Video "Texting while Driving"

I watched "Texting while Driving Documentary. The Last Text." It was about teenagers who text while driving and don't think of the dangers of it. A simple text such as "yeah" or "Where r" can take away someone's life. The video was sponsored by AT&T to remind teens or anyone who likes to be texting and driving to stop, it can wait for later; especially for those who are "comfortable" doing so. The video showed three teens of whom experienced or knew someone who had an accident. The first story was about a girl, named Ashley, who passed away after sending her last text to her sister. Her sister now feels guilt and wishes she could tell Ashley sorry. She passed away a day before her graduation. The second story was about another teen named Mariah. At age 19 she passed away while texting and driving as well. Many people loved her especially her mother who misses Mariah. They miss her a lot that they even decide to celebrate her 19th year birthday to remember her. The third story is about a young guy who experienced an accident while texting and driving. He got hurt and was sent to the hospital. Now he can not do simple things like walk or even button his own shirt because of that text message. At the end of the video I came to realize that texting and driving is not worth it. It is always better to wait because death can happen, a loved one or family members may be emotionally hurt, and guilt for the person who texted the driver can be experienced. The video was made to make us emotionally react to it by showing us pictures of real life experience, and family reactions to the accident. Pictures of the destroyed car after the accident is another way to make us realize that this could be us, and no one knows if we will make it alive or not.

In Class Lab: How Things Mean

Peace Sign Buttons:

What do they suggest?

They suggest to have peace, and make love rather than war.  With one widely known sign for peace it can get the message across easier.  The slogan: “Make love, not war,” is widely known and provides a unified message of anti war, as well as suggesting a replacement for war.  These replacements being things such as love, art, and peace.

How do they suggest it?

They suggest these ideas by the famous slogan, as well as the widely known peace sign.  Making buttons and other campaign advertisements etc is a great way to get the word out and give the message attention.  

Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

The first button is overused and has been used for a while, and not as powerful on its own.  All it states is “Peace” which is a good message in its simplicity, but does not give a clear argument or stance.  However, the second button provides a clear stance or message to add on to peace.  It provides an alternative for war.

Symbols of Patriotism:

What do they suggest?

They suggest that their given countries are really great. They express pride in their country, and they want to cultivate that pride in any citizen who sees it. Each image represents a different ideal for that country, strength, power, toughness, and perseverance through time.

How do they suggest it?

The bald eagle is a symbol of freedom and power, and stamping the american flag over its face suggests that America is strong and free like a bald eagle. The bulldog looks tough and strong in a similar way, and showing it with the British flag connects Great Britain to the power and toughness of that animal. The French image shows France’s famous motto, “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite,” engraved into what looks like the side of a building. This motto comes from the French revolution, identifying France with the democratic ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Visualizing this saying engraved on a wall shows that it will last a long time, saying that France’s ideals will last through time.

Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

Each visual shows something highly identifiable with a citizen of that given country. As an American, I know that the bald eagle is a huge symbol of my country and my country’s power and leadership. Likewise, the British flag and famous French motto are like that for a British or French person.  

Thesis: These images want to inspire patriotism by connecting symbols of their country to symbols of power, toughness, and perseverance.

• The bald eagle is a symbol of strength and freedom, and is connected to America by pasting the American flag physically on the eagle
• The bulldog is standing on the British flag,like a protector, embodying the toughness and strength of the country
• engraving the motto of France into stone represents the perseverance of the country, saying that their ideas and strength will never fade
• The peace signs are also a classic American message that convey the idea of positivity and love in place of war.

Reading Sources Critically

Reading Sources Critically

1. What arguments does the author make?

Tim Wise has one position, the position that states that all white people simply don’t have the right to use ‘the n word.’  His argument states that he does feel a similar way when outsiders use the term ‘redneck,’ because he could be considered one, though the term redneck isn’t nearly as offensive as the n word because of its history.

2. How persuasive do you find the argument?

Tim Wise’s argument was very persuasive because his tone wasn’t necessarily demanding or angry sounding, the whole argument was laid back, relatable, and laughable.  It was this way so much so that it didn’t seem like an argument, though it was persuasive enough to get his point across.  Tim Wise paraphrases a conversation with a student who states; “Well my black friends use it... ...why can’t I use it?  It is a double standard to say!” Where Tim replies: “Well yeah, but history has been a double standard so get the hell over it”  This is a very laughable way to talk about it, but still gets the point across loud and clear.

3. What is the author’s stance?

Tim’s stance is honestly the only valid viewpoint.  The only other stance would be the one that states racism is okay, which is so unacceptable that there isn’t a point to argue it from that stance.

4. Does the publisher bring a certain stance to the work?

The “publisher” here is Boston College, the host of Tim Wise’s lecture. Boston College has had a division dedicated to diversity, the Office of Institutional Diversity, established since 2004. This program’s mission is to “ through effective management of our diversity, is to create a competitive advantage for the University, and at the same time to help us live out the social justice imperatives inherent in our Jesuit and Catholic heritage.” It is clear that they are trying to bring diversity into their school, shown here and in the fact that they hosted Tim Wise at all.

