TOW #30: Letter to APELC Students

Dear APELC student,

I may be wrong, but you're probably sitting here wondering why in the world you decided to take this course. From you peers, you probably heard that this was an outrageously stressful and almost impossible class to pass. However, be assured that those comments are over-exaggerated. This class is harder than the average English class you are used to, and you may not be accustomed to the APELC curriculum. However, it clearly is possible to get through the year just as I, and others in previous years, have.

What seems to stress APELC students the most are the essays we have to write. You probably are a great writer right now as it is, but don't be shocked and worried if you receive a low score on the first couple essays. I did not do that well on them, but I made sure to learn from my mistakes and improve myself. If you do need help, go to Mr. Yost and Mrs. Pronko. But keep this in mind: don't procrastinate on essays. Unfortunately, I was one of those kids who wouldn't write the good copy until the morning the essay was due. That never ended well... Just remember that you actually need to invest some time and effort in order to receive good results from this class.

In addition to all the writing, we read a lot. And by a lot, I seriously do mean A LOT! I was never an avid reader, so I was not a fan of the texts we had to read. My attitude, as a result, forced me to push back the reading until the night before and/or the morning it should have been done. One thing I advise you to do is spread out your reading because that really does help. I would suggest the same for the group projects that are assigned at the end of each marking period. Time management is a beneficial skill to have if you want to easily get through the year.

By the time the AP exam rolls around, you will be prepared, so no need to stress out the night before. Every little thing that we do in class and at home has a purpose, even the TOWs. I know the year may be difficult, but you're an APELC student, and you can survive. Relax and don’t be so hard on yourself. Not all your work will be masterpieces and it is hard to accept that. Move on from your bad score and just continuing improving yourself.

Good luck this year and be sure to have fun :)

Srinivas Sunil

TOW #29: Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream

     The American Dream, the traditional social ideals of the United States of America, encouraged a variety of immigrants to embark on a journey to our very own nation. People have achieved equality, democracy, and material wealth as a result of their immigration. While the chances of prosperity are high, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney claims that the growing income gap diminishes to opportunity for social mobility, especially for the poor. Though some may argue he is wrong, Gibney's conclusion of our society holds true today because the wealthy own a significant amount of power in society. 
     Firstly, the attitude the rich have towards others has remained constant throughout history. At the time of the American Industrial Revolution, captains of industry, such as Rockefeller and Vanderbilt, controlled much of the economy and society as a whole. All they wanted was to grow their business and profit as much as they can. That was their mindset. This resulted in very minimal pay to workers, dangerous working conditions, and a plenitude of protests. And worst of all, the poor continued to remain that way and these industrialists had no intention of helping them. Such an attitude prevents social mobility from taking place, and seeing as this persists even today with current millionaires, the chance of achieving the American Dream is near impossible. Even a psychological study of a monopoly game reveals that the winning (richer) player only cares about staying #1 while not worrying about the situation of his/her opponent. Since the wealthy instinctively act greedy and care about themselves, their attitudes alone have the ability to increase income gap since they tend not to help the poor.
     Additionally, the widening income gap is further compounded by the influence the wealthy have in the politics and the economy. During the Gilded Age, the rich, usually corrupt, had their own mischievous ways of staying at the top of the social hierarchy. Through bribes, threats, and just their political power overall, these people literally "controlled" society. Boss Tweed, for instance, was one such man. Between 1868 and 1869 he led the Tweed Reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. This group was responsible for the construction of the NY court house, in one case. The actual construction cost $3 million, but the project cost tax payers $13 million. With that extra $10 million, Tweed was able to continue running Tammany Hall and influence the results of political elections in their favor. This action leaves the poor helpless as the resulting policies of the election will be in favor of the rich and big businesses rather than for funding social welfare.
     Indeed, Gibney successfully recognizes that the 1% in America have an excess of power that they prevent social mobility from taking place. Seeing as people venture to the United States for the American Dream, their hopes will be crushing realizing that their wishes will not come true. Due to the personality of the wealthy and the influence they have in politics and the economy, working for the American Dream becomes inaccessible.

TOW #28: Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream

     Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream is an enlightening film that illustrates the great social divide between the rich and poor, the inconsiderate attitude of the many billionaires, and the manipulative power the wealthy have in politics. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney asserts that because of the growing income gap in society, the possibility for social mobility is sharply declining, putting the American dream out of reach for the poor. Gibney goes into great detail of the many billionaire's lifestyles, influence on society, and their treatment of others. Prosperously living on Park Avenue, these people have no need to worry about food, shelter, and a comfort and regularly compares such a life to that of the poor. Gibney most likely made this film for the middle and upper classes of American society. Because he believes that the rich are the cause of this disastrous problem, they should be the ones to fix it. Through donations, charity, policies in favor of the underprivileged, the rich and congressmen can make a significant change in society. 

