Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Sears, and Target opening on Thanksgiving day for Black Friday has definitely paid off. A whopping 247 million people went shopping on Black Friday, a 9% increase from last year's 226 million. Shoppers were also willing to buy more, spending an average of $423, also an increase from last year's $398. In addition, online sales soared over 17% on Thanksgiving day, and an additional 21% increase from last year's Black Friday.
Emily Jane Fox is the author of this article, and this article is from CNN, a reliable source.
This article was important in context because it takes into consideration our own economy. This mass Black Friday shopping could have been a small step to the recovery of our economy, as stores make up to nearly 40% of their annual sales on Black Friday. With the statistics of the shoppers and money spent rising, this could be a sign of our economy recuperating from its recent recession.
The purpose of this article was to tell shocking statistics about Black Friday, and possible implications of the rise in both shoppers and the money they spend.
The text was written for the general public.
Ethos was used in order to further support the claim of the busiest Black Friday this year. Specific statistics and percentages were used to back up the article's ideas and ensure the author's credibility. Quotes from reputable and reliable people were also included.
The author's purpose of telling about the busiest Black Friday ever was accomplished. I actually worked on Black Friday, and the author's claims and statistics are no understatement. Fox's purpose of informing readers about the incredible statistics was accomplished, as they were very surprising and unexpected.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
TOW 10: Las Meninas
The little girl in the center is Infanta Marguerita, the daughter of King Philip IV. Her placement as the central figure along with her very white attire centralizes her importance in this painting. In addition, the environment behind and around Infanta is relatively dark, compared to her bright clothing. Although she is extremely young, she has many aids at her side, tending to her needs. An interesting point about this painting is that the man on the very left is actually Diego Valezquez; he included himself as painting in this picture. In the mirror next to Valezquez, there are two people's reflections, which are the reflections of Infanta's parents. Thus, it can be inferred that Valezquez was actually painting portraits of the royal couple, yet the center of attention in this painting is the young girl.
This painting used a rhetorical device of placement. Specific placement for each person was especially crucial. Infanta's location in the middle signifies her importance in this painting, as well as in the royal house as many aids are seen tending to her needs. Valezquez's placement of himself is significant, as although he is not in the center, he is still a visible figure off to the side.
This painting was initially not for the public eyes, but for the King's private office.
The painter's purpose was accomplished. As he was hired to paint the royal family, the beautiful young girl is displayed as the focal point, and his purpose of doing so was accomplished. The young girl is portrayed as pure and innocent, yet is aware about royal life she lives.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
TOW 9: Did Climate Change Kill the Mayans?
This article was about one of the biggest mysteries that surrounds us today, the end of the Mayan civilization. Anthropologist Douglas Kennett and his team of researches from the U.S. decided to figure out the Mayan enigma by looking at places where not many had looked before, in caves. By studying caves in the jungles of Belize, they were able to deduce some valuable information. The Mayan civilization was plagued with many, severe droughts which led to warfare and the break-up of political leadership. The Mayans thrived from 450 to 660, but then they were hit with droughts which led to a sharp decline in agricultural productivity. Researchers believe that these sporadic climate changes were a result of El Nino.
Jeffrey Kluger is the senior editor at TIME Magazine, and oversees reports and articles on science and technology.
This article is important in context because it showed what could happen to us, the whole world. Although we have more resources to predict the weather, these natural phenomena cannot be escaped. It is possible that we could face similar circumstances in the near future, so it is important that we take some sort of action.
Although the fall of the great Mayan civilization is known, the reasons behind the fall are not. This article was written in order to clarify the most likely reasons for the disappearance of this thriving civilization. The purpose was to list and explain strong hypotheses that researches derived.
The text was written for the general public.
The article contained pathos. It appealed to the readers' emotions by instilling a sense of fear; that what happened to the Mayans could potentially happen to us. "If you want a look at what we could face in the decades and centuries ahead, look at what one of the world’s greatest cultures suffered a millennium ago" (Kluger para 1). Although this may not necessarily have been the author's intention, his diction made me feel scared for our future.
The author's purpose was accomplished. He told the possible reasons for the Mayans' downfall in brevity and understandable terms. He added just enough information to make the article interesting, rather than bombarding us with scientific jargon.
Jeffrey Kluger is the senior editor at TIME Magazine, and oversees reports and articles on science and technology.
This article is important in context because it showed what could happen to us, the whole world. Although we have more resources to predict the weather, these natural phenomena cannot be escaped. It is possible that we could face similar circumstances in the near future, so it is important that we take some sort of action.
