Final Paper: Analysis of Three Sportswear Commercials

Lydia Sedy          

Dr. Sonia Begert

English 101

8 December 2014

When we think of advertisements, we usually think of companies trying to sell us stuff. A close look at how athletic companies strategize to build a brand and present that to the world reveals how they have done it differently.  Most of these companies use a tactic that focuses on the customer instead of the product being sold. How can commercials that never even mention the product be effective?

Nike produced a commercial with this strategy called “What’s your motivation?” It starts with a view of an alarm clock, turning to 3:00 am, and a few shots of people soundly sleeping. A young man narrates, “At this time, I’m the only one working.” He ties his shoes. “I was told to quit.” Next he’s running down a dark, empty street. He relates to the viewers how his coaches never noticed him. His resolute voice then states, “That was just my motivation.”

The ad continues, showing different shots of him working hard. All the while he quietly tells his story. “What makes me is not in the game, but rather when no one is around.” His face drips with sweat. He finishes by saying, “So just remember, when you’re sleeping, I’m out here working everyday to be one step ahead of everyone else.”

During the events of the commercial, anything having to do with Nike is very subliminal. The boy wears gray sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt, suggesting that what he wears doesn't even matter. His shoes are plain black, and the Nike symbol is hardly noticeable. 

Nike has put more focus on the boy and his story than their product. This is an emotional branding strategy. People relate to the boy and his feeling of not being enough for his coaches. When they see him working hard to overcome that, it inspires them. The ad itself makes them feel good. At the very end of the commercial, the screen goes totally black and the Nike symbol and words, "What's your motivation?" appear. This transitions those feelings to the viewer and perhaps makes them reflect on their own story. 

The way Nike has done this, the viewer associates positive feelings like success and accomplishment with something as small as the "Nike swoosh" symbol. 

Another example can be seen in a commercial called "Find your strong" by Saucony, a sports shoe and apparel brand. It starts with intense music, the first beat of the drums perhaps reflecting a heart beat. We see runners and other sports players amid their tough workouts, breathing hard and sweating. A man narrates, and asks the question, “What is strong? Is it muscle? Or something more?”  As he talks about what strong might be, or how it’s measured, the music slows down. We are brought not to the athletes’ incredible bodies but to their faces, where their utter determination and perseverance shine through.

The narration continues, his voice slightly echoing at pauses to increase emphasis: “Maybe strong is just what you have left, when you’ve used up all your weak.” There’s a moment of quiet after the last sentence, perhaps to let it sink in. Then the music and drums come back full force. Like a gun shot, a sprinter shoots off the starting blocks, and runners bound up a rugged trail. The rest of the commercial is filled with amazing scenes of athletes overcoming themselves and conquering their elements. In each shot, the light comes from an angle, catching and accenting the contours of powerful muscles.  The music builds and the words, ‘Find Your Strong’ appear across the screen at the end.  

The general intensity of the music, imagery, and words in the commercial command your attention. Saucony uses a strategy similar to Nike's, focusing on the athelete's determination and grit. A runner with long hair and a characteristic mustache perhaps reminds of us Steve Prefontaine, a legendary runner in the 1970s. He was an aggressive front runner, meaning he usually ran the entire race in the lead. His character alone exudes perseverance and willpower. Combined with impressive shots of other athletes, the viewers come away with a sense of power and motivation. 

Again, a similar strategy can be seen in an Under Armour commercial. It is called “Protect this house. I will.” Featuring the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, Michael Phelps. It also starts with intense music, and shows Phelps warming up. A quiet voice is yelling in the background, “Michael, you got one last chance! Your competition is one hundredth of a second away. They’re coming for you.”  No one else is present through the entire commercial; the voice is Michael’s conscious. He continues to motivate and push himself, the voice yelling things like, “C’mon! Stay on top of it.” He does pull-ups, pushes weights, and climbs a wall. The music almost stops. He struggles to do another pull-up. He slips on the wall. You hear the voice again, “You gotta work hard to maintain success.”         

Suddenly he jumps back into action, the music getting louder to match his movements. You hear another voice, this time in the music, saying “I will. I will.” The rest of the shots show him working out. The dim fluorescent light of the basement-like gym highlight his muscles. The cameras also focus on his face, catching his look of determination and the resolve etched there. At the very end his mind asks the question, “Are you gonna protect this house?” We see Michael standing in the gym and we hear the only “spoken” words throughout the commercial: “I will.”

The phrase "protect this house" usually refers to when a sports team plays in their 'home' stadium, field or court. This doesn't quite fit Michael Phelps’ sport; he almost never competes in the same places he practices. The expression is transitioned to somewhere else: the top of the podium. The way Under Armour has been flexible with the phrase makes us wonder which house we are “gonna protect.” It makes it personal. 

Most people think of Phelps as some sort of perfect super-human. The way the ad shows him working out, failing, and then overcoming himself makes him seem more real and like us. The experience of failure connects us to the commercial. As we see Phelps overcome this and keep moving forward, it again fills us with inspiration to succeed. 

The connection between the three ads is easily recognized. Each of the commercials has little to almost no emphasis on the products they sell, but instead have placed a focus on the consumer. The purpose of each is to pair positive feelings like personal triumph and accomplishment with the brand. A market research executive, Mark Sneider said, “The brands that succeed on a long-term basis are able to form strong, differentiating emotional bonds with consumers. Without this bond, a brand's relevance and "connectiveness" with a consumer is not sustainable.” Displaying successful, motivating stories of strong athletes, each of the commercials has succeeded in doing just that.

