Final Paper

            Too Little Sleep

                

                There is a lack of sleep in today’s society. This is especially true for adolescents having to wake up early for school in the morning.  Teens are constantly on the move with their busy schedules (studying, sports, work, etc) which causes them to stay up much later, and  according to an article by Michael J. Breus, PhD, teens are normally known to be “biologically driven…to these sleep-in, stay-up-late schedules” (PSY). With teens sleeping so late in the evening, and a staggering 86% of schools starting too early these individuals struggle constantly trying to keep themselves awake in their classes. School start times should become later because they affect these teens so negatively. Including some special points such as they don’t get enough sleep, lower learning in classes, and how lack of sleep affects adults and the future.

                Let’s begin with some research on how are future young adults are not healthy with these early morning wake up calls, and why the student’s quality of life should be important.  As teens go through their long, critical stage of puberty they are more prone to develop sleep deficiencies that get them deeper into something called sleep debt. Sleep debt is like any other debt, but instead of owing money the person owes hours of sleep to themselves if they don’t reach the essential amount of rest. Again according to psychologist Michael J. Breus, PhD, teenagers require more sleep than adults with teenagers needing roughly 9 hours of nightly sleep, compared to the general 7-8 hours for adults. With their busy schedules, the time the teen usually goes to sleep to when they wake up does not normally reach this necessary amount, and they quickly gain debts and experience exhaustion. It may overall cause a risk to one’s own health by developing unhealthy addictions, increase in reckless driving, and possible depression. A student’s welfare suffers from school starting early, and we need to realize that there quality of life is at the utmost importance because they define the future generations. A change in schedule can make a teenager healthier with extra time to sleep-in, and improve their quality of life.

            But wait, what about how academic success is affected by a lack of sleep? A brighter future is not without its pillars of a well learned education in schools. A principal by the name of Jayne Ellspermann once said "students come ready to learn...and take on the activities of the day”, so today’s society should see the importance of academic success among our future young leaders. When schools start too early, students suffer too many complications from trying to stay focused because they are too tired to retain the information being shared with them. Psychologists state that it impacts their “learning and academic performance as well as their behavior, and mood” throughout the day (PSY). Just a slight shift to a later start time can improve lack of sleep predicaments for students, and there is proof for it. Researchers by the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center studied 197 high-school students, and how the change in time would affect their overall performance. Normally this school began less than a quarter before 8 a.m., but when they adjusted the time to start about a half hour later the results were striking. The researchers concluded a 79% decrease of students sleeping less than 7 hours, and a 16% to 57% increase in students sleeping 8 or more hours nightly. The students experienced significant improvements to their “emotional and physical health, and their overall performance” at school during the day (PSY). This proves that there is a define line between how performance in school is partly affected by the amount of time students have to rest in the morning. Later starts times provide a clear window for an increase in student academic success.

            Now what about parents, and schools? In an online article from USA Today it stated that some may have a few concerns if later start times for adolescent schools were to come into effect (TED).  Administrators are worried that a later start time would mean revising the transportation system which could be very costly on schools, and could cause problems particularly with Elementary Schools when they begin nearly at the same time. There are also some who worry that later adjusted hours would put a back-lash on after school activities. Others who believe there would be an increase in traffic on the roads, and some parents who are concerned about their younger children (not adolescent) getting home if there only means of transportation was still at school, or work. Except maybe we need to look at it all in a different perspective. Elementary schools start later than High schools, but the children in the younger schools biologically (or told to) go to bed early, and therefore wake up earlier then there teenage peers. What if instead of having nocturnal adolescents waking early, we have the early-bird younger sleepers go to school around these early times, and having even their parents following the same system? Why not, as another USA Today article put it, we “flip” that system around, and have work end earlier for their parents (TEB)? With parents needing less sleep than adolescents, and children waking in the adolescents place both would have obtained the necessary amount of hours of sleep they needed to go about their day. While teens would be able to sleep-in, they will go to school feeling more refreshed instead of suffering from a late night’s of studying for their classes. Schools wouldn’t put such a strenuous impact on transportation costs, or their routed schedules, and after school activities would only have to make slight adjustments that wouldn’t have major consequences. Then once the parents are finished with work at an earlier time, there would be an earlier rush hour so traffic isn’t as bad after school, and they can pick up their children without feeling worried of their safety if they were let out before them. An earlier release gives parents more time to spend time with their families while still providing enough money to support the home front, and having extra time to sleep as well.  A simple switch up can remove the element of a restless night of sleep for everyone, and improve efficiency without eliminating too much time. Children become teens, and teens become adults, so we need them all to feel refreshed in the morning.

