows over picking up a newspaper. The amount of junk smashed in commercials between breaks is enough to rot our brains. This ad implores us to not only stray away from drugs, but to continue to make our own decisions.  If the image itself is not enough, the text in red sends us into a state of uneasiness.  The creator decided to use a minimal amount of color so that we are forced to focus on the text in front of us. The only thing that varies is the font size. As it becomes smaller and smaller, it causes to follow the readings in chronological order, as if it was a short story. The author has created a story between images and words that drive home a powerful message that would have been difficult to achive without the use of both forms of rhetoric.

What's Your Deal, Santorum?

If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all, right? Well in the real world does not work like that. Debates would not exist if that were the case. However, there are guidelines and rules that we as citizens should follow in order to fulfill an ethical debate. Rick Santorum is renowned for breaking this contract.  When one enters a political debate, sensitive topics arise quite often, and must be treated with care. I like to think of Rick Santorum as a bull in a china shop when it comes to dealing with sensitive topics.

His recent take on birth control did not win him much support from the feminine side of the camp. He carelessly said to his opponent, “One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is, I think, the dangers of contraception in this country. . . . Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that’s okay, contraception is okay. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.” All in all, he is opposed to birth control. After numerous waves of feminism and women finally earning the right to vote and gain control over their bodies, I am not quite sure how Santorum thinks that he will persuade people to take away their freedoms.

When people opposed his stance, or even questioned it, he would rudely talk over them, or completely ignore their questions and switch over to a different question. He ignores the rules of engagement of a political debate, by neither engaging with civility or respect towards his opponents. He expresses his values, but perhaps in the wrong manner. By stating his ideas as though they are factual, and not personal, he ends up taking away from his credibility. Politicians forget to convey ethos and pathos often, and rely solely on logos.  They think in terms of ballots, and not the civility of engagements and the moral obligations as citizens they are expected to fulfill.

Would Santorum, if elected president, try to outlaw birth control? The probabilities are low. However, his unethical approach concerns many that his efforts on the state level to outlaw birth control, and the kinds of federal judges that President Santorum  would appoint, to the Supreme Court and other federal courts make people very uneasy. If we were to vote for someone that believes that states have the right to pass laws which violate the federal constitution, on cases that relate to reproductive rights and gender equality,  then we would virtually be taking a step back in progression. Opinions are not facts. Values are not set forth by one’s personal opinion which many do not share, and credibility lacks when, like Santorum who later said that banning contraception was just a personal opinion, politicians and others contradict their points.

Spring Break

Let’s face it. Before we go on any vacations, whether it is winter or summer break, we see warnings all over campus to act responsibly. However, there is some implication that spring break is at least ten times more dangerous, and more posters warning us all over campus will discourage us from engaging in irresponsible activities. Why is it that the commonplace of reckless behavior being so prominent during spring break has become so engraved in our culture?  Perhaps it’s the movies thast show off unrealistic scenarios where people go wild, and there are no consequences. However, when students see this, then all the “don’t let it be you” signs egging them on, these warning posters seem to have an opposite effect.  

MTV.com

The point of this post is not to imply that the concept of Spring Break is really just an overrated hype up to get people to blow money;  what people opt to do on Spring Break is overrated. Some people prefer to come home during  this week  to visit their families and friends. Though, there are others who choose to got to Panama City, Cancun, or Jamaica, because of reality shows. After midterms, we all want to blow off steam. Making ourselves feel as though we are playing a role as those crazy movie stars, so many people convince themselves that they are really relaxing. Thousands of dollars later, bad choices, and perhaps many under ages, people come back and spread stories that their time was “great.” I love to travel, but I also like to remember my vacations. My dream is not to play a character of The Hangover. My dream is to have a good time, but not live up to the typical classification of a reckless college student. I feel as if people would stop the warning, perhaps the hypes would simmer down. Students should still be warned, but too much emphasis can have opposite effects from the intended message.

OMG

How many of you heard, or even used, the popular phrase of Paris Hilton, "TTYN?" Or even "OMG", "LOL," "Rofl," and so many more. These shortened "words" that have crept into, yes, modern dictionaries, are being used not only in texting and on Facebook, but on reality shows and even as in the example before, Paris Hilton's reality T.V show.

Now how credible is a show that cannot even use a full sentence, or even one that makes sense nonetheless (talk to you never; really?). These initialisms are not just a phase of our generation, but are making their way into the Oxford Dictionary Online, and not just Urban Dictionary. These initialisms will stick through generations, and as we get lazier, they will become a common part of our everyday language usage. Imagine turning in a paper that contained the phrase "Idk what this means but its w.e." I could only imagine the heart attack my professor would have.

