TOW #3: Advice to a Black Schoolgirl by W.E.B Du Bois

           William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (more commonly known as W.E.B. Du Bois) was an American historian, sociologist, civil rights activist, author and editor. Due to his education at Fisk University and Harvard (where he was the first African American to earn his doctorate), as well as his extensive work for civil equality, Du Bois is still considered by many to be the most influential black intellectual of the first half of the twentieth century. This great influence allowed Du Bois to inspire many young Americans -- particularly those of African lineage -- and what ultimately compelled him to write this letter to a young black student who, despite being exceptionally gifted, refused to study because she felt she would "never have a chance to use her knowledge". Given this reason, the immediate audience for the letter appears to be, simply, the black schoolgirl to whom it is addressed. However, because there is a lack of specificity to the student's particular situation and rather, general advice to all black youth, it can be seen that this is the true audience for the letter. This audience then lends itself to what the overall purpose of the letter is; a way to inspire all black posterity to aspire for greater things through a proper education.
           In W.E.B. Du Bois' letter to a black schoolgirl, his utilization of various rhetorical devices such as hypophora, allusions, and a strong appeal to logos, allows him to successfully achieve his purpose through an in depth analysis of the effects of education on black youth. Through his opening questions, Du Bois is able to outline the meaning of each paragraph in the letter, addressing how each individual part contributes to the idea of advancement of the black community. His use of differing allusions then go on to prove these points, referencing successful black Americans, most notably the likes of Booker T. Washington. Finally, his strong appeal to logos, seen through his data concerning "colored" Americans, appeals to the logic that success is only achieved through proper education. The use of these rhetorical devices are ultimately what serve to achieve his purpose.

TOW #2: Ad Against Drinking and Driving (Visual Text)

       FIAT automobiles is an Italian manufacturing company which has gained great popularity in the United States within the past years. This success has put the company in immediate competition with rival automakers, causing a partitioning of traditional car buying clientele. For this reason, greater expenses have been put forth in regard to advertising from both FIAT and similar, contemporaneous companies. In short, most car companies have begun to pull out all the stops when it comes to advertising, which explains the ultimate purpose of this visual text: to convince readers to buy a FIAT car.  The purpose of this ad is made clear with one simple symbol at the bottom right of the picture -- the FIAT logo. Without this logo, one could easily argue that the visual text serves as a public service announcement against the dangers of drinking and driving. However, with the emblem ever so present, that purpose is countermanded. The incorporation of this trademark makes it clear that the creator of this image wants its audience, car drivers, to associate the emotional appeal to the FIAT car company and, in doing so, influence them to choose their brand. 

       In this particular ad, two beer cans portray the differences in judgement between a driver who is under the influence and a driver who is not, with the simple captions (though in Spanish): "now you see it", "now you don't". In alluring its audience, the text is successful; in achieving its purpose, the text is extremely successful. It utilizes multiple rhetorical strategies, most heavily relying on the juxtaposition of the two contrasting images to accomplish the purpose. Through these juxtaposed pictures, the visual text is able to appeal to logos, implicitly depicting the idea that drunk driving causes fatal accidents; a conclusion drawn only through logical perception. The illustration also relies very heavily on its appeal to pathos. By depicting a kid riding his bike, the perfect epitome of childhood innocence, the text brings forth rather poignant feelings toward the implication of a fatal crash. 

TOW #1: Remarks by the President in Eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney (Speech)

          The mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shook America to its core on June 17, 2015. Dubbed the "Charlestown church shooting", the act of domestic terrorism on the historic church killed a total of nine church-goers, including senior pastor and state senator Clementa C. Pinckney. The tragic incident stunned the nation and caused the entire country to reconsider the deep-rooted racial issues that have, for so long, remained clandestine in our society. Considering the circumstances, it could be argued that no one could be more suited to address such an issue of racial animosity than the first African American president of the United States -- Barack Obama. In his eulogy for the reverend, President Obama discusses the racial prejudices which have been "kept in silence" all these years, highlighting the implications of our country's old habits on our society.
           Written as a remark to the friends and family of Pinckney, the true meaning of the eulogy pertains to the nation as a whole, serving as a wake up call to the unacceptable actions which have been successively dismissed. His colloquial tone and anecdotal structure make it very easy for his message to resonate with this audience, allowing for every person to feel a connection to his words. Through this masterful control of rhetorical strategies, such as repetition of phrase (particularly, that of "amazing grace") President Obama creates an almost lyrical speech that continuously reiterates the idea that the nation is built of individuals together, not apart in racial discrimination. His rhetorical appeal also allow him to build a strong ethos with the American people, reminding everyone that he too is an American citizen. For this reason, the speech remains an undeniable success. He, though his speech, is able to get Americans to recognize the flaw with our view on racial prejudice and what we, as a nation, can do to fix it. Unique to this particular piece, his ability to achieve this goal can be measured in the actual actions taken place after its delivery, such as the removal of confederate flags from all government buildings.

IRB #1 Intro: Survival of the Sickest

For my first independent reading book of the year I have chosen to read the novel, Survival of the Sickest by Sharon Moalem and Peter Satonick. Evolutionary biology, the main topic discussed within the novel, was what first drew me in to this particular work. This book was discussed very briefly last year during my biology class and ever since then I've wanted to know more about the subject. The book itself is a collection of case studies, which utilize scientific data to prove and support their respective hypotheses. In reading this non-fiction book, I hope to further expand my knowledge of biological functions and even, as the subtitle suggests, see the connections between disease and longevity.