            In conclusion let’s remember everyone needs a certain amount of sleep to go about their day. We all wake up in the morning, but that does not mean we all get enough rest. As a congressmen once said "Over time, sleep deprivation leads to serious consequences for academic achievement, social behavior, and the health and safety of nations you" (SFO). Teenagers stay up later, and wake up later because that’s how nature created them. They are the future generation, so if they aren’t well rested enough now than they are not at their full potential to work efficiently, and end up hurting themselves physically, and emotionally. We can change that, and more. High schools can flip their schedules with Elementary school schedules to obtain extra time for sleeping-in, and for children to still obtain there necessary amount (10-11 hours) of sleep. They (the children) usually go to bed earlier anyway. In result schools wouldn’t have to spend much at all, and after school activities would be able to work with these slight adjustments without consequence. Of course this means the little ones would be coming out of school first, so parents should have their schedules to be set out earlier so that they could coincide with their child(s). This way parents would still be making the essential amount to support there family, have extra time to rest, and have their children safe at home. While teachers would be able to teach wide awake students, and have an increase in their students’ academic knowledge and success. That all being said there is no question that we all need sleep. A lack of sleep means a lack of progress in today’s society, so with slight adjustments we can all benefit from a well-rested night’s sleep. 

Work Cited

Sources:

1.) Breus, Michael J. “Is It Time to Start School Later?” Psychology Today. Sleep Newzzz, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 (PSY)

2.) Velkoff, Ted. “Later Start Times Cost: Opposing View.” USA Today. Fairfax County School Board, 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 (TED)

3.) The Editorial Board. “More Sleep and a Later Opening Bell can Benefit Sleep-deprived Teens.” USA Today. 27 Aug, 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2015 (TEB)

4.) “Eight Major Obstacles to Delaying School Start Times.” National Sleep Foundation. Arlington, VA, 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2015. (SFE)
5.) "School Start Time and Sleep" National Sleep Foundation. Arlington, VA. 2015. Web. 4. Dec. 2015 (SFO)

Note: Anything like (SFO) is just a label for which site it’s from. It is meant to prevent confusion.

Summary of The Reading (Page 269-284)

People argue every single day, but sometimes are not aware that they are doing so. When we make arguments we have to be careful with what we say, and how we say it because not everyone is going to interpret it in the same way. A person has to really consider the audience they are presenting there argument to, and how they can relate to it. They themselves need to know how they want to appear to the other person or paper they are standing for, or going against. Always state your claim when writing a thesis, and provide facts, or experiences to back the information up. Remember that maybe the person your trying to get to understand your argument may be ignorant to what it is you're talking about, make sure to highlight on some essential background information to be better understood. This can be easy to do, or very challenging, but don't stress too much. People argue everyday, and so do you, so clearly we get the idea around it.

Reflections: Paper #3 Compared to Paper #2

Writing the analysis paper definitely felt different then writing the persuasive paper, but I found them both to be equally difficult. With the analysis paper you had to really look at the advertisements you picked, and find a defined similarity between them. To be honest, what I had chosen was not easy what so ever because it was comedy going hand in hand with insurance. It was already hard enough trying to find two advertisements that carried a common theme, but there wasn't much time to switch to something else. Fortunately with the persuasive paper I already had a clear idea of what I wanted my position to be, The need to state my argument, and back it up with sources provided some new incite for me, and my topic. The readings were very interesting, and shocking when I learned the effects of starting school later the morning could benefit adolescent students. Citing the sources weren't all that difficult, but keeping from turning the paper into a  research one was very challenging to me. experience.
However I've gotten lost endless times between both paper #2 and #3. While the readings, and assignments did give us an idea of how to put together these papers I don't believe it was enough. They both lack something I've found important in most of the final essays I've ever written; rubrics. There is absolutely nothing more frustrating then starting something without a general layout of how it should be documented. It feels like I was trying to hit the center of a target while it was constantly moving in the dark. Finding the information is one thing, but for me it won't come out right without some background information of what needs to be set into motion. Despite the confusion for me, both papers were amazing to write, and broaden my understanding on how they touch base with the reader.

In Class Lab: Analyzing an Arguement

Chloe's Paper:
1.) What is the claim?
a. That antidepressants shouldn't be used.
b. The claim is stated as the first sentence.
2.) What support does the writer offer for the claim?
a. Her reasons imply that antidepressants don't allow the natural process of cooping with a a negative situation. They are not a solution, but a sedation. Plus the prices are outrageous.
b. She provides factual information involving serotonin levels, and how they affect ones mood when treated with antidepressants. She provides a cause, and effects of this medication by also listing the possible side effects.
c. The reasons seem to provide a well detailed position with sufficient evidence.
3.) How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues? 
a. There is a counterargument involving the use of antidepressants as a solution over a therapist, but the writer provides in detail the negatives of doing such things, and backing it up with evidence.
b. All the above. The writer tries to understand the other perspectives, but counters with concise logic.
c. Yes, she seems to provide appropriate qualified arguments.
4.) What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?
a. To quote someone using antidepressants, and providing there counterargument.
b. The sources seem to be reliable.
c. They range from 2013 to 2015, so in my opinion yes.
5.) How does the writer address you as the reader?
a. The writer believes you'll understand the gist of what this medication tries to do, but implies some background anyway.
b. The writer does include you, or me.
c. The author believe the reader has once had depression in there life, and that as timed pasted they naturally got over it.

