Documentary Rhetorical Analysis 3

1. In Bully, Hirsch draws a clear connection between bullying and suicide. Using the two deaths of Ty and Tyler, Hirsch makes a claim that death is a common result of bullying. At first, the tearful interviews from the parents and testimonies of their peers had me in agreement with Hirsch. His outstanding utilization of pathos made his claim very legitimate and credible. However, upon further research, Hirsch's claim was a little skewed. The documentary made it clear that the only reason for Tyler's suicide was bullying. Students said that his head was smashed into lockers, his food was spit on, and he was called terrible names. However, after police officers re-watched one of the 42 video cameras located around the school, the one that was near Tyler's locker, there was no head smashing. In addition, Hirsch left out a major detail about Tyler; he was diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and Asperger's. This major omission skews the details to make it seem as though bullying was the only factor of Tyler's suicide. However, research shows that both Asperger's and bipolar disorder have a strong link to suicide. This information must be taken into account in figuring out the motives behind Tyler's suicide. Yes, Tyler may have not been treated kindly at school, but his victimization is not the only factor in his suicide. Hirsch's claim that Tyler's suicide was solely because of bullying makes it much more powerful to the audience. However, relevant details should also be included. Tyler's bullying was probably a large factor in his suicide, but, other major pieces of information, such as his mental instability, should be taken into consideration. 

2. Modern modes of communication, such as films and documentaries, have been positively received by the community. They are utilized as ways to share information. In this case, the rising issue of bullying in schools was shared. It shares to the audience the often unseen reality of bullying. This mode of communication has been positively received, as seen through Bully's awards and many screenings at high schools. This documentary was used as a modern mode of communication to raise awareness of and gain supporters to stop bullying. 

Bully took on the challenge of portraying one of the biggest issues in society today, bullying. This hour and a half documentary, filled with testimonies, interviews, and actual scenes of bullying reflect the rising concern of this issue in society today. This documentary is a reflection of society as it takes and targets a hot and widely concerned issue in our present society. 

Documentary Rhetorical Analysis 1

1. Bully. Dir. Lee Hirsch. Perf. Alex, Kelby, Je'Maya. The Winstein Company, 2011. DVD.
Bully is a documentary about bullying in schools. It follows the lives of three students, Alex, Kelby, and Je'Maya, all victims of bullying. It includes interviews from the victims and the victims' families, day to day lives in school, and steps taken to end bullying. This documentary makes clear the lack of initiative the schools have taken to end bullying. Through ignorance and even denial, the superintendents and teachers are strong contributors to the continued bullying that the students face. Truly allowing the audience to feel the pain and difficulty the victims endure, we gain a deep understanding of the horrible reality of high schools and push us to strive for change. 

2. One of the rhetorical devices used by Hirsch is perspective. Specifically using the observational mode, the camera does not intrude on the happenings of the scene. When Alex is on the school bus and getting cursed at and physically harassed, the cameraman does not interfere. Instead, he shoots from a "fly on the wall" perspective and allows the events to happen. In order to create an ordinary environment, one which Alex faces everyday, the cameraman does not budge in. This allows the bullies to harass as they always have been, and allows the audience to view the crude scene of bullying that is commonplace in high schools nationwide. This use of perspective truly gives a wake up call to anyone that denied the existence of bullying in high schools, as the whole scene of hurtful remarks and physical abuse unfolds before their eyes. 
Another rhetorical device used was editing. Including interviews from the victims and their families in casual settings, the interviews were segments of the documentary that generated much emotion. With the victims and their families revealing their true feelings of hurt, pain, and sadness, these emotions were able to transcend the screen and allow the audience to feel them, too. Carefully placed in between the documentary, the interviews had a large impact on allowing the audience to understand how terrible bullying is and how it must stop. Seeing those young children contemplate suicide and self-harm, and actually revealing such horrible feelings, really urges us as the audience to fight for change. 

Bul

TOW Reflection

A noticeable trend in my TOWs is the shorter summaries. In the earlier TOWs, the summary of each article was rather lengthy, totaling about 8-10 sentences. However, the summary of my more recent TOWs has been cut down to about 4-5 sentences. In addition, my more recent TOWs pertain to the hot issues of today. The more recent articles have been on issues that spark many debates, such as abortion, North Korea's nuclear threat, and relationships between students and teachers. Whereas my earlier TOWs focused largely on scientific breakthroughs or interesting health articles, I took a larger focus on global issues and the back-stories behind the hottest news of the day on my latest TOWs. For example, I read an article that was not seen often in the news; the Cleveland police department's failure to rescue the kidnapped girls earlier. Rather than focusing on news exclusively in the United States, I also read some articles on foreign nations, such as Peru and North Korea. This interest in the affairs of foreign nations arose after studying more recent history in APUSH. As much globalization occurred in the late 20th century and I studied this extensively in class, it allowed me to foster an interest for not only what happens in America, but also the events in other countries.

