TOW #19 - Article: "Getting In" by Malcolm Gladwell

1. My writing and reading goals for this TOW are to successfully identify rhetorical strategies and devices that the author uses to achieve his purpose. Also, I want to choose a particularly challenging, possibly lengthy, piece of text to construct my TOW from.

The process of college applications and admissions looms over the shoulders of juniors in high school like a dark, stormy, stress-filled cloud. However, Malcolm Gladwell recalls a time when his young, Canadian self applied to college in ten minutes. By simply filling out a sheet, selecting his top three choices, and sending it off, his college admissions process was done. He got into the University of Toronto, his number one choice. Gladwell acknowledges the simplicity of the Ontario educational system.
However, the emphasis of this article is not the author's breezy transition to college, instead the selection process of Ivy-League schools in America. Gladwell states that sociologists have separated the selection process into two types: treatment and selection effects. He gives a real-life example of both to provide his audience with deeper understanding: "The Marine Corps, for instance, is largely a treatment-effect institution. It doesn’t have an enormous admissions office grading applicants along four separate dimensions of toughness and intelligence. It’s confident that the experience of undergoing Marine Corps basic training will turn you into a formidable soldier. A modeling agency, by contrast, is a selection-effect institution. You don’t become beautiful by signing up with an agency. You get signed up by an agency because you’re beautiful." Gladwell gives these examples to ensure that his audience is provided with certain background knowledge that will become essential to his argument later in the essay. By utilizing this information, the author will go on to create an analogy: "At the heart of the American obsession with the Ivy League is the belief that schools like Harvard provide the social and intellectual equivalent of Marine Corps basic training... The extraordinary emphasis the Ivy League places on admissions policies, though, makes it seem more like a modeling agency than like the Marine Corps." Gladwell, through extending his analogy of the admissions process, brings to light the proposal that Ivy League school may be more like a modeling agency in theory. Gladwell is arguing that one gets into an Ivy League school because he is already smart. The fact that one attended such school does not make him smarter than a person that did not attend an Ivy League, Gladwell argues.
Through his effective use of analogy, Gladwell conveys his strong discontent with the Ivy League schools admissions process and makes a call to action to society to create a system where schools provide the best education possible, not extract out high school prodigies.

TOW #18 - Article: "10 Ways Your Awkward Teenage Years Prepared You To Kick Ass In The Real World" by Amanda Scherker

The "10 Ways Your Awkward Teenage Years Prepared You To Kick Ass In The Real World" is an insightful, and humorous take on the positive consequences of the infamous "awkward stage" that everyone is bound to endure, most likely in their "tween" years. Accompanied by comical GIFs with each reason, one though ten, author, Amanda Scherker, connects to her audience, who are familiar with the clips presented in the GIFs; these include everything from Winnie the Pooh, to Spongebob, to RuPaul's drag race, to Napoleon Dynamite's notorious dance scene. 

Scherker uses enumeration of these reasons to provide a sense of order and concreteness to her argument. This strategy also allows the reader to move quickly enough through each point without getting bored. Enumeration lets Scherker present her argument in an orderly fashion, without wasting space, and keeping her audience interested. By putting the summary of the reason, an image, and then deeper analysis Scherker gives her audience the option of how much they wish to get out of her article. A reader may choose to watch only the GIFs, or read every word. This is an extremely important strategy for Scherker because she writes for The Huffington Post, an internet-based news site. Many people who use The Huffington Post use it for its convenience. Scherker makes her post attractive becuase it is fun and Interactive. The way she has organized it allows the audience to decide how much information they wish to take in. 

Although Scherker's article is extremely humorous and relatable, she backs up her reasons with solid evidence, provided through studies. Her reason #6: "Your geekiness might have helped you avoid juvenile delinquency," Is supported by stating: "A 2009 publication from Sweden's Orebro University found that the same shyness that made you a high school wallflower also made you less likely to to engage in risky behavior, like alcohol use and "one-night stands." Her material is not only valid, but hysterical. Not to mention this assertion is followed by a GIF of McLovin attempting to buy alcohol for Michael Cera and Jonah Hill. 

IRB Intro #3: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is an autobiographical tale of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution. This book is about her life from ages six to fourteen, while rebels were overthrowing the Iranian government. Satrapi incorporates strong black-and-white images to provide visuals on her life in Iran. Persepolis is a coming of age novel for Satrapi, but more importantly, the book provides insight on her life that became entwined with Iran's history.

TOW #17 - Visual Text: The Onion; "Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard"

In this investigative news story reported directly from The Onion. The Onion is a satire-based news source. In this particular video, The Onion satirizes the company Apple and their constant strand of new products.
The product introduced in this video is the "Macbook Wheel". Basically, this product is the same as a Macbook Pro. However, the Macbook wheel lacks something very essential to the laptop: a keyboard. This product pokes fun at the Apple's notorious obsession with touchscreen appliances; the iPod touch, the iPhone, and the iPad are all exclusively touch screen. The Onion over-exaggerates Apple's love for buttonless technology by removing the keyboard from a computer. In the video, a Macbook Wheel "expert" appears on screen and walks the audience through the "easy" steps to type something. It is obviously extremely tedious to use the wheel to type. However, the man instructing the audience on how to use the wheel insists that the process "couldn't be simpler." He then goes on to state "Everything is only a few hundred clicks away." The Onion has successfully satirized Apple's obsession with touchscreen technology. The expert insisting the wheel makes using a laptop easier is clearly delusional and adapts the persona of an apple-fanatic, willing to look past obvious flaws committed by Apple and insist everything they do is great and almighty.
This same persona is adapted by testimonial-givers. Specifically, one who states: "I'll buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by Apple." Apple has an extremely strong fan base and here, The Onion is satirizing the wide-eyed innocence and gullibility that these fanatics portray, by their willingness to buy anything made by Apple.
The Onion is not only mocking Apple for their touchscreen obsession, but also fans of Apple who buy their products without thinking about the functionality.