Works Cited

"Emotional Response Remains Key to Advertising." Business Forms, Labels & Systems 42.7 (2004): 14,14,18. ProQuest. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.

Thinking About the Text- Rubin and Advertisements R Us

1. Melissa Rubin offers that we can learn a lot about cultures by exploring the way companies make ads to appeal to audiences. She looks at a Coca-Cola add in great detail, especially at the types of people pictured in it and what they are wearing. By also examining their placement in the add, one might learn of their importance in that society. She has persuaded me to accept her conclusions.

2. She incorporates historical context by explaining where the United States was after Wold War II. She talks about people's work ethics and their respect for the military, which corresponds to the workers and military members at the very front of the ad. Her historical context also addresses the lack of women and other races pictured, as well as the factories and building structures in the background. She uses her own opinion alongside historical information to explain each part of the add, which to me adds credibility and makes it seem more believable.

3. Questions you can answer by analyzing an ad might include, "What elements does the ad use to connect to the audience?" "How have ads in the past helped to change the public's mindset about politics, race, or other current issues?"

4. Ads now-days reflect very different values. Most ads don't have so many people, but focus more on individuals or families. They also include more women and people of all sorts of races and ages. Any words used are put in different fonts, colors and sizes, making them pop out. Slogans and taglines try to make us feel free, independent and happier. Each ad claims to sell the next best and biggest thing to help you in your pursuit of happiness.
 
image from galleryhip.com

Moon Shoes Commercial Lyrics

Here's how we get the gravity shoes: moon shoes!
Jumpin' up and down like a kangaroo! Moonshoes!
Going ahead honey I really fly, me and friends jumping really high.
Man these shoes defy gravity, gotta get those shoes it's a necessity!
Moonshoes!

* Every kid is wearing moon shoes in this commercial

* People have fun watching others use moon shoes

* Kids using moon shoes with ease

* Girl jump roping with moon shoes laughs and points at the camera, involving the audience

* Commercial is similar to various other kid toy commercials attempting to assimilate children into toy culture.

* One of the lyrics state that getting the shoes is a necessity. 

* Also states that shoes defy gravity, obviously don't.

Thinking about the Text - Havrilesky and Mad Men

1. Heather Havrilesky’s main insight about Mad Men can be found after she asks the question, “What’s missing from this pretty picture?” First she describes the change and backwards evolution of the “American Dream”, portrays each of the characters and their stories, and then she goes into what we are left with. She answers the question in the final paragraph, “What’s missing…is empathy.”  She goes into that more deeply and brings up our discontent as a nation, and how perhaps we are losing our souls.

2. Havrilesky establishes her authority to write about this show throughout the article. She uses both exact facts about the show, like the actors and actresses names, as well as precise information. Someone familiar with the show can tell she knows what she’s talking about, but she’s also done it in a way that the unfamiliar folks can understand it.

3. Havrilesky appeals to readers’ emotions by tying the story in with American’s expectations and dreams. The first couple paragraphs have a universal element to them, anyone who reads them can understand and feel what she’s talking about. She closes this section with the statement that we are always falling short, and describing the impact this has on our young children.

4. I was not familiar with the show Mad Men when I read this essay. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of its premise, although it’s hard for me to remember which character is which with having no faces to remember and very complex facts regarding their relations. I might watch this one; the way Havrilesky described each of the characters and their surroundings gave it a lot of depth. I want to see it myself now and find out what happens to the characters. I almost never watch TV shows, so getting me to want to watch anything is quite an accomplishment. 

Difference between paper #1 and paper #2

Between the two papers we had to write, a narrative and a position essay, I learned pretty quick that I like writing narratives better. It's much easier to sit down and just write, than have to do all the research required for a position essay. In a narrative, I'm the boss. Usually I get to be the one to decides how it should be and where the story goes. With my particular essay, I was recounting a past event in my life, which made it really easy to write. I felt like how Ernest Hemmingway puts it, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typerwriter and bleed." (Except I was at a computer).
The position essay took me a lot longer to write. I needed to find other people who have similar views and have evidence that supported my position. I also needed to look at counter-arguments and do even more research to try and refute them. Looking through all the resources then and trying to decide what was legit, and what I could use was a large task. I became pretty discouraged and ended up changing my topic three times, which wasted even more time. Although it was a bit of a negative writing experience for me, (honestly I'm not too happy with my end result....[but am I ever?]), I did learn a lot about my topic I didn't know before.

Summary of Writing Analytically, pages 141-159

The book Everyone’s an Author spends some time explaining writing analytically. It goes through five characteristic features, which include: a question that prompts you; some description of your subject; evidence drawn from close examination; insight gained as a result; and clear language. Each characteristic is explained in detail and a sample of writing in which you can identify that characteristic is shared.  

The first characteristic is a question that prompts you to take a closer look. The example actually starts with an open ended question, “Who is Barack Obama?” The author points out not every analytic piece has to start out with a question, but there will always be an underlying question to your topic. 

The second characteristic is offering some description of what you are analyzing. This depends on how much your audience already knows about your subject, the subject itself, and the medium you are in. Credibility can be gained when you cite a professional, an academic expert or someone with a firsthand experience.

Evidence drawn from close examination is the third characteristic. This includes looking at each individual part or characteristic of your subject and thinking about how it contributes to the whole. This allows you to build evidence and reason for your main point.  There are four different kinds of analysis. The first is rhetorical, which includes looking at text and analyzing the author's message. The second is process analysis, which examines in detail a set of actions or processes that cause a result. The third is causal analysis, looking closely at why something occurred. The last type is data analysis. This can be analyzing a graph or a bunch of data and finding meaning and results from it.

