RWS 1302

This blog is dedicated to my rhetorical development in my Rhetoric and Writing Studies 1302 course.

[solivas11]

RWS Tips

If you’re reading this, then you’ve entered the world insanity.

No, not really. However, there are something you need to know about this world that helped me.

First, plan ahead and manage your time.

It helped me to look at least a week ahead at assignments/lectures so I know what to expect.

Second, put your best efforts in the draft.

There’s perks to it. For example, you’ll be able to get more feedback - accurate feedback for that matter - for your final draft. Additionally, if you overdid something, it’s not that big of a deal to go back and tone it down after all the feedback.

Third: ask questions or for clarity. 

Knowing exactly what the instructor asks is beneficial for you in the long-run because it basically gives you a guide as to what to do in the class.

In all, don’t panic. Just be alert and do the assignments in a timely fashion.

[mrodri84-blog]

Week 15

The purpose of submitting a video in writing class is to enhance our rhetorical skills. Learning how to incorporate ethos, logos and pathos into your video. Also having an advocacy for the problem one is presenting, finding appropriate research that will support our claim, and with all of this we put it all together into a video for a specific audience to see. Not only does this help us for writing class but it gives you an idea of how to make a video in general.

Our group delivered the message by using logos, pathos and ethos. We used logos by giving statistics and having quotes from medical expertise within the video. Also we stated the purpose within the video to explain how it was injuries from ages 14 - 18. During our presentation we included pathos by adding teens beliefs as in why they believe weight training is good. At the end of the video we stated solutions for successful weight training. These claims were also supported by medical expertise from the research we had found.

Our group delivered its purpose clearly in the video, I think we could of used another interview to support our claims but with the quotes it helped. Overall we showed exercises that would help enhance successful weight training and things they can do before they start with weight training.

In the first question I used my knowledge and experience to answer the question, in this case using ethos. I did this based on what I did and what I had learned in class was incorporated in the video. By using multiple mediums we created a video to inform teens of the effects weight training has when done incorrectly.

[solivas11]

I liked the clearness and directness of the advocacy. Being fully informed about anything is a valuable asset to have and useful to make better decisions.

(Side Note: I haven’t seen that commercial of the mouse in years!)

[solivas11]

Week 15

1. What is the purpose of submitting a video in a writing class?

Well, according to the Student Guide...

And according to a PowerPoint slide...

For me, it’s a rhetoric and writing course, not just a writing course. The rhetoric component is important because it makes us mindful of the sorts of decisions that go into play when creating something that will be communicated, regardless of the genre.

We’ve practiced typographic examples in class and iconographic examples on Tumblr. The video assignment was used to expand the rhetorical scope of our decisions.

2. Explain how you composed your message (purpose) in multiple forms.

Well, we based most of our decision from the outline and determining what would be the most effective method to carry out a portion of the plot. For example, if a statistic required a chart to explain the growth rate of certain jobs instead of just plain text, then that would be used as part of the video’s logos. However, if an interview adds a personal touch to the need for funding better than statistics may, then that would be used for subliminal pathos.

3. Did the structure and delivery of the film doc worked to achieve its advocacy? Yes/No. Explain.

I think there are certain aspects of the video that helped to achieve its advocacy. In terms of structure, our outline was centered around the different details that made the lack of funding an issue, thus building the need to fund high schools for STEM programs. In terms of delivery, there were minor editing errors that could have been corrected for the interviews included.

4. Select one of the questions listed and explain the rhetorical choices you made towards answering the question. For the first question, I included screenshots from the Student Guide and a PowerPoint slide for the Film Documentary because the question has been answered previously. However, I used their explanations to formulate my own, followed by a gif featuring an abyss, reflecting on the fact that most of us are extremely foreign to film making.

[solivas11]

Week 14 Class Assignment

Here are the three points I plan to use in my flyer

1) Nearly 47% of jobs have a high probability of being automated (THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYMENT: HOW SUSCEPTIBLE ARE JOBS TO COMPUTERIZATION?)

This graph from the 2013 study by Frey and Osborne show how most jobs will be automated within the next twenty years. Why? It leads to my second point.

2) The national economy is gradually evolving from a service based economy to a creative based economy (Huffington Post: Creativity Is the New Economy).

There are different jobs that fall into the “creative” category - the most notable include STEM occupations. For a healthy innovative economy, it is within a national interest to invest in STEM jobs and STEM degrees.

3) Current public school are not funded enough to prepare for the creative economy. (National Math + Science Innitiative: STEM Education Statistics).

This image comes from the National Math + Science Innitiative, an organization dedicated towards bringing policy changes toward STEM funding.

