In Class: Ethical Appeal

The object that I brought in is my medical insurance card. When first thinking about the assignment i tried to think of an object that showed something about someone carring for someone else or providing care for someone else. Another way that something can be an ethical appeal is that it shows a part of who you are. Im not sure that my medical insurance card does that exactly though. You can find out certain information about me though, it shows who my mother is and what her name is and that my father is an employee of Delta airlines. I guess that would be a lot of information to come off of a card.

I think that the best way that this object represents an ethical appeal is that it allows me to acquire any medical assistance necessary. Whichever doctor I visit I will present them this card and then I will be allowed to recieve medical care. This can be considered an ethical situation because the doctors are providing a service that will allow me to recieve the necessary care needed. Doctors are available in order to help people which is a concept of ethics. Not only is the action of me going to the doctor a component of ethical appeal it also has the "normal" definition of ethical appeal dealing with morals. Doctors are constantly bombarded with ethical and moral decisions and must choose the right path.

Public Space

One of my favorite writing assignments through out my writing career occurred during my first semester of English composition at Texas Christian University.  It was one of the last papers we wrote.  I cannot quite remember the exact assignment, but we had to write a research paper based on our cultural background.  I wrote a paper on the cultural integration of Canadian-French immigrants into Louisiana.  My father grew up in Louisiana and then in southern Texas.  I interviewed fellow Louisianans and incorporated childhood stories from my grandma.  I liked this paper the most because it had a personal touch, which made it more enjoyable for me to write.  It had significance to me and it was really interesting to learn facts about my culture that I did not know before hand.  I also enjoyed the paper because it allowed the students to have more of a say in the format of the paper.

 

The space that I have chosen to write about is Grand Cru Wine and Gifts.  This space is appealing because it has a specific target audience.  The target audience is older financially stable adults with an interest in wine.  I also chose this area because I work there, which will allow me to not only view the space as a customer but view the space as an employee.  This will allow me to see the store in several different ways and to see the things the customers do not see.  I will visit the store on an off day as well as when I am working.  I believe that these will be two very different experiences and I will notice very different things.

 

The things I expect to find upon observation are that the space has a target audience like I said before and that there is a certain stereotype to a wine store.  I believe that the stereotype will be that the majority of the customers that visit our store will be upper middle class sophisticated individuals.  It will be interesting to see who fits that stereotype and what customers do not.  It will also be interesting to observe my place of work as a customer and see exactly how I could be perceived as a worker there.  Also I think it will be interesting to see the type of environment that the owners have developed for their customers.  I also have my first experiences in the store to rely on because I obviously had a first impression at one time.  The pre-conceived ideas that might influence are the fact that it is my place of work.  This is not a place that I am newly observing.  This could have benefits and difficulties.  It might be more difficult than I think to remove myself as an employee, but by visiting multiple times without working there I think I will be able to get into the mode of customer versus employee.  Attending the wine store at different hours of the day and observing and interacting with the owners, as a customer will give me a better since of the store.  Also it will allow me to notice things that I might not have noticed as an employee of the store.  

In Class: Public Space

I have not decided completely on what type of place I would like to do. I first thougth Starbucks, but I want to do something more obscure than that especially because that has been the example while talking about unit one. I work at a wine shop which might be a good choice. There obviously is a specific type of customer that comes into the wine shop, obviously twenty one or older and a person who enjoys wine. Usually the customers are older middle to upper class dressed nicely and have some knowledge about wine. If they do not have nay knowledge about wine then they are at least interested in the topic of wine or just simply enjoy the taste of wine. The store is decorated in a manor to facilitate a wine country feel and is very well organized in order to allow the customer to shop without problems. The wine is organized across two walls with a title and describtion underneath each. It starts with champagne and ends with dry reds, lined with increasing intensity.

The store is set up to promote relaxation and comfort while sipping different wines from different regions. There is an area in the left corner with a leather couch and a chair with a coffee table that give a very home-y feel to a very non-home place. The large windows around the set up give a warm sun glow to the corner during the afternoon which warms up the store. When first walking in to the right is a bar with tall stools. Above the bar there is a television on mute which allows for news or sports to be played in silence. this give an energetic yet quit feel to the area. People sit at the bar talking with the other customers as well as teh people who work at the shop. Crackers are set out to clean you palate after sampling different wines. The bar is concrete and the stools are customed with leather which gives a soft and comfotable place to sit.