The fourth characteristic of analytic writing is insight gained from it. This is the purpose, the reason why it matters. The insight you gain should be formed into a clear point and be evident why it's important to you and your audience.

The final characteristic is clear, precise language. Writing analytically is done so that the audience can understand something. Your word choice will depend on how much your audience knows and how intricate your subject is. Using the right words is important so that your meaning is properly conveyed.

Analyzing Websites

Analyzing two consumer-oriented websites:
I chose to do websites selling Ukuleles, since that is something I am actually interested in buying with my next paycheck. Or maybe the one after that... (or the next).

Guitarcenter.com
- Can narrow your search down to specific brands, condition, and price range.
- Doesn't show many details until you click on that product
Once you view the Ukulele:
- Gives specifications in an at-a-glance format
- Has an area for you to read customer reviews

Kalabrand.com
- It groups products into types. You can look at only wooden, only some with designs, or only colorful ones. If you are looking for a particular style this makes it much easier to find it.
- Gives price and product details right at the top of the page.
- Shows pictures of all the different styles
- Actually has a sound clip so you can hear the quality of the music yourself.

It's hard for me to decide which website is more useful, as they are fairly different in style and even purpose. Guitar center sells many brands and products, so if you already know what you want, you can find it very easily. Kalabrand is a specific brand, so they only sell their products. It seems to be more friendly to the non-experienced buyer. I have to say the sound clips of the instrument are the most effective element.

My own use of analysis

An analysis of the decisions I make:

Size of Decision	What was I deciding?	What areas do they affect?
Small (affecting that day)	1. What I should wear today	They affect the basic needs of my day. Though it can seem important in the present day, I will forget about these decisions in a few days.
Medium (couple months/year)	1. Which half marathon I should do and when	These decisions affect a couple month portion of my life. They revolve around the activities and things I enjoy, but might not have a particularly huge effect on my life.
Large (affecting entire life)	1. Where to go to school	These decisions affect a great area of my life, as they can ultimately decide where I end up or live.

What information did I gather before I decided in each case?

In the small decision section, I gathered little information. To decide what to wear, I thought about where I would go, the temperatures, and the things I needed to get done. Whatever was most comfortable and kind-of-nice worked.

In the second section, I did a little more research and thinking. In my decision to do a half marathon, for example, I needed to find a particular race in the area that I could make it to. I spent some time searching for races and finding the cheapest, higher quality race in an environment I liked. I also needed to know if I had enough time to properly prepare, so I did some reading on training plans. 

In the third section, I made the decision of where I wanted to go to school. This took a lot of time and thought over a period of a few months. I was actually able to go down to the school and help build up the campus, so I knew what it would be like. I looked at a lot of similar schools online to see what options I had. I also talked to friends about their personal experience.

What does this tell me about my interests, activities, and priorities?

I realize my priorities are just that: mine. The clothes I wear are usually not the latest or cutest clothes. The half marathon I want to do only allows 300 runners, so it’s not very popular or well known. Even the school I want to go to doesn't get me the same qualifications that everyone is looking for. Nevertheless, each one of the things I have decided on is important and valuable to me.

Position Essay

If you have ever walked through a grocery store you might have noticed magazines near the checkout. Bright pictures and loud slogans cry out for your attention. What you might not realize is that most images of women are completely changed through the process of photo editing. This immoral act negatively affects women all over the world.

Photoshopping or altering pictures of women creates unreal ideals of beauty. Processes like airbrushing erase all blemishes and smooth out wrinkles. Editors can stretch and change even the shape of the body, making it slimmer or giving fuller curves. The madness doesn't stop there. Even hair can be changed to instantly give more volume or tame unwanted wisps. While it may look natural and difficult to tell it is edited, it creates a standard of beauty that in most cases is impossible to achieve. As an example, take a look at the following picture:

Photo from msmorphosis.com

The woman on the left is glowing. She looks happy and healthy. But that just wasn't enough for Redbook magazine's cover. If you look closely at the right image, you will see she has been edited to their standard of beauty. The wrinkles around her eyes have been smoothed and her back, arm and waist have been changed so she looks considerably thinner.

Even if you are aware that photos are being edited, there are professionals behind the job and know how to make it look good. Obviously, they try not to publish the original photo, so you cannot tell exactly how much is real and how much is altered. This hugely messes up woman's self-esteem and healthy body image.

What exactly is body image? Put simply it is how you see yourself and how you feel in your body. A negative body image distorts your own perception of yourself. You might feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body, and might even feel that only other people are attractive.

The National Eating Disorder Association states that: “People with negative body image have a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem, and obsessions with weight loss.” What starts as only thoughts soon changes actions, and this can lead to severe problems.

Rachel Johnston, as reported by dailymail.uk, almost killed herself when her anorexia went too far. Her weight dropped tremendously, to the point she only weighed about 60 pounds. When asked what triggered Johnston to start starving herself, she explained how she cut out magazine pictures and pasted them all over her room and locker. This motivation to be thinner turned into many hospital visits, depression, and osteoporosis.

Effects are not only seen in cases of anorexia, but may possibly be drawn from plastic surgery statistics. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported a 471% increase in number of cosmetic procedures in women alone, from 1997 to 2013.  Although perhaps not a direct result, this is a correlation with the increase of Photoshopped images. Surgeons often report patients coming in with pictures from magazines to express exactly what they want.