5. Do you recognize ideas you’ve run across in other sources?

Some of us have personal experience with this situation, and we find that it varies person to person who will be offended by that word. How offended an individual person will be will greatly differ depending on your relationship with them, and how they personally feel about it.  It also depends on the culture you are from, and where you are in the world. However, it is agreed that in general, you shouldn’t use that word.

6. Does this source support or challenge your own position--or does it do both ?

We agree with the position taken in the video. If someone or some group is being offended by the use of that word, it is right to respect their opinion, especially since we are not a part of that race and culture.

7. What can you tell about the intended AUDIENCE and PURPOSE?

The audience is intended to be for anyone who is not black. The main purpose is to talk about the use of the “N” word, more specifically how it should not be used. The historical connotation of that word is too strong for anyone other than black people to use it and not be inherently offensive. A person who’s not a part of that racial group doesn’t have the right to use that word.

Group Exercise pg66

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bUSEb5nmGQLiv2EokImiaQFy6saGrm9IOiJgsevzXuc/edit?usp=sharing

Think About the genre 


Exercise for p 62.

• I had to take a position when it comes to what to do after school or after work
• What movie to watch in the movie theater when I am with friends
• At what time to get home
• At what time to see my boyfriend
• Informal Survey: Not a lot of people who are around me take a different position. It's usually  weekly.  

Writers Blog: Using one of the readings from this unit

Literacy: A Lineage by Melanie Luken 

Paraphrase:
Melanie Luken began focusing the most on her writing during the end of High School, when she discovered her love for poetry. During High School she would take English classes and would join literacy magazine. After High School her enjoyment for literacy grew. So she started taking English classes in College as well, such as Beginning Poetry, Intermediate Poetry, Honors 598, which than lead to her improvement in reading and writing. While taking these classes, she has learned that authors have to stand criticism and only focus on comments that can be beneficial for them. At this time her father would support her as well giving her feedback on what to do to continue to improve. One of the things her father recommended for her to do was to ignore criticism and to believe that she is a better poet than her father has ever been.  (134-135)


Summarize:
In Melanie Luken's essay, A Lineage, she explains how literacy can be more than just learning how to read and write. Literacy has become a family tradition for her and has noticed that parents can influence or encourage their children to enjoy reading. (135)
         Literacy is generally known as the ability to read and write. My definition of literacy is:                      the ability to read, write, and understand within a tradition. For me, this is a familial 
         tradition that has permeated my literacy experience. Parents have an incredible power to           
         influence their children through their own behaviors and attitudes, and it is certainly true
         that my father has impressed upon me his own attitude towards literacy and literature. 
         Now, every time we talk he asks me, "What are you reading? What do you think about it?" 
         We talk about what each of us is reading, as well as our thoughts and impressions. 
         In this way, the tradition continues. 


Quote:
From the essay, A Lineage, the author Luken believes that Literacy is just like learning a new language. In the similar ways as not being familiar with it, which can be difficult to quickly learn, but as we progress, with time, we will get better at it.
"I believe that my choice to major in French is also rooted in this tradition of language and Literature. Studying a foreign language can, at times, be just like learning how to read and write as a child." (135)

In Class Lab Ads 10/22

In Class Lab Ads 10/22

1.       Who published these ads?

PETA, Freedom For Animals, Mercy for Animals, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

2.       Who are these texts intended for?

Freedom For Animals ad seems to be intended for women, as their ad parodies a woman’s hair ad. Mostly they seem to be targeted at average consumers. Mercy For Animals specifically wants people to not go to Walmart, so their target audience is probably people who go to Walmart.

3.       How can we tell that?

Freedom for Animals is mirroring what popular hair care ads for women look like. The Mercy for Animals ad specifically targets Walmart, so you can infer that this ad would be for people who go to Walmart.  

4.       What is the purpose of these texts?

They all want to stop animal cruelty. The Freedom for Animals ad specifically targets animal lab testing, PETA ad is against wearing fur, Mercy for Animals wants to stop/improve the farm animal conditions cruelty that Walmart is doing, and American Society’s ad is trying to inform people of domestic “pet” animal cruelty, and trying to get people to adopt a dog in need.

5.       How do they seem to be working towards that purpose?

Most of the ads are focusing on our emotion response to anime cruelty. The Mercy For Animals ad show a pig locked up in bad conditions, asking it’s audience if we support that. PETA’s ad shows a man with what we infer to be his dog. It makes us think of how we love our pets, and uses that emotion to make us not want to wear animal fur. The Freedom for Animals ad shows a woman with “luxurious” hair, but also with a wound on her scalp. The ad tells us that this is what happens to animals that are being tested on. Ethically, we think it’s wrong to hurt people, and they say that this is what happens to 300,000 animals every year. The American Society ad shows a cute dog, and has text that appears to be coming from the dog. The way they phrase the dog’s “speech” makes the dog seem innocent and child-like, so we feel bad about what happened to him. This emotional response makes us want to help dogs that are abused.

6.       What evidence from the texts can you provide?

The phrases and images mentioned in #5.

7.       Can you come up with that would indicate what the ads do as a group?

All kinds of animal cruelty is wrong, and you don’t even know that it’s happening.