The policy change I am advocating for is for Texas high school students to sign a petition to their state legislators to allocate funding need to support STEM programs in high school.

[solivas11]

Week 14 - Opinion Piece

What genre are you selecting to use for your op-ed?

I am using a flyer format to explain briefly about the evolving economy and the need to retrain workers in the new millennium.

Why is the genre you selected the best format for your opinion piece?

For me, I think delivering the message is simpler and visually pleasing to the audience about the issue and a potential solution. Also, I think it also allows for the opportunity to be provocative and to encourage the audience to act a certain way.

What is your stance and policy change/solution for the issue?

I would like to see students demanding their state legislators to increase funding for STEM related courses by signing a petition. There are different ways to approach the legislature, but this is the general route I plan to take.

[andreaseanez-blog]

Week 12 Film Doc.

My group and I are planning to base our film document on logos and ethos. The reason we picked these two rhetoric approaches is because we want a more serious approach rather than an emotional approach. By choosing logos we are expected to provide our film with several facts, statistics, and definitions.   

 For example, our group will be focusing on people with bipolar disorder and how to improve their work environment. We are planning on defining bipolar disorder, providing a statistics about the population of people with bipolar disorder, and several facts about the mental illness along with the impact of employment. Resources that have helped us so far are statistics and facts about bipolar disorder.

Since we will be providing a lot of information we need to gain credibility. In order to have a strong ethos we need to provide several credible sources. For example, my group and I are planning on either interviewing a psychologist/psychiatrist, a manager of a business, or a person with bipolar disorder. If we interview a psychologist we have the advantage of supporting our argument with logical reasoning. If we interview a manager we can get their personal opinion on how they provide or how they wish to provide support to people with bipolar disorder. Lastly, if we interview a person diagnosed as bipolar we can get the personal insight. It is important for our group to have credibility if we want the rest of our project to work. 

(our group will be like the girl if our logos and ethos fail us. We are trusting our grade on these rhetoric appeals)

The reason we are not going to focus on pathos is because we believe that a dominate emotional approach towards our film document would be irrelevant. We may include a few scenes or images with pathos but it is not our main approach.   

(sorry pathos) 

[simplysteph28-blog]

I like the idea of using interviews for your project. I think it will increase the credibility of your information as well as the support you will provide behind your argument. I agree that using pathos might weaken your argument and the use of pathos and logos within your project will be a better approach.

[solivas11]

Your group’s rhetorical choices are similar to our group’s rhetorical choices in that there is little room for emotional appeal when you have facts, statistics, and logic and your side.

- Group 6

[solivas11]

Week 12 Post - Group 6

For our film documentary relies more on logos above all other rhetorical choices. The issue our group is focusing is the lack of funding in high schools to support a technologically evolving economy. This is because our advocacy and solution (logos) is based on statistics and research conducted on current STEM programs as well as economic trends (ethos).

Pathos would be minimally used. For example in the introduction, fear can be extracted through clips of robots “taking over jobs.”

The major source that is helping my group is the bank of statistics provided by the National Math and Science Initiation. These statistics are oriented among the major points we would like to mention in our film documentary.

- Brandi Henderson, Alexa Moreno, Sergio Olivas, Andrea Tovar 

[andreaseanez-blog]

Week 10

1. What patterns did you find in the development, or enhancement, of your research skills? 

Before this assignment I had never in my life written a literature review, and I have to admit, that for me, it was a huge challenge! Before this assignment I did not care about the variety of resources. I used to believed that only using scholarly articles for my papers was the best way to support my ideas. However now I know that is the complete opposite of the truth! 

By only having one form of resources I eliminated my credibility instead of enhancing it. Another thing that improved my research skills was, to make sure that the sources were credible. Whenever I write a paper I make sure my sources have some form of credibility however the literature review showed me how a strong source can easily support the purpose of my paper, whereas a weak source only makes things more problematic. This assignment took me out of my comfort zone and in return helped me improve my research skills

  2.  Did your assessment/evaluation of the sources change? If so, how?

Yes! Completely! When I first started I had picked my questions and my sources but the more I worked on the paper the more I changed my mind. As I was writing I realized some sources where not good enough or some sources would be better at answering a different question. Once I was able to find the perfect sources for my questions, everything fell into place.  

3.  Do you think the methodology described in questions 1 and 2 work? Yes/No. Explain.

Yes, the best way to have an unbiased paper is to really focus on the sources. No matter how great of a writer someone might be, if they do not support their claims no one will listen. For that reason it is important to have a method that involves good research skills and strong sources. Once those factors are perfected everything else will make sense.    

