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. 

TOW 24 - Visual Text: AP Chemistry CliffsNotes Prep Book

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

Reading Goals:
Analyze a piece relevant to current teenagers

     I am stuck in my room, preparing and studying hard for all of my upcoming mocks and AP exams. Utilizing my notes from class and online resources, I start to wonder why I bought a prep book. What was most shocking was the fact that I bought one by CliffsNotes rather than one by The Princeton Review or Barron's. It occurred to me that CliffsNotes, primarily a series of student study guides, strategically employed attention-grabbing colors, large font, and appealing information in order to have students buy its books.
     Going through the bookshelves containing a lot of preparatory material, I see books colored white and/or blue. CliffsNotes, however, intelligently designed its books to be black and yellow. Of all the material present, the bright yellow cover page of these prep books stands out from the rest. This gives CliffsNotes the ability to subtly force customers to pick up a CliffsNotes book and take buying one into consideration. Though it may not be the only factor determining a buyer's decision as to which book to buy, CliffsNotes indeed ingrains a mental note regarding its prep books in a consumer's mind.
     The luring quality of CliffsNotes prep books is further compounded by the large font on the front cover, back cover, and the spine of the book. The huge letter spanning across the book reveal the subject it entails, its edition, and its makers. Combined with its unique colors, the large text continues to play a role in having students consider CliffsNotes as a viable option. The book immediately informs people of what it covers and makes people think something along the lines of, "I have found what I was looking for" and plays a role in having people buy it. However, there is one last aspect that aids customers into actually buying CliffsNotes.
     The final strategy that convinces students to buy these prep books is the basic information regarding the material. By adding "proven test-taking strategies" and "focused reviews of all exam topics," CliffsNotes explicitly tells potential buyers its books contain everything they need to know for the AP exams. Inadvertently, buyers will flip through the book, and after seeing the detailed pages filled with pictures, they will most likely have a strong urge to buy CliffsNotes prep books.
     CliffsNotes, a successful company that provides academic aid to students, can successfully achieve its purpose of persuading consumers to buy its preparatory materials. By being created with attractive colors, large text, and appealing facts, CliffsNotes was able to become a prosperous service to students as it is able to help students do well on AP exams while profiting at the same time.

TOW #23 - Article: "Vertical Farming Explained: How Cities Could Be Food Producers of the Future " by Nicola Davis

Writing Goals: 
Have my analysis support the thesis

Reading Goals:
Analyze a piece that is not just informative

Farm Up!

     During the American Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s, cities started booming. the economy flourished, and the people moved cities. However, this resulted in increased urbanization, thus a smaller number of farms. Nicola Davis, the commissioning editor of Tech Monthly who has a degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Oxford, has a solution to this predicament: vertical farming. Rather than presenting us with a bland and boring article, Davis strategically employs essential questions and a conversational tone to encourage cities to consider vertical farming as a solution.
     Beginning her article, Davis first introduces the context for which she decided to write this by asking, "could we soon see skyscrapers turned into centres for crop production?" This provides the audience with something to think about, which effectively allows Davis to transition through her article and provide necessary information. To do this, however, Davis divides her article into sections that each answer an essential question. Questions include the following: what is vertical farming, why do we need it, how high are we talking-skyscrapers, etc. Such questions set the reader up with something to expect and it even leaves them thinking about some potential answers. In turn, thinking about vertical farming subtly forces Davis's audience to consider it as a possible solution.
      However, an article that continuously questions its audience will make the readers feel as if they are being interrogated for a crime they did not commit. In order to make sure her purpose is successfully achieved, Davis speaks in a conversation tone. By using the words "we" and "you," Davis is able to establish a sense of ethos, making it seem as if she is directly talking to her audience. Additionally, she avoids jargon, making her tone more colloquial. Doing so allows Davis to easily convey her thoughts and ideas, which results in the encouragement of cities to start considering the use of vertical farming.
     Nicola Davis, an advocate of vertical farming, successfully achieved her purpose of encouraging cities to integrate this method. By using essential questions, Davis was able to have her audience think about the current situation of farms. Furthermore, her conversational tone created an atmosphere in which ideas were casually shared. To conclude, Davis asserts that with the given technological capabilities nations currently have, vertical farming is very huge possibility.

