TOW #7: Zombie Smoker

           This ad caught my eye because it creates a comparison of a person who smokes and a zombie. It portrays the repercussions of smoking and how it can affect a persons appearance. The ad uses boxes to emphasize all the defects that smoking may cause in ones face, all of which are particularly bad. The comparison of the rest of the girls skin and body, juxtaposes the harsh features presented by the effects of smoking. The creator of this ad also uses the orange color and "warning" banner to underline the idea that this is generally a negative concept. It presents a short informative sentence about cigarettes in white so that it stands out in contrast to the orange background. It also puts emphasis on the idea that "When you smoke it shows," which for some people, regardless of how much they enjoy smoking, is not ideal. The ad then continues to provide a simple number and website to visit to provide more information on how to stop smoking. This allows the viewer to see the initial ad, and continue to get more information based on what they see.
          This ad applies to ethos and pathos because the evident effects of cigarettes is shown through the picture and text, while they also appeal to the viewers emotions by providing the hideous outcomes. When a person looks at this it would definitely create a moment of hesitation when picking up their next cigarette. The use of the website and phone number also provides a outlet for the viewers to turn to to generate more information regarding the topic, ultimately establishing ethos. The creator of the ad is trying to generate a feeling of repulse toward cigarettes, so that people will make an effort to quit, both for their appearance and health. This ad is successful due to the use of juxtaposition and appeals to both ethos and pathos. The message is clearly stated and the tone of the advertisement is well transpired.

TOW #6: Shopping Therapy

      Attention all shoppers! In all attempts to convince others that "retail therapy" is a real thing, Healthy Living Magazine has now proved it! The article Shopping Therapy is all about how shopping can actually improve your health. It presents the reasons why a shopping break is so enjoyable and relaxing. They explain shopping as a "mini mental vacation," therefore being good for your health, in essence.
     The author appeals to ethos and logos by presenting statistics and facts from scientists and psychologists who did studies on the effect of shopping on peoples health. From all the shoppers at the mall, "62% purchased something to cheer themselves up and 28% as celebration," so they were all there for themselves, to feel better. They also emphasized how shopping supports your mental health through recreating a quotes from psychologist, Sara Levin, “Retail purchases can be helpful if the product inspires self confidence and a sense of mastery.” The article also had enumeration, emphasizing the effects that shopping has on mental health. Headings are also used to present information and discuss different components. Ultimately, the article also appealed to pathos because although small, it is a scientific discovery that overall makes others happy. The audience was most likely targeted to women because generally women are the ones who often find themselves shopping and often need the excuse that they need "retail therapy." Also the fact that this article is in Healthy Living Magazine, it establishes ethos and gives a sense of who the audience would be. Even though this article was on the shorter side it was still very effective in achieving its purpose. It appealed to me and caught my eye because although it is a smaller scientific discovery, it is still helpful to many girls/women. 

TOW #5: Relax It's Only A Test

        This article, written by Annie Murphy Paul, is a presentation of the general anxieties students face when taking standardized tests. Annie Murphy Paul explains how students are put at a high standard which eventually causes anxiety to take over their brain and ultimately clouds their judgement and ability to answer the questions on a test. Paul presents trials in which teachers provided techniques for the students to relieve their anxiety. Some teachers found it productive to "hand out pencils with motivational messages on big exam days" (2). Other teachers used techniques which appeared to be extremely successful where students would "spend 10 minutes writing about their thoughts and feelings immediately before taking a test" (2), and when receiving the scores back from the exams, the students who did this grades increasing drastically. She also elaborates on how different groups of people, such as females or Latinas, stress more about tests as to not have a "poor performance [that] will not prove negative assumptions about the group to which the belong" (3). Although she explains many techniques that have already been used, she explains that many students find their own way to relieve anxiety and stress before a standardized test.
       Throughout the article, Annie Murphy Paul establishes logos and ethos by presenting statistics, facts and quotes from other teachers and those who have ran these trials. The article provides a multitude of statistics on test results and the results of the trials themselves and their effectiveness. Many teachers and psychologists are directly quoted by providing the techniques they used and the how effective they were. The article also presents a metaphor by comparing the tests to a "play, with the preparation as a dress rehearsal" (3), in regards to how students also prepare for these standardized tests. The authors intended audience was parents and teachers of students who are with the students before their tests and aware of their anxieties. But the secondary audience could also be the students themselves in providing productive and useful ways to prevent their anxiety from determining their test scores.
      Overall, I feel this article was effective because it provides many different approaches to dealing with general test anxiety. Also, shows the results of multiple trials to show the variety of ways to approach test anxiety so those who have it can try a multitude of different strategies. I also found a lot of these techniques could be helpful to me and ways to settle down about the stresses that come with SATs etc. The purpose was to exemplify the ways in which to approach and prevent test anxiety and it was presented well, as long with providing effective solutions.