Corben's Paper:
1.) What is the claim?
a. He believes should have, or like virtual reality.
b. The thesis is a little tricky to understand, but I guess he implies that everyone should have virtual reality when he states "yes, everyone should want this."
2.) What support does the writer offer for the claim?
a. He states that virtual reality has many different qualities, and is always updating.
b. Most most of his facts come from a company by the name of Wired, and puts in reactions to the Google Cardboard.
c. He provides the same reasons, but he makes them credible because they come from several sources.
3.) How evenhandedly does the writer present the issues? 
a. He mentions various counterarguments, and provides in response to them all about about Google Cardboard is cheap, and worth there time.
b. He defines them, and refutes them.
c. Respectfully.
d. He brings logic to his arguments, but uses what seems to be mostly opinions to barely defend his position.
4.) What authorities or sources of outside information does the writer use?
a. The sources give support to his perspective on Google Cardboard.
b.Wired seems to be a factual enough source even if it does seem a little bias.
c. They are from 2014 to 2015, so they are pretty current.
5.) How does the writer address you as the reader?
a. He provides background information for the reader in the first few paragraphs, so they can have a general idea of what Google cardboard encompasses.
b. The beginning makes me as a reader interested in what he has to say. He wants me to know why I should appreciate Google Cardboard.
c. I believe virtual reality is the next step for the future. It's in our sights (literally), and we should jump on the bandwagon, and go purchase it.

Rough Draft: Position Paper #3 (With Word Cited)

The Student and Sleep

Rough Draft: Position Paper #3

Rise and shine! As most parents, or alarm clocks, find it difficult when they try and wake there heavily sleeping adolescents before the sun rises on the new day. Teenagers waking early for school usually spend later hours in their routine of sports, chores, studying, extracurricular activities, or doing assignments for other classes afterwards. Once they’ve completed these tasks they usually go to bed pretty late at night, and by the next few hours they have to wake up at the break of dawn. They constantly spend that next morning struggling to keep themselves elevated when there sitting down in their classes, and in more times than once might end up snoozing away during a lecture. Perhaps even causing problems with others around you, or yourself like irritating the teacher with your lack of attention. While I may be just another freshmen in college, I know what it’s like to be waking up after a long night of finishing homework, and causing frustration to my parents, or teachers (or both) trying to keep my eyes focused. If maybe schools had started at a later time then we (the students) would be able to interact more with the subject we are being taught, and maybe we’d even see less problems’ in the classroom.  In my paper I discuss why starting school later would provide more benefits to the students, teachers, and parents then sticking with the usual early bird routine. I’ll be discussing what I’ve found in the research I’ve discovered through online sources, studies, and statistics to why some people would agree with this idea, and why some might be opposed to it.  Hear all I have to say before you throw judgment at me.

            While browsing the web I came across some research on why it almost always seems to be a constant struggle to wake early in the hours of the morning. Through gathered studies from Michael J. Breus, PhD, I learned that teens are “biologically driven…to these sleep-in, stay-up-late schedules” (PSY). And as they go through the long, critical stage of puberty they are more prone to develop sleep deficiencies that get them deeper into something called sleep debt. Teenagers require more sleep than adults with teenagers needing roughly 9 hours of nightly sleep, compared to the general 7-8 hours for adults. With their busy schedules, the time the teen usually goes to sleep to when they wake up does not normally reach this necessary amount.  This impacts their learning and academic performance as well as their behavior, and mood throughout the day. It may overall cause a risk to one’s own health by developing unhealthy addictions, and possible depression. Would maybe shifting these early schedules by at least half an hour make a powerful difference? I believe so, but what about some others?

            Let’s say people argued against this case of changing the school start time. This proposal some say of school changing their times might come with a cost. In an article from USA Today online I discovered that some schools, coaches, parents, and even students have a few fears if this were to come into effect (TED). Coaches as well as students, are concerned that later starting times would cause practices, or other after school activates to end earlier while teachers are mostly concerned with suffering later after school traffic on the roads going home. Despite those reasons the major factor revolves around administrators having to spend more money on changing schedules for school buses instead of providing more money for the classrooms. Schools of all levels normally start at different intervals in the morning using the same buses, so that their individual drivers can quickly pick up, and drop off those students to their proper location. A few people in a local area would say if one school were to change their start time to happening later it would imbalance the current system. The result would be needing to hire more bus drivers, and buses to manage it which could possibly end up causing more traffic on road ways. The point is all these people find it hard to let go of the current status quo, and there reasons as said are understandable. Change is hard to make, and usually it takes some time to adjust.