4.  Select one of the questions listed and explain the rhetorical choices you made towards answering the question.

For my second question I used pathos. When I answered the question I did not want to be informative, I just wanted to speak freely based on my experience. I also included a gif that expressed how I felt once I understood everything.   

[solivas11]

For your first question, I 100% agree with you that you don’t need only scholarly sources to arrange a dialogue. Including content from a variety of sources helps to bring more perspectives into the discussion. Seems extremely repetitive being limited to scholarly sources.

[solivas11]

Reflection: Literature Review

1. What patterns did you find in the development, or enhancement, of your research skills?

I think my research influenced my research questions more than the overall research content. As I read more and more sources that were related to the same topic, I adjusted the research questions as not to force the dialogue in a distant question.

2.  Did your assessment/evaluation of the sources change? If so, how?

I had a general idea of the types of sources I wanted to use for the Literature Review. However, looking for books related to artificial intelligence and economic shifts as a result of it became a greater challenge than I thought. If anything, because the dialogue of autonomous cars is a recent development, I had better opportunities looking for sources on the internet.

3. Do you think the methodology described in questions 1 and 2 work? Yes/No. Explain.

These changes did work extremely well because matching sources to the appropriate research question from a large pool of sources gave me flexibility in terms of the dialogue and different source material to facilitate that dialogue.

4.Select one of the questions listed and explain the rhetorical choices you made towards answering the question.

For the first question, I used the gif of a puzzle piece to show that the resources are related to the research questions the way one puzzle piece connects to another. They will only work effectively if they’re uniquely different but similar in creating an overall picture.

[chrismor26-deactivated20160514]

Week 7

When i started my research for my literate review i was not sure that i would be able to find what i was looking for. At the start i was having a hard time looking up things on the internet and what not, but it was not helping at all. i thought i was wording it wrong or maybe i wasn’t thinking in the right frame of mind. 

finally i was able to re word what i was looking for and BOOM i had what i was looking for i found a lot of stuff online, but i still need to expand my research to other things such as books, or articles. I still have a way to go with finding more about what i want for my paper. This is what i will doing tomorrow so i can finish looking for my sources that i need for this paper and it will be over!!

well at least for that section of the paper. 

[solivas11]

To me, just rearranging the wording of your research questions is reassuring. I’ve personally been having difficulty in finding sources and maybe following your example will be helpful. Thanks!

[solivas11]

Week 7 - Research Process

I started my research process with a simple google search for articles relating to the research topic, that way I develop a sense of what the dialogues are. There, I pull out key terms that I believe will be useful to use in academic search engines.

However, this is where I started to run into some issues. So, to put it into context, my topic is not on a current issue, but a future issue. What will happen to people whose jobs are subject to automation?

In my research findings, however, I find that a lot of my results were speculative or said too little. Reason goes to “future issue.” It’s measurable to see the change in GDP since the roll-out of certain technologies. It’s difficult, however, to see the change in GDP for future technology.

Additionally, my research was made difficult because of the large number of unreliable sources I found. I found some good sources that satisfy my research question, but my biggest “screen” is whether or not that source will benefit me when carrying out a dialogue.

I am disappointed to say that I am still looking to sources without having a good amount laid aside. In good news though, I was able to schedule a meeting with a computer science associate professor at UTEP for his specialization in intelligent computer systems. I will be meeting with him pretty soon.

[agiive-blog]

Week 6: Research Questions

The topic for my research is how globalization affects Latin America

The rhetorical choices that I made were focusing on how I wanted the reader to react.I wanted to create discomfort among the readers and establish the fact that globalization has two faces. Some get benefits and the others get affected directly or indirectly. Also another rhetorical choice that I made was what kind of information I wanted to use to answer my questions. As well as, making appeal to logos in the way my questions were organized, how the second question was a bridge in between the first and last question.

Now that I know that I started with my research, I found out that I have to do little modifications to my questions so I can find the information  what I am looking for easily. Also I believe that by following the instructions and staying on topic will help me to get a good grade in this assignment.

[solivas11]

I’m interested in your research findings. Some questions I would personally focus on would be if problems are derived from globalization or from unfair trade agreements. Regardless, I think you chose an excellent topic.

[solivas11]

Week 6: Literacy Questions

It was difficult to narrow my topic down to a specific industry. I had originally chosen fast food given the current argument of $15 minimum wage, but instead, I went with transportation because it caught my interests in the genre analysis.

These are my questions:

1. What economic and technological factors will contribute to the pace transportation industry jobs will be automated in the U.S.?

2. What are current job training programs are being provided to employees in the transportation industry whose job is subject to automation?

3. How will automation in the transportation industry effect the U.S. GDP and the individual income of employees in the transportation industry?

