Weird

It didn't let me use the urls for my images. I will post them in the forums.

Speak (Visual Argument)

If you can use your voice, someone is listening.


''Don't Speak.'' Photo. pizzadreams.deviantart.com. 14 Dec 2006. 17 Dec 2009.
<>

''Mouth and Speech Bubble.'' Photo. atglos.co.uk. 17 Dec 2009.


Wilson, Amy. ''I Have a Voice''. Photo. talentedapps.wordpress.com. 8 Jun 2009. 17 Dec 2009.


Rodriguz, Nayeli. ''Sewn Mouth''. Photo. slate.com 23 Sept. 2008. 17 Dec 2009.


''Mask Mouth.'' Photo. aceshowbiz.com 02 Oct. 2008. 17 Dec 2009.

I love it when I can't sleep. I'm so wide awake right now, it's not even funny. It's 12:46 am in my neck of the woods, and all the sane people in my house are asleep.

So, I have decided to update my blog.

My research for the paper is coming along. Slowly, but progress is being made. I'm finding that alot of the sources available at my (three) local libraries are very repetitive. I'm hoping to start reading some personal accounts soon, though.

This week has been so stressful. Nothing turned out the way it planned. I'm hoping God had a reason for that.

I'm also dealing with a lack of motivation.

Any ideas for help with that?

PS. If you want to recommend any books, I'd love it :)

Phone-free?

This weekend, I've decided to go phone-free. We'll see how long I last (I have a bit of a texting problem.), but I think that it might be good to just pretend I don't have a phone and let all the problems be dealt with by someone else for a change. Does that make sense? For certain people of course (family) I will still answer the phone. But, I think it might be good to just get some perspective and gain some healthier boundries in other relationships.

The other thing is that reading for this paper has been a very challenging experience. I've had some experience with eating disorders, so it's been pretty emotional, but the history of anorexia and bulimia is actually pretty fascinating. So, I've been torn. I want to read it because a) I have to and b)it's interesting, but I don't because it's brought back some unwanted feelings and emotions.

Soldier on. Closure, here I come.

Something Isn't Right.

I have a huge lack of motivation this week, it seems.

I am trying to put the finishing touches on my bibliography and get some major reading done for my paper, but so far it just hasn't been my week. On top of that, I am fighting off some sort of bug and I haven't been sleeping very well...

GAH!

What to do, what to do?

I Am A Terrible Blogger (and Research Paper)

I have not really been doing much here, have I?

I've been so overloaded with school work and a TON of family stuff, I have been neglecting this. My apologies. I need to make a note in my planner (aka my life) to blog. Even if it's just about my frustration! haha.

Anyway, I have decided to my research paper on Eating Disorders-anorexia, bulimia and bingeing- and the way they are presented in today's culture. While I feel that there are lot of places to go for information about eating disorders, I don't feel that those places are easily accesible. I am not finished thinking this through all of the way, but I feel that something needs to be done to bring more awareness to this issue, and to help people before it's too late. I didn't even hear the word 'bulimia' until 'Entertainment Tonight' did a story about Mary-Kate Olsen several years ago.

This issue is very personal to me, so I'm hoping to help myself with this paper as well.

Let me know what you think!

Assingment 3- Ethos Ad

Above is an ad for the Food Stamp Hotline. It's from the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.

The ad appeals to ethos by showing President Obama. Many people trust the President, they respect his character. He's a role model to many people, they listen to what he says. This ad makes people feel a little more hopeful. It's purpose, I believe, is to make people feel better about needing assistance by showing that everyone does at one time or another. Even an important person like the President. By showing an image of him, it shows food stamps in a better light.

Assingment 3- Pathos and Logos Ad

Above is an ad for the World Vision foundation. I believe this ad appeals to Pathos and Logos.

The ad says''In the developing world, one child dies every three seconds due to poverty.'' The intent is to make the reader upset in order to get them to do something about it. What does World Vision want us to do? Give them money, of course. The ad also says ''As a Child Sponsor, you can help provide life's essentials like safe, clean water, healthcare, nutritious food and education.'' This ad aims to get an emotional reaction (pathos) by stating the facts (logos).

President Obama's School Speech

I had heard a little bit of the negativity surrounding the speech beforehand, but I, as they say, ''let it go in one ear, and out the other.'' It was important to me to go in with no opinion, and form one as I watched.

Personally, I think it was great. It was inspiring and informative. He used all of the argumentative strategies we had just been reading about in our books. One of the best parts of his speech was when he was talking about his own experiences. He definitely made himself relatable. He also used real-life examples like Michael Jordan (someone many people respect and admire) to drive home the importance of perseverance. To hear someone as important as the President encourage me to never give up and tell me that it will one day pay off was great.

The best part of watching the speech was looking at the students that were present. It made me laugh to see how some of the students were texting the entire time, whispering with other students or looked just plain bored. The President of the United States of America is speaking at your school. Wake up!

Assignment 1- Visual Argument

Above is an ad for Axe Body Spray. The ad features a scantily dressed young woman, and the tagline ''spray more, get more.'' It is clearly aimed at young men. It argues that by using Axe Body Spray, you will be more attractive, more irresistable to women.

I disagree with this ad. It underestimates the intelligence of both men and women by suggesting that the way a young man looks, or in this case, smells, is what matters most to young women. Also, that looking (or smelling) nice is all it takes to attract a girl. Ads like this are insulting to young men and women, and it sends the wrong message.

Unfortuantely, many companies take this approach to get the attention of the youth in america. Sadly, in many cases, it works. The world is constantly telling young people that outer beauty, money and status are the most important things, and this ad suggests that a can of body spray will bring us one step closer to achieving them.