Unit 4 Blog 2

Unit 4 Blog 2

            ‘Kairos’ is Greek for “right time”, “season” or “opportunity” (Ramage, Bean and Johnson). On the surface, kairos may seem like simply a question of when to respond to an event, but it’s also about how to respond. If you are a news journalist reporting about an important immediate event, it’s not only how fast you can type up the column and slap on the front page. How you respond is just as important. The ‘how’ is determined by the many clues around us. However, to me, kairos isn’t as much about when something is or is not the right time to respond but rather our human instincts. In other words, kairos is more than timing. It doesn’t happen in a vacuum but rather is the subtle sensing of many different factors of which we have been fined-tuned to be aware. We then take in those clues, process them and formulate an appropriate response. If it is an ability to sense surroundings and opportunities for correct or suitable responses, it makes me wonder if all of us have it, or are there some who lack it, and why? There is an example in our textbook using an analogy of kairos where we are asked to consider, “…a wise teacher who senses the right moment to praise or critique a student’s performance” (Ramage, Bean and Johnson). So how did that teacher know? What are the clues that s/he knew to respond that way? I believe we are raised with this awareness, or not. We are taught by both verbal, and especially non-verbal cues of how to respond. A great example I am sure most of us are all aware of, is when you were a young child and your mother called you by name from another room. Somehow her tone, the words used, or her inflection told you before you even got into the same room whether she was happy or upset with you. Body language also plays a role as well. Mom’s hand on her hip and the use of your middle name did not bode well. There may however, be people who don’t feel they are able to pick up on some, all, or none of the clues being displayed. Indeed, we may be successful at sensing them sometimes but may also miss them at others. We all know what it feels like to laugh when a friend at the wrong moment or be too harsh in a response. Did we miss the clues? Recently, a study showed that those who receive Botox injections have a hard time reading the emotions of others (Mann). Although Botox injections, a procedure to paralyze age lines and wrinkles, are used on your face it inhibits your ability to read the emotions of others. This is because, as WebMD explains, “We read other people’s emotions in part by mimicking their facial expressions” (Mann). Thus, if we can’t mimic them, we can’t read them. We do all of this subconsciously, of course. If you feel you are always unable to respond appropriately, ask yourself why? You may be overreacting due to a negative past experience, or afraid to reveal sensitivities that helps us connect with other people, or you may simply not have been taught how to perceive these clues.

Works Cited

Mann, Denise. "Does Botox Affect How You Read Emotions?" 25 4 2011. WebMD. 11 5 2011   <http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/news/20110425/does-botox-affect-how-you-read-    emotions?src=RSS_PUBLIC>.

Unit 4 Blog 1

I would like to do an experiment with pathos and how words and photos appeal to our emotions. As writers, does the use of words or photos have a greater impact on our audience? It depends. There may  some instances where we are grateful for words instead of images. Take, for example, this statement from one of my essays, “There was a whole catalog of atrocities involving children – the rape of seven-year-olds, the severance of their hands or noses, their disembowelment for dog feed, or suckling infants skewered to their mother with a single thrust” (Cocker). Nobody in their right mind would want to witness this in photos, and I’m doubtful it would even be legal! We are able to filter the information in our own minds by only conjuring up images that are at a level we can handle. Because it extremely offends our sensibilities, we don’t go into great mental details but pull ourselves back from it. However, unlike the former example, there are instances where images can help us have a greater impact on our readers. Consider this caption from the New York Times regarding the recent tsunami in Japan, “Earthquake survivors identified family members at a temporary burial ground in Higashi Matsushima. Under Buddhist practice, cremation is the traditional way of dealing with the dead. But now, with the death toll so high, crematoriums are overwhelmed” (Bronstein). Then I showed you this photo below taken by Paula Bronstein of the New York Times.

