TOW #24 - The Bassoon King

Religion is a highly debated topic and popular moral issue these days. Reading the memoir of Rainn Wilson, born into the Baha’i faith, is an interesting introduction into this commonly unknown religion. I had only ever heard of this religion once before; while in Israel I explored an absolutely gorgeous temple belonging to the Baha’i people. Seeing this stunning temple and not knowing anything about the people connected to it, I was very interested in learning first hand experiences from someone of that faith. Throughout the entire beginning of the book, and Wilson’s life, he had expressed serious faith in his religion. Once he had graduated college and had no job offers, he began to look at the down side of life. Entering his rebellious young adult phase, he decided he no longer believed in god. Although he had lost his Baha’i faith, he believes he still had faith.. He found a group of struggling artists who have faith in their art. He argues that even though they do not believe in a god they still have faith. I agree with Wilson, faith does not have to be synonymous with believing in god.

I would imagine since Wilson had believed this since he was a young adult, he would still agree. Many people would argue that faith must be connected to a religion, though there is not actual evidence. Religion and faith beliefs are all subjective from person to person interpreting it differently. This does not allow Wilson to express any actual evidence for his opinion but this does not hinder his argument. Many people these days are expressing their faith in many different things, especially in arts, so we fulfil Wilson’s vision. I would not create my own version of this argument as I do not personally feel faith in anything specific. Because this is a memoir he does not use any classical model or oration. Although this is mainly a matter of opinion he uses logical reasoning to explain his opinion.

TOW#23 - Sequilitis- Legend of Zelda

One of the most known video games, known by gamers and non-gamers alike, is The Legend of Zelda. There are many different games in this franchise, all with their own connections or differences to the past games. Because of this range of differences, how one would define a zelda game has began to extremely differ from person to person. Arin Hanson, a popular gamer, animator, and voice actor, on youtube as well as TV, created a video comparing two popular games in the series, A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time. The biggest different between these games is that one is 2D while the other is 3D. Hanson argues that the 2D A Link to the Past is better than the other because it stays true to the original Zelda routes; it allows the players to adventure through an open world at their own pace instead of being guided through with instructions and plot. I understand his argument and agree with it, though my taste in game is different than Hanson’s, so I do not completely agree with his argument.

Today, Hanson almost  regrets creating this video, as many people on the internet strongly disagree with him and are not afraid to explain this to him in a rude way. Although it is true this is still his opinion. Many people consider Ocarina of Time the best video games ever created, there are definitely many great aspects of the game and it is one of the first games created of this type. It set the path for future 3D games, but it still has many flaws fans are not willing to look past. I am not too critical of the aspects Hanson considers flaws, some of them I actually like, so I would not make anything similar to this. The video created is very creative and has a random flow to it so he does not use any classical models. Considering the audience is younger, a faster and funnier pace would help to catch our attention better. To defend his opinion he mainly speaks of what is “good” game design. He has no actual proof or sources for this, it is just what he claims.Though because video games are so subjective, it is hard to actually include sources, so he did what was the best way to argue this topic. This video has definitely opened up my mind to things I had never thought about when it comes to video games and game design. Although I do not completely agree with Hanson, I agree with many of his points.

TOW # 22 - Drugs you Don’t Need for Disorders you Don’t Have

While watching TV we normally choose to actively ignore any commercial shown to us. Though if we were to pay attention, we may see that many of those advertisements shown are for medications. As a kid, I never understood those commercials, picking medicines was the doctor’s job, but after reading Drugs you Don’t Need for Disorders you Don’t Have, by Jonathan Cohn, I began to understand. It’s clear that there are so many commercials for medications because the producers of these drugs plan to make money from selling their product. In order to more actively sell their product, they must advertise to both average consumers as well as doctors. The problem Cohn, an author for Huffington Post, points out in his article is that many of these advertisements spew lies.

