Source for Paper C "Peaceful Alternatives"

http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/103014_sean7.shtml

1. Argument: Peaceful alternatives to war will improve the way the rest of the world views American politics because peaceful alternatives will require the help of other countries and establish trust and unity within the international community.

2. Audience: This article is intended for the subscribers to the Cape Cod Times newspaper, but it is relevant to all American citizens. (This article was written in 2003).

3. Goal? The writer of this column wants to inform the readers of the alternatives to war. With increasing threats from other countries, the author makes it clear that instead of going to war, like we did with Iraq, there are other options. He lists 6 options to the war in Iraq to convince his readers that a more peaceful approach in future dilemias will enable a more concentrated effort from other countries to destroy unruly practices throughout the world.

4. How? This writer presents his points clearly and uses logos to convince his readers. The argument he makes is so logical that he introduces the subject (peaceful alternatives), states its relevance, and simply lists six alternatives to the war in Iraq. In stating the relevance of peaceful alternatives he uses "typical" information that is credible and reasonable. But what makes this article so effective is the way the writer is able to introduce real scenarios and credible options that most Americans probably hadn't considered.

5. This is an effective article because of it's simplicity. It does a great job of informing the reader, but it also does a superb job of persuading readers of the positive effects peaceful interaction with certain countries will have on the international community.

Braveheart: William Wallace's speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70csu2Z51sM

1. Argument: Fighting for your country takes importance over all else (including your own life) because fighting for your country will enable freedom and prosperity for others.

2. Audience: In this movie (Braveheart) William Wallace, a legendary soldier, addresses the Scottish army who is about to attack the tyrants of England.

3. Goal? The Scottish troops are scared to fight and want to return home without battling the powerful English army. William Wallace wants these men to fight the fierce Englishmen who have come to conquer Scotland, causing various problems along the way. The soldiers value life, while William Wallace's primary concern is the freedom of Scotland. His objective is to convince the men to stay and fight for their rights.

4. How? William Wallace gives a very logical speech (logos). He says that some will die now, and others later. But, he argues, it is more important to ensure freedom for all of Scotland so that the majority can live a quality life, without the oppression of outside rulers. His speech is relevant to his audience, the soldiers, who are standing in front of the English army and wondering whether or not going to battle is the best choice.

5. Effective? In this clip from Braveheart the Scottish troops cheer in unison after William gives his speech. They are persuaded and agree with William Wallace that they must fight the English army.

Music Video (Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtGD6t75HS8

1. Argument: Each of us in fortunate situations can help make the world a better place because each of us can find ways to change ourselves and those around us who are deprived of the things that we enjoy.

2. Audience: This song is directed towards "the man in the mirror," who is in a position to help those around them. This would include all people, because everyone can do something to help another.

3. Goal? Michael Jackson, along with the makers of this movie, want us to recognize that we need to help others. They specifically focus on the economic and ethical struggles that we have seen throughout world. Real struggles from the past and present are shown in this music video to encourage people to find ways to bring unity and freedom to those who are victims of trying situations.

4. How? There is a great deal of pathos in this video. Each scene portrays a visual emotion relating to those who have been victims of struggle or who have done something to affect the overall well-being of those around them. For example, starving kids in Africa, Martin Luther King, and Hitler are among those who are shown to remind us of the negative or positive affects we can have on each other. It is an extremely accurate video. There are no special affects, talented dancers, or anything that distracts from the message of the video. Real clips from real life are used to portray the lyrics of this inspiring song. Michael Jackson, himself, doesn't even make an appearance of in the video.

5. Effective? It is effective. Anyone with a conscience would see this video and walk away with a desire to do more for those around them--family, friends, and strangers. Thanks MJ. R.I.P.

Paper A

Tricia Ragsdale

Dane Redmond

Jordan Sheffield

The Girlfriend: a Friend or Foe

It’s your first semester at Brigham Young University, your hard work in high school finally paid off. Your parents are proud and your life is headed down the right track. Your next step in life is to finish as much school as you can, turn in your mission papers and serve an honorable full-time mission, right? Well, what about social life? You are, after all, in college and are entitled to some sort of partying. Just because Brigham Young University has been rated “The Most Sober” university in the country doesn’t mean BYU doesn’t have a party life. It’s quite the opposite. Then brings up, what’s a party without the ladies? In your hometown there may have been a few or no cute Latter-day Saint girls to hang out with or date; now that you’re at BYU there are thousands! So what’s a guy to do? We all know that in the “For Strength of Youth” pamphlet, it encourages us to avoid steady dating until we are at the age when we want to get married. For young men this isn’t until after they have returned home from their mission’s. Even though this council was given we know that there are a lot of good things that can come from having a steady girlfriend your freshman year of college. So what are the consequences of having a girlfriend your freshman year at Brigham Young University?