            Which appeals to your emotions more greatly? I think overwhelmingly it would be the photo. Why? Different parts of the brain handle the different tasks. When the information is in written form “it starts with the words, the small bits of information, and slowly builds upward toward full understanding of the whole”, whereas with the picture it is the opposite (Wittig). When shown a photo or picture, Wittig tells us, “it starts with the whole picture, and gradually works its way down into the details”. When processing the words, consciousness uses the English language, which can sometimes be quite limited in describing what the scene actually conveys. Yet, in processing a picture, there are “areas less completely enclosed in the consciousness”. The picture’s data taps directly into areas of the subconscious using stored past associations, experiences, and other unconscious awareness. These are deeper layers of our minds. That is often why we sometimes can use photos to touch our audience more profoundly, and thus be more connected. I am not saying words are not useful, but using both is sometimes the most effective. Wittig says it beautifully with, “The point of art [in this case a photo] is that it is a resonance between intellect and emotion, between conscious and unconscious. Words may not exist, that can describe that resonance, but when we feel it.... we know”.

Works Cited

Wittig, Robert C. Consciousness- Words vs. Pictures. 24 Aug 2000. 11 May 2011            <http://www.robertwittig.com/paper3.html>.

Bronstein, Paula. Asia Pacific. 12 Mar 2011. Getty Images. 11 May 2011 <http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/12/world/asia/20110312_japan.ht            ml#41>.

Unit 3 blog 1

Youth Make a Difference

Our text Writing Arguments state that “Writers must focus…on three main phases or stages of argument” with one of them demonstrating that there is an actual problem to be solved (Ramage, Bean, & Johnson, 2010). Therefore, one of our assignment options is to prepare a proposal to a congressperson about a local or regional problem. I think this will be a new realm for many young people since the number of youth who aren’t involved in their local communities is daunting. This lack of involvement appears to be due to how youth view themselves, as well as how they are viewed by other members of society who wield power politically. According to a University of Michigan study done by Katie Richards-Schuster and Barry Checkoway, “Young people do not normally view themselves as a group that can influence policy, adults do not view them as competent citizens, and public officials do not view them as central to their work”. The question becomes: why do today’s youth feel they cannot influence policy. In political-speak this is called a ‘lack of efficacy’, or the inability to make a difference. Perhaps it is due to them feeling alone against the tide. As Vicki Combe at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation explains, “Young people are well aware that the decision politicians make affect them. Yet they also feel marginalized from the political system”. However, today’s youth should take note that this tide may be changing and quickly. A Youth Participation Report in Germany says that “half the world’s population is now aged below 25 years” and expanding. Politicians are becoming aware of this as young people are being targeted for spreading political messages using new technology as well as new pools of campaign funds. This was demonstrated just recently by the youth vote during the 2008 Presidential election between Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama’s victory appears to have hinged on the turnout of the youth vote. Not only had “young people turned out in droves…an increase in youth turnout by at least 2.2 million over 2004” but “[the youth vote] is turning states that [Obama] would’ve lost or barely won into more comfortable margins” (Dahl, 2008). This targeting of youth support also helped Obama financially as their excitement translated into campaign funds. As Melissa Dahl states, “For 24-year-old Jade Baranski, Tuesday was the second time she’s voted in a presidential election – but it’s the first time she’s cared enough about a presidential race to donate her own money”. This shift shows that young people can make a difference when they decide to put their time and effort into it. They don’t have to feel excluded when it “can be tackled by providing real opportunities for young people to have a say in decisions that impact their lives and communities” as Vicki Combe points out. This is the key to being a part of the changes that impact their lives. It can and should be done at the local level, exactly where this assignment of writing a proposal can help. So get involved, keep committed to your efforts and know you do have efficacy. Tomorrow is the world’s youth of today and we need you – heed the call.

Works Cited

Dahl, M. (2008, 11 5). Youth vote may have been key to Obama's win. Retrieved 4 25, 2011,        from www.msnbc.msn.com: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27525497/ns/politics-          decision_08/

GTZ. (2010). Concepts andrelevance of youth participation. Retrieved 4 25, 2011, from    Youth Participation: http://www2.gtz.de/dokumente/bib-2010/gtz2010-3221en-            youth-participation.pdf

Ramage, J., Bean, J., & Johnson, J. (2010). Writing Arguments (8th ed.). U.S.: Pearson      Education, Inc.