Link: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/feb/06/vertical-farming-explained-erik-murchie

TOW #22 - The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

  

     In the second half of Tracy Kidder's book, The Soul of a New Machine, the author delves into the struggles and the pains the "Hardy Boys" and the "Microkids" (the two engineering groups working on the computer project). By describing the events that take place at Data General Corporation, Kidder's book talks as much about computer engineering as it does about the engineers working on the enervating task of building the next "modern" computer. The men have to put up inadequate equipment, tightly closed rooms, and even unpaid overtime shifts. One member even felt over-pressured, which forced him to give up, move to Vermont, and avoid the situation overall. However, the remaining weary, yet persevering, engineers continued working. At the end of the book, the author himself joins these groups in their computer trade show in New York to present their work. Though no "technological revolution" occurred after such hard work, these young men were finally able to relax, knowing they were able to accomplish what they worked for.
     Through the story, Kidder uses vivid imagery and various anecdotes to encourage children and adults to be persistent in their work, even through all the challenges that await them. Not glossing over the mass chaos and the plenty mistakes the engineers committed, Kidder incorporates detailed imagery to give his book a more personal aspect, adding to the story-telling element of it. By asking the engineers to present their experiences and provide stories, the author enhances the validity of the book, allowing the story to be told in another form rather than a narration. Combined, these strategies not only make for an interesting book, but also the ease of visualizing the exhausting situation these dedicated people had to go through.
      This Pulitzer Prize winner, Tracy Kidder, successfully achieved his purpose. Undoubtedly, The Soul of a New Machine presents unforgettable story that served to motivate its readers.

TOW #21 - Visual Text: Neuro Bliss Bottles

     As you casually walk around Walgreens, Seven Eleven, or CVS, it is almost inevitable to pass by all the drinks lined up in the refrigerators. All the Arizona, Vitamin Water, milk, soda, and juice drinks are waiting to be bought. However, the one beverage that stands out the most is Neuro, particularly Neuro Bliss. 

      Neuro, started recently by entrepreneur and philanthropist Sanela Diana Jenkins, is a functional beverage that aims to provide consumers with the necessary vitamins and nutrients to get each and every one of them through their day, as shown through its descriptive names: Daily, Bliss, Passion, Sleep, and Trim. Made out of recycled materials, Neuro bottles have their own way of appealing to customers, allowing their sales to increase while benefitting buyers at the same time. 

     At first glance, the bright blue bottle of Neuro Bliss catches the shoppers' attention, making them stop walking to examine the unique bottle. The color of the bottle is powerful enough to because it stands out from all the other drinks surrounding it. Even the shape is unlike that of other bottles. By human nature, it is only natural for us to scrutinize things that are "out of the norm". But not only does its physical appearance appeal to consumers, but so does the text all over the bottle. The word "Bliss", which is the largest word present, followed by the words "reduce stress" makes the drink's purpose identifiable - to reduce stress. Further more, at the bottom of the bottle, it reads "35 calories" and "no artificial colors or flavors", promoting the healthiness of the drink. This itself has the capability of appealing to even the most health conscious buyers. This sounds like the perfect drink to potential buyers, but some start to question the validity of the drink, which will force them to turn the bottle around and read the text and the nutrition label on the back. The back explains the science behind such a wonderful product and reasoning as to why this drink works, which not only convincing consumers to buy this drink, but also establishes this brand's credibility as a health supplement drink. Their suspicion towards the drink is minimized and is the final factor leading people to buy this drink. 

     Even though this is a relatively new drink in the market, it has already started competing against other drinks. The healthy, attention grabbing, all-natural beverage gives constant messages to buyers about it benefits, which, in the end, convinces shoppers to buy this drink. Even I, who fell into the trap of its rhetorical appeal, bought this, showing Neuro achieves its purpose of selling its products and providing the public with a healthy lifestyle. 