What exactly does steady dating mean? How many dates can you go on before you’re officially dating someone? Back in the 60s and 70s when our parents were dating, a common way to ask a girl to be your girlfriend was just to ask “hey do you want to go steady with me?” However, now days you would never hear your bud asking a girl this, instead the term steady dating has been replaced by just the title of girlfriend.

Your social life can be quite the attention hog when it comes to priorities in life as a freshman at BYU. You have so many things going on that at times it even seems hard to breathe. It’s understood that a girlfriend, in general, is a hot commodity for an 18 year- old away at college. While I agree that girlfriends can have their pros, they definitely have their cons when it comes to being a missionary. You can be better prepared and a more effective missionary if you just focus on what is most important in life at this time. When you have a girlfriend you have a lot of emotional and mental attachments. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing under the right circumstances, but when you’re preparing to be a missionary it is important to focus your mental and emotional energy on the Lord and His work. Is it possible to balance the two? Maybe. But which one should be more important? You can have many girlfriends and be a boyfriend many times, but you can only be a missionary once. Take advantage of the time to prepare and be what you know you can be. There are so many people out there that are waiting for you to talk with them and help them understand the gospel. It is your job to make sure you are properly prepared to answer their questions and concerns.

Think of it this way; you can date all you want. You can go on dates with a different girl every single weekend if you want to. Enjoy their company, enjoy the social aspect. Everyday missionaries go out and spread the gospel to complete strangers and work with many investigators. Dating many girls and having different social opportunities will teach you how to relate with different people you will interact with on your mission. The problem with the girlfriend is that she will constantly demand attention. She will want to see you every day; she will want to hang out with you every night. Never, will you spend all day with one investigator, much like you would with your girlfriend. Girls you date need nothing from you but a mere 2-3 hours of your time on a Friday and Saturday night. This leaves you all the other days of the week to prepare and focus your mental and emotional energy on what should be your main priority: your mission.

Some may say, "But what about my parents who were high school sweethearts before my dad served a mission? They dated once he got back, and then got married? If they hadn't dated my mom probably wouldn't have waited for my dad. Was that a mistake?" This is a fair question, but what about the thousands who are "Dear John-ed" by their ex-girlfriends. You can have a solid friendship with someone, thousands of miles away, without having to exclusively date them. Many Young men say, if I don't commit to her now, while I'm here, she won't wait for me when I'm gone? That's ok. If a girl finds another guy, then that is your confirmation that she meant to be with somebody else. No matter what a girlfriend might say, there is no promise that she will wait for you. Receiving wedding announcements from friends is much easier than receiving one from your girlfriend.

Isn't the idea of having a girlfriend, nice? We have all heard a missionary come home and say how hard and lonely certain mission challenges were. Wouldn't it be helpful to have moral support from loved ones (including girlfriends) on the mission? Yes, it would be, but is that what you want to rely on to get through the hard times? You can't guarantee letters sitting in your mailbox after every rough day in the mission field. You can however guarantee yourself a positive attitude and the divine help that comes through prayer. Relying on the Lord, as his servant, will allow you to overcome trials that letters in the mailbox can't.

Make the most of freshman year, date many girls and not just one. Hang out in big groups and get to know tons of people. You will be a better missionary since you will be able to focus on the Lord's work without any distractions. Don't let girls get in the way of your potential to be the best missionary you can be.

Works Cited

1.Before the Call. David R. Mickel. Web. <www.lds.org>.

2. Live in Obedience. Joseph B. Wirthlin. Web. <www.lds.org>.

3. "Why shouldn't I staedy date during High School." Why shouldn't I steady date during HIgh School. Web. 28 Sept. 09. <http://ldswhy.com/qa/why-shouldnt-i-steady-date-in-high-school/>.

1. Argument: Not having a girlfriend before serving a mission will help you prepare for a mission, because not having a girlfriend will allow a missionary to focus on the Lord's work without being distracted mentally and emotionally. What are the affects of having a girlfriend on potential full-time missionaries?

2. Audience: Freshmen boys at Brigham Young University who want to serve full-time missions.

3. Goal: We are trying to convince young men that exclusive dating will hinder them in their preparation to serve missions. Not only will a girlfriend hinder their preparation, but we also want readers to understand the negative consequences it can have on the overall success of their mission service.