     The most effective rhetorical strategy that Gibney incorporates throughout his film is juxtaposition. From beginning to end, he makes a clear distinction between the rich and the poor. Even in a simple study with the game of monopoly, a discerning attitude towards the other player was noticeable. The "poorer" player, who was only allowed to roll one die, started out with less money, and lacked the advantageous opportunities the "wealthier" player had within this experiment. Surprisingly, the winning player felt no sympathy for the losing player and only believed in winning. By juxtaposing the results to Park Avenue itself, the conclusion turned out to be the same. The prosperous side of Park Avenue is filled with billionaire who care about nothing but themselves. And just across a bridge, 10 minutes away from the wealthy area, is South Bronx, a poverty-stricken city in which people struggle to acquire proper food and education. No one is willing to help these penniless people by sparing even a $50 bill. This great disparity between the two social classes ultimately shows that aid from the wealthy is necessary, and without it, fighting for the American dream is a futile effort.

     Further accomplishing Gibney's purpose are his many interviews. The entire documentary is based on the statements said by Jack Abramoff, Bruce Bartlett, Michael Gross, as well as other acclaimed people. From the very beginning, this continuously establishes the credibility of Gibney because he can corroborate his assertions with facts, statistics, and statements made by these people. From these interviews, anecdotes were also provided, adding a more personal element within this multitude of information. On the of the bellmen who worked at a luxurious hotel on Park Avenue described his experiences carrying luggage for the wealthy people. He said that the rich were some of the cheapest people to live due to their self-centric behavior, money-hungry attitude, and greedy personality. After 3-4 bellmen carried many heavy bags into a car, various affluent men did not even give a tip! The poor continue to face an even greater crisis as the rich get even richer while the poor remain/get even poorer. Again, showing how the rich are the ones creating the social problem and that only they have the power to stop it. 

     Indeed, Alex Gibney successfully achieved his purpose of letting his audience understand the social dilemma taking place and that the rich need to help the lower classes. Even with business magnates donating some part of their wealth to charities, that is not enough. The rich show that it is possible for everyone to become just like them, but those same people act as a barrier to social mobility. 

TOW #27: TOW Reflection

TOW Posts Re-read: #1, #13, #20

     Throughout the school year, I have made a lot of progress in writing my TOWs. After reading through previous posts, I was surprised to see how much my writing has improved and developed every week. In the beginning, I remember struggling with how I was suppose to organize the necessary content in each post (ie. context, audience, rhetorical device...). Slowly, I was able to eventually come up with a "TOW template" that I followed for each one. It helped me organize my thoughts and ideas, resulting in better TOW posts as the school year went on. One major change I noticed was that I went back to the thesis after analyzing each rhetorical device. For the majority of my earlier TOW posts, I failed to do that, and now, I understand what I need to do to write an effective analysis essay.
     Right now, I think I have mastered how to write a brief yet concise introductory paragraph. Quickly after the hook, I transition into the context, audience, purpose, and the rhetorical devices used in the text. Another aspect I feel I have mastered is being able to pick out rhetorical strategies and explaining the author's purpose of adding them. I used to just summarize them, but that eventually changed into actually analyzing them.
     Even though there are some things I feel confident with, there is still more I need to work on. Firstly, I need to make sure I remember to tie my analysis back to my thesis and stating how/why the rhetorical device helps the author achieve his/her purpose. In my current writing, I always make the attempt to do that, but I don't feel like I do it adequately enough to produce great body paragraphs. Additionally, I could also improve my conclusion paragraph. I can quickly summarize my essay in that paragraph, but I have trouble ending my essays with a "so what."
     Given that the purpose of the TOWs was a way to practice and improve our analysis of a text or image, I felt that I benefitted a lot from them. Evident through my progression, my writing improved and so did the perspective in which I analyze texts. Instead of looking for rhetorical devices first, I instead search for the author's purpose and then find the devices. Having that approach in mind, I was able to apply it to our analysis essays we did in class and at home. In the beginning, I thought that TOWs would be an unnecessary waste of time, but now I realize how useful they have been toward my writing. 