            On the other hand, let’s say a normal high school student starts school around 8 a.m., but suddenly there was a 25 minute delay in the school start time instead. This happened in the state of Rhode Island when a group of researchers (by the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center) studied 197 high-school students, and how the change in time would affect the adolescents sleep habits. The results were outstanding. There was about a 79% decrease of students sleeping less than 7 hours, and a 16% to 57% increase in students sleeping 8 or more hours nightly. The students experienced significant improvements to their “emotional and physical health, and their performance” at school during the day (PSY). Yet as soon as the school shifted back to its original course the students again returned to their notorious sluggish morning habits, so starting later does seem to correlate with a more positive outcome then starting at or before eight in the morning. While yes this does provide a more reasonable idea that later beginnings provide a better welfare for the student’s health, some would still argue with the possible outcomes I mentioned before. What about the transportation problems, costs, after school activities, and the roads going home?

            According to another article on USA Today, some other districts tried something unusual, but clever. They figured that children going to their Elementary schools tend to go to bed early, and therefore awake early in the morning, but having to go to school later then there older peers. Sense teenagers going to middle, or high school usually do the opposite, people thought well why not “flip” that system around (TEB)? What if instead of having nocturnal adolescents waking early, we have the early-bird younger sleepers go to school around those early morning times? These alterations wouldn’t put such a strenuous impact on transportation costs, or their routed schedules. This system also makes it easier for parents to wake up their children without too much fretting, and provide easier morning routines for them. The time management on after school activities wouldn’t be as worrisome, and teachers would become accustomed to the slight time change in their daily routines. In fact studies done by the University of Minnesota found “educational and safety benefits” (TEB). To which, and I quote included “less tardiness, higher grade point averages in morning classes and fewer teen car crashes” (TEB).

            In conclusion let’s be reminded of the purpose of why students come to school every day.  A principal by the name of Jayne Ellspermann once said "students come ready to learn...and take on the activities of the day”, so the top priority in schools should be actively on the students well-being (TEB). If we keep leaving them with sand man eyes from too early wake up calls we’ll end up wasting time for them, the teachers, their parents, and the school board. They’ll start to develop chronic sleep deprivation which will cause them to become sleepy, moody, and unable to retain as much information in classes because they weren’t biologically created to follow these systems yet. Being a teenager is already tedious work trying to figure out oneself for who they want to be, what they want to do, and how they are going to get it done. Why make it more challenging for them especially if it causes more frustrations to their teachers if they fall asleep in the classroom, or difficult for parents to awake there hard working adolescent(s) rise from there bed? We could just as easily slowly transition into later times, or just go right for it like Rhode Island researchers did. We could flip Elementary and High School with each other like other distracts did to provide an even better solution, so why wait? The point is most teenagers already come for an average 6 hour period of education, so we should at least set it up to where they’ll pay attention to the learning processes to provide for a more informed, and well slept future.

Work Cited

Sources:

1.) Breus, Michael J. “Is It Time to Start School Later?” Psychology Today. Sleep Newzzz, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 (PSY)

2.) Velkoff, Ted. “Later Start Times Cost: Opposing View.” USA Today. Fairfax County School Board, 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015 (TED)

3.) The Editorial Board. “More Sleep and a Later Opening Bell can Benefit Sleep-deprived Teens.” USA Today. (insert), 27 Aug, 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2015 (TEB)

4.)“Eight Major Obstacles to Delaying School Start Times.” National Sleep Foundation. Arlington, VA, 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

Essay #3 Rough Draft

Essay #3

          Rise and shine! As most parents, or alarm clocks try and wake there heavily sleeping adolescents before the sun rises on the new day. Only to find that much is difficult. Teenagers waking early for school usually spend later hours in their routine of sports, studying, extracurricular activities, or doing assignments for other classes. After dragging themselves early out of there sheets like a mindless zombie they go to school where they might constantly struggle in paying attention to there instructor, and accidently falling in and out of sleep in class. Where the instructor themselves would be frustrated with the student, and believing that it was laziness, or rudeness that drive them to slumber while they teach. Is it really the teens fault? Might an adjustment to their daily schedules provide beneficial results? I believe so.