TOW #16- Visual Text: Huggies Advertisement

Huggies is one of the world's most recognized diaper brand. Huggies' parent company Kimberly Clark has been around since the 19th century and have a strong consumer market due to their use from generation to generation. Huggies is already established as a credible diaper company. This leaves room for their advertisements to play with emotion and reasoning to attract consumers. 

In this particular advertisement Huggies toys with humor as a rhetorical device, specifically satire. The ad reads: "Don't irritate your new boss." Joining the quote is a picture of a baby, meticulously groomed to resemble the typical wall-street type of man: Big collar, slicked back hair, rolled up sleeves - think Tom Cruise as Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder. The image is extremely satirical. It's strongest attribute is the humor of the baby. Obviously, the baby is not a corporate boss. However, babies, have a notorious tendency to become the boss of the house due to their infantile needs, even though it is unintended. Also, the term "irritate" can make mothers cringe. This phrase is a double entendre. "Irritate" can also indicate a rash or irritation of the baby's skin. This would cause even more crying and attention focused on their "new boss." 

The Huggies brand does a fabulous job of appealing to their wide demographic of mothers through this advertisement. Because Huggies has established credibility through years of successful diaper sales and satisfied mothers and baby bottoms, the advertisement (rightfully) lacks an appeal to ethos. Nevertheless, the humorous baby steals the show. The hilarious image successfully appeals both to pathos and logos. A baby should not be irritated by diapers, therefore buy huggies and your "boss" will not be irritated, making the mother's life easier. 

TOW #15- Article: "Anchor Management" by Jonah Weiner

Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 News Team have already changed nightly network news forever - what does Burgundy have in store for this hilarious sequel? Jonah Weiner shadows Will Ferrell for a day on the set of Anchorman 2 in this article for Rolling Stone. Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrel's self-described favorite character is - or rather was - the anchor of the Channel 4 News team in San Diego until his girlfriend, Veronica Corningstone stole his spotlight. Many members of his team, including stars such as Steve Carrel and Paul Rudd's characters have gone in directions other than news. That's where the second movie picks up and that's where the author of this article, Jonah Weiner, joins the cast and crew in filming. 

Weiner moves chronologically through his day, starting with different takes on the set. The entire article is less of an investigation and more of an appraisal of ingenious director Adam McKay and Will Ferrel's improvisational and writing skills. "In Ferrell’s hands, Ron is as indelible a portrait of puffed-up American masculinity as our culture has mustered: “At first glance, you think he’s really self-confident, but he’s such an insecure guy,” says Ferrell. “His confidence supplants knowledge.” Anchorman’s director, Adam McKay, who wrote both movies (and runs a production company, Gary Sanchez) with Ferrell, says, “That’s stuff we both love: guys who project great authority and competence, but behind it there’s just f***ing chaos, incompetence, derangement or pure self-interest.” " Weiner's use of humor and quotes from people on and off the screen provide his audience with varying perspectives that are usually unattainable to the average movie-goer. It's safe to say that Anchorman 2 will be a huge success. Weiner has showed his readers a behind-the-scenes look at the key figures involved in making this hilarious movie possible. 

TOW #14 - Article: "Encouraging Economic Report Reveals More Americans Delusional Enough To Start Their Own Business" - The Onion

The Onion proudly refers to itself as: "America's Finest News Source." Readers of The Onion quickly realize the entire news source is drowning in satire; almost nothing factual or newsworthy is every written on The Onion. In a period of Economic rebuilding, America is coming out of a recession and many "real" newspapers report on the country's economy. The Onion has written a completely satirical article about Americans "delusional" enough to open a new business in this economy. The article is bluntly titled: "Encouraging Economic Report Reveals More Americans Delusional Enough To Start Their Own Business." This news source relies entirely on sarcasm and satire to reach their readers in this article. Throughout the article facts are sprinkled in between long satirical rants in attempt to make the article appear credible. For example: "The report, which described its findings as “highly encouraging for near-term economic growth,” confirmed that over 200,000 small businesses were founded in 2013 by entrepreneurial Americans who have completely and utterly lost their grip on reality, and noted that the number of bold and frankly insane Americans applying for new business permits had risen markedly over the past year." While the onion provides laughs to its readers, it is not a credible source. The article also exemplifies extreme bias towards its arguments: “Every day, we’re seeing more entrepreneurs who are deluded to such a degree that they are confidently investing their entire life savings in new and unquestionably ill-fated restaurants, storefronts, and online businesses.” The author of this article simply does not provide enough evidence to support his harsh claim. It is obvious that The Onion does not want to be a credible news source. Their satire and sarcasm work hand in hand to create a news article that has some - if very little - relevance in life.