While reading many articles and novels and analyzing picture documents, I mastered spotting rhetorical devices. Even while skimming through a text, I am able to determine and point out specific rhetorical devices that the author used, such as subtle ethos or explicit parallelism. Because of the wide variety of documents I analyzed both in class and through TOWs, my eye for rhetorical devices has been very well sharpened and put to good use.

Every author has a specific intended audience for the article. Although a wide variety of people may read it, the author targets a specific group. However, determining the targeted audience is difficult. It is easy for me to believe that the author wrote the article for the general public, but every author has an audience that he wishes to strongly impact. Now determining exactly who that audience is, is a task that I am attempting to master.

It is impossible to cover every single article of every single genre in class. In order to create a sense of responsibility as well, TOWs are assigned to broaden the scope of our knowledge. The articles we chose to read and the pictures we chose to analyze benefit us with a wider exposure to many different genres and topics. Although the intended meaning was not necessarily this, TOWs are also extremely beneficial to the SATs, as many of the articles we read can be easily used as examples to supplement our argument. In addition, the TOWs also allow us to analyze more in-depth and spot and identify rhetorical devices easily and quickly. Time is precious, especially during the AP exam, and our weekly practice of analyzing gives us needed practice. Also, the requirement of a TOW on a picture document  is very helpful. The synthesis essay in the AP exam almost always has a picture or graph as one of the sources, and our exposure to analyzing pictures in many different ways allows us to identify the author's purpose for using a specific color, specific positioning, etc.

These TOW assignments benefited me in that I was exposed to a wide array of news. I learned information that I would previously not have purposely sought out. I also learned many new rhetorical devices, as well as gained further knowledge on how authors strategically use them to achieve a purpose. However, the fact that I have the freedom to choose articles is also a downside. As I usually choose articles that interest me, I seem to remain in the genre that I am most interested in. For example, I don't really follow basketball or football, so none of my articles were on sports. I would have gained an even wider range of knowledge if different topics were assigned for me to research and write about.

TOW 30: Doctor Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Philadelphia Abortion Case

With abortion as one of the most controversial topics right now, this article was a major letdown for the pro-choice party. Dr. Kermit Grosnell was determined guilty of first degree murder in his abortion clinic in a rough area of Philadelphia. He is accused of performing countless abortions after the legal 24-week stage, cutting the spinal cords of newsborns, hiring no professionals, including a teenage student, to perform operations, and reusing supplies to cut down on costs. His clinic had not been inspected in many years, and it was described as a "house of horrors."

This article is from CNN, and written by Sarah Hoye and Sunny Hostin.

This article is significant in context. It has given much credence to anti-abortionists, while slandering the cause of the pro-choice group. This article sheds light on the harsh and illegal practices of abortion, and shows that Grosnell is not the only doctor practicing such murders.

The purpose of this article was to tell a shocking story of a doctor performing illegal abortions, way after the limit on when abortions can be done. The article further reinforced how controversial the topic of abortion is.

The audience of the article is the general public. As most Americans take a general stance on the issue of abortion, this article affects both opposing sides. It lays out the harsh reality behind abortion, and also reminds the audience that Grosnell is not the only one doing such illegal things.

A rhetorical device used in this article is description. In order to get across the horrendous things that Dr. Grosnell was doing in his office, his charges were explicitly outlines. His accusations of reusing supplies, severing the spinal cords of newborn babies, and hiring un-registered, inexperienced workers to perform serious abortion operations were very clearly and descriptively outlined.

The author's purpose was achieved. The article clearly explained the case and went into detail, allowing the audience to gain a complete understanding of the case.

TOW 29: Cleveland Police Criticised as City Asks: Why Were Women Not Found Sooner?

Although the media has been bombarding us only with the good news of rescuing the three young woman after ten years of captivity, there is a small detail that it has missed. The Cleveland police was called multiple times after multiple reports of strange happenings at the location where the young women were, and the police even personally visited the house two times. This has led to widespread criticism for the police department's lack of care, that they were unable to detect that there were three kidnapped women in that very home.