          While I may be just another freshmen in college, I know what it’s like to be waking after a long night of finishing homework, and causing frustration to my parents, or teachers (or both) trying to keep my eyes focused. I’ve however done some research on why it almost always seems to be a constant struggle to wake early in the hours of the morning. I found that psychologists believe that teens are “biologically driven…to these sleep-in, stay-up-late schedules” (Insert source). Also as they go through the long road of puberty they are more prone to develop sleep deficiencies that get them deeper into something I like to call sleep debt. Teenagers require more sleep than adults with teenagers needing roughly 9 hours of nightly sleep, compared to the general 7-8 hours for adults. With their busy schedules, the time the teen usually go to sleep to when the wake up does not normally reach this necessary amount.  This impacts there learning and academic performance as well as their behavior, and mood throughout the day. It may overall cause a risk to one’s own health by developing unhealthy addictions, and possible depression. With early routines shifted by at least half an hour could make a powerful difference.

          Say normally a high schooler starts school around 8 a.m., but suddenly there was a 25 minute delay in the school start time. This happened in the state of Rhode Island where researchers studied 197 high-school students, and how the change in time would affect the adolescents sleep habits. The results were outstanding. There was about a 79% decrease of students sleeping less than 7 hours, and a 16% to 57% increase in students sleeping 8 or more hours nightly. The students experienced significant improvements to there emotional and physical health, and their performance at school during the day.

In Class Lab: “Incorporating Sources Effectively”

1.) In his article on the Psychology Today website, the psychologist Michael J. Breus states, “New research indicates (link is external) that even a small delay in…the beginning of the school day was associated with significant changes to sleep and waking mood.”

Source:

Breus, Michael J. “Is It Time to Start School Later?” Psychology Today. Sleep Newzzz, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015

2.) In his article of USA Today, Ted Velkoff provides facts on how delaying the start of school would have negative effects, and believes that are school system now is efficient as well as organized enough.

Source:

 Velkoff, Ted. “Later Start Times Cost: Opposing View.” USA Today. Fairfax County School Board, 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 19 Nov. 2015

3.) According to William H. Moorcroft, Professor in Luther College for Sleep and Dreaming laboratories he asks, “If you were asked to determine whether someone is asleep, what would you look for?” (1). In his book Understanding Sleep and Dreaming, Moorcroft tells us, “This book is written for college students with no prior knowledge of sleep and related phenomena” (vii).

Source:

Moorcoft, William H. “Understanding Sleep and Dreams.” Decorah, IA. New York: Spring Boston Heidelburg, 2005. Amazon.com. Web. 19 Nov. 2015

Comparing Position Essay's

Things About Sprigg’s Essay We Noticed

• Spriggs addressed the other points of views well and gave a bit of evidence even supporting the other side.
• She proved the evidence wrong, which built up her credibility.
• Sprigg’s argument didn’t have very solid facts, since her idea that she wanted to discuss is not something you can prove or disprove.
• Sprigg’s pictures added a good contrast for the farms.

Things About Our Essays We Noticed

• In Jacob’s essay, his author had a phD which made the author a bit more credible. His phD was in psychology (we think).
• In Jacob’s essay there is evidence and facts. There is a lot of solid facts, since the topic of school starting later is a tangible idea.
• Jacob’s essay had a very small counter argument. Same with Chloe’s. Same with Corben’s
• Corben’s essay was a very opinionated review, and there really wasn’t a counter argument for his paper. The counter argument would be not to buy it, but so far there hasn’t been a counter argument.
• Chloe’s essay didn’t have pictures, but if you had pictures of the topic “animal essay” it might be too graphic and scare people away.
• Riley did not have an essay, but has created a survey to collect personal responses.

In Class Lab: Developing Your Arguement

1.) What are you trying to change? (position)
I'm trying to change the school systems starting times for students and teachers.
2.) To whom are you writing? (audience)
Students, parents, teachers, and the school board.
3.) How do you appeal to their beliefs, values, etc? (pathos)
By providing personal examples of what there lives might of been, or are like as a high schooler.
4.) Why should your audience believe you - who are you, and how can you best represent your persona as a writer? (ethos)
In this writing I could be a psychologist, or a former high school student. I would use examples on how lack of sleep put a dent on my memory, and studying.
5.) What are at least 2 reasons the change should be made?
The change should be made because according to psychology adolescents are usually awake late at night getting homework done for classes, so they require more sleep to get back there energy. The teachers would also have less problems with students falling asleep in class, and better grades.
6.)What's a good point that the other side makes about the issue? (concession - ethos)
The school board, or parents might say that it could waste more money if they redue the schedule.
7.) How would you answer that point? (rebuttal - ethos, logos, pathos)
Yes, it would at first, but after a time the teachers will have an easier time teaching fully energized students. (Will provide statics later).
8.) Is there another good point that can be made for the opposition? (concession - ethos)
(To be decided)
9.) How would you answer that point? (rebuttal - ethos, logos, pathos)
(To be decided)
10.) Who will benefit from this change-you? the audience? society? a well-deserving group?
If I had still been in high school, and it started around 9 sharp then a majority of people would benefit from the process (me included). The students wouldn't be dragging there feet in there halls in the morning, falling asleep in class, have plenty of time to eat breakfast, and be able to focus more.
Teachers would feel more refreshed as well, and be able to progress with there assignments without the need of waking irritated students.
The school board would see a definite increase in grades among students as well as an increase in moral.

