Tow #11 - "In Plain English: Let's Make It Official" by Charles Krauthammer (Written text)

Appearing in 2006's Time magazine, the essay "In Plain English: Let's Make It Official" states the views of author Charles Krauthammer on whether or not English should be deemed the official language of the United States. Krauthammer argues that it should, and his personal anecdotes and acknowledgement of the other side allows him to do so effectively. Right at the start, Krauthammer introduces himself as a bilingual man who grew up in Canada, a country that, "of course, had no choice about bilingualism [...] The U.S., by contrast blessed with a single common language for two centuries, seems blithely and gratuitously to be ready to import bilingualism with all its attendant divisiveness and antagonisms" (Krauthammer 1). He establishes a credibility by explaining his upbringings in a country divided by language, and contrasts it to the US which is ready to tear itself apart by bringing in this bilingualism, even though they have this opportunity to be united under one language. He then goes on to explain his view completely; that it is okay to be bilingual and practice other languages, but it is not okay to demand the U.S. government adhere to that language. When immigrating to the U.S., "the immigrant, of course, has the right to speak whatever he wants. But he must understand that when he comes to the U.S., swears allegiance and accepts its bounty, he undertakes to join its civic culture. In English" (Krauthammer 2). He makes a compelling and logical argument by appealing to the other side. He does not say, "You need to speak English fluently, and English only", which may be the fears of many opposing the term official language in regards to the relationship between the United States and English. He basically says, "You need to understand enough English to participate in our society, where our official documents will be printed in English." This argument in nothing but logical and cannot be refuted. Charles Krauthammer effectively argues his opinion that English should be the official title of the United States though personal anecdotes and addressing the other side of the argument in "In Plain English: Let's Make It Official."

Tow #10 - "Test-Tube Burgers" by Michael Specter (Written Text)

Michael Specter, a journalist for the New Yorker who focuses on science, technology, and global public health, crafts his essay "Test-Tube Burgers" in order to argue the beneficial effects of cultured meat versus the detrimental effects of harvesting meat from livestock. He effectively crafts his text through the use of chronological logod as well as drawing out a disgusted sympathy for the animals from the readers. He begins with the initial development of cultured meats, or meats produced through "tissue engineering", when biologist Alexis Carrel demonstrated, "that it was possible to keep muscle tissue alive outside the body for an extended period" (Specter 2). This was the beginning of cultured meats, which Specter goes on to argue has numerous benefits over livestock. He pushes the detrimental effects for the future if Americans continue to raise and chemically alter animals for slaughter. After explaining the environmental effects of raising livestock, like the rise in green house gas emissions or the absurd amount of land inhabited by these animals, Specter proves that "the ecological implications are daunting, and so are the implications for animal welfare: billions of cows, pigs, and chickens spend their lives crated, boxed, or force-fed grain in repulsive conditions on factory farms" (Specter 2). As Specter channels his inner PETA, he draws up the age old emotional factor; these animals are not being treated as living beings, but are instead being objectified. This idea guilts the readers into favoring cultured meat, where no living creature is harmed in the production of this food. He sums up the essay by stating research-based facts: "one study, completed last year, by researchers at Oxford and the University of Amsterdam, reported that the production of cultured meat could consume roughly half the energy and occupy just two per cent of the land now devoted to the world's meat industry" (Specter 4). Specter points out that if the environment is such a large concern to everyone around the world, why would they not support the production of cultured meats that could reduce the carbon footprint humans leave on this Earth? Through brilliant chronological logic and strong emotional appeals, Michael Spencer convinces New Yorker readers everywhere that cultured meats are the future and livestock is a thing of the past.

IRB Intro #2 - "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

"In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote was recommended to me by Ian and Mr. Yost because my favorite type of book is creepy thriller. The book recounts the murders of the Clutter family in 1959's Kansas. I hope to realize that in order to enjoy books of this type, they do not necessarily need to be fictional or written by Stephen King.

Tow #9 - Political Catoon, Visual Text

Political Gates, a blog dedicated to exploiting the harsh minimum wage, uses "The Minimum Wage Job" image in order to give the reader a visual representation of treatment of minimum wage workers. The word "POVERTY" is boldly stated across the image, and it can be inferred that the man carving out the V is a minimum wage worker, doing the only work while the standing above him screams down at him. The author cleverly uses juxtaposition between the two men to enhance the message that minimum wage workers are treated unfairly. The man below is clearly malnourished, his arms nothing but single lines, whereas the man standing above is obviously not missing any meals. This comparison by placing the two men near each other enforces the idea that minimum wage workers are less privileged compared to the upper class. This image also appeals to symbolism in order to convey its message of unfair treatment. The man standing above, clearly the oppressor, resembles a vulture. Vultures are known for their nature: to prey on the weak for their own personal gain. This drives home the idea that the bosses of minimum wage workers take advantage by underpaying their workers so they can obtain all the profit themselves. Sarcasm is another prevalent idea portrayed in this political cartoon. The man yells, "Keep working, it's the only way out!" to the worker, while the worker keeps digging down and burying themselves farther into poverty. This is sarcastic because its a meaner form of irony; while the man is working harder to survive and have an income, he is only digging himself a larger hole he would have to climb out of. This political cartoon is extremely effective, especially today on this very controversial subject, because it portrays the thought of many socialists that the minimum wage needs to be raised and the workers need fairer treatment.

TOW #8 - IRB Post #2

Throughout The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls employs many rhetorical devices effectively to help her tell the story of her life, specifically life with her father. The Glass Castle is brimming with symbolism, the most evident of that being the actual idea of a glass castle. Ever since she could remember, her father promised her that when they struck gold and became rich, he would build her and the family this glass castle. No matter where his crazy shenanigans took them all around the country, building this glass castle was always the ultimate goal. This childhood idea shared between Jeanette and her father showed her belief that her father was a hero and could do the impossible. Towards, the end of the book, when he tells her he is dying, he says, "'Never did build that Glass Castle [...] Those were some damn fine plans" (Walls 279). Even though they never got to build it, the castle symbolizes that her dad would have given her the world if he could have. Even though the dream was lost, it is truly the thought behind it and the fun they had planning it together that counted. It was symbolic of the building of their relationship and the indestructible love shared between a father and his daughter. Imagery is another factor that aided Walls in the formation of her story. It plays a huge part in getting her emotion across to the reader. An example of this is when her father is walking her to the train station to leave for New York, and he would, "make a tocking sound with his tongue as if I were a horse and he was urging me on. It seemed to make him feel like he was doing what a father should, plucking up his daughters courage, helping her face the terrors of the unknown" (Walls 240). He then gives her a parting gift, "his favorite jackknife, the one with the horn handle and the blade of the blue German steel that we'd used for Demon Hunting" (Walls 240). Her description of the way her father acts shows the audience that she realizes her father is at least attempting to be a good dad and that he loves her. The description of the  jackknife is again another form of symbolism, showing that she will take her childhood ( the "demon hunting")and her father with her into adulthood, which helps the audience see that she loves her father too. Symbolism and imagery are two huge factors in The Glass Castle that help Walls in describing her life and the bond between her and her father.