The article is from The Guardian, written by Tom McCarthy in the U.S. and Ed Pilkington in Cleveland. Both are reporters, and The Guardian is a credible source.

This article was significant in context. With the recent news of the three young women being found after ten long years, this article tells of and criticizes the police department's failure to recognize that there were women being held at the house they visited several times.This article tells a slightly different story than the ones that are being told on the news.

The purpose of this article was to reveal that although the news of the rescuing of the women is great, the police are partially at fault for not rescuing them sooner. Even after many different reports and calls to the police department to check out the strange home, not enough was done by the police.

The audience of the article is the general public, as this article aims to tell of a minimally known fact behind this case.

In order to gain credibility that the police had failed to properly act, the article utilized ethos by including testimonies from those that had actually called to report strange behavior at the house. Several people were quoted and they told of what they had witnessed and that they had called. This usage of direct quotes was used to get across the message that the police had not taken the reports seriously, which led to the prolonged stay of the three women at their kidnapper's home.

The author's purpose was achieved. The police department's failure to act quickly and efficiently was displayed as several people testified that they had called. In addition, this article was interesting in that the news and media sites did not tell of such a backstory but instead only revealed the happy reunion of the women with their families.

TOW 28: When Your Data Wanders to Places You’ve Never Been

Did the thought ever cross your mind that the short surveys or questionnaires you fill out are being sent to numerous third party companies? Well this is what happens when you answer personal questions; your personal data will be sent out to companies you have never ever heard of. Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia suggested a policy that he calls Do Not Track which would allow computer users to turn on settings to prevent their personal information from being sent to third parties. However this policy does not protect the details that companies have gotten of thousands of American adults.

This article comes from The New York Times and is written by Natasha Singer.

This article is significant in context. This article sheds light on the many ads that bombard our Internets about filling out a simple questionnaire in order to win an extravagant prize or the seemingly harmless act of filling in private information while paying for online merchandise. The information that people had believed to be useless or did not think twice about is coming back to haunt them. For example, one woman took an interest in multiple sclerosis and she suddenly began to receive pamphlets about the illness and began to be associated with the disease.

The purpose of this article was to tell of the far-reaching effects of disclosing information. Even something as small as signing up to receive emails from a favorite store can link a person with his private information, which can be shared. This article also told of some attempts at progressive measures, as shown through Rockefeller's Do Not Track policy. 

The audience of this article was the general public, but especially those that utilize the Internet frequently. This article serves as a warning to those to be more careful about the information they choose to disclose, or the topics they choose to search. 

The rhetorical device of tone was used in this passage. Singer utilized a more casual and conversational tone in this article, as opposed to a very serious or urgent one. The reasoning behind using such a tone may be as this information may come off as bit of a shock (it did to me), she lessens the blow a bit by adding the measures that are in the process of being taken. If she utilized a tone that sounded very serious, this information would come off as an even bigger issue.

The purpose of this article was achieved. Singer was able to warn readers about the effects of disclosing information on the Internet, while preventing total commotion and shock by including the steps that are being taken to stop the disclosure of information.

TOW 27: PRY: The danger of dismissing North Korea’s nuclear threat

With the commotion around North Korea and its nuclear threat, this article provides a fresh perspective on the whole issue. It criticizes Obama's administration for greatly downplaying the threat the North Korea poses. The government has been minimizing and even denying the existence of North Korea's nuclear missile threat. However, the article argues that Obama should follow in the footsteps of previous presidents Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson and instead warn the people of a potential threat. America must realize that North Korea poses a huge threat and instead of denying this fact, be proactive about this threat.

This article comes from The Washington Times and is written by Peter Vincent Pry.

This article is significant in context. With America's intense fear of terrorism, this threat is an explicit example. In order to coax the citizens into thinking that everyone is safe and sound, the government has been denying the existence of a threat, when in reality, North Korea has great potential to cause harm. This article gives readers a glimpse into the reality of things by exposing that North Korea actually does pose a threat with its nuclear weapons program.

The purpose of this article was to criticize the Obama administration for its lack of truth on the issue of North Korea. The article urges and argues that the president should be proactive, pointing to John Kennedy's presidency in which he created ICBM programs to deter the Soviet Union from escalating the Cold War into a full out nuclear war. Like Kennedy, Obama should be more proactive and create ways in which to prevent North Korea from launching its weapons.