Richards-Schuster, K., & Checkoway, B. (2010, 1 29). New Lessons from Michigan          Municipalities. Retrieved 4 25, 2011, from Youth Participation in Public Policy at the     local level: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ncr.273/abstract

Unit 2 Blog 2

Change in Military Retirement

I think one of the most effective proposal arguments I've recently read was that of changing the military retirement payout system. I typically don’t get involved in such issues’ as I believe that it is the duties of our elected officials to protect the service members against such blasphemous suggestions. Raised a child of a paramilitary family as my father served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, my upbringing often included stories of what great benefits the military offered even back in the 1960’s. During the 2008 presidential election, I heard whispers from various sources that one of the reforms or system “overhauls” would be that of the current military retirement payout system. The current retirement system is a great recruiting tool as there are not many professions that allow a person right out of high school or college to go to work for an organization and from day one receive 30 days of paid vacation, full medical and dental coverage, shopping at clothing stores and grocery stores that offer discounted prices and after 20 years of service receive a check for 50% of their basic pay upon retirement. Startled by the thought of my elected officials tampering with my retainer check, I vehemently began to research the current military retirement program. After researching the current retirement program for nearly two years, I found that the current program is somewhat outdated as it was founded in 1948 and needs to be reviewed. This is a system that was initiated to remain competitive with major factories that began after the industrial revolution. Back then it was the industry standard to provide a pension for employees who retired after 20 plus years. In today’s business world 401k’s are now common forms of retirement. This is a program the military tried to adopt with the Thrift Saving Program, and to an extent matched the 401k programs. However, in my opinion it is a program that benefits the service member that completes 20 years of service. Over the next decade the Department of Defense needs to overhaul the current military program offering a true 401k program for those personnel that do not want to stay in the military longer than five years.

Unit 2, Blog 2

A robot, an activist, and a conspiracy theorist go into a bar. They plop down on their respective stools. The bartender says, "What'll y'all have?" They chime almost in unison, "a rhetorical triangle". The bartender looks puzzled. "I don't think I've ever made one of those before. What is that?" he asks. The robot answers in a monotone voice; "it is when you use pathos, ethos, and logos effectively in order to persuade your audience to conform to your viewpoint". The activist and conspiracy theorist simply nod their heads in agreement. Bartender scratches his head. "Hmmmm, okay. Never heard of any concoction that can do that, but I’ll try." He looks at the robot and says “so where can I get pathos? Is that a liqueur?" The robot again states in his flat voice, "I am not able to tell you. I don’t have the ability to feel empathy, fear, anger or any emotion. These are always missing when I present an argument to my audience. Unfortunately, I cannot engage my audience based on emotion, or even show images to evoke them. I wish I had emotions so I could connect with their values and choose appropriate language to persuade them, but alas, I cannot. I would only use logos and ethos; at least a majority of humans trust evidence from a computer." Now totally confused, the bartender looks at the activist and says, "okay, fine...so where do I find this logos? Is that the brand or the manufacturer?" The activist puts his head down and for the first time the bartender notices the sign the activist is holding by its wooden stick handle. Only the sign is blank. The activist shamefully mutters, "I don't know where to find logos. I have plenty of pathos because I present my views very, very passionately and this helps my audience to connect with me and support my cause. I even have plenty of credibility; they're calling it ethos these days. People routinely turn to me for organizing fundraisers at our political party's headquarters, but I cannot for the life of me offer a cohesive message to my audience, as you can see by this blank sign. And my evidence is pretty shaky too." By now the bartender is getting irritated, puts both hands on top of his head and looks at the conspiracy theorist and curtly says, "I don't suppose you can tell me where to find ethos for this Rhetorical Triangle?" the conspiracy theorist says, "Actually, no I can't. You see I am a master at pathos. I’m an expert at using fear and intimidation to try and incite an audience to action. Why I can use logos to connect facts and figures so effectively, that the sinister plot becomes plain as day! The bummer is no one pays any attention because they say I lack the credibility of a 'serious' player. Try getting a job in this economy when nobody takes you seriously. Besides it's all a conspiracy theory to doom the world anyway." "That’s it!" shouts the bartender. "I've had it! I've sat here for five minutes while you guys tell me that you want a rhetorical triangle and the only thing I know is that it requires pathos, logos, and ethos...ingredients you claim make effective arguments, when really I only know how to make drinks. Good luck on your arguments!"