One advertisement for a sleeping pill claims it is better than all others, but Cohn knows of research done that proves the pill actually has a very minimal effect that renders it basically useless. This shows that the advertisement uses extreme hyperbole in order to sell it’s product. Cohn is arguing that medication advertisements should not claim things about their product they cannot support, and they must also share the possible side effects. I agree with this as I don’t enjoy being lied to and being convinced to put something in my body that I believe will do one thing as it actually does another. Today these advertisements greatly live up to Cohn’s set expectations, as a very high percentage either exaggerated or down right lie. So Cohn today would very much still agree with his argument from his article. Although he does not use any classical models of argument, he does use many credible sources which highly boost the credibility of his argument, helping to convince me. Some may argue that his position is wrong, saying that most advertisements exaggerate and that only thirty seconds of airtime is not long enough to harp on negative side effects. But I believe these are all important issues for when it comes to medicine and how negatively medication can affect us. This article has helped my ignorant self as a child transition to me now as someone who is opinionated in this subject.

TOW# 21 - Howard Gardner The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligence is a commonly referenced text as it has to do with the psychology of every person. The theory states that there are six different types of intelligences, everyone has some of each, though one that is dominant. This seems true to me to some extent, the qualifying statement that everyone has at least some of each intelligence helps its validity. Though I believe claiming there are only six possible dominant categories may be too little. If someone is not very good at one of these does that mean they are not intelligent? Or what if they are even in 2 of the possibilities? If I were to recreate this theory I would address these problems by adding more intelligences, maybe sub categories.
Gardner today would probably still believe his theory was still correct today,there are still clear signs some of his thoughts are correct. IQ tests predict success in school but not for actual adult life. This is because musicians and athletes may not be as intelligent in logic and linguistic. Sighting studies such as that one adds credibility to his argument, making it more believable. Though he does not use any classic model of argument, but it does not affect his argument. His arrangement is so that he can explain his reasoning for each single intelligence, so his arrangement is effective for his piece of writing.

Although this is now common knowledge for most teachers and common people, I do not believe we use this research to our advantage. We do not fulfill the author’s vision with our school’s reliance on standardized tests. This type of testing only appeals to a certain type of person, so someone can appear unintelligent to colleges when really they are just not skilled at test taking. I believe we should be using this helpful theory and knowledge to help create a better future for our youth. We need to focus on their strengths and boost them.

TOW #20 - The Bassoon King

Throughout Rainn Wilson’s memoir he shares all the events that has led up to him becoming the person he is today. After explaining how incredibly nerdy he was while young, playing Dungeons and Dragons in the basement with his friends, his life then transitioned to being a theater nerd instead. Wilson believed that in the moment he was told to join the theater, his entire life changed. His philosophy, as he explains in this book, is that there are specific moments that occur, in the years between 16 and 25, that are specifically remembered because they change your life forever. Considering his memoir is somewhat recent and this has been his view for a very long time, he would still believe this today. His evidence for this theory is only the events in his life. He does not have any sources for this idea but I don’t see this as something he wants to stubbornly convince others of, it is just something he believes. Though because it is a subtle argument, the lack of sources does not affect the argument. Also because this is a small part in a big book, he does not use any model or organization for this argument.

Because I am only at the beginning of the age range that is supposed to have an effect, I cannot agree or disagree. I don’t have enough evidence or experience myself to see if his theory is correct. This shows that only a certain group of people would be able to really explore this philosophy. I also cannot create my own version of this theory. I would imagine he is right, as I have heard how important these coming years will be. Many adults explain the discovery a ten will go through the their college years so I’d imagine Rainn Wilson is correct.

TOW #19 - Trump Political Ad

Donald Trump has become huge news in the United States and worldwide. Although he does not seem to be the most qualified presidential candidate, he still has huge support from many people. These people praise political ads such as this one, promoting Trump, trying to convince people to vote for him. They agree with the message promoted by the author, claiming many good things about Trump. I disagree with this poster for many reasons. I find that this poster has no solid argument or evidence to back it up. Although the author claims Trump would provide great leadership, there is no evidence to support that claim;  he has no experience in politics or leadership which proves that he would probably not be a good leader. He has also made many decisions that are considered unconstitutional and so that shows he does not know what he’s doing when it comes to running America. Despite all this, many people still agree with the author today.