Perhaps what is most disturbing about our messed up ideals of the female body is how it affects young girls and teens. The National Institute on Media and the Family reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are unhappy with their bodies. By time the girls reach age seventeen, that percentage grows to a massive 78%. Is selling a product worth taking a girl’s self-confidence away?

            Some argue that all the debate surrounding use of Photoshop is a waste of time and could be better spent elsewhere. Tina Fey wrote in her book, “As long as we all know it’s fake, it’s no more dangerous to society than a radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds ...” The idea that we can dismiss it simply because we know it is fake goes against human nature. Thoughts and images in our mind actually have a huge amount of power. A study published on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website reported that people could actually increase muscle mass by mentally working out. Clearly any sort of visualization has a great effect on our body’s health.

Others, like Psychology Today, argue that there are not a significant amount of studies done showing Photoshop is actually the cause of eating disorders. Dr. Sarah Ravin points out that this is because of a difference between eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and disordered eating. She writes on her blog:

“Disordered eating is very widespread in our country, especially among women. I define disordered eating as a persistent pattern of unhealthy or overly rigid eating behavior – chronic dieting, yo-yo dieting, binge-restrict cycles, eliminating essential nutrients such as fat or carbohydrates, obsession with organic or “healthy” eating – coupled with a preoccupation with food, weight, or body shape.

By this definition, I think well over half of the women in America (and many men as well) are disordered eaters.

The way I see it, disordered eating “comes from the outside” whereas eating disorders “come from the inside.” What I mean is this: environment plays a huge role in the onset of disordered eating, such that the majority of people who live in our disordered culture (where thinness is overvalued, dieting is the norm, portion sizes are huge, etc) will develop some degree of disordered eating, regardless of their underlying biology or psychopathology.”

Although only a small percentage of women are actually diagnosed with an eating disorder, many fall into disordered eating. This is still unhealthy and can cause problems. Why should we continue to Photoshop if it harms people?

Women have a right to see the truth. The studies have been completed and the evidence is clear: photo shopping is detrimental to our society. Just looking at the power that magazines and images have to influence our actions, we could have a huge opportunity to change people. Can you imagine what would happen if we put a greater emphasis on what women have accomplished or discovered, instead of idealizing their bodies?

Thinking about the Text- On Buying Local

1. Yes, Katherine Spriggs has convinced me that the topic matters. She establishes the importance by first talking about the global issues that industrial-style farming helps contribute to. These include global warming, pollution, and diminishing fuel resources.

2. Spriggs examines quite a few counter-arguments besides her own, and refutes them with examples and data. 

The first argument is that some places grow certain foods better than others, which is true. To be able to buy local, then, we'd have to grow all the foods everywhere.  You either have to give up eating that particular food during that time or focus on buying locally as much as you are able. 

The second argument is that small farms aren't as efficient as large farms, so buying local can be bad for the environment. This actually depends on how you measure efficiency. Spriggs says "Small farms are less efficient than large farms in the total output of on crop per acre, but they are more efficient in total output of all crops per acre." This is in part due to the fact that most small farmers work with many different crops instead of one. 

There are other arguments on the global effects and local effects of the economy, but Spriggs talks about the actual benefits that buying local will bring. 

3. A section of Sprigg's essay I found ineffective was when she was talking about global effects of buying local. She agrees that "Repercussions on the global market seem unavoidable." Her strongest point on that to me was "The people of the United states could demonstrate to the world our commitment to environmentalism." That's it? To me this is not effective because it doesn't have good reasons or really respond to the problem.

4. Sprigg's photos contribute to her argument by giving the reader strong visuals. With terms like monoculture and polyculture farms, her pictures allow you to better understand what she is explaining. Just reading her points under the pictures allow you to make associations that help you remember it better. 

"Really Rough Draft" of Position Essay

Main points for my Position Essay:

Forcing companies to raise wages is bad 
(From the viewpoint of a minimum wage worker)
     • It causes the wage/price spiral. Prices inevitably rise to compensate more money going towards wages
     • Employees will get cut in an effort to save money
     • It's even harder to get a job if you don't have a lot of experience or a full education (Especially teenagers)
     • It takes away the ability of the company to independently raise wages according to how the employees work. Which:
     • Further destroys the employees motivation to work hard and do a good job.

Examples? 
     • This happened at Boeing. (I think? Somewheres in Seattle) People got more money but they lost privileges and nobody gave tips. (Research more)

Why is it important, how can I appeal to reader's values?
     • It's important to know who these changes are really going to effect, and in what way. While it looks beneficial, it negatively effects the people at the bottom.

Other side of the argument: 
Does it do anything good?
(need to research more)                                                                                                          

Collaboration on Position Characteristics and Mediums

Collaboration with Kaori, Mason, and myself about differences we found in three approaches: (Movie trailer, independent articles, essay by Bob Herbert)
 1. Use of facts
 - A speech did not have very many hard facts
 - The mover trailer gave lots of facts
 - Herbert's essay contained dialog between himself and a professional
2. Good reason
 - Speech spoke of basic rights to all beings
 - Herbert talks of children and their need for better education
 - The video shows very excited/stressed people who the topic is obviously important to
3. Good Evidence
-  Speech cited many examples throughout history
-  Though it have a lot of information, the video didn't appear to have good sources
-   Articles had strong sources from studies, professors, etc.
2. Authoritative tone
 - Speech had "command" voice. It addressed the problem and offered a solution
 - The movie was fast paced and had many frames, kept the watcher attentive
 - Articles used good evidence and a firm stance to be authoritative

Conclusion:
There is some flexibility for how positions are presented in different mediums. Facts and reliable-sourced evidence is definitely a requirement in academic papers, whereas videos and internet articles have more freedom. Many of the characteristics were evident in all three mediums, and we found the most successful arguments had close to all of the characteristics.