Although the fall of the great Mayan civilization is known, the reasons behind the fall are not. This article was written in order to clarify the most likely reasons for the disappearance of this thriving civilization. The purpose was to list and explain strong hypotheses that researches derived.
The text was written for the general public.
The article contained pathos. It appealed to the readers' emotions by instilling a sense of fear; that what happened to the Mayans could potentially happen to us. "If you want a look at what we could face in the decades and centuries ahead, look at what one of the world’s greatest cultures suffered a millennium ago" (Kluger para 1). Although this may not necessarily have been the author's intention, his diction made me feel scared for our future.
The author's purpose was accomplished. He told the possible reasons for the Mayans' downfall in brevity and understandable terms. He added just enough information to make the article interesting, rather than bombarding us with scientific jargon.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
TOW 8: Eat, Pray, Love
The last half of this wonderful book wrapped up Liz's yearlong vacation, which took place in India and Indonesia. After leaving Italy in a happy mood, she goes to India to learn to meditate and collect her thoughts. At first, she struggles as all of her thoughts are cluttered and she cannot get herself to properly meditate. However, after much practice at her Guru's Ashram, she learns to silently meditate and find peace, and that the God she recently encountered is within her own self. After her vacation in India where she establishes inner harmony, she moves on to Indonesia. She lives with Ketut, a medicine man whom she met two years earlier and promised to meet again. She teaches him English, and he teaches her everything he knows. She meets Felipe, a Brazilian man whom she falls in true love with.
Elizabeth Gilbert is an author, essayist, short story writer, and novelist. Eat, Pray, Love is a credible nonfiction text because it describes her own experiences through travelling.
This book is not necessarily important in context because it is simply Gilbert's learned lessons and experiences through her recuperation through travels. It is read by anyone who wants to read an enjoyable book on a woman's journey through different countries and the lessons she learns.
The purpose of this book was to tell her experiences while travelling. The many lessons she learned and her more intimate knowledge of her own self are described.
The text was written for the general public.
This novel contains pathos. When a character falls in love, or Liz remembers her tragic memories with David or her ex-husband, the happiness and the pain that each character personally felt is palpable. Gilbert was able to transcend words with her storytelling, and make the intended emotions easily understood by the readers. "'Beautiful woman, good woman. Always sweet for me. Never once we argue, have always harmony in household, always she smiling. Even when no money at home, always she smiling and saying how happy she is to see me'" (Gilbert 279). This simple, yet amazingly sweet statement from Ketut was able to evoke much emotion. The love that Ketut regards his deceased wife with was able to be felt by the reader due to Gilbert's beautiful reiteration of Ketut's statement.
The author's purpose of telling the lessons she learned through her spontaneous vacations, as well as her search for inner equilibrium in an enjoyable way was achieved. Through her journey in each country, she learned a little more about herself, and she was able to escape the negativity and unhappiness she encountered daily in America. She was able to liberate herself from the bonds she forced on herself and was able to find pleasure and true happiness in simple ways.
Elizabeth Gilbert is an author, essayist, short story writer, and novelist. Eat, Pray, Love is a credible nonfiction text because it describes her own experiences through travelling.
This book is not necessarily important in context because it is simply Gilbert's learned lessons and experiences through her recuperation through travels. It is read by anyone who wants to read an enjoyable book on a woman's journey through different countries and the lessons she learns.
The purpose of this book was to tell her experiences while travelling. The many lessons she learned and her more intimate knowledge of her own self are described.
The text was written for the general public.
This novel contains pathos. When a character falls in love, or Liz remembers her tragic memories with David or her ex-husband, the happiness and the pain that each character personally felt is palpable. Gilbert was able to transcend words with her storytelling, and make the intended emotions easily understood by the readers. "'Beautiful woman, good woman. Always sweet for me. Never once we argue, have always harmony in household, always she smiling. Even when no money at home, always she smiling and saying how happy she is to see me'" (Gilbert 279). This simple, yet amazingly sweet statement from Ketut was able to evoke much emotion. The love that Ketut regards his deceased wife with was able to be felt by the reader due to Gilbert's beautiful reiteration of Ketut's statement.
The author's purpose of telling the lessons she learned through her spontaneous vacations, as well as her search for inner equilibrium in an enjoyable way was achieved. Through her journey in each country, she learned a little more about herself, and she was able to escape the negativity and unhappiness she encountered daily in America. She was able to liberate herself from the bonds she forced on herself and was able to find pleasure and true happiness in simple ways.
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