If I were to create a new version of this poster, I would probably not include Trump in it, as I feel there is little to no evidence to use to support him. Though if I had to make  a new poster for Trump, it would include actual facts about his past accomplishments. I would keep the american flag as this taps into the audience’s patriotic feelings. Because this is a visual ad, the author did not use any common method or style in his argument. He simply used visual methods as well as some text with reasoning. And he does not cite sources as there are no actual facts, and so this argument is not very effective. This poster would most likely only reinforce someone’s feelings towards Trump if they liked him originally. If someone had never liked Trump I doubt this poster would change that.

TOW #18 - The Physics Of The Perfect Chocolate

Chocolate may very well be the most delicious creation ever to be eaten. Although almost everyone eats chocolate, there is still much many don’t know about it. Since valentine's day happened this month, many different types of chocolate had been on the market and Ethan Siegel, Nasa columnist and science writer, wrote an article to explain the secrets of the delicious dessert. Siegel explains the science behind creating the perfect chocolate. There are actually six different crystalline structures chocolate can take on and there is one specifically that is the chocolate everyone knows and loves. It can be difficult to reach this structure as many name brand chocolates can’t even achieve it. Siegel explains to his audience, those who make chocolate or who are just interested, a simple process on how to create the best chocolate and scientifically why it is the best. In order to attract the attention of readers for an article about a topic most might find boring, science, Siegel utilized many different rhetorical strategies. He made his article topical, starting it and ending it with references to valentine's day. This pertains to people as we all have experienced the holiday and make connections between it and chocolate, these connections attract the reader. He also used very vivid description when describing “ the rich, creamy, shiny-smooth flavor and texture of a perfectly prepared chocolate.” This description makes the readers who enjoy chocolate feel appeal towards his words, this also puts a very clear image in the reader’s mind which makes it much more enjoyable to read. In the intro to his article, he listed all of the terrible problems that can occur when making chocolate, such as it turning out, crumbly, lumpy, or waxy. He then explains with a reassuring tone how he will explain how to avoid these things. Switching from a horrified tone to a comforting one makes the reader feel the need to keep reading so they can learn how to avoid the horrible mistakes. I feel these article was very effective, it informed me of the science behind my favorite dessert. I would have never of known otherwise how complex this sweet really is.

TOW # 17 The Surgeon Will Skype you Now

Surgery is something everyone has experienced, whether going under themselves or helping a loved one needing surgery themselves. It’s scary enough as it is with the all the possible risks, so would having a robot doing the surgery make you less scared, or more? Since the 2000s robots have been used to perform surgery on patients and it is become more and more common as technology advances through the years. In her essay, The Surgeon Will Skype You Now, Alexandra Ossola explains the benefits and disadvantages of having a robot remove a tumor, for example, as opposed to a doctor’s own hands. Ossola, a science writer who has contributed to many science journals, wrote this article for anyone who was interested in newer technology, a reader does not have to understand how surgery or robots work in order to read this. She uses a helpful strategy in order for every possible reader to understand. When writing in terms common people do not typically know, she will explain in ways they do. Ossola explains what’s required for robot surgery, “uncompressed video streaming requires a bandwidth of at least 2 megabits per second (that's less than it takes to stream a high-definition video from YouTube).” Using term such as megabits can mean nothing to a reader, so explaining the concept through youtube allows every reader to understand the concept. This helps allow her article to be accessible to a wider audience. Although this is an article, it uses visual devices to emphasize points to the reader. After explaining all the benefits of robot surgeons, there is a break in text and three big words in bigger and bolder letters, “There is lag.” This acts as a transition from only speaking of the benefits to taking both sides into account. Only bolding the three simple words shows how simple the problem for robot surgeons is, it’s the same problem any reader has while trying to watch Netflix. Not only does this device provide emphasis and transition to the problem, it connects the problem to the reader. I believe this article achieved its purpose, as someone who only has a basic understanding of science and technology I still completely understood and was invested in this interesting article.

IRB Post #3

This marking period I am going to read Bassoon King, a memoir by Rainn Wilson. I am interested in Wilson's life because he played the hilarious character Dwight on the Office and someone who can play a character such as that must have an interesting life. He also belongs to a faith I know nothing about, but this summer I visited an important temple for and would love to know more about it. The life of a famous actor has always interested me.

