Blog Post #4 Rhetorical Arguments

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/opinion/why-cyberbullying-rhetoric-misses-the-mark.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

     This article, printed originally in the New York Times aims to address the perception of bullying among middle and high school students.  Authors Danah Boyd and Alice Marwick work to debunk the differences between "drama" and "bullying" as used in the every day vocabulary of America's student population.  "Teenagers say drama when they want to diminish the importance of something", the reporters noted.  Bullying, in opposition, is a term that refers to a more aggressive, personal attack on another person.  Left behind in the wake of bullying is hurt feelings, victimized children and clueless adults. 

     Boyd and Marwick present an interesting approach to this topic.  They purportedly interviewed students that align with the middle and/or high school age groups and represent their ideas in this piece.  What I found absent from this article were direct quotes and explanations from students in these categories.  Paraphrasing their verbiage is an ineffective tool in this case because adults theoretically know what bullying is, but we have failed to realize how bad it has become. If children and young adults were allowed to define bullying in their own words, it would probably sound a lot different from what adults would imagine.  The reporters do quote the children interview, including a line here or there about their experiences, but hardly enough to gain the ethos of the reader. Undoubtedly, that is a weakness I cannot ignore.  To print a piece about how bullying rhetoric is wrong, and leave massive parts of the argument unexplored is to partially equip your readers, creating a gap of mis- or under-informed citizens. 


     Additionally, in omitting information from kids who have been bullied and those who are classified as bullies decreases the validity of this article.  As an adult, I am aware of my own perceptions of bullying in elementary and middle schools, but to read an account of a young person would heighten my awareness and present a new dimension to the anti-bullying campaign.

Blog Post #3, Letter Writing

     In reviewing the ever-popular Emily Post's Guide to Etiquette, I was interested to read about the many different facets of letter writing and the stylistic elements that go into each one.  Thank you notes demand a different composition from short letters of disclosure, which in turn differ from longer letters. 

• Long letters: http://www.bartleby.com/95/28.html
• Short letters and notes: http://www.bartleby.com/95/27.html
• Invitations: http://www.bartleby.com/95/11.html

     Logically, letters from antiquity and those written today begin with a greeting.  During medieval times, the opening of a letter was standard.  Writers would use "Salutatio" or include an opening prayer to introduce their content.  Modern written communication has blurred in it's formality and standardization, causing a wide variety of addresses.  Some writers will air on the personal, informal side with "Hey ________!", especially in the case of a post card or invitation.  Others prefer the quintessential and more formal "Dear _______," before they scrawl their thoughts across the page.  
     I think the differences between medieval and modern letter writing developed when letters stopped being the primary source of communication.  Previous to the telegraph, radio and telephone, writing was the main mechanism for people in any geographic region to connect with those beyond.  The decentralized nature of government, as stated in the text, demanded formal interaction via letters.  Documents were signed, laws ratified and history made based on the information passed in letter format.  Additionally, letters written in the past would generally include an introduction of the author.  The pastoral epistles found in the New Testament Bible each bear verses stating, "I, Paul, the apostle whom Christ loved" or "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope...,".  The ritual of establishing ethos with the reader is one that did not survive in the evolution of letter writing.  At some point, people began to assume that the name signed at the bottom of the letter or printed as the return address was actually the author.   Letters written in the past also contained an element of charge.  The author would typically ask the recipient to do something, whether a minor task or a major undertaking.  In my experience, unless an RSVP is requested, not many demands are being made in letters. 
     Of course there are similarities in letters from both times, primarily because the device itself has not changed in nature.  People write to one another to communicate.  They want to share information, guidance, wisdom, experience or some other story. The intent is to be considerate toward another person's feelings and life story while  simultaneously catching up with them.
    Technology has had a major impact on letter writing.  The formality and appreciation of letters has been stripped away in the advent of constant emailing, inter-office memo sending and e-vites.  People prefer tapping away at the keyboard, whether on a touch screen or an actual computer, to sitting down with a pen and paper.  More than anything, I think this departure has occurred because people are expected to maintain a fast-paced lifestyle, consistent with the amount of responsibility they carry.  Surely, President Obama could not wait for a letter with answers to a question he asked before making a pivotal decision.  Email has revolutionized the speed of communication, for the better.  Doctors are able to gather information from other caretakers and patients, lawyers can initiate letters of engagement through electronic communication and teachers can reach out to parents whose children require special attention.  The immediacy of these issues is addressed through technological means. That being said, there is still a special place in my heart and my mailbox for handwritten notes.  My great uncle Phil, an attorney and elocutionist, used to write the most beautiful birthday and Christmas cards to each of his 30 relatives. I looked forward to their semi-annual arrival because I knew the time and effort he dispensed into each one.

The President's Speech

President Obama talks a lot.  That's a major part of his job description, and luckily for our country, he does it well.  His cadence in speaking, well-timed pregnant pauses and deliberate emphasis in word pronunciation all work wonders for his overall approval rating. Words are persuasive and inspiring but rarely are they binding.  The President is able to lead the nation from podiums all over the globe, offering wise words, comforting thoughts and intelligent remarks without necessarily tying himself to any action.
     In a speech delivered by Pres. Obama in Paterson, New Jersey on 4 September 11, he speaks to members of one Northeast community devastated by hurricane Irene.  His approach is validating, reassuring and yet firm.  The sheer acknowledgement of devastation and destruction is enough to comfort the people while putting to rest any fear of pulling federal funding.
     The arrangement of the components of the speech follows that of the classical oration style.  Introduction, statement of facts, division, proof, refutation and conclusion come together to produce an address that ultimately gave hope to the people of Wayne and Paterson, New Jersey.

Introduction

Hi there! My name is Samantha and this is my blog for English 325.  I'm a junior at Old Dominion University majoring in English with a concentration in linguistics.  I've loved my classes so far and am excited for what's next.  Right now, I work for an IRS attorney who also writes fiction books for children.  When I graduate, I would love to continue with him and help him edit and prepare his projects for publication.