TOW #3: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (IRB)

         An Invisible Thread, written by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski, conveyed a connection between a busy sales representative and a young boy. This connection would define them both, changing their lives in unfathomable ways. The autobiography commences as Laura Schroff, then the busy sales representative, was saw a youthful boy begging for money on the street. Rather then keep walking, however, Laura chose to return and begin a life-long friendship. The young boy, Maurice, who had grown up on the streets and never had anyone to trust, was about to obtain an irreplaceable relationship. Throughout, Laura reveals the impact of simple human connection on life. The diction implemented within the flashbacks and dialogue aids Laura, as she plunges deep within a relationship of two distinctive people. The past is revealed to have evident impacts on Laura as she takes Americans deep within events that shaped who she is today. Similarly to Maurice, Laura’s past was filled with unspeakable violence and abuse from her alcoholic father that shaped her current person. The American audience is drawn to create parallels between the past of Laura and Maurice’s current reality as Laura appeals to pathos and creates empathy. By including these instances, the connection between Laura and Maurice seemingly influences Laura as much as it does Maurice.  Dialogue is also used to establish and communicate this purpose.  The impactful connection between Laura and Maurice comes to life as a result of the diction used during conversation. Following his first proper birthday party, Maurice says, “Bye, Laurie… I love you.” A vast amount of emotions are displayed in this single instant. Love is something that humanity longs for. Revealing such a connection with another opens the eyes of all readers to the significance one meaningful relationship can have on two people.  Maurice, who had never experienced love in his days on the street, finally had a caring friend to call his own. Laura, whom had been deprived of a stable family, had a son of sorts to call her own. Thus, the devices implemented within this autobiography successfully communicated purpose to the audience. 

TOW #2: Audi Commercial

Rather then use informational means to attract customers to their product, Audi chose to use a distinct approach to attract customers and revenue. Audi, a reputable car company, instilled rhetoric in order to connect with the intended audience on a more personal level. The commercial begins rather gloomily as shamed boy leaves for his high school prom unaccompanied by a date. However, when after his father entrusts the keys to his Audi to him, a new sense of confidence is awoken. The boy’s sudden transformation brought on by the acquiring of the Audi draws him to kiss the beautiful prom queen, and subsequently endure a blow to his head from the prom king. Afterwards, he is shown shouting with pride as he had finally mustered up the confidence to obtain the girl he had longed for. Audi’s strategy was to appeal to a man attracted to adventure, excitement, and speed. In order to do so, Audi appealed to pathos and logos throughout their commercial advertisement. At the commencement, they begin with the boy looking at himself in the mirror, then immediately leaving in humiliation, lacking a date and classy vehicle.  When the car suddenly rejuvenates the boy, Audi elicits a feeling of need from the audience to obtain this type of confidence and adventure. The sounds of the engine and implied speed are meant to appeal to a male audience’s sense of adventure, and appeal to logos, or logic, through the implication of speed and luxury.  Finally, the woman pictured in the kiss, and the punch that followed appealed to a sense of male desire and humor. Thus, the commercial succeeded to attracting the audience to the car. By catching the attention of a primarily male audience via multiple aspects of the commercial and appealing to various rhetorical devices, the intended purpose was achieved. 

Audi Commercial
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANhmS6QLd5Q 

Intro to My First Marking Period IRB- an Invisible Thread

For the first marking period of this school year, I have chosen my IRB to be an Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.  This story details the connection of a busy sales executive, Laura Schroff, and a troubled and poor 11-year-old boy, Maurice. It is a true story of two people whom make an unlikely connection that changes both of their lives in an unthinkable way. I chose this book simply off of a recommendation and the topic that I found interesting. From reading this book, I hope to be inspired and maybe even learn something about a different type of friendship.  

TOW #1- Are We Talking Ourselves Out of War in Syria? by Kathleen Parker

The impending missile strike on Syria has been contemplated for what may be more time then a similar strike ever has in history. Kathleen Parker brings to the surface the aberrancy of the situation, or the abnormal amounts of talk rather then action. As a political and cultural writer for the Washington Post, Parker is often found giving perspective to varieties of moral and political issues. In this particular issue, Parker analyzes the factors contributing to the lack of action, and attempts to gives perspective to Americans on to what it may mean for their country. Throughout the text, Parker’s use of logos and reason contribute to these attempts. In between the lines of the speeches and talk, Parker identifies the lack of public consensus and overall clarity to be a large contributor to the talk. The lack of trust in the American government that has resulted from previous wars and suspicious circumstances, such as Iraq and government spying; has paved way for a situation in which action seems impossible. Parker reveals that the severe lack of trust in governmental decisions and evidence has made it increasingly difficult for the public to generate an overall opinion and thus even more difficult for this same government to take action. Parker makes these points with use of logic, and brings her argument to a single point by questioning her audience. Parker points out that, “If war is not urgent, as this one seems not to be, then perhaps war is not necessary” (Parker). The use of logos in bringing her evidence to a logical culmination ultimately leads to her succeeding in her purpose. Americans had previously heard all of the chatter, and seen the lack of action, but Parker uses hard evidence with the use of logos to bring Americans to see these events in a favorable light. Rather then seeing this as a failure of the American government, “perhaps…” Parker says, “they participants in some sort of tipping point” (Parker). 

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin Syria Talk
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/17/does-obama-and-putins-body-language-during-awkward-meeting-at-g8-summit-tell-a-story-take-a-look/