If there is one element in which my three questions are derived, it would be fear.

Maybe not to that extreme, but historically speaking, people get freaked out when they hear that their job might be replaced by a machine. For the first question, it aims to clarify not the “what if,” but the “when.” Hopefully the attempt to answer this uncertain question will allow the audience to contemplate how to adapt to this change. For the second question, aims to answer “what are the alternatives” to those employed in the transportation industry. This question aims to clarify heavy uncertainty automation will have on employees. Finally, the third question ventures into the realm of opportunity cost. Wealth generated through automation may yield more benefits than its losses, thus giving a reason to mitigate fears about automation.

Through its layout of current situation followed by predictions of the future, I hope to diminish the fears of automation by slowly chipping away people’s uncertainty through insightful elaborations.

 I believe that the best option to ensure a high grade on this assignment is to use credible sources with compelling facts that will support the paper. Additionally, I anticipate to use objectivity in the entirety of the assignment.

[samantharws1302-blog]

Week 5

1) What did you know about genres before this assignment and what impact do you think studying genres may have on your writing? 

By what I understood, genres were like themes that helped explain a text or a picture. After studying about genres, I began to add more detail and personality to my writing. 

2) What are the complexities of using genres? 

It is difficult to stay on topic while explaining a really good genre because there are so many details I don’t want to leave out. 

3) What is the value of studying and/or writing about genres? 

Studying and writing about genres makes the imagination work a lot more because it makes you realize the way you feel about a certain image and it helps you understand the reason behind every color and text type chosen. 

4) Select one of the questions listed and explain the rhetorical choices you made towards answering the question. For example, if you choose a gif to help communicate your answer to the question, then you must explain why you chose that specific image. Briefly describe the rhetorical choices you made. 

I choose question number 2, and the picture of Kanye because that is literally my reaction when I begin to analyze the image or text and I begin to get so many ideas that somehow connect in my brain, but when I type them out, it does not make any sense. I get easily frustrated when I complicate a process or over think an idea.  

[solivas11]

Your answer to your fourth question is similar to my experience. I don’t think the assignment was that difficult. Crafting all of those ideas into a paper is what made the assignment a challenge, I think.

[solivas11]

Post-Genre Analysis Post

1. What did you know about genres before this assignment and what impact do you think studying genres may have on your writing?

I knew absolutely nothing about genres - not in the context used in rhetorical analysis. Going back to the reading in the textbook, it elaborated that genres are the mediums to convey a message, broadly speaking. In the context taught in elementary school, messages are taught through epics, horror, tragedy, drama etc. In rhetoric, genres refer to the written, visual, and auditory methods a messaged is conveyed, and being knowledgeable about their individual implications facilitates an eclectic approach when conveying a message, enhancing a writer’s approach.

2. What are the complexities of using genres?

The biggest struggle to use genres is identifying the type of genre that will best deliver the message. The primary two factors for this decision are audience and purpose. Factors to consider in the audience include age, racial demographics, and expertise in the topic. For purpose, will the message aim to inform, persuade, or entertain? Once the audience and the purpose is narrowed, choosing the appropriate genre and specific elements should be an easy endeavor.

3. What is the value of studying and/or writing about genres?

I strongly believe that the more you write, the better reader you become. However, this only directed towards typographic genres. By studying, deciphering, and utilizing genres, a writer better positioned to communicate a message to more audiences with effective communication tools provided by each genre, making the writer a potentially powerful individual.

4.Select one of the questions listed and explain the rhetorical choices you made towards answering the question.

I decided to use gifs to answer the questions of the assignment because visual aids help facilitate information by enhancing a particular point. They are shorter than a video, but more interactive than a simple picture. For example for question 3, the gif showcases an individual exuding supernatural powers. The gif highlights the point “making the writer a potentially powerful individual” as the primary reason there is a value to study and exercise genres.

[chrismor26-deactivated20160514]

My genre

My genre that i piked is if video games are bad or good for the mind.

Intended audience: 

The intended audience of this genre would have to be people of all ages to better grab a batter understanding of what good that video games can have for our minds.

Intended purpose: 

To get a better understanding of how video games can help sharpen our minds and not rotten them.

Rhetorical  Aspects: 

Pathos - using the picture of the guy and showing how he is really excited the science has proven that they are good for people 

Ethos - are shown buy using that a university has conducted research that video games help improve the function of our minds.

[solivas11]

Now, if only I was good at video games...

[solivas11]

This genre analysis looks into the Financial Times’s brief overview about the current social and economic change that new technology and automation are enabling.

Here’s the original video:

Any thought’s on automation?