"On Buying Local": Thinking About the Text (p. 100)

1.) The author Katherine Spriggs has convinced me that her topic matters because she highlights the benefits of polycultures compared to monocultures. While with a polyculture system we wouldn't have certain produce year around we would still see a rise in small farming with local markets, less pollution to the land (monocultures use too much pesticides), decrease the amount of pollution in the air by at most 75%, and "could demonstrate to the world our commitment to environmentalism."

2.) While reading the text I noticed she stated positions other then her own to show other positions. For example she details the fact that yes, large farms are more efficient than small farms in the total output of one crop per acre, but she (Spriggs) counters with the fact that small farms being more efficient in total output of all crops per acre. She then also addresses the position if more crops were grown in the U.S. there'd might have a negative impact then our current methods compared to the U.S. using more advanced technology then third world nations we obtain food from. She counters with the use of statics saying that U.S. citizens in reality is only 13% imported (a lot shorter then we thought).

3.) I found her essay very effective on page 96 because she gives the two sides; monoculture farms, and polyculture farms. She points out the different methods each use to farm with one (poly) keeping the land healthy for crops, and the other (mono) destroying the natural ecosystems. She also points out that if we  buy local we would reduce the high cost of fuel and energy used to transport food around the world. Thus convincing an audience that the position of buying local from polyculture farms would be eco-friendly, and save money on transporting goods by valuing seasonal fcrops instead of trying to make them yearly.

4.) The photos Spriggs uses in her essay give the reader a spotlight on what she's trying to point out. For example she uses the image of a farmers market selling fresh organic squash to give an appealing perspective of purchasing from local farms gives a more natural outlook in communities. She then provides images of what a polyculture (small farm), and monoculture (large farm) look like compared to each other. The small farm presents a lush natural green with hard workers nurturing the crops while the larger farm lays out endless dusky greens without a person in sight. Lastly, the image of the trucks point out how trucks carry produce thousands of miles which end up being financially expensive, and ecologically damaging.

In Class Lab: Homework Discussion

Drinking PSA:

• The after effects of two sisters who were young passengers of a girl driving drunk. The two older sisters, 15 and 17, died but the 13 year old lived.
• Used a guilt trip to persuade you by not being able to experience graduation, prom, becoming valedictorian, getting their driver’s license etc.
• Had perspectives from people at the fire station who had seen a bit of the same thing before. Another person outside of the family
• Music is very powerful and adds to the pathos appeals.
• Added more pathos through the dates of how long the girls lived, and videos of their lives when they were young and happy. The parents were devastated, and you could relate really well to the ad because of the age and the sadness in general.
• Logos = death
• The big message is not to make a big mistake, which is a call to action.

Texting PSA:

• Shouldn’t text while you drive, because you could die.
• They targeted the younger audience who texts
• About the girl who died the day before her graduation… her family celebrated her birthdays after she had died and it connected really well with anyone who has lost a loved one and was a good pathos appeal
• Ethos was built through the police officer having experience with texting and driving cases before, and the families testimonies.
• The pictures of the girls who died added a lot of pathos and the memorials at their death sites.

Drinking and Driving: Summary and Analysis

Two Sisters Tragic Story Summary:
A video I just watched involved two sisters with one named Shauna Murphy, and the other her younger sister Meghan Murphy with there friend Melisa. All three were a car one night in Southboro, Massachusetts after having a few drinks at a party one night before driving home, but crashed into a utility pole where the two sisters died. The parents of the two sisters, a Chaplin, a fireman, and the survivor Melisa share there stories of the events.
(Pathos) The video tries to capture an emotional response of the viewer by first letting them describe the personalities of these girls who died, and how kind they were to other people around them. They proceed by retelling the events of how they learned of an accident involving there car through a phone call, and how through the eyes of the Chaplin we learn that they were deeply horrified when they heard it was there daughters who didn't survive.
(Ethos) It continues with the survivor Melisa giving her side  of the story in which Shauna found a license, bought alcohol, and had a party together. When they were heading back home they crashed, and the car was impaled by a utility pole. Melisa states she was in shock, and rightfully so. She learned while her friends didn't seem that drunk (though she was drinking too), they should not have driven that night or had the drinks.
(Pathos) The video further gets its message across by sharing videos of the daughters growing up while the parents are describing how there cooping after there death. They believe that if they were still alive they would of told everyone else to not make the same mistake they did with drinking and driving, so that they can experience there lives unlike there daughters.

In Class Lab: "How Things Mean"

Album Covers:

What do they suggest?

