Gettysburg Address

Argument:

WATCO- What is the purpose of remembering the dead at Gettysburg on the future of the American nation?

Claim- We must remember what the dead did for us at Gettysburg if we are to preserve the American nation.

Reason- Because by remembering what the dead did for us, we will be motivated to continue to fight for the cause that they started.

Assumption- Whatever causes us to continue to fight for our nation will also lead to a preservation of our nation.

Audience: The immediate people at the address; also all the people of the nation including Union and Conferderate supporters. But I feel as if Lincoln wanted to speak and give a call to action directly to all those not on his side of creating a "house undivided."

Goal: To arouse the citizens of the nation to work together on creating a democratic government that will ensure the everlasting freedom of all people of America.

How?-

Pathos- For a short address with only 3 paragraphs, Lincoln sure knows how to pack a punch. Lincoln uses the dead soldiers as standard bearers for freedom with such lines as, "The brave men...have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract," or "The world will little note...what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." This second line is my favorite from the speech. I think it draws very strongly on each individuals emotions, to know that their fellow brethren sacrificed their lives just so that they could have the liberty to live in a free nation.

Logos- I like the logic used in the first stanza as Lincoln reminds his people that 87 years ago, this nation was created independent of its former rulers so that all men could enjoy equal rights. But somehow between then and now, the nation had forgotten this principle. By starting his speech this way, he focuses his speech on his goal of trying to reestablish America as the beacon of freedom and a people's government.

Relevance- The location, as well as when the speech was given, gave it great relevance to the issue at hand. Gettysburg was the site of the greatest battle and also the turning point of the civil war, where many men lost their lives.

Effective?- In one of the greatest speeches ever written, Lincoln does a superb job of reinvigorating the people through a concise, and clear speech.

Music Video: Seventeen Forever by Metro Station

Argument:

Watco- What are the advantages of being young and seventeen on choices one can make?

Claim- Being young and seventeen allows one to make choices without having to be responsible for those choices.

Reason- Because by being young and seventeen allows us to get away with making bad choices.

Assumption- Whatever allows us to get away with making bad choices also allows us to be free of responsibility from those choices.


Audience: The specified target audience, are the teenagers in the world who feel as if its time for them to grow up and quit making spontaneous decisions.


Goal: To remind the younger generation that we should remember to take advantage of every opportunity to have fun while we can because we wont be “seventeen forever”.

How?:

Pathos- The rave-like setting of the music video draws on the emotions of its viewers as it shows the ecstasy and freedom that the teenagers are enjoying. The music video also displays the teens competing in different attractions the amusement park has to offer, drawing on the viewers emotions of remembering their experiences riding bumper cars, cuddling with a girl on the ferris wheel, etc.

Logos- The amusement park is set in what seems like the middle of nowhere, and the safety of being hidden in the foggy conditions of the night hints to viewers that the teens picked a place and setting where they wouldn’t have to worry about being caught. I also feel as if logic is being used when the lyrics of, “and we can get away with this tonight,” are used correspondingly with the image of a couple making-out alone on the ferris wheel. They obviously are secluded from the rest of the group partying below, and even though they are at a big social gathering, they’ve been able to find their own private place where, “they can get away with anything tonight”.

Relevance- I can see the relevance the band tries to use by shooting the music video in a party-like setting that teens could relate too. For many teens, trying to party without getting in trouble with parents and adults is a regular issue that they must deal with.


Effective?: Although many teens will realize the video is just a creative way to portray the lyrics of the song, the images portrayed in the music video may have an impact on giving viewers the idea that they can get away with more than they previously imagined.

Analysis of My Paper A

Argument:

WATCO- What are the consequences of scheduling tough non-conference competition in College Football on a non-BCS team’s chances of winning a National Championship?

Claim- Scheduling tough non-conference competition must happen in order to give your non-BCS team a chance of winning a National Championship.

Reason- Because by beating top teams in head-to-head matchups you show that you’re the best team in the nation by giving your team credibility which eliminates controversy.