Looking Closely at the Evergreen Movie Trailer

An aspect of the Evergreen documentary that I thought was meaningful was the short clips of people rallying in the Capital. They gathered on the Rotunda in the Capitol building and held up their signs. Comments turned to shouts and then even physical contact as the people got excited or concerned about the topic. To me this really caught the importance of the issue to the citizens of Washington.

Thinking about the Text

1. Bob Herbert argues that America's current public school system must vastly change to meet the needs of changing times. He discusses this with Professor Thomas Kane, and points to two places that would most easily make the biggest changes. The first was teacher quality. Herbert explains we should be making sure the teachers effectiveness in the classroom is looked at closely, and not just their credentials. The second area Herbert explained is looking at alternative school models. We can take ideas from schools that are set up differently and are more successful.

2. I would describe Herbert's tone as disappointed but also earnest. In the beginning he states, "There is no reason to celebrate these minuscule gains." To me he seems disappointed in where the American society as a whole is putting their focus. In the next sentence he says simply, "We need so much more." At the very end of his essay, he says it again: "They [American kids] need something better...." His persistence in the idea that we need more success and better results indicates to me he is earnest about this subject.

3. Herbert establishes the importance of his topic in the fifth and sixth paragraph. He explains how a four-year college degree is the minimum for living a middle-class life. His sixth paragraph goes on to say, "Over the next 20 or 30 years, when today's children are raising children of their own in an ever more technologically advanced and globalized society, the educational requirements will only grow more rigorous and unforgiving." First he points out the need for a good education in today's world. Any reader then feels the full weight and importance of this article when he states that the demanding need for education will only increase further.

4. Herbert is appealing directly to his reader's values in these two passages:
"The latest federal test results showed some improvement in public school math and reading scores, but there is no reason to celebrate these minuscule gains. We need so much more. A four-year college degree is now all but mandatory for building and sustaining a middle-class standard of living in the U.S.
"If American kids--all American kids, not just the children of the elite--are to have a fair chance at a rewarding life over the next several decades, we've got to give them a school system adequate to the times."

5.  I agree with this article in the sense of a need for education to continue America's development. The need for STEM education, for example, is on the rise: more and more fields are asking for these requirements. If we are to move forward as a country, we must move our education forward. However, I disagree with his idea that you need so much education to live a rewarding life. I suppose that depends your own view of what a rewarding life entails.

Looking at Someone Else's Position Article.

The piece of writing I chose to look at can be found here: http://www.salon.com/2014/10/03/why_do_internet_trolls_troll_they_might_be_sadists/

Her explicit opinion is stated in the second paragraph. Rothkopf states, "The studies...found that the trolls had personality traits that exactly lined up with what is known as the 'Dark Tetrad' of personality traits: sadism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism..."

Appropriate background information is given in the first paragraph, which explains her experience with trolls and help to define what an internet troll is.

Good reason and evidence for her stand is in the third and forth paragraphs when she explains the studies researchers conducted.

Rothkopf has an authoritative tone, citing studies and quoting their authors. This makes her point sound reasonable and logical.

She appeals to reader's values with her personal story, for even her benign articles have brought negative replies.

Response to Tim Wise's video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MnmmDiQSdA

Tim Wise's position is basically that the n-word belongs to black folk. It should not be used at all by white folk, no matter their situation or opinion, and they should not try to influence the way black folk use it. The way they use the word is "their conversation" and white folk should simply stay out of it. He reasons this with the way the white population has used it historically as a very denigrating word. He uses many analogies to further get his point across, one of my favorite bringing us back to childhood. "I can talk about my mama, by you sure as hell cannot talk about my mama." When someone from your family jokes and insults your family, usually you know they aren't hating on their own people. The n-word is similar to this. White folk aren't part of the black "family" and simply should not use it.
Wise's audience appears to be a college, but eventually became the world as it was posted on Youtube.

Two Questions about the Reading

Work in progress.....

Examining How a Position is Expressed

Music videos are most interesting to me. They make use of music, art, actions, and words all in one place, and usually in only a few minutes. One of my favorites is Nena's 99 Luftballons. Even though it is originally written in German, the translated words still take a stand. Nena supports her position by painting a colorful picture describing her sending 99 balloons into the atmosphere and watching a war-hungry world react.
In the video she is seen in a bleak place with lots of smoke. As she tells this story through song, it invites the listener to imagine such a world. The last verse leaves the listener in a scene of desolation. Viewers are moved to action, that they might help prevent such a thing.
If I were to revise it for a different audience I would consider who they were and why it's important to them. For example, it was later translated into English. Some of the words and the story was changed to appeal more to those listeners.
If I were to create it in a different medium, it would be vastly different. Let's take a blog post for example. I can't use music or video, so I would have to tell the story some other way.

99 Luftballons song in German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfPTC7-wCL8
Literal translation of the song into English: http://german.about.com/library/blmus_nena99luftbE.htm
English version, 99 Red Balloons lyrics: http://german.about.com/library/blmus_nena99redb.htm

Taking a Position Every Day

Anytime I've had to take a stand on something:

• Deciding where my cross country team should run
• Comparing answers in my math class and deciding who's is correct
• Going to church instead of working
• Not listening to my brother's music when I drive
• Deciding what to eat for lunch
• Talking with my mom about my sister and what's best for her
• Choosing where to buy things and who to support by doing such

Every time someone around me takes a stand:
• People place signs on the road campaigning for politicians
• Friends wear t-shirts supporting their favorite celebrities, brands, etc.
• Radio show hosts deciding who to talk about or who's music to play
• Teammates argue about whether the sweatshirts we are getting should have hoods or not.