4. How? Our argument is logical. We try to help our audience understand the importance of the mission by addressing issues they might not have previously considered. We take those points and offer simple, yet sophisticated ways to better prepare for the mission experience. For example, God is a more reliable source of comfort and support than letters you might receive from your girlfriend. Whether or not our audience initially agrees with our claims, this paper is relevant to most freshmen at Brigham Young University. Most freshman boys at BYU intend to serve missions, but also want to get attention from the ladies. They don't always think about the affects certain relationships will have on their future. Therefore, the content of this paper can be valuable to their perspective.

5. Effective? This paper is not as effective as it can be. There are a lot of good points that might not have been considered by BYU freshman, but the paper lacks outside research. It is a purely opinionated paper. Research would help give more validity to the argument being made.

Red Eye Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFDHyH8buQ

Argument: The movie Red Eye is a top choice for ALL movie watchers because Red Eye includes various styles of film-making such as drama, adventure, romance, and horror.

Audience: Red Eye is rated PG-13, which means teenagers are able to watch it. They are included in the intended audience. I don't know if families would watch this movie together, but many couples enjoy going to suspense-filled movies, like Red Eye.

Goal: The structure of this trailer is not very fluid. There are a lot of bits and pieces (drama, romance, adventure, etc.) that don't connect. Those who made this trailer want the viewers to attach to a certain part of the trailer, so that they will come to the theater when it comes out.

How? The makers don't give too much of the movie away. This short trailer portrays a sufficient amount of the movie's content. After watching the trailer you still don't know the entire plot, but it grabs your attention. They do this by using a great deal of pathos, relating to the viewers' reactions to romance, terror, and mystery.

Effective? Very effective. A lot of people have experienced meeting strangers, waiting in long lines at the airport, and flying aboard airplanes. It is a setting, we the viewers, can relate to. There is a obviously a twist to this girl's travel experience and the makers of this trailer do an excellent job of making this flick a "must see."

Source for Paper B

'I Can' by Nas

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nas/ican.html

Argument: What are the consequences of goal-oriented children, who grew up in the ghetto, on their own success as individuals? Children (from the hood) who aspire to accomplish meaningful goals will be successful in whatever they pursue because they have learned to overcome different challenges.

Audience: Nas, the musician, speaks directly to his audience--young kids, who are growing up in impoverished environments.

Goal: Nas wants his audience to recognize the negative things that surround them, but he encourages them to rise above those issues to be successful in worthwhile pursuits. He wants them to know that they can do whatever they put their minds to if they work hard and avoid evil distractions.

How? Nas puts himself on the same level of the children. He uses stories from history and his own personal experience to relate his message. These stories are accurate and include a great deal of pathos. He describes the affect drugs had on a very talented girl. While this story is sad, he also uses a story to motivate his audience to succeed. This story talks of Africans who were extremely successful within the political and economical world. Nas' audience can emotionally relate and connect to non-fictional examples like these.

Effective? Although Nas and his audience might live in different circumstances, the stories and messages that are shared in this song allows the musician and his audience to build a relationship. Nas uses understanding of his audience to encourage them to be whatever it is that they want to be. Due to this relationship and understanding, Nas is able to effectively encourage children to aspire higher.

Encounter at the Body Shop

OK. A friend and I went to the Body Shop, looking to buy a present for my mother. We went and asked an female employee (mid-20's) what she thought we should get for her. What follows are parts of the conversation we had and my analysis about how well she went about convincing us about her products.

Argument: There were multiple arguments that she made, including what I should get for my mother for her birthday, but I want to focus on the argument she made about why her store was better than the other similar stores in the mall. What are the consequences of shopping at the Body Shop? Shopping at the Body Shop is better than shopping at Bath and Body Works because Bath and Body Works do not have ethical standards.

Audience: My friend and I were the audience. My friend (a female) knew much more about their products than I did, but I was the one there to buy something.

Goal: After I had committed to buy something, the employee continued our conversation by talking about the advantages of shopping at the Body Shop, opposed to shopping at Bath and Body Works. My guess is that she wanted to ensure that we would continue to shop for products at their store in the future.

How? She used a great deal of pathos in her persuasion. She went on about how Bath and Body Works tests their products on animals and described how harmful some of the products are to the environment. Had I been wearing my tie-died t-shirt and been rocking the long hair I could see how she might think that I actually cared about those issues. Her argument was not relevant to me. I went to buy a present for my mother. I had done so and wanted to leave, but she was persistent. She had given me more than I wanted to know. I think she noticed that I was irritated with all the facts when she blamed her "outburst" on the Mountain Dew she had drank earlier. Bad form.

Effective? Obviously, she was successful because I bought something from the store. But, I don't know if she convinced me to ever go back. Especially if I have to go back to smell every smell known to man, while being trounced with unwanted information.