TOW #10- "JFK, Obama: Redskins need to change" by Thomas Smith

The Washington Redskins football team has been high on the radar of both football fans and the general alike for quite some time. Public statements regarding the infamous team name and it’s racist connotation have started to become more frequent and a part of an increasingly popular debate. Thomas G. Smith, a professor and part of CNN News, attempts to put fourth his own perspective on this issue in his article “JFK, Obama: Redskins need to change”. By alluding to events of the past and asking rhetorical question, Smith is able to convey the mounting need to the Redskins to change their racial policy. Smith points out in his essay that many current events concerning the redskins, from presidential action to the racial situation itself, have happened before. Coincidentally, it all revolved around the same Washington Redskins football team. By showing the recurrence of events, Smith is able to convince people that the Redskins’ racial insensitivity and resistance to change is common practice. He then continues his allusion to the past with big names like Jackie Robinson and JFK. These big names resonate in the hearts of most sports fans, and convey the importance of racial inequality in a level that this audience can connect with.  Consequently, the audience realizes that this racial insensitive practice is not just, and should be terminated. Smith also implements rhetorical questions into his work in order to refute counter arguments. For example, he asks, “Some fans ask why focus on the Redskins in particular?” By then going on to answer this question, he is able to illustrate a level of illegitimacy in a popular counter argument. While Smith does not fully close the case for many readers that the Redskins’ name should be changed, he does successfully enlighten them on a need for change in racial policy.

The Redskins
http://www.catholicleague.org/roger-goodell-and-the-redskins/

The Article Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/14/opinion/smith-jfk-redskins/index.html?hpt=op_bn9

TOW #9- The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout is a detailed informational book detailing the nature of a sociopath. Martha Stout, a PH.D and psychologist, enlightens her readers on the aspects of a common sociopath while allowing her readers to be able to recognize them. Stout arranges her text in such a way that forwards her purpose, and implements exact information to add to her credibility. The text is arranged into chapters, each with a slightly different topic, and each chapter follows a certain pattern. Each chapter contains scenarios displayed through anecdotes, and then analyzes information that should have been obtained within these scenarios. This format allows the reader to have a visual of what is going on, instead of having just an explanation. It also allows Stout to find a common ground as she attempts to communicate information to her audience. She is able to relate information back to a scenario, allowing her uninformed audience to better grasp what Stout intends them to learn. However, in order for the audience to take any interest in the information Stout relays, Stout must first establish her credibility. Immediately from the introduction, Stout refers to herself as a psychologist and makes repeated references to her profession.  In one instance, Stout chooses to begin her sentence with, “As a psychologist…” (Stout, 25). Without referencing her profession, the audience would not have the slightest idea as to where Stout’s information was derived. By referencing her title as a Ph.D. and psychologist, the audience is able to trust that the information provided to them is as factual as possible.  Despite the fact that some of the “information” can only be at most speculation, by the mention of credentials Stout is able to gain the trust of readers, as they may have little background information to rely on.  Through the arrangement and establishment of credibility within the text, Stout is able to gain the trust of her audience and, moreover, relay the intended information to them. 

The Sociopath Next Door
Martha Stout, Ph.D. 

IRB Intro Post #2- The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout

For my second marking period IRB, I chose “The Sociopath Next Door” by Martha Stout: a Ph.D. and psychologist. The book is an informational work that intends to inform people about the sociopaths they encounter daily and enlighten people on how to locate them. I chose this book because it is informational, a style I was interested in, and I happen to find psychology to be an interesting subject. From this book, I hope to be able to identify sociopaths myself and perhaps be a little more knowledgeable about them.

TOW #8- Ender's Game Movie Review by Manohla Dargis

Manohla Dargis, A critic for the New York Times, critiqued the movie Ender’s Game in her movie review, “And a Child Shall Lead Them Into Battle.” As she seemingly mocks the movie, Dargis gives her insightful view of the successes and failures of the film. Ender’s Game is a movie based on the novel by Oston Scott Card detailing the endeavors of a boy who must lead the humans against an alien race. By comparing Ender’s Game to other world-renowned films, and implementing humorous figurative language, Dargis ultimately succeeds in conveying this view. Throughout the text, allusions and comparisons to other movies can be found in each paragraph. Each of these comparisons connect with an audience familiar with movies, the likes of which would choose to read a review. For example, “Like the kids in the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise and in ‘The Hunger Games,’ Ender and his schoolmates do have childish moments. Yet what’s striking about the children in these pop culture behemoths is that, unlike in ‘Rebel,’ they aren’t allowed to pretend to be adults, because the world compels them to assume those roles.” Throughout the text, Dargis references films seemingly irrelevant to Ender’s Game in order to connect to her audience’s prior knowledge, while also assisting in conveying her points. Instead of thorough explanations of her point, she chooses to make a comparison to a movie her audience presumably has already seen. This also helps her to establish credibility, as it establishes her familiarity with a variety of films. Figurative language also is a tool used by Dargis to get her points across. For example, Dargis states that, “As he furiously moves spaceships and troops across computer screens, he looks, by turns, like a superexcited kid, an orchestra conductor, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and even a Christ figure.” By using a simile, Dargis is able to display in image to readers in a way that is humorous and connectable. As her audience would be familiar with the majority of these references, the strategy used to present information is logical. These readers would be able to imagine this event in their head, and be humored by what they saw. This would also convey the idea that the event in the movie was humorously unrealistic and unnatural, thus making her point and mocking the film.

And a Child Shall Lead Them Into Battle

Ender's Game
http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/10/31/review-enders-game/