TOW #13: Nothing Good Gets Away

     The concept of love is not one well understood as there are twists and turns that cause stress and frustration. Although this may be true, many may not experience the love mentioned above as there are often times where the cliché that the "sparks flew" can apply. Young love is not always defined as legitimate as immaturity and inexperience surround these assumptions, but that does not necessarily  mean that legitimate young lovers do not exist. John Steinbeck, a critically-acclaimed author, wrote a response letter to his 14-year-old in boarding school regarding his young son's first love. Instead of being a critical father analyzing his son's life choices, he resorts to being sympathetic and caring toward this budding relationship.
     An aspect of his response letter that effectively represents his purpose in being supportive is his fatherly tone. Steinbeck believes that in a relationship, one should "be very glad and grateful for it." This is important as it shows that many people do not take relationships as seriously as they should. He is advising his son to protect this relationship and even break the stereotype that says that young lovers are not responsible enough to be in a committed relationship. He also says that love "is the best thing that can happen to anyone" and to not "let anyone make it small or light." It is very possible that people will make assumptions and say that being young and in love does not mean anything more than having fun. Because Steinbeck is married and has kids with his wife, he understands the importance of a relationship and how it can positively impact your life greatly. Even if he were to not support this relationship, he is still given quality advice because he is a father and that is what would be expected of him. 
     His overall purpose in this letter was mainly to tell his son that no matter what other people say, it is important to stick to relationships. I completely understand this as I have experienced relationships that have enriched my life greatly. This lesson can go further than young generations as protecting a relationship can be applied for the rest of your life. Although many relationships may not end perfectly, the experiences that one may gain from a long period of their life makes up for the effort and work that it takes to live in a relationship.

TOW #12: Running with Scissors (IRB)

     A situation that is unfortunately quite common is the concept of single parents feeling forced to give away their child. Running with Scissors, a memoir by Augusten Burroughs, tells the story of how he lived in an unstable house and was given away by his mother to yet another unstable household. This is a rather controversial book as it contains mature content but is also described as being humorous. I found myself being skeptical before reading this book as I am not used to reading a book with such an informal and unique style, but I quickly adapted to it. An aspect that makes it unique is that Augusten's story could not possibly be mad up as it is full of many dramatic and jaw-dropping surprises that are quite unpredictable.

     Augusten's unique style is different as his arrangement of his paragraphs differs greatly throughout the book. Burroughs described his experiences: "Not crazy in a let's paint the kitchen bright red! sort of way. But crazy in a gas oven, toothpaste sandwich, I am God sort of way" (Burroughs 28). I kind of had a double-take while reading this as I was not only confused by what he was talking about but also about how he put his thoughts together. Changing to the italics and adding little unique phrases added an even more personal aspect to these sentences. It may seem rather impossible that he could make his memoir even more personal, but this makes him seem a little more human as if he's had many fun experiences revolved around certain kinds of crazies. It also can make the audience ponder the kind of craziness that Burroughs faced during his life besides what he explains in his memoir. It may not seem like a fantastic example of his writing, but it personally impacted me and shows the kind of trust and style that he invested into this book.

     I am not quite sure of Augusten's purpose as I have only read half of the book, but I trust Burroughs which will then overall contribute to him achieving his purpose through me.

TOW #11: America Needs a National Slavery Monument

     Unfortunately, the root of oppression in the United States stems from the long history of slavery and the unfair treatment of black Africans-turned-"Americans." Although this issue was "resolved" after the Civil War, modern day still faces the issues of the Confederation and the reminders of the oppression that our country caused. In the article "America Needs a National Slavery Monument" by Blain Roberts, Roberts exemplifies the appeal to ethos in order to effectively convince the audience to that a national slavery monument should exist.
     An important aspect of an argument is providing background information in order to inform the audience of the issue. Roberts provides the context of this issue by mentioning Dylann Roof who "murdered nine black worshipers in Charleston, SC." This is an event that touched many hearts and created the urge in many people to protest and bring awareness to the issue of racism. Roberts creates a context to show the catalyst for the protests of this issue to make sure that the audience knows that the entire topic of this essay is not their own. If the topic of the essay was their own, it would not be as trustworthy as it could may have been interpreted as a random thought of a random New York Times writer. This statement may not seem like much, but it is an important part to the entire argument. Roberts looks trustworthy and therefore, their argument is more effective.
     Because this is an argument, the purpose is clear as it is to convince the audience that our country, our people, is in need of a national slavery monument. I believe that their purpose was reached as me, being an uninformed reader, was effectively informed and convinced that our country needs a monument. It shows how effective this argument is as I do not have as much of a connection to the issue as other people in our country do. Overall, this article is full of interesting facts and creates a valuable argument that could change our country forever.