In Class: Free Write

This morning I woke up after pushing my snooze button about five times. I layed in bed thinking about my nights dreams and how strange they really were. I flipped the covers off and set my feet on the cold floor. I immediately put my slippers on and threw on my robe and proceeded to the bathroom. I washed my face and prushed my teeth trying not to touch the tile floor, which from previous experience I knew was freezing. I went back into my room turned on some music so that I would not fall back asleep and sat in front of my vanity. I began brushing my hair and putting on my makeup. Afterwards I decided on what to wear. I decided on leggings, a long sleeve t-shirt, a sweatshirt and a scarf since my weather forcast read forty degrees.

I then went to the kitchen to fix myself some breakfast...feeling lazy I settled on a bowl of cheerios. I ate them slowly since I was running ahead of schedule. I went back to my room to gather my things to set off for school. I put the needed books in my backpack and unplugged my computer to add it to the pile already inside. By this time my roommate had came down stairs and was waiting for me at my bedroom door. I quickly zipped up my backpack and went to the kitchen to grab a Dr. Pepper. My roommate grabbed a redbull and we headed for the front door. This has become our Tuesday/Thursday ritual. Every time the same drinks in our hands at the same time in the morning every Tuesday and Thursday. She lives upstairs right above me so I can pretty much hear everything except talking. I wake up and I make sure I can hear her walking around to know that she has woken up in time for class too. Its strange how programed out lives become once school starts. The same thing day in and day out and then just in time the weekend comes to relieve us just for a short while to make it through another week or repeating. We set off for school down our normal road and its takes us about ten minutes. We walk until the same point as the Thursday before and we seperate ways, always saying goodbye first.

Inauguration

Throughout the inauguration many different types of arguments were brought up.  Before presidents and their accomplishments were one of the first things President Obama brought up.  He begins talking about the past Americans whom were faithful to our forefathers, founders, and our founding documents.  Comments that emphasized the great importance that we the American people have had in the past were brought up in a way to encourage Americans to support and stand up for their country even in times of doubt.  This represents emotional and logical appeals.  It represents emotional appeals because it points out the American public directly and relates what the President is talking about directly into the common American home.  It gives an average person a job and responsibility to the government, which develops a sense of importance in each person’s mind.  It represents logical appeals by talking about what the common person did in the past for our country.  By looking back and pointing out previous achievements it makes the new responsibilities brought in front of new people seem achievable.

“So it has been, so it must be with this generation of Americans” –President Obama

Right after discussing arguments of the past he begins discussing the new economic crisis that we have entered.  He states that it must be understood by every person that we are officially in need, at war, economically weak from greed, and lost.  He also talked about not only are we economically weak we are weak in confidence in our nation.  This can be defined as an argument of the present as well as the future.  He begins with logical appeals by stating the facts such as how we are at war.  He then moves to emotional appeals by talking about the homes and jobs lost because of greedy Americans not being able to make tough decisions.  Then he talks about ethical appeals by talking about our use of energy that is hurting our environment.  These are all arguments of the present because we are going through these issues as we speak and there is not a clear solution in sight, only hope.  As Americans we do not know what is to come from all our current problems, which is why this can also be an argument of the future.  President Obama clearly states that the end is not closely in sight or easily in sight, but our needs will be met in the future.  By encouraging Americans that there will be a fix to everyone’s problems it give them hope that the future will be a little brighter for everyone.

“On this day we gather together because of hope, not fear.” – President Obama

Another form or argument that was used during the inauguration was an argument to make decisions.  President Obama first depicts to the audience all the reasons we have gather today in order to change the past.  He then states that we all have the right to pursue our full happiness because we all are free and equal.  One way this can be defined as an argument to make decisions is that by selecting our first black president it shows that America is making decisions on equality, taking a step forward, and trying new things.  It took many different decisions of the American public to select each president that has been in office.  President Obama also begins to talk about how equality must be a decision of the people.  People must make the decision to work hard and then you will earn great things, but this must be your decision.  Now that equality is growing, make your decisions correctly so that you can achieve greatness. 

“Greatness is never given, it must be earned. Liberty has never been short cuts or settling for less.  It has not been the path for the faint hearted.” – President Obama 

The last type of argument that I found in the recording of the inauguration was an argument of definition.  Before President Obama got up to talk, the speaker of the house made a small speech.  She began to talk about the freedom of the people.  She defined what it meant to be a citizen of the United States of America.  Freedom, equality, and opportunity were just a few of the things that she mentioned.  This defines the freedom of the people by depicting exactly what makes America so unique and different from many countries.  We are a rare type that has so many freedoms and these should be cherished.  This represent the emotional appeal in the argument.  By discussing the different things that encompasses the freedom of the people she presented the great qualities our founding fathers gave to us in order for us to live this type of life that sometimes we all take for granted.