The audience of this article is the general public, but primarily Americans. This article reveals the flaws of the Obama administration specifically during this crucial time.

The rhetorical device of ethos was utilized in this article. In order for people to believe the point that the government of the United States is incorrect and that one writer is correct, Pry provides many examples of evidence. First, he references a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency report that states that North Korea does have ballistic missiles and expands upon this fact by stating that the administration is attempting to conceal it. In addition, he refers to previous presidencies to show the positive effects of being proactive and launching programs to prevent nuclear war. He also refers to events during the Cold War with the Soviet Union in which America was able to swiftly avoid a full out nuclear war by creating and enacting programs.

The article's purpose was achieved. By clearly getting  across the point that North Korea does in fact pose a threat to not only America but other foreign nations, Pry instills a feeling of urgency and determination to overcome this issue.

TOW 26: Blasts at Boston Marathon Kill 3 and Injure 100

In one of the most celebrated events in America, a tragic event struck the Boston Marathon. During the marathon, two bombs were struck. This led to a large commotion where many immediately responded to those that were hurt. Although officials are currently unsure about whether this was a terrorist attack or not, President Obama said that he will ensure that the one behind this horrific crime will feel the full weight of justice.

The article is from The New York Times and written by John Eligon and Michael Cooper.

This article is significant in context. Shortly after the shock of the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School, another horrific murder story erupted. This article will most likely have significant implications, such as tighter security at a marathon. The United States is currently in a state of shock, and this article explains the specific details of this happening.

The purpose of this article was to give a detailed account of what happened at the Boston Marathon. With direct quotes from witnesses, this article gave the audience a good understanding of what happened. Also, there were many photos to help the audience further understand and visualize.

The audience of this article is the general public. Undoubtedly, foreign nations will take this happening into event and tighten their security on such public events. This article may also instill fear some people from ever running a marathon.

A rhetorical device utilized in this article was description. Taking direct quotes from witnesses that experienced the effects of the bombing first hand, the article allowed the audience to visualize what happened at the bombing. Also, the article provided a slideshow of explicit pictures. This described what happened at the marathon without using any words. In addition, the effects of the bombings were told in great detail.

The purpose of this article was achieved. The audience was able to be informed of what happened at the marathon, and predict the possible implications that this tragic event may hold.

TOW 25: Medical Report Says Fujimori Currently Doesn't Have Cancer

The former president of Peru, Alberto Fujimori is an extremely controversial figure. He had shocked the global community with his corrupt crimes during his presidency, however, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He requested a pardon from current president Ollanta Humala and  he is still pleading the case that he is suffering from cancer. However, medical specialists have said that he is suffering from depression and that his previous cancerous region is no longer cancerous. The release of his health report has sparked a large debate on whether he should be pardoned or not.

This article is from The Peruvian Times, a news outlet specializing in telling the most updated news in Peru.

This article is somewhat significant in context. Whether Humala agrees to pardon Fujimori or not is a decision being anticipated by the global community. However, whether he is released from prison early or not does not have a significant impact on Americans.

The purpose of this article was to release the reports that said that Fujimori was no longer suffering from cancer. Attempting to generate sympathy for this ex-president, the article included details on his severe depression and that he is on the verge of suicide.

The audience of this article is the general public, but especially the Peruvian people. Many Peruvians had Fujimori as their president at one point, and they may either hate him or love him and this article keeps the people updated on his status.

A rhetorical device utilized in this article is ethos. Utilizing evidence from Fujimori's health reports, as well as direct quotes from those involved in his trials and other officials, the article got across the point that a pardon may not be in the foreseeable future.

The article's purpose was achieved. Although it included details of his severe depression, the article was objective as it did not explicitly support a pardon for Fujimori. Instead, it laid out all the details and what other officials were saying and allowed the audience to generate opinions on this issue.

TOW 24: Robert Nixon Political Cartoon

This political cartoon is of former President Robert Nixon in reference to his Watergate scandal.

The Watergate scandal erupted and removed Nixon from the Presidency. It was basically one in which Republicans were caught planting microphones in the Democratic party headquarters. Initially, Nixon said he had no connection with this incident, but it was discovered that Nixon had tape recordings of all the conversations in his Oval Office. After many refusals, Nixon finally gave the tapes to the Supreme Court where it was discovered that Nixon had been aware and ordered a cover-up. This political cartoon depicts a serious Nixon with large headphones on that is connected to each star on the American flag. This essentially symbolizes that Nixon is listening to and pays close attention to what each state is doing. Because of Nixon's illegal intrusion of privacy by allowing such snooping to be done, Nixon's potential to hone in on and eavesdrop conversations is exaggerated in this cartoon. Nixon's obvious wrongdoing of snooping on the Democrats' conversations is exemplified in this cartoon.