These "words" are also developing, as other commonly used words, double meanings. On Facebook I notice before someone update their status, they will insert FTK before their thoughts. I never knew what that meant. Here at Penn State I knew it meant "for the kids," as I became engaged in thon. However, that same word can mean "for the kill." Imagine trying to learn all these initialisms along with the meaning of all the other words we are expected to know as we grow older. It's like a wildfire; everyday there seems to be a new one sprouting and spreading on Facebook. I feel as though many do not know what they even mean, but just the usage of them makes people feel accepted to the new stands and norms of society.

I can't say I don’t abbreviate a lot of things. I am in the Air Force Reserve, and half our sentences are abbreviations. However, there should be a limit as to what is accepted in dictionaries, and what is pure slang.

Well, I've gtg, ttyl!

Think Before You Act

FoxNews.com

We all know what we say reflects how others view us as individuals as well as our character. Even the slightest mix up of a word can turn a whole crowd against you. Especially when dealing with sensitive subjects, one must analyze the audience and anticipate any negative outcomes. Sometimes we cannot affect what the outcome will be, depending on the issue. In other cases, it’s just using your head to know when to zip it.

Domestic violence is one issue that is not taken lightly in our nation. Following the Grammys Sunday, Brown’s two performances and one win have received significant criticism on social networks. The audience felt as though his actions were overlooked, and their pathological appeal to domestic violence victims such as his ex girlfriend had viewers heated.

Perhaps if he had shown more consideration to the public reaction, things would have flown more smoothly. However, being the most hated man on Twitter caused him to slip up and dig himself in an even deeper hole. We must always control our emotions, for all logic goes out the window when we are provoked. This is exactly what happened with Chris Brown as he responded back this week with his own vitriolic tweet: “Hate all u want becuz I got a grammy Now! That's the ultimate F--- off," the singer posted to his own Twitter account.

I’d say that is probably the worst way to handle a situation. It shows levels of high immaturity, recklessness, and inconsideration. Either Brown or his handlers also thought the same, for the tweet was deleted soon after. Not soon enough though. It reminds me of my first grade year when my teacher told us words are like a tube of toothpaste; once you squeeze the contents out, you can’t get them back in. Maybe Chris needs to hop back a couple decades to learn these values.

We Want More Power!

In class the other day we saw an advertisement with Usher on the face of a credit card. My first reaction was, “now why would I want someone else’s face on my credit card? In fact, why do we wear clothing with different names and brands on them, instead of just buying Wal-Mart brands?

The answer is pretty simple. They convey power. When we see a woman walking down the road with a Gucci purse, we can’t help but to automatically think “she’s loaded.” We live in a capitalist society in which everyone is struggling to get to the top. Sometimes in these rhetorical situations, we do not even realize that we are participating in this shallow cycle. This cycle pertains to participatory culture. This is the notion that we all are involved in the culture around us, and we can’t help it. Even if we don’t buy into a product, because we are aware of it and we understand the meaning and universal discourses associated with the product, that’s participating.

It’s human nature to want something we cannot have. Let’s take the iPod, for example. Even if we don’t like them, we still know what they are, and we still recognize them when we see them. When we do buy the product and support it, we are both participating and consuming. How many times has a new iphone come out, and we all envy those who have them? No sooner do we purchase these iphones, and there we go again saving up to buy the latest version. Not many people want to be seen with the old shuffle player, for actually fear of getting ridiculed and judged.

The enticing appearance of the power one could have if they purchased an iphone also persuades buyers into making these costly purchases. Their advertisements range from powerful looking men in business suits to everyday people who look like us, but happier. Just by watching and absorbing this information, we are participating in a consumer culture. Creepy, I know.

This I Believe Essay

I Need Comfort, not a Bandaid

Over the past couple of days, I have realized the power in those who comfort you after a loss. When we experience loss, all of varying severity, we mourn. No amount of chocolate or music can help. Being in the company of others can help, but it is merely a distraction.  Each rhetorical situation presents its own challenges, and there is not a guideline on how to go about overcoming them. It takes time and practice. We cannot anticipate certain events; we can only deal with them as they come.

To my first loss I apply the unpredictability of rhetoric wholeheartedly. We all change overtime, and our arguments reflect this. Take the rhetoric in a break-up. It can either be very smooth, or so pitiful to cause an individual to take unhealthy actions to regain what is lost. However, during a break-up the original argument of why they are leaving their partner tends to mutate according to the counter-arguments. We are usually left feeling as though the whole argument itself has been one contradictory after the next. As time passes, reasons for the break-up change. We are never certain what the real reason is, or how to go on in life alone.  It all depends on how we are comforted. The “you’ll get over it,” and “there are plenty of fish in the sea!” do not usually suffice.  That is poor rhetoric. There needs to be substance in the words that help us take that step forward. In a world that is spinning, words are our path back to reality. Words heal the pain.  Once an engagement is broken, we question the legitimacy of every word that we hear. We question its value, and consequently lose focus. We depend on the words of others to aid us, and the value of those words impact us in more ways than we could ever imagine.