Narrative Draft

Circumstances, emotions, lives. They can all change in an instant. I have never felt this more powerfully than I did this summer.

It’s a pleasant day in early July. I'm driving home after walking through a park with my boyfriend. Sunshine sparkles through the thick, leafy oak trees that spread their branches over the road. I roll my window down and let the evening breeze play with the wisps of hair that have fallen out of my braids. The day was starting to end, but it had been the most beautiful, magical day, I couldn't help but turn the radio up and sing along.  

Even driving the familiar road home is fun. My summer has been perfect, and it’s not even half way through yet. Mechanically scanning the road up ahead, I notice a few cars are turning around. The abnormality of it breaks my thoughts. It must be a car crash. I begin thinking about alternate ways to get home: there’s a road that runs parallel to this one and I've always wondered if it would be faster.

I let myself coast to a turnaround point, and being much closer I realize people are standing around stunned. Help hasn't arrived yet.

Suddenly I am yanking the steering wheel to the right and pulling my car into someone’s driveway. The brake is hardly on before I jump out into the street. I find my way through spectator’s cars before coming upon the scene. I can’t help but just stop and stare.

A black car is upside down on the right side of the road, nestled into the ditch. The other car sits at an angle in the middle of the road, with the front end badly damaged. Glass and crumpled pieces of car were scattered all over the place. If that's how the vehicles fared, I wondered about their occupants. Numbly, I ask a man standing next to me if everyone was okay. The question felt childish. What I really wanted to know was if anyone was dead. Did we need to pull broken, battered, bleeding bodies out of these vehicles?

The man explained the driver of the upside-down car was the guy sitting on the shoulder of the road. He was shaking uncontrollably and I could tell he was trying to talk but he couldn't get much out. A woman was talking to him so I turned my attention to the battered Honda in the middle of the road. The front end was crushed enough that it had bent the passenger door. It wouldn’t open. A woman was trapped inside; her legs were pinned in the mess of metal and car.

Her window was rolled halfway down, she had probably been enjoying the breeze minutes before. The door was bent enough that the window had become dislodged. I grab the top of it with both hands and pull it out. I stand there for a second and wonder what to do with it. It dawns on me I just pulled a window out of a car with my bare hands. The woman groans and it tugs me out of my thoughts. I prop the window against some other wreckage and go to her.

Another man had come to see what he could do. It was obvious we couldn't do much to help this woman. So we talked to her. He put his hands on both sides of her head to stabilize her spine. I held her hand. Even her hand had bruises. She breathed quick, sharp breaths.

The man helping looked intimidating. He was a tall man with broad shoulders. If not for the compassion that filled his scarred face, I wouldn’t have expected him to be so gentle and calm. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Teresa.” Her voice was stained, thick with pain.

“How old are you Teresa?” We knew we needed to keep her conscious.

“Forty-two.”

“Where are you heading to Teresa?”

In between her breaths came something about a party, it was clear talking took a lot of effort. Someone came behind and asked how she was doing. The man turned and I heard him quietly say, “It looks bad.” My eyes wander down to where her legs disappear into the car. I can’t see how bad it is. Then I realize I don’t want to and look back at Teresa’s face. She had quieted down and her eyes didn't seem to be focusing on anything at all. The man sort of shook her to bring her back to us.

“Don’t… Don’t do that.” She moaned.  

“They’re almost here, alright? You’re doing so good, hang in there.” I don’t know what else to say. What can you say? I have no idea what it’s like to be going through pain like this. There’s nothing I can do alleviate it. My words seem useless compared to the struggle she is in.

            She started complaining about her hair. When the man had shaken her, some had fallen in front of her face. I gently brushed away a dark, wavy strand and tucked it behind her ear. In that moment she became so precious to me. This stranger. She became my relative, my best friend, my mother all at once.

            She seemed to be getting weaker. The way her breathing quieted, it was almost like she was giving up. “Stay with us Teresa.” The man wanted to see her freed as much as I did. Time isn’t going any faster. I keep looking towards the road, willing the paramedics to get here.

            And then we hear it. Sirens. Help is finally here. A fire truck parks so as to completely block the road, and men start pouring out. I realize I need to leave. I am only in the way now. I let go of Teresa’s hand and slowly back away. Yet I can’t help but stand on the sidelines and watch. The firemen moved with such purpose. They were hurried, but confident. Everything they did—shouting to each other, pulling out equipment—it was all done with perfect communication and teamwork.

            One fireman sees another bystander taking pictures and asks him to leave the area. I know I must leave too. But I wanted to see them free Teresa. I wanted to see her okay.

The same guy tells another woman to step back. She is in tears and would hardly listen to him. “Did you know her?” I asked.

“That’s my daughter and son-in-law!” The almost panic in her voiced begged the unjust question, why them?

Again, I didn't know what to say. I lamely tried to comfort her and told her that her daughter was strong and the firemen knew what they were doing.  She continued to cry.

I realize it isn't my battle. I should leave. The man who talked to Teresa with me was already walking away. I catch up with him and shake his hand. “Thank you.”
He barely let me finish before saying, “Oh, you too! What’s your name?”

“Lydia.”

“I’m Steve. Yeah, I just saw the whole thing happen right in front of me. I used to be a volunteer fireman so the training kind of kicked in.”