A rhetorical device of color is shown in this cartoon. As everything is in black and white, including the American flag, this cartoon displays a sort of somber ambiance. Because of this embarrassing scandal that shook America, America was having a difficult time closing the credibility gap between the people and the government. In addition, the complicated tangle of wires from the headphones to the states parallel the complicated mess that Nixon found himself in.

The cartoon was intended for the general public.

The painting's purpose was accomplished. The message emphasizing Nixon's wrongdoing of allowing illegal eavesdropping is clearly depicted in this cartoon. America's upset response is also displayed through the usage of only black and white.

TOW 23: Softball Coach Accused of Sending Team to Find Him Dates

Now, this is not one of those typical stories about a teacher abusing his power to take advantage of high school students. Instead, a softball coach, Troy Hennum, took advantage of his softball team by sending them on "scavenger hunts" to find potential dates. One woman, Kat Aagard, who was the woman that the team found for Hennum, decided that this was not okay and told Roosevelt High School's principal, and Hennum has left his position.

This article is from ABC News, a very reliable source.

This article was significant in context. As the stories we hear about the inappropriate teacher-student relationships, this article was a bit strange in that it did not follow that storyline. However, using a team as a coach to find potential girlfriends is just as inappropriate, and raises awareness of the wrong things that are happening inside schools.

The purpose of this article was to tell of a strange event of a softball coach being accused of taking advantage of the team for his own benefit.

The audience of this article is the general public. However, educational administrators may be more interested as they are now more aware of the things that can happen between teachers and students. They may take more precautions against such events, and possibly tough up teacher/coach positions with stricter rules and regulations.

Ethos through pecific quotes were utilized in this article. Word-for-word text messages between Hennum and Aagard were displayed in this article. These direct quotations proved that the coach had taken advantage of the girls to meet a girl. These quotes provided evidence for this case, and made the article more credible. 

The author's purpose was achieved. It told of a strange, yet true story of a coach taking advantage of his leadership position. This article raised awareness for such inappropriate events and will hopefully reduce or prevent them from happening again. 

TOW 22: Scientists Report First Cure Of HIV In A Child, Say It's A Game-Changer

It is a known fact that HIV is an incurable virus, whose rapid growth can only be curbed with rigorous medication. However, the story of a 2 1/2 year old baby tells otherwise. 30 minutes after she was born, she was diagnosed with HIV, and it was inferred that her mother had had it and received no medical care. Immediate treatment was given to the baby, within 31 hours of her birth, which is much faster than when other infants get treated. In addition, more doses than normal were given to the baby. After months of treatment, the virus was no longer detected in the baby's blood. However, the mother suddenly stopped bringing her child in for checkups. After last seeing the baby at 18 months, Dr. Gay located the baby when she was 2 1/2 years and she expected the worst. However, there was absolutely no trace of the virus in her blood. Gay believes that this phenomenon can be explained by early and aggressive treatment. 

This article is from NPR, written by Robert Knox. He has written many articles on public health, medicine and science and also done extensive research on HIV/AIDS Africa, North America, and the Caribbeans. 

This article was very significant in context. The disappearance of the HIV virus from the baby's body is a tremendous step towards the fight against HIV in newborns, and hopefully and eventually the fight against HIV in adults. As HIV is becoming more prolific yet there is no cure, this major finding will hopefully be an important stepping stone towards the cure.

The purpose of this article was to tell of a groundbreaking event in medical history; the cure of HIV. 

The audience of this article is the general public, however, those affected by HIV may be the main audience. Those with HIV may find strength and hope from this article, knowing that one day, a cure may possibly be found. This breakthrough event gives hope for the future, that a cure for HIV may be discovered.

Ethos was utilized in this passage. Because of this remarkable and unbelievable story, valid information was necessary to back it up. With quotes from various doctors such as the main Dr. Hannah Gay, Dr. Luzuriaga from the University of Massachusetts and Dr. Persuad from Johns Hopkins, this event was verified and proven true. In addition, a very detailed account of what specifically occurred, such as the testing and type of medication given was stated. In order to gain the audience's trust, Knox included many quotes and specific information to construct a reliable and trustworthy article.