"We must pick ourselves up and begin remaking America" --President Obama

In Class: Re-Defining Arguments

Last week we were asked to bring in an example of an argument and the argument I brought in was the Iron Man race. Although this was not like my other classmates exactly it does still have a limited view of an argument. Of course this assignment being a school assignment I guessed that the entire class was going to bring in about the same things and have a one way view of what the teacher presented. I just did not know exaclty what was going to come of this. After reading the first chapter I guess what came as the biggest shock was the amount of different details that go into an argument and what is considered an argument.

I knew that arguments could have different objectives, but not as many as the chapter presented. When deciding what type of argument there are many things to be considered such as its nature, the quality, what actions should be taken, and did something happen. Did something happen describes the common thought of an argument...involving something that can be proven to someone else with evidence. An example might be something that happens in a court of law. But what about the other categories? What is the quality describes someones opinion on something, their values, and their priorities. The book uses someone arguing if a sports car is a good car.

On the topic of "everything is an argument" I was most surprised that an argument could be for meditation or prayer. I guess its normal to assume that in an arugment or debate about a specific ethical or moral topic there will be meditation on that topic and even reconsidering of one's thoughts about that topic.

In Class: Argument

The argument I brought into class today is a series of pictures from the Iron Man competitions. Multiple pictures of this competition show thousands of people racing to the finish line through a series of different events such as swimming, cycling, and running. At first when contemplating this assignment I thought of the usual ideas of an argument. Presidental debates, senate house hearings, a court of law, or any type of normal human to human dispute. I tried to move beyond these simple ideas of an argument and think outside the box. My next thought was what is like an argument, but does not come to mind directly through argument of words.

A competition is made up of different people trying to say something about themselves. In the Iron Man competitions each person participating is trying to prove their own point that they are one of the strongest, most determined, and most driven. As each person swims, cycles, and runs they are trying to argue their own case, that they are the ones that are going to cross the finish line first or just prove that they can make it through the entire race. One aspect of this competition that I found to be very much like an argument was the back and forth-ness of each person. As one person progresses they begin to win the argument that they are stronger, faster, better than the other. Then the person behind slowly begins to inch their way in front of the next arguing that they are the stronger, faster, better of the two. Very much like a "typical" argument where each side takes turns disputing their case and trying to prove they are right. The race is an argument for athletes to prove themselves and to prove their case without words.

Many athletes participate in the Iron Man to prove to themselves that they can make it through the entire competition. To many people it is not even about finish first, in the top ten, or even in the top one hundred, but just finishing completely. This can be described as an argument with oneself. Throughout the race each person is internally arguing with oneself. "Go faster"..."Keep going"..."Do not give up"...

Introduction

My name is Casey Voorhies and I am from North Richland Hills, Texas.   I am currently a junior Nutritional Science major at Texas Christian University.  Although this course is required I would like to get a better sense of my writing skills so that I am comfortable with everyday writing.  Also one of my roommates, Meredith, is an English major and when she writes she can communicate so beautifully on paper.  She is able to communicate her feelings directly from her mind to a piece of paper, sometimes more clearly on paper.  I would like to be able to more accurately and clearly communicate my feelings in written form.  Whenever I write I tend to become overwhelmed with different thoughts and ideas.  I would like to be able to sort through all my thoughts and piece them together cohesively.

My experience with writing begins, of course, in the classroom.  Throughout my life I have attended private schools that emphasize writing knowledge and skills as well as writing here at Texas Christian University.  Transitioning from high school to college, along with other college students, I filled out several college applications that require one to sometimes three essays.  In addition to my normal class writing, now in college I have used my writing skills in order to email professors, prospective jobs, friends, and family.   Along with emailing prospective jobs, the writing of a résumé is a very specific writing technique, which requires detail and tactfulness, not always natural to some.  Another aspect of my writing occurred while studying abroad last spring in Florence, Italy.  I sent a weekly email to friends and family back home about my travels and experiences.  I tried to incorporate as many details and descriptive words so that they could understand and be better familiar with my travels.  I tried to engage my readers in the sights, smells, and encounters of Italy including things such as a fresh fruit and vegetable market, laying on the banks of the river, walking around the city, and traveling to other countries.  I am not always very confident of my writing, which is probably due to the lack of formal writing I have done.  At this moment I would say that my descriptive writing is my strongest form of writing, but I would like to become more confident and concrete in my techniques.

I have read, and understand, and agree to the terms of the course syllabus, which I see as a contract for our course.