We said goodbye and headed our separate ways. I drove the rest of the way home in silence. 

Three months later I still wonder if Teresa recovered completely. If she even remembers me or Steve. But I have realized how dear life is, even that of a complete stranger. We all have our differences, our disagreements, our opinions. But each and every life is important, something to be treasured. And we have small opportunities everyday to show love and help each other out. 

Possible Topics for Narrative Essay

My first topic idea would be when I stopped at a car crash and helped before paramedics arrived.

1. The event is clearly identified. It’s very easy for me to remember exactly where cars were and what people looked like.

2. The setting can also be clearly described. This happened in the evening of July 5^th, 2014 on Central Valley road in Silverdale.  

3. Vivid details: Because it was a powerful event for me, I still remember a lot of details and think I can bring those out to make the story come alive and also be intense.

4. Who’s telling the story? It would be from my own point of view.

5. Why does the story matter? It shows how even though people can be complete strangers, we can still work together and help each other.   

My second idea could be about when my friend got second degree burns from opening his radiator cap after his car overheated.

2. When and where did it happen? A Sunday afternoon, I could describe where he was, where I was, and then onto being in the emergency room.

3. What makes it come alive? I would have lots of details and direct quotations that would pull you into the story.

4. Who’s telling the story? It would be from my point of view

5. Why is it important? You meet all sorts of challenges in life and it’s important to have a good attitude and remember that a difficulty “Ain’t nothing but a thing.”

Kids in Peru

1. The event: My missions team performed a skit for kids, and then gave a few of them water and took pictures with them.

2. The setting: at a random park in Cajamarca, Peru.

3. Vivid details: describing the kids, the difficulties of different languages, and their excitement could bring the story alive.

4. The story would be from my own point of view.

5. Why is the story important? Even though we could barely communicate, the kids had so much excitement and love for us. Our differences didn't matter. What if more people had the attitudes of these kids?

Comparing Narratives in Different Media

There are a lot of different types of narratives we come across every day. Some of the most interesting narratives I have found are printed in Reader’s Digest magazines. Another fascinating form is just from a friend telling me in passing.

Even the same story told these two ways—one printed and one spoken—could end up vastly different. When spoken, a narrative can take wild turns according to the whims of the teller. Each time it is told, it comes out differently. Many factors can change the course of the story, such as who is listening and how recent it was. Personal emotions and the importance of the narrative also create variation.

A narrative written to be printed in a magazine is different in that it is very thought out. An author thinks carefully about which facts to present and personal anecdotes to use. They might focus simply on which adjectives and verbs to use to convey the right meaning and feeling. A narrative here is most likely revised several times before being considered ready.

Each medium has its own purposes and pleasures. Sometimes the straight forward, solid reading of a story is more preferable, but a friend’s random interjections and emotional outbursts can also be all the fun of hearing a narrative. 

Thoughts on Our Collaboration

Did my group collaborate effectively? I think the term “effective” is a little subjective. Okay, we got the job done. But there is room for some improvement in how we worked together. I’ll go through part of a list of tips presented in Everyone’s an Author, and apply them to what my own group did.

• Find ways of recognizing everyone.

We didn’t do this formally. When we divvied up the tasks we pretty much chose something that interested us. If we had been doing a larger project, there would definitely be benefits in talking about what we are good at, and then dividing up the tasks.

• Listen carefully to each other.

This is something I think we could work on a bit more. We kind of jumped into our first tasks without fully listening to the other people. It ended up working out fine, but there was some confusion later. If this were a more time-pressed project, being careful to listen to each other first would help keep things moving.

• Establish ground rules.

Because this was a short assignment, our group didn’t need to make rules. We did talk about the responsibilities of each person, which included answering particular questions. That way we “divided and conquered.”

• Make an effort to develop trust and group identity.

Our group got along great; in the beginning of the project we shared a person example of when we had helped change something. We learned more about each other and I think that helped build group identity.

• Get organized.

Again, because we had a small project, the need for organization wasn’t great. We could have done better by writing down who was doing what. In a bigger project with more detailed and complex tasks, it would waste time having to plan things out from square one every time someone forgot.

There are many other tips included in the book, but I think they apply to more complex situations and would be repetitive here. In conclusion, my team got work done. We just need to refine that process a little so that next time it runs smoother and the output is of a higher quality.

Changing the World

Three historical examples in which a small group of citizens have changed the world:

• Jesus and his twelve disciples
• Founding fathers got together and wrote the Declaration of Independence
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his team

Similarities between the three: 
Each arose and either risked or gave their lives to make positive changes in the world. It was never easy, and required hard work and dedication. But the benefits have lasted past each of their lives, and have continued for generations.

When have I worked with others to bring about some sort of change?
• Cleaned up the Poulsbo waterfront with my cadet squadron after 3rd of July and Viking Fest

The Declaration of Independence

Genre:

1. The specific Genre for this piece is a manifesto.

2. It took a congress of 36 men to unanimously vote on the independence for the United States of America.

3. The tone of the piece was one of firm finality, and respectful ways of explaining why they were breaking away.

4. At the time the declaration was handwritten with signatures at the bottom of everyone agreeing to the terms of the document.

Audience:

1. The declaration was written to the king of Britain, all British citizens, and the world.

2. The Founders didn't have much in common with their audience. With the king, they were similar in that they were leading a country. The founders were similar with British citizens as fellow human beings with unalienable rights.

3. What was the Founders relationship with their audience?

At the time they were colonies of Britain, and subordinates to the King.

