Ann Romney's and Michelle Obama's Speeches

        Both Michelle Obama and Ann Romney’s speeches hit home with almost everyone. They described their love for their husbands, battles in life while growing up, and how they not only enjoyed those moments but pushed through them to fulfill living the American Dream. The speeches were both geared to let America know that they need a president who will make the tough and necessary decisions to get the country back on its feet. I believe that both Ann and Michelle had effective speeches using the rhetoric, however, I leaned more towards Michelle's speech.  She played heavily into pathos, letting her stories and life chip away at the hearts of her audience. She used ethos ever so slightly to remind the public of who her husband represents by mentioning the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. As far as logos, I did not see any usage. In a way I found this effective, as she chose not to brag about statistics but prove the love her family has for each other, and the American citizens; whether they are Democratic or Republican.  Michelle actively kept the audience engaged with the way she would interact as she spoke. It felt like Michelle let the words naturally come to her making her relate to the audience not as a superior but as an equal. Ann too delivered an amazing speech, however, when she spoke it almost seemed to be forced, too rehearsed. She too emphasized the majority of her speech on pathos. When she mentioned that "moms hold the country together" she hit home with many women. Ann's use of logos was mentioned when she said that Romney reduced unemployment by four percent. When it came to ethos Ann fell short, as I did not see any usage in her speech. I did not have an opinion about either of the speakers before their speeches, as I choose not to get involved with politics. I enjoyed both of their speeches, but, in the end I related more to Michelle Obama due to her public speaking skills, where I believe that Ann Romney fell short. 

The Web Means the End of Forgetting

            In the article “The Web Means the End of Forgetting,” Jeffery Rosen unveils the horrors of what mindless posting on the internet can do to tarnish one’s reputation for life. Rosen states that 500 million internet users are members of Facebook and 100 million members on Twitter. He puts into perspective how often people post and how much information is being shared on these platforms alone. With social networking sites, people are constantly updating their statuses and sharing photos with one another. It brings to mind that many people, who post, are doing so in the heat of the moment. People’s news feeds are filled with pictures of their friends drinking their lives away, partaking in illegal activities, and complaining about their jobs and bosses. Rosen explains the damaging effects that this can have on a person. He shares the story of Stacy Snyder, who posted a picture of herself drinking captioned with "Drunken Pirate," and how she was denied her degree to become a teacher. it is scary to think that jobs are now checking into their employees social networking accounts, but they want to get to know who they are hiring to see not only how they are in a professional setting but in their own personal lives as well. This can be a dangerous territory to cross into, because while you have control over what you post, you cannot control what others say about you.  The problem with this is once something is on the web, it is always there. You do not know who has viewed or saved conversation threads or photos, and if they resurface can be damaging to your credibility as a responsible person. Rosen made many valuable points in the article and he meant to make people think twice before they put anything on the internet, it is just a matter if they choose to listen or not.

Rhetorical Precis: Kent Haruf

Rhetorical Précis

In his article “Writers on Writing”, Kent Haruf explains that, he, like many writers have certain habits that they follow through their writing process. Haruf develops his claim by describing the environment he surrounds himself in, what he writes with, writing his first draft “blindly”, and finally expanding on his original draft. His purpose is to show his take at the writing process in order to let the reader know that everyone has their own way of writing that will work best for them. Haruf seems to be writing with an underlying tone of humor geared towards those who have not yet found their own writing habits.

Rhetorical Precise-Chapter 1

Rhetorical Précise

            In "Chapter 1" of Choices 2.0, Jon Hardin asserts that successful writers plan, draft, review, and proofread. Hardin explains the importance of the writing process with descriptions of prewriting, drafting, revising, proofing, editing, the rhetoric, the rhetorical triangle, and the three appeals. His purpose is to inform the reader that in order to write successfully, one must utilize the writing process. Based on his tone and language, Hardin appears to be writing to an audience with some knowledge of writing.

Rhetorical Precise-Introduction

Rhetorical Précise

            In the chapter "Introduction," Jon Hardin asserts that with hard work, motivation, and knowledge, a person who feels they have no natural ability to write, often excel at it. Hardin explains that effective writing typically requires hard work by stressing the importance of planning, revising, and grammar. His purpose is to enlighten the reader that in order to become a successful writer, one must make conscious choices about their writing. Based on his tone and language, Hardin appears to be writing to an audience with some knowledge of writing.