TOW #20 - Georgia Tech Freshman Convocation Speech by Nick Selby

Writing Goals:
Go back to the thesis and support analysis with concise detail

Reading Goals:
Analyze a piece that has a strong appeal to its audience

     When asked to name famous orators, common responses include Adolf Hitler, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. However, one does not need to be famous political figure in order to give a memorable speech. Nick Selby, a Mechanical Engineer Major at Georgia Institute of Technology, presented the 2013-2014 freshman class with a convocation speech like none other. Rather than giving a bland and boring oration, Selby strategically employed simplicity, comedy, and music to welcome the new students to Georgia Tech and set them on the right track for college through his advice.
     Beginning his speech, Selby first reminds the freshman class why they are present and then gives a quick outline as to what he will say: the 10 things most important lessons he learned in his first year. Already, his audience foreshadows that they will be provided with mini anecdotes. Throughout his speech, Selby numbered his experiences by explicitly stating "One... Two... Three..." Simplicity in his speech was a major factor that allowed Selby's audience to easily distinguish between each "lesson", thus enabling him to achieve his purpose. Formatting his speech as a list breaks up Selby's overarching message into 10 smaller and more interesting topics, making every bit of advice clear and concise. This sets Selby up to send his message later in his speech.
     However, a speech as simple as a list would make it monotonous, probably putting everyone to sleep. In order to further the chances of achieving his goal, Selby includes comedy. He first advises students to call their mothers. At first, this was probably disregarded by many, but by adding, "just make sure there aren't screaming girls, loud music, and some guys yelling obscenities in the background," Selby puts smiles and laughter in the audience, subtly planting advice into the students' minds. In the middle of his speech, Selby modulated his voice and said, "I am going to build the Iron Man suit." Again bringing laughter, those words actually have a deeper meaning. His comic words encouraged students to be ambitious and to do the impossible, just as Selby sought to do at Georgia Tech.
     Near the end of his speech, Selby had dramatic music play in the background as he passionately screamed, "If you want to change the world, you can do that! You're at Georgia Tech. If you want to build the Iron Man Suit, you can do that! You're at Georgia Tech. If you want to play theme music during your convocation speech like a bad***, we can do that! We're at Georgia Tech." The music, complemented with his repetition, ended his speech strong, channeling his message to the audience - anything is possible if you are visionary. By playing music during his speech, which many would not think of doing, he demonstrated that a lot can be accomplished with effort.
     Nick Selby, a determined engineering student, successfully achieved his purpose of setting the 2013-2014 freshman class to be inspired and ambitious students. By exposing his audience with simplicity in his speech, Selby easily got his points across. Additionally, his comedy and music had a powerful appeal to pathos, making Selby's speech entertaining yet didactic. To conclude his speech, Nick Selby asked that students "brace [themselves] on a hell of a ride, on [their] way of becoming a hell of an engineer."

TOW #19 - The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

Tracy Kidder is a Pulitzer Prize winner of his book The Soul of a New Machine, a book about the creation of a new computer at Data General Corporation. Considered a literary journalist, Kidder has also won other awards such as the National Book Award for Nonfiction, Ambassador Book Award, Lettre Ulysses Award, and many others, establishing him as a significant and credible writer of nonfiction. In his book The Soul of a New Machine, Kidder narrates the experiences of the two design groups that are fighting to create a new computer than can compete with the VAX computer developed by Digital Equipment Corporation, which is dominating in the market of 32-bit computers. Kidder documents the conceptualization, design, and the implementation process that takes place at Date General Corporation and tells the story of the company's struggle through the experiences the design teams had to face. Directed towards those interested in engineering and computer science, this book portrays an important piece of the history of the development of the modern computer. However, Kidder's main purpose is not to inform his readers, but to motivate them not to give up when faced with a situation involving a crucial deadline and a near-impossible problem to solve. Throughout the first half of the book, Kidder attempts to achieve his purpose through anecdotes and imagery. The addition of anecdotes creates an atmosphere that makes it seem as if the reader is at Data General Corporation itself, which enhances the audience's reading experience. Complementing anecdotes is Kidder's imagery. The skillful use of adjectives and other methods of describing a situation/person promotes the reader's understanding of what is taking place and the obstacles the design groups have to go through. Combined, these devices attempted to achieve Kidder's purpose and, however, were not successful because the struggles in the book have yet to be impactful. However, I believe that in the second half of the book, Kidder will be able to achieve his purpose.

