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.