Assumption- By showing you’re the best team in the nation through giving your team credibility which eliminates controversy, you also give your team a chance of winning a National Championship.


Audience: BYU fans who are worried that the difficult schedule next football season may pose to great a risk of having a successful year because of several reasons.


Goal: To persuade BYU football fans that BYU should be trying to schedule powerhouse teams every year for their non-conference schedule if they truly want to see BYU bring in another National Championship.


How?:

Logos- In the paper, two teams are used as logical examples to strengthen the claim of the paper. The first is the University of Utah who went undefeated last year but still didn’t get a crack at the title game arguably because their non-conference schedule just wasn’t tough enough. The second team mentioned is the Norte Dame Fightin Irish. Notre Dame’s program is used to show that scheduling tough teams consistently will garner your program respect over time which will lead to good dividends in the future.

Pathos- Other than a few play-on-words and a call to action in the conclusion of the paper, not much emotion is used to persuade readers. The paper takes on a very informative approach, more persuasion could be seen through using emotions to invigorate the audience into agreeing with the claim.

Relevance- Is the issue presented in the paper truly an issue for BYU fans? Do most fans worry that BYU is being overambitious this next season with the scheduling? A claim can be made that there are a few fans who are worry-warts and low risk-takers, but not the majority. The paper is very informative, but the issue has problems which makes it hard to persuade an audience that doesen’t need persuading.


Effective: The paper does a very good job of explaining the College Football scene and the BCS, but it struggles in terms of arguing an issue that is relevant to its audience. Changes can be made to make it a better paper.

The Hardships of Divorce

Source for Paper B:

Argument:

WATCO- What are the effects of divorce on one’s lifestyle during the readjustment period?

Claim- The effects of divorce turn your lifestyle into a state of “disequilibrium” during the readjustment period.

Reason- Because the effects of divorce raise one’s stress extremely high through psychological as well as non-psychological factors.

Assumption- Whatever raises your stress extremely high, also throws you into a state of disequilibrium during the readjustment period.


Audience: This is an informative article, geared at an audience curious as to the cause and effects of divorce. This audience might include: those who have gone through a divorce, those affected by a divorce (family members or friends), psychologists, therapists, etc.


Goal: Purely to state facts and observations of how and why people act the way they do after a divorce because of stress.


How?:

Logos- A lot of understandable logic is found, especially in the section dealing with non-psychological stress. Its easy to understand why things like: financial issues, parental role changes, separation from children, inexperience in the dating scene, etc. would lead to a decrease in emotional and psychological health and well-being.

S- This article is seven pages full of information and statistics about divorce and how people tend to react and cope with the trauma of separation.

A- The information is all based off of studies, research, surveys, and samples. The researchers really tried to put an emphasis on not being bias and making the study legitimate simply through the longevity of the 3-year project.


Effective?- Yes, the goal of the article is to inform and it does a good job of that. I would have liked to see the article be more sympathetic and sensitive; maybe draw on its audience from an emotional perspective as well.

Persuasive Art: "A Cross in the Mountain"

A "Cross in the Mountain" by David Caspar Friedrich:

ARGUMENT:

WATCO: What are the effects of using allegories from nature on one’s ability to represent the importance of Christ’s atonement?

Claim: By using allegories from nature, David Caspar Friedrich creates a very serene way to represent the importance of Christ’s atonement.

Reason: Because by using allegories from nature, David Caspar Friedrich is able to show in a serene way how Christ’s atonement can lead us back into God’s presence.

Assumption: Showing how we are being lead back into God’s presence through Christ also draws on the importance of his atonement.


AUDIENCE: The Enlightened minds of the 19th century as well as those who tried to find meaning in life through abstract ways such as nature. He was also trying to persuade those who were skeptical about whether or not one could really symbolize religious aspects through landscape painting.


GOAL: To get others to see how nature magnifies Christ’s purpose on the earth, and the significance of what he’s accomplished for us.