TOW #18 - Article: "Technology Must Prevent Texting While Driving, Say Doctors" by Douglas Main

No Texting and Driving

The cellphone, a device capable of placing calls, texting, and entertaining its users, is possibly one of the most dangerous gadgets ever developed. Douglas Main, a science and environmental journalist who contributes greatly to Popular Science and other science news organizations, recognizes the threat that cellphones pose on those who are able to drive since "cellphones are responsible for a quarter of all accidents in the U.S. Texting is particularly bad, since it serves as both a mental and visual distraction." Concerned about the plight technology these days has caused, Main conceptualizes various ideas that have a great potential of increasing a driver's safety. One such fix to this problem that Main suggests is by adding a sensor to the car that creates a jamming signal, preventing drivers from using their phones and driving unsafely at the same time. Drivers, young and old, need to understand the dangers of using their cellphones carelessly. However, they do not, and rather than raising awareness of this situation, Main proposes that it is best to create equipment for the betterment of the current predicament. To achieve his purpose of warning people of the hazards of cellphone use while driving and proposing ideas to ensure safety, Main includes statistics on driving and quotes from doctors. The addition of statistics in the articles creates a quantitative outlook for the readers of the article. By understanding the percent and number of people effected by this, readers who are drivers are subtly forced to become scared and worried, making the incorporation statistics a direct appeal to pathos. Furthermore, Main quotes various doctors who have similar viewpoints on the texting and driving dilemma. Quotes create a sense of professionalism, further strengthening Main's credibility while giving an insight to readers about the dangers of driving. Statistics and quotes were strong enough the achieve Main's purpose, making drivers more aware of their phone habits and convincing them to acquire technology that prevents such dangerous behavior. 

The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

The nonfiction book I selected for the third marking period is The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder. Technology is rampant in today's society, and this book takes us through the experiences of a computer engineering team racing to design a next-generation computer at a fast pace under great pressure.

I chose to read this book because it stood out as something very interesting. It is interesting to learn about the roots, the history, and the significant events that eventually built up to current technology. By reading this book, I am hoping to not only learn about where my iPhone and computer came from, but also incorporate some of the anecdotes described in the book into my work in the future. 

TOW #17 - Article: "How to Check if Your App is Addictive Enough to Make Money" by Shira Abel

Video Games!!

It is currently the prime time for smartphones. Adults, teenagers, and even young children are busy on their tablets and/or phones obsessively playing games such as Flappy Bird, Angry Birds, Clash of Clans, and others. But what is so intriguing about these games that makes them so addicting? Shira Abel, the CEO of Hunter & Bard (a marketing agency that works with start-ups, small companies, and entrepreneurs) and a constant contributor to The Next Web, breaks down apps into the specific components that affect their addictive-ness. The major elements include the app's concept, conditions, platform, environment, "quick wins," and recurring revenue. By understanding each part of an application that contributes to its addictive-ness, programmers, primarily those who develop mobile-based applications, can increase their potential of making a more mainstream application. As technology continues to advance, so does the number of application developers around the world. Abel's purpose of writing this article is to teach programmers how to make a "perfect" application that can easily addict the public. Through her use of listing and real-life examples, Abel is successfully able to channel her knowledge about marketing applications. The addition of lists in her article creates a simple flowchart for her readers to follow, giving a elementary, yet very informative list of elements to consider when creating an application. By giving real-life examples of applications such as Candy Crush and Toshi, Abel subtly forces her audience to consider the components that make up these addictive applications. For the present and the distant future, this article sets the foundation for current and future programmers to become a success. Shira Abel was able to successfully achieve her purpose of teaching programmers the "proper" way of making an addictive application. By implementing lists and real-life examples of addictive games, Abel was able to easily transfer her knowledge of creating a successful and addictive application.

Link: http://thenextweb.com/dd/2014/02/02/check-app-addictive-enough-make-money/#!udv1v

TOW #16 - Everything Bad is Good for You by Steven Johnston (Part 2)