TOW #10: Smoking Can Kill Visual Text

     

     Smoking - probably one of most harmful diseases that could be the most underestimated. To those who have never smoked before,  the idea of it can be rather revolting but to those who have done it for years, it can be rather appetizing. An advertisement that supports abstaining from smoking created the image of a person using cigarettes as bullets to put into a gun. In order to convince the audience that smoking is not just a harmful substance but also a weapon, the advertisement uses dark colors, symbolism and rhetorical questions that provide a solid argument. 
     The color that can arguably represent death the most is black. The entire background of this advert is black which can also connect to the color of black ash created after smoking. Also, the use of the gun is a symbol is murder but the difference is that smoking is like committing suicide. The person smoking decided to smoke and decided to harm themselves. Lastly, the question the advert asks is "Smoking kills so why bother?" This is a rather deep question that could very well convince many people to abstain from starting to smoke. It would not make sense to start smoking if it is not possible to live after it. 
     The entire purpose of this advert is to create an even darker image of smoking other than just saying that it is harmful. People think that smoking is not that bad because many people live for quite a long time while smoking. I think that this advert proved its purpose. It has a powerful image of a gun and can really cut deep into a person's emotions when they think about suicide. A lot of the times, people think of pleasure rather than their own health. This advertisement is definitely highlighting that flaw in human nature. 

TOW #9: Everything Comes to an End

     Death can be viewed as a horrible concept as many people have experienced unbearable effects from it. Following the death of a loved one can bring depression, anger and even the desire to see them just one more time. Eva Gabrielsson, the partner of Stieg Larson, got her wish but in a unique way. Stieg Larson, the author of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," passed away on November 9th, 2004 but wrote a letter in 1977 to Gabrielsson when he was 22 years old: just before his trip to Africa. This letter was marked "To be opened only after my death," which is exactly what happened when Eva read it for the first time in front of a crowd at Larson's funeral. In Larson's letter, he uses anaphora and the appeal to logos in order to convince Gabrielsson that death is a natural occurrence and that there is no reason to suffer because he is now gone.
     Repetition can be looked at as rather mundane, but Larson uses it in an effective way. He wants to confess his undying love to Gabrielsson by saying, "I want you to know that I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. I want you to know I mean that seriously. I want you to remember me but not grieve for me." The repetition of "I want you" is such an important line in his letter. He is expressing his dying wish and showing that he believes that even though they were in love, there is no reason for his death to completely destroy her life. Also, his appeal to logos can help convince Gabrielsson that death is natural and nothing to be horribly upset about. He introduces the idea by saying, "the stars die, the galaxies die, the planets die. And people die too." By describing the world around him and by explaining that it is completely okay that he died, Gabrielsson is more likely to realize that his death is an ordinary event.
     Originally, his letter was directly addressed to his Eva, but this was before Larson become a successful author. If he were to write this later in his life after his book became a best-seller, he would most likely have written to the public because his life would not have been as private. I completely believe that he achieved his purpose because his letter definitely made me realize that even though death can be extremely heart-wrenching, it is just the way of life.

IRB Intro Post #2

The book that I decided to read this marking period is called "Running with Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs. This book is a New York Times bestseller and is a personal memoir about Augusten growing up in a bizarre household when his mom is no longer fit to take care of him. I chose this book because it was recommended to me by a friend, but I have also read a few strange reviews that interested me. I have heard that this book is for mature readers, so I am excited for the challenge.

TOW #8: Eat, Pray, Love (IRB #2)

     When I finally finished reading Liz Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love," I decided that this has to be one of the most unique and inspiring memoirs that I have ever read. Traveling the world may not seem like a creative topic to reflect on, but once you learn about her experiences, you instantly realize why this book has impacted a numerous amount of people. Gilbert states that probably one of the most important things she learned because of her journey is that you must be focused on finding happiness for yourself. You must "fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it…you have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings." This, I believe, is her purpose.
     She was caught in a horrible situation and in order for her to feel better, she did something drastic. She traveled the world, she fell in love, she learned new languages, she meditated, and most of all, she learned that sometimes you need to be selfish. This is something that possibly everyone can relate to, which is why her book has been so successful. It is able to reach everyone. Her audience is so widespread and because of her fantastic writing abilities, she was able to form a fantastic book.
     An important aspect of her book is her powerful diction. Her choice of words immediately can change a person's mind, and this also brings the appeal to pathos. She uses words such as "relentlessly" and "fight" as a way to encourage people to find their happy place. This is inspiring, especially when you explore the heartbreak and sacrifice that it took for her to reach this conclusion. Some might say that the only way to enjoy your life is so find happiness and that it shouldn't take a genius to figure that out. Although this could be true, no one ever does it. It takes someone else's life to convince you that you need to take care of yourself. As stated before, this is her purpose and I definitely believe that she achieved it. She forces the reader to reevaluate their life which takes a truly powerful and talented author to do.