The author's purpose was achieved. With specific facts and evidence, Knox created a very credible article that discussed a breakthrough event in medical history. This discovery may provide hope and inspiration from current HIV victims to look forward to a brighter day when a cure will be found.

TOW 21: World War II Political Cartoon

This political cartoon is from World War II with no specific illustrator.

During World War II, there were numerous drafts to account for the many men that went away to or died in battle. Because of the large absence of males, women were forced to fill in these void roles. This political cartoon depicts just this; women dressed up in largely male attire saluting in loyalty to their country. The short but impacting text reveals that women "served," or worked jobs to assist those in battle. The soldier in the corner is clearly smaller than the women; emphasizing the importance of the women during this time. The men were able to enter battle and fight because of the assistance and professionalism from women. The three women also all have short, cropped hair, to equalize their presence to males. As women were still fighting to be treated as equals during this time, they desired to show their capability to work just like men, and they did this by attempting to be physically similar to males.

The rhetorical device of placement is emphasized in this poster. The man in the corner is obviously not the main figure in this painting, as the women's roles are being exaggerated and prioritized. However, this also goes to show the growing role of women. Without the females, the men would be unable to fight in battle because of the lack of uniforms, ammunition, or other necessary supplies. The role that women were playing during this time were crucial, and this is reflected through the strategic placement of the men and women in this picture.

This painting was intended for the general public. It may have been, however, specifically aimed at females, to encourage their presence in the workforce and show their growing importance and need.

The painter's purpose was accomplished. Depicting women as strong and capable most likely pushed women to play a bigger role in society to aid the men that would be unable to fight without their help. The strategic placement of figures helped further emphasize the women's roles in society.

TOW 20: Pastor Apologizes to His Denomination for Role in Sandy Hook Interfaith Service

After the shocking event that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, many would reason that families of the victims and the whole community would come together. However, a Lutheran pastor named Rob Morris was heavily criticized for his participation of a joint worship in which he gave the benediction at the large memorial service held after the incident. Rev. Morris apologized for his "false teachings," and explained that his work was not one of worship, but of community service.

This article comes from The New York Times, published by Sharon Otterman.

The article was not too significant in context. Although the apology may seem like a shock, that facilitating a vigil service would deserve such backlash, this article included a sincere apology from Rev. Morris.

The purpose of this article was to tell of an incident in which the people under the Lutheran denomination were offended that Rev. Morris had seemingly gone against his teachings and gave a benediction at a worship with many other religions.

The audience of this article is the general public, however, those under the Lutheran religion may have impacted the most. Reading Rev. Morris's public apology may ease their tensions towards him. In addition, the audience for this article could have been those who were offended by and confused about why Rev. Morris was getting so criticized by his Church, as reasoning is provided; the Lutheran Church does not allow joint worship with other religions because such participation may give off the false impression that they are endorsing a Savior other than Jesus.

This article exudes ethos. In order to let the audience know that the content in this article is credible, many quotes from different sources were used, such as the main pastor from the Lutheran church. It also included direct quotes from Rev. Morris's apology. To gain credibility and show that her content is reliable, Otterman included direct quotations.

The author's purpose was achieved. Otterman summarized the criticism that Rev. Morris received as well as the reasoning behind it. She also included his public apology so that any misunderstandings would be erased.

TOW 19: Does it "get better" for bullied or bisexual youth?

With the issue of bullying growing to be a serious, nationwide issue, this article brings some hope. The overall incidences of bullying for being lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) decreases significantly after high school, as research as shown. Over half of teens from ages 13-14 are bullied for being LGB, but this number is drastically reduced to 10% when they are 19-20. However, this number did not drop for gay/bisexual males as males were more than 4 times more likely to report bullying at the end of the study.

This article was written by Georgiann Caruso, a CNN Medical Producer.

This article was important in context. Bullying is a very serious issue that has caught the attention of many schools, and this article displays studies that have been done on it. Although bullying seems to decrease after high school, it still continues to persist for males. This issue of bullying and the effects it has on the victims must be heard and learned about in order for it to stop.

The purpose of this article was to tell of a study that was performed in the UK on the statistics of students who were bullied for their sexuality, and whether this continued after high school or not.

The text was written for the general public. This is an article that can appeal to a large audience as even those who have no direct correlation to the topic of the article can be informed of the bullying that goes on. The LGBs may also read this article and gain hope that the bullying they are enduring now is most likely going to end after high school.