• The female album cover is sexually suggestive, while the male album covers are more physically intimidating. In the male cover, the pictures almost have a cold and closed off feeling, while the female cover invites you closer.

How do they suggest it?

• The female album cover has a woman staring at the camera, but slightly upwards, giving the viewer the impression of being looked up at. This establishes the power balance between the woman on the cover and the viewers, with the woman being submissive and the viewer being dominant. After establishing this, the album cover suggests a sexual element by having the woman’s hair fall messily in front of her face, having her shyly peek out from behind it. It also has the woman placing her fingers into her mouth, touching her lips. This draws attention to the mouth and creates a sexual undertone in the cover.
• The male album cover shows the men being the focus of the cover. Both are standing in the center, staring forward. Unlike the female cover, the men are not looking up at the camera but either directly at it, or downwards. This creates the illusion that the men are either on the same level as the viewer or up above, putting them in a position of power. Neither men are being portrayed sexually, but as stand alone people, without connection to the audience at all. The men seem to be dismissive of any audience, with the left covering his eyes and puffing his cheeks outwards, making himself bigger and harder to connect with, and the right has his mouth closed tightly, with his chin slightly turned up as if he was challenging the audience or viewers. Both sides are lacking in an invitation to come forwards like the female cover had.

Which elements of each image work on the viewer in various ways?

• The lighting, and shadows of the image captures  the viewer’s attention to the ideal stars.
• The left rap cover album shows a more intimidation factor when looked at. The monotone colors and stark contrast create an essence of fear.

Rolex & Hello Kitty watches:

What do they suggest?

• The Hello Kitty watch suggests childness, though it is not limited to children it is aimed at a child demography.
• The Rolex watch suggests being elite.
• Both suggest an easier way to keep track of time.

How do they suggest it?

• The Hello Kitty goes about being childish by having simple designs that are more friendly. With the cartoon character on the watch face and circular, round edges suggest a more friendly appearance. Hello Kitty is a TV show about a friendly cat looking character, it is meant for children like the watch is meant for children.

• The Rolex suggests it because there are many diamonds in the watch, and you have a good view of it’s fancy and expensive features. If you can buy such an expensive watch you are in an elite group of people.
• The fact that they are advertising a product for watches usually suggests that people want to keep track of their time.

Which elements of each images work on the viewer in various ways?

• The angles of the watches are important, because the Rolex watch being more front facing is showing off all of it’s components while still allowing it to look professional.
• Hello Kitty watch is tilted more to the side and standing so it looks more “fun,” if a watch could be considered fun. It is a simple watch, so that angle brings most of the attention to Hello Kitty itself and not the other parts of the watch, since Hello Kitty is the selling point. Hello Kitty is also a fun character, and is a cartoon character and cartoons mainly represent fun and non-seriousness.

Brief Outline Album Cover:

Thesis: The images convey a message about the objects by using strategies to tell the consumer about their product, and why they should buy it.

Introduction: Give necessary background info, like the history of each person and then begin to describe the covers.

Body paragraphs:

Female album cover: How her position draws people in. How the cover uses sex to sell. Where the girl is looking, and how that asserts dominance.

Male album cover: How their positions make them look interesting. How the cover uses power to sell. Where the guys are looking, and how that asserts dominance.

Compare and contrast of the covers: physical aspects and how the covers impact people. If allowed more research, which album sold better and the possible connection to the covers.

Counterargument: How a different conclusion could be drawn and what the argument would use as support. How it’s valid, but not as effective or complete as the one we are making.

Ending: Tie in the most important parts of each body paragraph into the conclusion that draws from the thesis and intro paragraph. Make a closing argument that uses a summary of the evidence stated, making sure to have addressed each part of your thesis.

Brief Outline Watches:

Thesis: The images convey a message about the objects by using strategies to tell the consumer about their product, and why they should buy it.

Intro: The Rolex and Hello Kitty are on opposite sides of the watch spectrum. With Hello Kitty being the fun side of having a watch, and the Rolex shows that having just a simple tool to tell the time can be turned into more of a fashion statement and a status statement. Watches have become more than just something to tell the time with they have become a way to express your status, whether it's young and fun, or elite and serious.

Body Paragraphs

Rolex- Rolex is stating that to be elite is to purchase one of there watches. By having jewels surrounding the clock portion, and a metal band all around we see that the watch is trying to argue that you can’t be as fancy unless you have this watch.

Hello Kitty- Consider the consumer that they are trying to sell this watch to. It would be amined at a younger audience that is more familiar with the cartoon show Hello Kitty. Kids want stuff that has something to do with their favorite show. Having Hello Kitty on the watch face is a celebrity endorsement. Consider how this would affect the consumer and how this is effective or ineffective.