Unit 2 Blog 1

You sign in and wait a second as the screen loads. Then there it is...the welcoming words to your favorite blog letting you know you aren't crazy. You read articles, you connect with and view opinions like your own letting you know you are not alone. You belong here.

Nowadays with the internet people are able to connect with each other easier than when I was growing up as a kid in the 80’s.  It may seem like we have a much larger collection of ideas from which to choose and that our opinions would develop, and change from the sheer exposure of it all. But is this the case? Do we really want new points of view? I don't think we do. By the time we enter a blog and have visited enough to register as a user, sign in and leave comments, our views appear to be formed. Being with 'like mind' and seeking validation for the viewpoints we hold is why we've come. We don't want to be exposed to other viewpoints. We agree with our audience and our posts are a confirmation of those who have already posted. Perhaps our opinion is for a different reason or experience, but it’s the same ice cream just a different flavor. My current English textbook, Writing Arguments, tells us "Typically, appeals to a supportive audience are structured as one-sided arguments that either ignore opposing views or reduce them to "enemy" stereotypes". I agree! Instead of remaining open minded and perusing a smorgasbord of viewpoints like a patron at a buffet, we find ourselves searching for only one dish, our favorite...that comforting validation for what we already believe to be true. Anyone who dares to point out an alternate view, no matter how much evidence is presented, becomes a 'troll' who is scorned and ostracized by the community and is no longer 'one of us'. This rejection of another view keeps the acceptable view narrow and inhibits our ability to think critically. In the article The Modern Decline of Independent Thinking, Steven Mills says, "We are losing our ability and opportunity to think independently and in my view this has serious consequences". He goes on to explain how brain scans have shown we have a tendency to create a 'herd' mentality and that "we are simply thinking less and conforming automatically" (Mills). Imagine, we don't even know we are doing it! As our nation becomes more politically polarized, perhaps we need to take a step back, think critically and get the whole picture. There are many other views that we aren't even aware of, or would even consider, unless we leave the confines of our comfort zone found in our favorite blog. Next time you find yourself seeking that validation, perhaps you should entertain an opposing viewpoint and enter a new blog that offers one. What is there to fear? After all, it was Aristotle who said, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" (Aristotle).

Works Cited

Aristotle. 384BC. 4 2011 <http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/1152.html>.

Mills, Stephen. The Rat Race Trap. 12 03 2011. 16 04 2011 <http://www.ratracetrap.com/the-rat-            race-trap/the-modern-decline-in-independent-thinking.html>.

Ramage, John D, John C Bean and John Johnson. Writing Arguments A Rhetoric with Reading     Eighth Edition. Person Education, 2010.

Blog #2, Unit 1

“Writing is like a creative free flowing expression trapped in the vocabulary of a career military person’s brain.  Just about the only time they mesh is when I’m taking a literary composition course at a College/University.  My wife calls my writing style writing in “Navy-ese”.  Case in point: I just used upper-case font for College and University.”

Everyday at work I spend half of my day corresponding with other Navy personnel via e-mail or official Navy correspondence (Memo’s, instructional documents, military directives, evaluations and FITREPS).  I will use fictitious evaluation bullets as an example to convey a portion of my writing style.  Part of the reason for this type of writing style is I’m limited on the amount of space I have to get my point across about one of my Sailors.  In a typical evaluation I may use bullets to summarize a person’s performance:

- Sought out by all levels of the chain of command to resolve both technical and personnel issues.

- Mentors over 200 Sailors in life skills and professional development, 25 advanced and two were Sailor of the Year.

However, I’m fortunate on two accounts: 1. The Naval Institute provides me a “Guide to Naval Writing” and 2. My spouse has a degree in linguistics and often tells me when I’m writing too much in “Navy-ese” for classes such as this one.

Has my writing style changed from my teenage years to present date? You be!  I had to adapt my writing style from English 101 to one of a more formal, militaristic style in order to effectively communicate with my subordinates, peers and superiors.  As much as possible, I do attempt to apply rules learned in my high school English/Lit and college English 101 classes.  At home when doing homework of such, I’m a sip, think, write type of person.  I sip a glass of wine, think about what I want to write and write. So what do I think about when someone says the word “writing”: “Honey, crack open a bottle of wine, I have another paper to write.”