They didn't really have a relationship with the rest of the world, except that they were connected by concerns for independence.

4. Back in 1776 the best medium was the written form they chose. It was printed and distributed, and then also read in public places.

5. What did they want their audience to do?

The founders wanted to be considered separate from Britain and be able to do all things which independent states do.

6. They assume their audience was interested. If you were a King and your colonies sent you a declaration of their independence, you might be a little interested. It's not something that happens everyday, so the rest of the world would also be interested in why this was happening.

7. How much does the audience know about the topic?

In my opinion, the British kind of knew what was going on. But the document clearly laid forth everything so there would be absolutely no confusion. This also helped the rest of the world, who might not have been informed.

8. Will the audience expect a particular genre?

Yes. They would not have expected the declaration in a review or a poem.

Purpose:

1. Their motivation for writing was that the people of the US were being taxed and oppressed by the British government.

2. Their primary goal was to become a united country separate from Britain.

3. The goals were very serious so they had to make the document in a serious and firm manner, while still using formal speech.

Stance:

1. There was an objective point of view, stating that Britain had overstepped their bounds. It has an aggravated tone.

2. The Founders wanted to be seen by their audience as capable men and wholly devoted to the matter.

3. They wanted to be firm in the cases they brought forth.

4. Their stance and tone was met with some surprise. It was a bold proclaim. Some people were angry, others celebrated.

Context:

1. What else has been said about this topic, and how does that affect what you will say?

There were many letters and representatives sent to Britain, and this did effect the declaration, especially: "In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.”

2. The only time constraint they had was that the sooner they separated, the less they would be oppressed.

3. Because they had such a huge audience and the document held such importance, they really didn't have much freedom as writers.

Medium and Design:

1. For the purpose of claiming independence from another country, The United States used print.

2. Traditional conventions were used because it was basically a formal letter of resignation. It had to be paragraph by paragraph with no room for creative structure.

3. The look most appropriate to their rhetorical situation was serious, stern, and powerful.

4. They didn’t need to include visuals.

5. They didn’t have audio or video. 

My Definition of Rhetoric

Rhetoric is writing and speaking in such a way as to persuade or cause effect. Being able to do this requires that you think rhetorically. What does this involve?

Thinking rhetorically means thinking both broad and deeply. Like turning a diamond, you turn the subject from one angle to the next, examining its every side. It means expanding your thoughts and ideas to think outside yourself and your own opinions. Ask yourself questions about other’s viewpoints; consider what points their arguments make. Also ask questions about your own perspective. Why do you hold this opinion? Critically think about why you stand where you do, and what prompted you to begin holding this view.

Acting rhetorically includes activities such as gathering information, researching, and finding other’s works on the subject. Engaging with and listening to others is also an important element. Being able to speak and write effectively requires action on your part.

For example, if someone wants to sway a representative’s vote on a certain bill, they will not simply walk in and state their own opinion. They will most likely research the subject and present all sorts of facts and information supporting their stand. Passionate people especially will talk to others to hear similar opinions and gather personal stories. Before they present anything, they will think and act rhetorically about the subject.

All this is necessary to produce rhetoric. Persuading your listeners begins with transforming their thinking. That will encourage change which then prompts action. This end goal is only possible by first thinking rhetorically.  

Genre Fun

Three things I need my friend to do to prepare for my party, written three different ways.                  

Please bring these things to help decorate:
• Flowers
• Mason Jars
• Ribbon
• White Christmas lights? (Don't worry if you can't find them)    


I also need waffles made from this recipe: (Please double so we have enough to feed everyone!)
Ingredients:
2 Cups of Bisquick mix
1 1/3 Cup of milk
2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 Egg
1/2 Banana (diced into small pieces)
Whisk together the milk, eggs and vegetable oil. Then slowly add in the Bisquick. Once batter is smooth, gently stir in the banana. Cook in waffle griddle for about two minutes, or until golden brown.
Makes: Four 8 inch waffles. Serve with Nutella and whipped cream.


And lastly, with all these things I need,
One is easily overwhelmed indeed.
But the most important thing of all,
You cannot buy even at the mall.
Not a single store could ever sell,
This great thing I am about to tell.
It is better than a sunny day,
And always chases the blues away.
It buys supplies and makes waffles too,
Yes, that's right; most of all I need you!



What did I learn from this exercise?
Writing is used in many different ways, all the time. Each different genre of writing has a particular purpose.
Writing poems, making them rhyme, and making all the lines have the same amount of syllables, just to say your friend is invited, is quite difficult. While writing has its pleasures, it also has its purposes. It's much more time-efficient to use the correct genre to get your point across. That's why I am using prose right now instead of writing this into a song. (Maybe next time...)

                                     

Is Everyone an Author?

Everyone is an author. To be completely honest, only part of me agrees with this statement; the other part of me is pulling back, not willing to fully accept it. To me, the word author has always held so much more weight. It’s not just a noun, it’s a title. Something that isn't merely given, but earned through hard work and careful refinement of skills.

When I was much younger I wanted to be an author when I grew up. I even read a book about how one of my favorites had started their writing career. If you had told me then I could become one by updating my Facebook status, I probably would have been a little put out.
             Looking more closely at what the word itself means, I realize my interpretation of it is much different. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an author as “a person who has written something...” In this light then, anyone who can write can be an author. For example, Twitter’s 232 million monthly active users, and Facebook’s reported average of 665 million active users, assuming they wrote something at some point, are all authors. 

So sure, everyone’s an author. But if everyone is something, does being that something have much meaning?