TOW 26 - Article: Snapchat Steps Up Its Game With Sophisticated New Messaging Features by Karissa Bell

Writing Goals:
Have analysis be concise and go back to the thesis

Reading Goals:Analyze a piece relating to current trends

     Excited and overwhelmed by the possibility of things, I was extremely animated when I learned about Snapchat's most recent update. Rather than just sending pictures and video in real time, this app is enhanced with a new look, messaging capabilities and video chatting. Karissa Bell, a journalist who writes about new apps and software programs for Mashable, praises the new features Snapchat has to present. By strategically incorporating simple format and illustrative pictures, Bell encourages smartphone users to get the latest version of Snapchat.
     To make it easy for readers to understand the information and message she is trying to give, Bell formats her article in a simple yet intelligent manner. Bell first organizes each section of her writing by each of Snapchat's newest features: "A New Look," "Text Messaging," and "Video Chatting." Within each of those sections, Bell includes a description of each feature as well as incorporate an image of what that component looks like. Complemented by her enthusiastic tone, this uncomplicated structure quickly and efficiently channels Bell's message to the readers. By showing how "great" the new specs of Snapchat are, Bell makes a strong appeal to pathos and makes audience feel excited about the new Snapchat.
     The simple structure of her article is further compounded by her use of illustrative pictures. Words can easily give a description of anything, but a picture can tell an entire story. Within each section of the article, Bell adds in a picture that enhances the readers understanding of what she is explaining. For instance, under the text messaging section, there is an image of two people sending messages to each other as well as pictures. This image alone portrays what the new features of Snapchat are like. Additionally, there is a caption under each image giving a brief overview of each new Snapchat features. This complemented by the praise given by Bell about this trending app is powerful enough to convince smartphone users to get this app.
     Karissa Bell, an enthusiastic journalist who approves of Snapchat's new update, successfully achieved her purpose of encouraging smartphone users to download this popular app. By integrating a simple structure and informative images, Bell was able to have her audience take Snapchat into consideration, allowing her to promote Snapchat to the public.

Link: http://mashable.com/2014/05/01/hands-on-with-the-new-snapchat/

TOW 25 - Article: It’s Time for a Rational Perspective on Wi-Fi by Peter Rysavy

Writing Goals:
Have analysis be concise and go back to the thesis

Reading Goals:
Analyze a piece relevant to technology

     Children, teenagers, and even adults have all become obsessed with the current technology. Everywhere you look, someone is either holding an iPad, smartphone, and/or computer. It is even safe to assume that, no matter where they are, such people will continuously attempt to connect to the Wi-Fi. Assuming that global Wi-Fi will exist, the general public is unaware of Wi-Fi's limitations. Peter Rysavy, a wireless technology analyst and president of Rysavy Research, argues that a Wi-Fi-only world is not possible. By strategically incorporating counterargument and powerful analogies, Rysavy was able to make clear that global Wi-Fi is not possible.
     To enhance Rysavy's credibility, he includes counterargument to attack assertions made against his claims. Rysavy first brings up a statement made by Comcast in its recent pleadings to acquire Time Warner. It involves a the theory that "if government were to give innovators sufficient unlicensed spectrum, a global Wi-Fi network, available everywhere, built by hundreds or even thousands of entities, would materialize." Seeing as public hotspots are becoming a more common trend in today's society, it only seems respectable to extrapolate and assume that Wi-Fi will soon be present all over the world. However, Rysavy simply argues that assumption by stating that there will be many coverage gaps and congestion. He provides examples of times at hotels and airports, places where an escalating number of people connect to Wi-Fi. By adding counterargument into his article, Rvsavy makes his points seem more believable and true. Attacking and disproving claims opposing his not only strengthen the allegations he is making, but also improving his credibility as a wireless technology analyst, making his audience consider what Rysavy says.
     Counterargument is further complemented by his use of powerful analogies. Near the end of his article, Rysavy compares LTE and Wi-Fi networks to roads by saying, "LTE networks are like well-planned freeways that use dedicated land and provide broad transportation coverage. Wi-Fi is like the mishmash of all other roads, providing great local access but not serving as a viable substitute for freeways." Everyone knows the difference in convenience between a highway and a local road. So by relating wireless networks to roads, Rysavy strongly appeals to ethos because he establishes a common ground between his readers and himself. In this case, both parties are able to understand what is being discussed. Such an analogy makes it easier to channel his arguments through his simplification.  

     Peter Rysavy, a dogmatic yet credible analyst, successfully achieves his purpose of convincing his audience that global Wi-Fi existing in the future is not a possibility. Through his extensive use of counterargument and relatable analogies, Rysavy was able to qualify himself as a person allowed to make such claims, but also as a realist who speaks from facts, not blinding emotions.

Link: http://gigaom.com/2014/04/27/its-time-for-a-rational-perspective-on-wi-fi/

Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

Barack Obama, the current president of the United States, wrote a book called Dreams From My Father. He published his book in July 1995 as he was preparing his political career in a campaign for an Illinois office. This book entails details of significant events in Obama's life (growing up, losing family, etc) up until he entered law school, and this quality of his book qualifies it as a memoir.

I chose to read this book because I have not yet read a memoir as an IRB. Additionally, it seems like a very interesting book since it does talk about the past of the first African-American president in the U.S. I have read and watched a little bit about Obama, but by reading Dreams From My Father, I intend to fill in the gaps and just enjoy learning about our president.