The article does not contain any conspicuous rhetorical elements, as most of the article consisted of results from the study performed and their implications on the future of LGBs.

The author's purpose was achieved. Through giving details on the study, Caruso was able to raise awareness on the growing issue of bullying, as well as possibly make people feel sympathy for LGBs. The fact that they are two more times as likely to get bullied is a horrible fact, and this may induce readers to become more open-minded and treat LGBs exactly the same as heterosexuals.

TOW 18: With River Blindness, 'You Never Sleep'

Voluntarily rubbing a red-hot machete up and down one's back was not an uncommon sight where river blindness was rampant. This disease, technically known as "onchocerciasis," is a rare tropical disease where one gets infected by flies. Getting bitten by one these infected flies will lead to its reproduction in the person's  body. Severe side effects can occur, such as blindness or intense itching when the worm dies. The rubbing of the red-hot machete was a practice to eliminate the itching, along with pouring boiling water on one's body, or even breaking a clay pot and using the jagged shards to itch. Great efforts have been made for the elimination of this disease, such as Merck's generous donations of a vaccine called "ivermectin," which kills and paralyzes the worms. Social consequences have occurred, as those infected are isolated. Because of this, marriages have been confined to those in one village so incest has been on the rise. Total elimination of this disease in Uganda by 2020 is a goal that will hopefully be achieved.

This article was written by Elizabeth Landau from CNN News.

This article was important in context. It tells of an underrated disease that is inflicting major harm on many people in distant countries. Pharmaceutical companies are already in action, donating medication. It tells the audience that such diseases are still widespread in developing countries, and it raises awareness that we can all do something to help.

The purpose of this article was to tell of an unfortunate disease that is widespread in Africa. Its negative effects on the physical body as well as the social consequences were discussed.

The text was written for the general public, but those in the health or pharmaceutical industries are probably going to be most impacted by this, as they hold some power to be able to bring positive change to these areas with medication and vaccines.

Pathos was used in this article. Landau wrote about one particular man named Semanza who had river blindness. He was isolated from his own family, and no one would approach or befriend him because of his skin from excessive itching and the flies that flew around him. After using invermectin, he gained happiness as well as a wife. This inspirational story really impacted the emotions, as it shows the positive, life-changing effect of one vaccine. It was also upsetting to realize that because Uganda is still a developing country, these vaccines are not widespread and are only available through the donations of large pharmaceutical countries, which probably compelled many people to do something to help.

The author's purpose of telling about the river disease was accomplished. Her usage of pathos to appeal to emotions, as well as her facts and real-life stories all contributed to our further knowledge of a majorly underrated disease that is currently impacting many in Africa.

TOW 17: The Kiss (edited)

This painting is called The Kiss by Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt. He was an Austrian symbolist painter, with most of his works revolving around the female body. One of his most prominent paintings is the one above, The Kiss. Canadian artist Charles Moffat claims that The Kiss is "widely considered to be the greatest painting ever, better than even the Mona Lisa” (Gaylord para 8). The fact that a professional artist considers this painting to surpass the world phenomena, the Mona Lisa, is an amazing feat that goes to show the talent and aesthetics that Klimt was capable of.

The Kiss was a breath of fresh air after Klimt’s previous paintings were initially negatively received by the public for their “perverted excess.” The Kiss was different in that it was able to portray the passionate love between a man and woman without explicit images, but rather doing so subtly and discreetly. This painting displays a man and a woman embracing and engaging in a passionate kiss. The color scheme utilized in this painting portrays a happy ambiance around the couple with the widespread use of yellow, a bright and cheery color, clearly capturing the main focal point of the painting. Although the bodies of the couple are not explicitly shown, their closeness to each other symbolizes how a kiss has the power to unify two people as one. The isolation of this couple with no other visible people represents an ideal world, in which love has the power to overpower all other distractions. The placement of the couple on a colorful meadow filled with flowers again contributes to the gay and joyful emotions that love evokes.

Klimt's rhetorical device of color scheme was very unique. After further research, it was discovered that Klimt had used fresco, mosaic techniques, and oil painting in this work. Several different methods were used to create this painting, symbolizing the different schemes necessary for the different interpretations and evocations of love. The varying colors utilized in this painting portray the diversity of love. Love is not something that can be easily summed up in one word, and the complexity of the colors and techniques used goes to show that love is a complicated yet beautiful idea.

