TOW #3- Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian-Americans

Harvard Accused of Bias Against Asian-Americans is an article written by Douglas Belkin. Belkin is a writer for The Wall Street Journal, the largest newspaper in the United States by circulation, who covers high education and national news. This article focuses around a recent complaint which was filed by a coalition of 64 organizations against Harvard University for discrimination against Asian-Americans applying to the school. Belkin does not make an argument in this article, instead, he uses it as a summation of the dispute between Harvard and those accusing the university. In a day and age when getting into Harvard seems nearly like winning the lottery and "longtime stereotypes of Asian applicants’ being 'not creative enough or risk-taking enough'" exist, he attempts to clearly depict to high school college applicants, parents, and anyone interested in applying to Harvard, the argument of both sides in this battle. Appealing to logos and also representing the points of the accusers, Belkin discusses Cal Tech's record for undergraduate Asian Americans standing at around 40% while Harvard's remains at about 21%. Belkin explains that this was a point presented by the former of the coalition which helps the reader see this isn't his own personal opinion, just the facts. He also appeals to logos when he reveals the coalition's citing of third-party academic research of the SAT exam. This research proved that Asian Americans generally have to score much higher than other races in order to gain acceptance into Harvard University. To keep a fair account of the events going, Belkin then discusses Harvard's point of view as a general council for the school has confirmed that their selection process is well within the perimeters of the law. He reports their claims that they take into account more than just grades and scores, but they also consider extracurricular activities and leadership abilities. The way he formats the article as if it is a back and forth argument without any bias on his behalf allows the reader to decide for themselves what they believe in this situation. The use of facts and quotes from both sides, helps Belkin support his purpose, however, he ends up providing much more information from the accusing side which makes Harvard's defense weak. Because he does not present enough information from Harvard's perspective, his audience is almost left to believer that either the coalition must be right, or Belkin in bias. For this reason, I feel like he accomplished his purpose, but not in the most effective may. 

Tow #2- Is There a Santa Claus?

Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

In the late 1890's, an editor and publisher, Francis Pharcellus Church, wrote an editorial piece for a politically conservative, very well respected, New York newspaper called The Sun. This piece, Is There a Santa Claus?, soon became his most famous editorial as he addressed the simple question of the existence of Santa Cause with a deeper, more philosophical answer. Church starts the editorial with a representation of a letter that a young girl named Virginia O'Hanlon wrote him explaining that she is eight years old, her friends said that Santa Clause does not exist and that her father told her "'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'" O'Hanlon writes to The Sun with one simple purpose, to find that truth. Starting this editorial with that letter does a number of effective things for Church. It first gives the reader something to relate to as most people can imagine a childhood filled with "Santas", "Easter Bunnies" and "Tooth Fairies". A time filled with imagination and faith, but also filled with evident splashes of doubt. It is easy to remember being a child, believing in something you have never really seen and having people around you tell you it is false. This letter also establishes a certain sense of ethos. The fact that this girl's father told her that if it is in the Sun it must be true shows how much faith and respect people had in this newspaper at the time. Church's purpose in responding to that letter with his editorial is to answer whether Santa Claus exists, but more accurately, explain that anything we believe in does exist as long as we have faith in it. He wants O'Hanlon and anyone else reading the editorial to understand that just because you don't see something does not mean it isn't there. Church very effectively achieves his purpose in many ways. He starts his response by blatantly saying that O'Hanlon's friends are wrong. He uses a metaphor toward the beginning comparing humanity to insects, so small and clueless to the boundless world around it. By doing this, he helps the reader really put things into perspective, to understand that human beings tend to rely on logic and the apparent facts too often. This gives O'Halon and anyone else reading the piece hope that maybe there truly are things that exists beyond the realm of reason. Church also tries to explain that a world without belief in things like Santa Claus is not a world worth having, it is a world filled with dreary facts and a strong lack of emotion. This encourages the reader to believe and continue to hold fast to what others may doubt. Church even uses an analogy to draw parallels between the existence of fairies and Santa Clause. He explains that though you may never see fairies, "that doesn't mean that they are not there". Once again he desperately aims to help the reader understand that no one has the ability to imagine all of the wonders the world holds. In Church's opinion, the world is absolutely nothing without belief in the things beyond our ability to see. Through human faith, love, generosity and imagination, anything exists in reality that one desires.

TOW #1- State Farm® commercial - "Never"

State farm is one the country's leading distributors of insurance and financial service to this day. While the company exceeds in it's business services, it also exceeds in it's advertisement appeal crafting some of the most famous commercials out there. This commercial, entitled "Never" starts with a man, most likely in his mid twenties, at a party. He looks over his shoulder at a girl smiling at him and turns back to his group of friends proclaiming "I am never getting married!" He laughs along with his friends as they nod in agreement, however, the scene suddenly switches to the same man at a later date in a jewelry store purchasing a wedding ring. At this point it is clear that State Farm is trying to show viewers that we often don't expect certain things to happen in life, but they still do. The man continues to contradict himself throughout the commercial. He tells his wife, "we are never having kids" only for the scene to suddenly switch to her giving birth. He says that he will "never move to suburbs" only to be shown moments later on the front lawn of his typical white picketed fence suburban home. State Farm is aiming a powerful message toward everyone that underestimates the possibilities in life on a broad level. However, they are also trying to get a much more specific message across directed toward insurance holders or those who need it. They want these people to understand that you can't possibly predict what will happen to you in life, so it's best to be covered, in this case, by a loyal, reliable insurance company. To even further reiterate their point, State Farm even ends with a bold line, "for all of the 'nevers' in life, State Farm is there". The use of repetition and irony in this advertisement makes the purpose totally clear. The viewer is able to understand that everyone must expect the unexpected and things that that may seem like they will "never" happen are right around the corner. Even though the man depicted in the commercial's "nevers" consisted of children, a wife, a home in the suburbs, etc., State Farm wants people to eliminate the "never" factor in events such as a car crash, a robbery or an unexpected death. Furthermore, they want them to understand that these events occur time and time again, and when they do, State Farm will ensure their protection, safety and preparation.

"Never"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Z91YkPatw

IRB Introduction #1

For my IRB I will be reading the critically acclaimed nonfiction graphic novel, A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge. Josh Neufeld crafts this thought provoking and truly unique depiction of hurricane Katrina through the eyes of real life residents in New Orleans prior to and after the destructive hurricane wreaked havoc on the city in 2005. I decided to read this book because I was really interested in storms like this, the effect they have on places, but most of all, people. I also look forward to analyzing visual rhetoric and seeing how it translates from textual.