Now if you are as unlucky as I have been, sometimes life throws a double loss your way. The loss of a family member can push you over the edge. At first, we do not want to hear the word sorry, or even accept the death itself. This situation is challenging on others as well, for sometimes their words do not fit our pain. Situational awareness is needed. Sometimes we can only open up to those who have gone through similar trials in life. Their pathos crosses over to us, and gives us a step in the right direction once again.  Our healing depends on the words of others. Alone it is nearly impossible to move forward, and those who try to force it never fully recover.  

Loss is difficult. Loss is painful, to say the least. Loss needs the comfort through rhetoric.  Loss needs a friendly rhetor.

A Thousand Words to Say Nothing

     How many times have our parents critiqued our generation's music? They state many common places, usually along the lines that we focus too much on technology and not enough on meaning. I hate to say it, but they might have a point. Don’t believe me? I invite you to grab your iPod and start to play a song at random. I bet at least half of you will pull up an artist such as Little Wayne, Big Sean, Nicky Minaj, LMFAO, or Lady Gaga.  All of their songs have catchy beats and music videos that draw our attention away from reality to mindless hours of YouTube surfing. Although, how many times to we stop and listen to the lyrics that are being sung?

     Directors of videos focus on making their products as exciting as the music. Throughout this  struggle, artists tend to lose a grip on the rhetoric of their lyrics and focus more on special effects and beat instead. Take Lady Gaga for example. As a world-famous provocateur, she has covered numerous themes in her songs and videos, ranging from religion to dark and mysterious themes. Her videos are original, and downright bizarre at times. However, does she focus too much on the chorography and beat of her music? I for one cannot ever explain the meaning of her song "Telephone," produced with the famous Beyoncé, nor how the video is associated with the song.

     Now, I am not implying Lady Gaga’s work has no meaning. Besides her renowned, catchy beats, many of her songs are very original. However, some of her counterparts in the music industry are even gultier of this mindless attraction. The Black Eyed Peas managed to create some strong pop gems like "Where's the Love" and "Don't Lie." So what when wrong with their video "Boom Boom Pow?" Focused on electronic beats and a continued  repetition of the line “Gotta get that Boom Boom Boom/Boom Boom Pow”, it lacks any meaning whatsoever. Though, so many listen to their music, right?

    When I go running I listen to all types of music that seems to have taken off in our current pop culture. The beat keeps up my adrenaline. However, if I’m walking to class, I honestly would like to hear some meaning behind the lyrics; something to make me ponder; a theme that can stick in my mind so I can chew over it even after it’s over. Artists like Eric Clapton and The Beatles convey messages that we as individuals can apply to our everyday lives. Their messages are free of hate, drugs, and all of the above. I think in our world today we need to slow down, and appreciate these subtle yet powerful messages that could better our society as a whole.

The Hidden Art

As I sit down after a long week, honestly the only thing I want to do is sit back and have some quality T.V. time.  As I flip through channel after channel, I realize that most of my time consists of reality shows and commercials, and I can almost feel my brain cells slowly dying. Call me outdated, but I did not realize that today’s media culture demanded our knowledge to references such as “the Situation” instead of figures such as Johnny Carson. What happened to the art of rhetoric? When did people even lose their ability to recognize its usage, or even recognize the lack of it?

When there is such poor execution of rhetoric nowadays, it is difficult for us to even recognize other forms in advertisements and media. We fail to even recognize when this powerful tool is manipulating our emotions to buy a certain product. In pathetic appeals (an advertiser’s favorite), rhetoricians tap a reader’s sympathy, anger, desire, and all of the above to convince the audience of their argument.  

Take the company OLAY into consideration. The advertisers of this company have perfected the use of pathos to drive a woman’s desire to look flawless into a billion dollar company.  With catchy slogans such as “challenge what’s possible,” they lead their audience to believe that their products will actually defy time and transform a women into this beautiful, but certainly obtainable, object. There is an established audience, and for this reason the advertisers knew exactly how to word the commercial. I don’t think this commercial would have the same effect on men as it would their women counterparts.

The advertisement also determines a sense of security among the viewer’s for a renowned celebrity like Carrie Underwood. Hiring celebrities as models for any product is a great way to draw the audience into buying the product, especially women searching for perfection.  In a way, this advertisement is like a political campaign with hidden agendas; we just fail most of the time to recognize the rhetoric in such a form.

So just how effective is this execution of rhetoric? Well, I know by my drawer full of beauty products that something motivated me to go spend my paycheck on overpriced utensils.