HOW?:

Pathos: Friedrich is able to draw upon his viewers emotions in the painting through allegories such as the rays from the setting sun piercing the sky behind the summit of the mountain. If you look closely, the rays cascade out vertically into the frame of the picture leading the viewers’ sights into the clouds above. It seems as if Friedrich is illuminating the path to heaven starting with the figure of Christ as the starting point and source of the light.

Logos: Friedrich also does a good job of relating to his viewers by using symbols with which they already understand and can relate too. For example, going back to the usage of the rays, the common man understands that light represents ideals such as power, glory, and hope. By basking the silhouette of the crucified Christ in the light, Friedrich is able to symbolize and connect these elements to Christ. Power, glory, and hope are also three attributes which one hopes to obtain in life after our earthly stay.

Sufficient: Symbolism in the painting is not only found in the rays of the sun but also in: the mountain itself, the crucified Christ on the summit of the mountain, the fir trees dotting the mountain side, the setting sun itself, etc.


EFFICIENT: It’s a tossup as to whether or not Friedrich’s work really appealed to the tastes of many of his peers and critiques in the 19th century. But I felt that he at least touched to a degree, those who allowed themselves to be open-minded to such an atypical style of painting.

Movie Review: He's Just Not That Into You

The movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You”, rated PG-13, and starring the likes of Jennifer Anniston, Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, and Jennifer Connelly, mixes wit, humor, and the true struggles of dating into a chic flic you and your special someone might not want to miss.

The movie involves its audience in the dramas of essentially six relationships. The relationships range from a marriage falling apart due to a cheating husband, to an online relationship. As the characters in the movie go through the ups-and-downs of the “dating game”, they bring viewers along for the emotional rollercoaster.

The movie’s main appeal and strength comes from the all-star cast of former Oscar nominees and winners. Although this movie probably won’t garner any further awards for its cast, this talented group impress as they act the drama filled roles of these love struck characters.

The most eventful and witty segments of the movie come from the in-between-scene interviews dealing with questions and issues concerned with dating and love. Don’t fall asleep during these scenes because they are a guaranteed laugh or two.

Although the movie brings a flair of humorous love, the scenes and dialogue also get quite raunchy and are definitely questionable for teenagers and adolescents who just may get the wrong impression about love and relationships.

But give this movie a shot if you consider yourself mature enough for the content and material. You’ll be surprised at how well you may relate to some of the characters as well as circumstances set in the movie.

News Writing Color Story: Expereince at St. Mark's Lutheran Church

Provo, Utah- In LDS-heavily populated and non-diverse Utah County, we sometimes forget the reality that there are other denominations of worship within the community made up of people who we can all learn genuine life lessons from.

Living in north Provo for the majority of my life, I often drove past St. Mark’s Lutheran Church with barely an acknowledgement that the serene, tan-bricked church house existed.

After 21 years of ignorance as to what actually took place inside the walls of that brick church, I decided to cross into the realms of the unknown.

Before the door had even swung to a close behind my friend and I, a greeter was at our side handing us copies of the program and introducing himself.

Kelly was his name.

His round face, neatly combed-over hair, and gentle personality instantly dissipated any fears and doubts either of us had of stepping foot into the homely confines of the Lutheran chapel.

As the sermon on the Transfiguartion was given, one could not help but notice the reverence displayed in the chapel. Even the children of the congregation were sitting quietly with arms folded as their short legs dangled over the pues.

At the end of the service, each and every member came and politely shook our hands.

There was Deborah from Springville with her little girl.

There was George Arglye who had a son in Denver, who loved to smoke and was excited for the new electronic cigarettes out on the market.

There was Gary, the volunteer preacher who was just filling in for the time being while the congregation looked for a full-time preacher.

Each and every person struck a chord of genuine, Christ-like friendliness.

As they invited us to come again the next week, it was gut-wrenching to turn down the invitation explaining our strong ties to the LDS-faith.

Although I may never step foot in that serene, tan-bricked church house ever again, the people of that congregation left a lasting impression of Christians who really practiced what they believed.

That is a genuine life lesson that we could all learn to follow.