Both Watches: How both watches have things in common in their strategies to sell the product. discuss why they might have these in common. Both watches have in common that they are specifically aimed at a certain group of people. Though the consumers are different, one being kids and the other wealthy adults, the products are still geared toward a certain audience.

Counterargument: How another conclusion about the two images might have been drawn and how. Acknowledge this, and also tie it into your own argument, using the failings of the other to help support your own, which also creates a more effective air of authority.

Ending : Conclude your argument, addressing every part of your thesis and drawing the argument back into the introduction.

Textual Analysis: Final Paper (#2)

Funny Business

(Paper #2)

            Another day, another mind numbing topic that really grinds my gears. I’ll be honest, when I was told I had to do a thorough analysis on a few advertisements of my choice, I was dreading it wholeheartedly. Therefore I had to ponder for a while with the almost frustrating question of “What on god’s green earth is my topic going to cover?” To that question I searched endlessly through Google images for advertisements until I struck gold with something funny enough to catch my interest. There were a few insurance ads I saw from companies like Progressive with their quirky spokesperson Flo, and how I laughed whenever I thought of the commercials with her sponsoring the product. Usually the topic of insurance would bore an individual like myself, but while these ads encompassed easier, and cheaper ways to save on money, they also did it through comical methods that had me smiling. So I decided to find another ad that revolved around this method, and this time asked myself “how does comical advertising persuade the audience to buy their product/service?”

            To my surprise when I compared two humorous ads involving insurance, I found a few unique similarities. Right away I saw in several Progressive and Geico ads they had used the color blue to express their company logo, but why does this matter? Usually insurance companies want customers/the audience to know they’re serious about their work, and will help you when you call them which is why they choose the color blue to label their logo because it typically means loyalty, and professionalism. Another fun fact is that blue makes you feel more awake because it fills you with endorphins. Windows used blue originally to do this, so does Google and many other businesses. If they were to use another color like green it would instead be associated with greed or jealousy, and wouldn’t get the same point across, sending the audience away instead.

            Moving forward to the image in the Geico ad… If you saw some crazed professional Laker’s basketball player (who looks somewhat like a caveman, keep this in mind) with his mouth agape in wild surprise, it would probably fill you with a case of the giggles too. I believe they used a basketball player opposed to say, a lawyer because it would come out as sort of odd. Anything but a basketball player/athlete would be less brutish and less caveman-ish. It’s more humorous. With an athlete a person would expect strange faces while shouting cheers of joy, but with a lawyer (or professional business man) instead it might come across as an angry expression. Their idea was to draw a lot of attention to the man’s appearance, so the viewer would shift there gaze to the text describing what their company is trying to offer. In this case there is text saying that it’s “so easy even a caveman can do it.” This is a funny way of saying that there insurance procedure is so easy that even a man (or woman) millions of years ago without the slightest idea of how to use technology could “(easily) save hundreds on car insurance.” Of course once they called, or went to the company’s site to get a “free quote,” that is. The purpose of this ad is to enlighten the heavy subject of insurance with laughter, and thus in catching the audience’s attention and diverting it to the text they may understand that there is an easier way of going about saving money.

            Let’s look back first to when I was mentioning Progressive’s ad involving there spokesperson Flo. Aside from the contagious red-lipped smile on her face the viewer would probably wonder why this particular printed ad would attract them. The idea is that you’ve already seen the TV advertisements involving her spreading the word of Progressive’s insurance rates in bizarre ways. And I mean really bizarre such as smashing an electric guitar, or spinning a basketball.  As well as setting a metaphor that states that they (Progressive) save the individual more money than other businesses by having two men from those corporation spy on Flo, and several other scenes that try to grab the viewer's’ attention (like the Geico ad). It’s with Flo’s enthusiastic expressions about the greatness of Progressive in these scenes that grabs a person’s attention. Hypothetically though, let’s say that the person watching these commercials were too distracted by the plot of events that they didn’t get the full idea of how it was trying to persuade you. In this case the printed ad I stumbled upon would inform a person who is familiar with the character Flo to shift their gaze to the ad, and inform themselves with the text hovering to the side of her. They would see that “you could save $550 on your car insurance,” and would result exciting the viewer who needs better coverage. Better yet, it would thrill them once they learned that it would only take about “6 minutes” to start. Thus convincing the audience that there policy is a quick, easy process that will leave you as content as the lovely Flo.

            In conclusion these ads use comedy for what they're trying to convey to the audience. By using odd expressions, contagious smiles, and memorable scenes as reminders I was able to infer that such aspects provide a more positive exposure of the product of insurance. So while at first I found this paper to be rather aggravating, I’ll admit that it highlighted certain aspects I didn’t put into deep thought before as to why a color could show-off a type of theme, how a basketball player over a lawyer in an ad could shape a persons perspective, or how a whimsical character could make an ad become frequently more familiar.