The painting is for the general public. However, it mainly appealed to the specific group interested in Klimt’s art because of his unique style. A large portion of his paintings contained erotic images that were referred to as “pornography”, which was not a concept that many accepted. In addition, many in the art industry gained their inspiration from this specific painting and his other works. The Kiss served as inspiration for other painters, such as Rudolf Fila and Egon Schiele. It has also been the source of inspiration for Christian Dior’s 2008 spring-summer collection and a Japanese band’s album cover. Klimt’s widespread influence of his paintings reveal the large network that the painting impacted, far beyond his intended audience.

The painter's purpose was accomplished. Klimt managed to create a beautiful painting displaying the idea of love through a kiss, without using graphic images. His use of different colors and textures added unto the complicated idea of love, while maintaining a neat and concise painting that was able to appeal to the mass audience.

TOW 16: Aaron Swartz, Tech Prodigy and Internet Activist, Is Dead at 26

Aaron Swarth, a brilliant computer programmer and Internet activist, was found dead in his apartment on Friday. He was going through a difficult time as he had publicly exposed 4.8 million documents from the MIT database, as he believed they would be beneficial for the public to know. He could have faced a fine of $1 million, as well as 35 years in prison. His trials were to begin in April. Police had determined that he had committed suicide by hanging in his Brooklyn apartment. Swarth was a brilliant young man who had developed Reddit, the Internet sensation in Internet politics, as well as Demand Progress, the Internet activist group.

The article was written by Sam Gustin, a reporter from TIME that writes on business, technology, and public policy. TIME Magazine is a credible source.

This article is important in context. It displays the far-reaching effects of a not-perfect American judicial system that has the ability to make people do extreme things. Swarth's family believed that the decisions from the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney and MIT contributed to Swarth's suicide. This article will hopefully be a stepping stone towards a more reliable and fair judicial system.

The purpose of this article was to tell of the recent death of Aaron Swarth, his successes, and the possible implications behind his suicide.

The text was written for the general public, however, it would probably gain the most interest from Internet activists and supporters of Swarth's works.

Parallelism of words and clauses was used in the article. Gustin writes, "'Aaron’s insatiable curiosity, creativity and brilliance; his reflexive empathy and capacity for selfless, boundless love; his refusal to accept injustice as inevitable...'" (para 4). Beginning each clause in a similar way brings more attention to the words that describe Swarth. Using such complimentary and praising words to describe Swarth make the reader feel more sympathy for his death, and how a valuable life has just disappeared.

The author's purpose of telling the incredible successes of Swarth, along with the possible reasoning behind his death was accomplished. After reading, it was evident that Swarth was a highly intelligent young man with much potential to grow as a leading Internet activist. However, he was suffering from depression as well as a looming trial case, which could have heavily contributed to his death.

TOW 15: Ohio sheriff confronts protesters in football rape case

An Ohio officer was put under much fire after it was discovered that he had seen a picture of a young woman tied by her ankles and wrists, and watched a footage of several teenagers joking about an assault. In order to protect the local football team which the two teenagers responsible for the assault participated in, the officer brushed the footage away and simply said that the young boys were being "stupid." The protest of about 1,000 people urged the officer, Fred Abdalla to be taken off the force. They also passed around the microphone and shared their stories of rape. The two teenage boys will be tried under juvenile terms.

The author of this article is Drew Singers, and it is from Reuters, an international news agency. It is a credible source.

This article is not necessarily important in context, as it simply tells of a group of peoples' unhappiness with the way a sheriff handled a case. However, it can be a large warning for other officers and sheriffs on how they should handle similar cases in the future, to take footage and evidence more seriously and not brush them off so easily.

The purpose of this article was to tell of a sheriff's attempt to approach the protesters and try to tell his side of the story. 

The text was for the general public.

Pathos was used. "The protest's masked leader ... invited up to the makeshift stage anyone who was a victim of sexual assault. Protesters immediately flooded the platform, which was slightly smaller than a boxing ring" (Singers para 11). Having the protesters come up and share their difficult stories is an example of pathos. In addition, those willing to share was a large number, as described by its size as "slightly smaller than a boxing ring. Although this may have been a tactic used to make Abdalla feel guilty, it is still a strong use of pathos to include this small detail in the article. It gives the readers something on an emotional level to connect with, and it may even persuade the readers into supporting the protesters on their rally against Abdalla.

The author's purpose of telling the sheriff's attempt to exonerate himself, as well as the protesters' rally, was achieved. Although more background information was told, it still included a good amount of what the protesters were doing and saying.