In Everything Bad is Good for You, Steven Johnston, the author who is a graduate of both Brown University and Columbia University and currently an American popular science author and a media theorist, takes the position that regular exposure to pop culture is beneficial to us. In part 1 of the book, Johnston argues in favor of video games, television, films, and the internet, describing all of the positive cognitive effects it has. Starting off part 2 of his book, Johnston transitions into the Flynn Effect and IQ scores. Through various studies, it has been concluded that the population's IQ has been increasing across all races, and the factor resulting in this increase has been the environment, particularly the great exposure to pop culture. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, people face so many problems and challenges that it is reasonable to see why people are getting smarter. Additionally, Johnston goes into the economic, technologic, and neurological drive of the Sleeper Curve. The economic forces include and film industry's constant production of movies and TV shows. The technological forces entail the media-related technology, such as DVD, VCR, cable, etc. Lastly, the neurological forces explains how people enjoy challenges and focusing on this that interest them, like different informative TV shows for instance. To support his argument, Johnston incorporates diagrams, statistics, and quotes. Diagrams, especially when trying to explain a complex point, simplified the content and information Johnston was channeling to the readers,  making it easier for them to understand his viewpoint. Furthermore, using statistics from various studies and experiments bolstered his argument since he quantified everything, giving a perspective for the reader. Lastly, by incorporating quotes from reliable sources, such as scientists, Johnston's argument becomes something to consider. He doesn't voice an arbitrary claim, but a claim that can be supported and argued against. With evidence, diagrams, and reliable sources, it can be justified that Johnston successfully proves that pop culture, contrary to traditional belief, has a beneficial effect on the public. 

TOW #15 - Article: "Can DNA Reign Supreme in the Digital Dark Age?" by Roger Highfield

Roger Highfield, the director of external affairs at the Science Museum in England, addresses the issue of losing and not being able to obtain information in the future. Considering the fact that there are some billion gigabytes of data stored worldwide and that technology is rapidly progressing, it is necessary that mankind be able to develop ways in order to preserve the rapid increase in data. Highfield goes into a brief explanation of how storage on floppy disks that still remain today are unreadable by much of current technology. There is no software available and no program to open files, prompting scientists to craft new methods to store information. Highfield's solution to this problem is to use DNA to store all the information. Highfield refers to Ewan Birney and Nick Goldman, at the EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute near Cambridge, have created a way to store two thousand million million bytes per gram of DNA. It is speculated that DNA storage can last until the year 10 millennia. Specifying this issue primarily to the scientific community, Highfield attempts to provide an answer to this future problem and convince scientists to pursue research in issue. To achieve his purpose, Highfield includes historical evidence and scientific jargon. Historical evidence that is incorporated into this article provides the context from which Highfield creates his argument, which is to use DNA for storage purpose in the future. It sets the foundation of his argument, which is then used as evidence as to why newer and more improved methods of storage are essential. Additionally, Highfield's use of scientific jargon gets across his reasoning in a much easier fashion. Since his message is primarily towards scientists, using science-related vocabulary will help the audience understand what Highfield is trying to get across. With historical evidence and scientific jargon, Highfield was successfully able to achieve his purpose.


Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/10553626/Can-DNA-reign-supreme-in-the-digital-dark-age.html

TOW #14 - Media: "Start Your Day On A Roll" Wawa Commercial

In this 30-second Wawa commercial, there are various scenes that go through the variety of Wawa Breakfast Hoagies. At the same time, this commercial shows what can go into the breakfast hoagies: cheese, eggs, bacon, steak, ham, etc. To conclude the commercial, the narrator states the different hoagie sizes (junior, shortie, and classic), each with its respective price (2, 3, and 4 dollars), and then ends by transitioning to the Wawa logo and saying the slogan. The target audience of this commercial is everyone who lives mainly on the eastern side of USA. Wawa, primarily located in Deleware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, aired its commercial in those particular locations because of convenience and promotion, particularly to advertise and convince people to buy the Wawa Breakfast Hoagies, which was this franchise's purpose. Additionally, Wawa aired its commercial in order to compete with other places that serve breakfast foods, such as McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, etc. To achieve its purpose, Wawa incorporated music, visual text, and animation to help achieve its purpose. With happy and joyful music and singing playing in the background, the commercial conveys the idea that eating Wawa's Breakfast Hoagie is a great start to one's day. Furthermore, the visual text that pops up is another aspect of the commercial that has a strong appeal. Using bright colors, such as yellow, orange, and red, Wawa forces the audience to eye the words that pop up on the screen, which helps the audience create a mental list of what can be added into their hoagie. Lastly, the animation added the finishing touch to the commercial. It helped keep Wawa's commercial flowing, and it is effective in keeping the attention of the audience. Eggs rolling on the table, cheese getting cut, and sandwiches constantly changing are the various animations that crafted this strong commercial. Primarily appealing to pathos, the incorporation of music, visual text, and animation are all qualities that created a jolly commercial, which successfully convinces the viewers to start their day on a roll!