TOW#16 - An Unquiet Mind

Living life with Bipolar disorder, Kay Jamison explains in her memoir, leavers her with almost no control on her life. Awareness about mental illnesses has been increasing in past years, but she wrote her book to explain to people who do not have bipolar that it is much harder than they imagine. Throughout her life she has had to deal with many unreasonable people who do not treat her with the respect she deserved just because of her disorder. In order to explain this she uses her humor and writes out the sarcastic things she was thinking during an uncomfortable situation. “He broke in to ask me if I knew that manic- depressive illness was a genetic disease. Stifling for the moment an urge to remind him that I had spent my entire professional life studying manic-depressive illness and that, in any event, I wasn’t entirely stupid, I said ‘ yes of course’”(191). This quote shows how even if someone responds some way, it does not mean that is necessarily how they feel on the inside. When speaking to someone with an illness do not be fooled by their exteriors. Also, do not act as if they are stupid or underestimate them. Her sarcasm shows the reader what she has to go through throughout her entire life. Another strategy Jamison uses in her  book is quoting herself, in a way. Jamison will put quotes from her own journal entries. The entries are typically from times in her life where she was very ill, either depressed or manic. these diary entries will show the audience what being ill is actually like. It is usually unexpected by a healthy audience so it brings to light a harsh reality. I believe her memoir was very effective in helping me understand that I will never understand what having bipolar would actually be like. Using her humor and real life examples, her memoir allowed her readers into parts of her life.

TOW #15 - Maybelline Ad

Although some makeup trends can be a bit too out there for some people, concealer is a good choice for anyone. Concealer is only used for covering up small imperfections, but there are various types available on the market. This visual text is an ad from the very popular company Maybelline, made to convince older women to use this specific concealer. It’s trying to convince that this concealer is a very good choice as it has many good effects. This ad shows crows feet and fine lines, which are typically more found on older women, so this concealer is not meant for younger girls. To convince women to use this product it used many devices that would be used in a typical advertisement. Next to the actual picture of the product is logical reason for using it. It states how many years of research has been put into this product and how many patents it has. This makes the audience believe this product is fancy and has the potential to really do as it claims. If many years of research had been put into the production of this product, it must be something special. The advertisement also used contrast between using the product and an average face. The women in the ad has portions of her face using the concealer and spaces without it and there is a notable difference. This shows the concealer working and having a very desirable effect. This will make the audience want to look like that and believe the way to do it is buy this concealer. I believe this ad achieved it’s purpose. Although the woman's face is clearly photoshopped and perfect, I trust Maybelline as a company and they used convincing tactics to make me want this product. This is the type of product I would recommend to my mom.

TOW# 14 - Therapy Wars

Therapy is a very common occurrence, whether it’s for someone who has a mental illness or just for a common person, it’s helpful to everyone. Although, not many people know what therapy really is. Reading the article Therapy Wars by Oliver Burkeman, award winning journalist and writer, helps people who are in therapy or those curious about it understand two different types of therapy. There is the common form of cognitive behavioral therapy, cheap and simple ways to keep yourself happy. There is also the older form of therapy, psychoanalysis, created by Sigmund Freud, based around the idea of finding the hidden reason for your problems. Although CBT is the newer and more common method used, Burkeman offers a contrasting opinion to that CBT may not the better way to go. The language used in this article helps the author to introduce different sides of the argument. He uses strong language to explain a side of the argument. To explain the creator of the psychoanalysis method, Freud, he writes, “arguably no other notable figure in history was so fantastically wrong about nearly every important thing he had to say.” The strong words used in this quote show the that the author leaves no room for debate in this quote, he believes this is a definitive side to the argument. The author also uses rhetorical questions. These questions leave room for the reader to rethink their own opinions. Burkeman is not trying to convince the audience that one form is better than the other, he is just trying to supply a different outlook. These questions force the reader to take what the author is telling them into account. I believe he achieved his purpose. I had only ever known of CBT therapy I did not know there were other ways for it to be done. Although I will stick with it, this article taught me that there are other possible ways of doing things.