TOW #4: IRB How To Win Friends & Influence People

        How To Win Friends & Influence People, written by Dale Carnegie, underlines the fundamentals in complete success in almost every scenario presented in a persons life. The book is split up into four parts, of which I have finished two. Carnegie sets up the sections of the book by providing evidence to support his "principle," which is presented at the end of each section. Ultimately, the book consists of general rules that one should abide by and apply to their lives in order to be successful when working with others.
       In the beginning of the book, Dale Carnegie's ethos is established by the preface and explanation of the concepts and purpose of the book. Early on in the book, Carnegie also establishes that this book is interactive, and there are rules to it such as; stop and think how you can apply the principles, take notes, read with a highlighter, and read each chapter multiple times. Through each chapter, Carnegie produces a multitude of historical examples from which the principles are derived from. He constantly refers to Abraham Lincoln and utilizes quotes such as, "Don't criticize them; they are just as we would be under similar circumstances" (Carnegie 9), in an attempt to allude to his overall purpose of that specific chapter. Carnegie also uses allusions to other writers, philosophers, and scholars, including "one of the classics of American journalism, 'Father Forgets'" (Carnegie 14). Among the abundance of allusions and historical examples, Dale Carnegie also presents some personal anecdotes from his life and childhood. He also draws on concepts and results he has acquired through his classes and students. Although some examples and concepts may appear dated, they are all directly relatable to the current generation. Metaphors and other rhetoric devices are slipped into the text by Carnegie such as, "your smile is like the sun breaking the clouds" (Carnegie 69).
       Dale Carnegie is addressing a general audience. He discusses how the concepts are helpful in both business, and economics, yet also very helpful in general social situations. His examples also appeal to many different groups of people. His overall purpose, from what I can see so far, is to lay out the basics of success in influencing and talking to others. He touches on points such as, smiling and how one sincere smile can change someones day and cause them to simply have a different view of you. So far, he has covered the topics of handling people, and the ways in which to make someone like you. There is little depth in the actual concepts themselves, and he stresses more on the ways in which to apply the techniques and principles to your own life. From the point in the book I am at currently, I find the whole book and psychology behind it very interesting. Dale Carnegie has been very successful in these first few chapters in explaining and providing examples as to how to truly be successful in life when dealing with others.

Robindickinson.com

TOW #3: Gun Sense

(http://momsdemandaction.org)

     This advertisement is from an organization called Moms Demand Action. This organization is a group started by Shannon Watts, directly following the shootings at Sandy Hook elementary school. Moms Demand Action fights gun sense laws in America, with a strong emphasis on the safety of children. This advertisement is one of many depicting a little girl with ice-cream and a man with a firearm in a grocery store with the name of Krogers, one of the biggest grocery store chains in America. The difference is, the little girls ice-cream is prohibited in the store, while the giant firearm the man is holding, is not.
    The advertisements produced by Moms Demand Action, including this one, strongly appeal to pathos. The innocent little girl would be kicked out because there is no outside food allowed, but the firearm that is putting the little girl in danger, would be completely allowed. The juxtaposition of the two completely different characters adds value to the issue this organization is trying to fight. This campaign also portrays ethos and logos because at the bottom, a rule at Krogers is addressed to support the organizations position on gun sense. This shows the viewers that this organization knows what they are fighting and believe in the safety of children and other in America.
   The audience of this campaign are the parents, who don't feel safe with open firearms being allowed in public facilities where their children can also be. The picture touches the viewers emotions by the idea that their child could be in a similar position. Also, the advertisement serves to show other businesses how this absurd rule can effect how people feel about using their services. This organization has reached out and done campaigns against other public organizations with similar gun usage rules such as Panera and Target. It stresses that the gun sense laws are immoral and create animosity between the company and consumer or customer. This campaigns gives a final message that families should be able to get their groceries without feelings fear rushing through them when seeing other shoppers carrying large firearms.

TOW #2: My Illness Isn't Glamorous

 This article, written by Lillie Lainoff, addresses how Hollywood inaccurately depicts the lives of teenagers with fatal diseases. This college student discusses how television shows and movies, such as Red Band Society on Fox, present a faux representation of how kids suffering life-threatening illness live their lives. Lillie Lainoff establishes her credibility and ethos through this article with presenting her education, a college student at Yale University, and her own personal experience on the topic. Lainoff suffers with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, an automatic nervous system disorder. Her personal anecdote on being in the hospital and constantly living with a terrible disease creates a juxtaposition of the portrayal television networks produce versus the real life struggle of living with a disease. Lainoff presents an antithesis to the quote by one of the characters in the show Red Band Society, about how life starts when you arrive at the hospital and they aren’t able to cut into your soul. To many, these words would be empowering coming from a suffering patient, but to Lillie Lainoff these words evoke feelings of pain and anger. She continues on to show how these statements are completely inaccurate to the true life of a sick teenager. Her intended audience is the viewers of these shows and movies, to thoroughly explain how although these shows may receive five stars, they are completely glamorized ideas of brutal situations to make money. Lainoff suggests that sugarcoating terminally ill patients lives is the new obsession of Hollywood, just like past fazes of shows about vampires and normal high school drama. I fully support Lillie Lainoff and her stance on the corruption of Hollywood on specific topics. I think she provided perfect evidence through life experience to disprove the presentation of popular television shows and movies.

Tony Maglio

Link to article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hollywood-has-it-wrong-im-a-teenager-with-an-illness-and-its-not-glamorous-at-all/2014/09/12/b9154a7e-38f9-11e4-8601-97ba88884ffd_story.html

IRB Intro #1 -How To Win Friends and Influence People

This book was written by Dale Carnegie and has been changed multiple times over the years he was alive to pertain to the time period. I picked this book because the topic looks interesting and I think it would be interesting to learn ways to influence people, become a better conversationalist, and much more. I hope to get new ways to approach situations and how to confront people throughout life.