Revised Statement of Purpose

I would like to make the following revisions to my statement of purpose.

“I would like to create a digital media artifact using information about Presidential election candidates’ wardrobes, specifically the American flag pins, to argue that image and how the present themselves really does matter to undecided voters.”

 
I did a bunch of research into the past Presidential debates, but I am not sure if any of the information I've found is really helpful on that end. In comparison, I did find a lot of information about the flag pins in particular, which is very (I think) is very helpful for my argument.

I am not exactly sure the type of digital media I am going to create yet, but some ideas were a blog or maybe  digital"posters" of some kind. Perhaps I will play on the word "oPINion".

Statement of Purpose

Since the Presidential Election is so close these days, I wanted to do something political for my assignment, but not the traditional "Support so-and-so" pitch.

I noticed during the Presidental Debate on Monday night (as well as in the past debates this year) that the American flag pins the President and Govenor Romney wore were very different in size; Romney's even (supposedly) had the seal of the Secret Service on it.

For this assignment, I want to analyze each candidate's wardrobe for the past three elections' debates (9 total) in order to argue that what they wear really affects how the uncertain voters see them. I am unsure, however, what digital media avenue I would like to pursue. Possibly a blog?

Your image is everything: what you do (or plan to do when elected president) and how you represent yourself go hand in hand.

A Lesson in Argument

Frankly, I found the Lynch and Wysocki reading to be a bit redundent... this information is stuff we've gone over and over and over again; it kind of reminds me of the freshmen composition, unfortunately.

Either way you look at it, thought, the information provided is important. Formal vs. informal argument presentation styles need to be compared to see which one is most appropriate for your project.

Your argument must also be addressing a change in something, such as an action or situation. There is no use arguing in something that cannot be changed.

It is important for an argumentative (is that even a word?) document to contain the following:

1. A specific audience: who are you talking to? why are they interested in your topic/ how does it benefit them?
2. A clearly stated thesis/argument: you should state your purpose and what you hope to find and present to your audience
3. Clear, concrete and credible evidence to support your argument, to further persuade the audience to agree with your argument
4. A larger context: your argument should have some connection to a larger social context, it must be relatable
5. The mode of communucation must be appropriate to the argument itself

A Portage View

The Importance of Copyright

One thing I noticed about the reading for this blog post was that it was written by a high school student...

Anyway, copyright is very important. Without it, proper credit would never be given to the appropriate individuals who created, invented, wrote, composed or in other words produced a piece of work. In order to be protected under copyright laws, the work must be able to be "perceived, produced or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device."

I had heard about "fair use" before, but I never really understood what is meant. According to the reading, a provision of the copyright Act called Fair Use limits the copyright holder's rights in order to promote free speech and learning."

I had always associated plagiarism with copyright, but never knew that the two terms can be confused with each other. Interestingly enough, copyright law "applies mainly to the economic loss incurred due to an infringement." In comparison, plagiarism is "a crime against ethics." Teachers warn of plagiarism, as does the university, of a misrepresentation of work, or no credit where credit is due.

Also included are a list of limitations for multimedia applications:
1. Time
2. Portion
3. Motion Media
4. Text Material
5. Music, Lyrics and music videos
6. Illustrations and Photographs
7. Data sets
8. Copy and distribution

Ironically enough, although it is an example, the piece of writing properly sites her sources of information.
 I also noted this at the top: "*Permission is granted to freely copy this document in electronic form, or to print for personal use. If you had not seen a notice like this on the document, you would have to assume you did not have permission to copy it. This document is still protected by you-know- what even though it has no copyright notice."

Itsy Bitsy Bitzer

The "Rhetorical" Situation... get it? Stupid.

Lloyd F. Bitzer's The Rhetorical Situation focuses on the reasons he believes the rhetoric of a situation is just as important as the situation itself, I think...

Situations of all kinds surround us and make up every aspect of our lives. Bitzer argues that the situation calls the rhetorical discourse into existence, not the other way around. By this he means to say that without the situation (context, etc) what causes something? How does this happen?
He writes, "A work is rhetorical because it is a response to a situation of a certain kind."
He also writes that the audience of a discourse has the opportunity and power to change reality if they want to because they are "the mediators of change." Reality can be changed by the mediation of thought and action.
Again, I think what he is getting at here is that the rhetoric of a situation is just as important as the situation itself.






Halloween Cupcakes!

While workin on my literacy assignment, my sisters and I made Halloween cupcakes!
Overall great day.